A variety show is the latest in a series of fundraisers geared to benefit Lehighton's Sesquicentennial celebration next year.

Presented by the Zion Opera Workshop, the show will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Pfc. Clyde R. Houser Building/Lehighton Borough Annex.Tickets for the performance are $10 and can be purchased before the show at Carbon County Music and More, 115 S. Second St., Lehighton, or at the Lehighton Municipal Building.Tickets will also be available at the door.The Zion Opera Workshop is under the direction of Bradly R. Cressley."Although Zion Opera Workshop has not been around as long as the town of Lehighton, they are certainly the oldest continually running theater group in Lehighton," Cressley said."The group was founded back in 1970, and when they heard about Lehighton's plan for a big celebration for its 150th birthday, they wanted to pitch in and help with some fundraising.Cressley said the entire ensemble will present two pieces of music of vastly different styles.One is "Defying Gravity" from the greatly popular Broadway show "Wicked," and will feature Tara Crowe as a soloist and features some beautiful harmonies when it's performed by a full chorus, he said.The second group number, is a pop tune made famous by the group Coldplay entitled "The Scientist."Cressley said the group's youngest members will be featured in "Hard Knock Life" from Annie.Soloists include Kristen Campbell singing Colbie Caillat's "Brighter than the Sun," Becky Herd singing "Funny" from "My Favorite Year," which features Tina Becker, who will also sing "Ireland" from the musical "Legally Blonde."Some of the group's younger members include Mylee Houser singing "Tomorrow" from "Annie," Ashley Beers performing "Popular" from "Wicked" and Madison DeLuca singing "My New Philosophy" from "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown."Small ensembles will also do two short skits.Other solos include Martha Cox singing "Once Upon a Dream" from "Jekyll and Hyde," Laura Cressley singing "In My Own Little Corner" from "Cinderella," Casi Reichard with "Just You Wait" from "My Fair Lady;" and Brent Harris singing "Santa Fe" from "The Newsies."Thomas Phelan, who has been a member of ZOW for several years, and will be featured in his first solo opportunity singing "Stars" from "Les Miserables."Michelle Stoudt will sing "Don't it Make My Brown Eyes Blue," made famous by country singer Crystal Gayle, as well as a trio singing "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" in the style of The Andrews Sisters. The trio consists of ZOW's stage director Jessica Schafer, Becky Herd and Tara Crowe. Schafer will also perform "I Think I Got You Beat" from "Shrek the Musical" which also features longtime ZOW member Noah Smith.The ZOW's resident choreographer and owner of TNT Dance of Lehighton has choreographed a special rendition of "Sweet Georgia Brown." This tap routine incorporates tap dancing with some fancy basketball dribbling."With such a variety of songs and skits, there will certainly be something enjoyable for all musical tastes," Cressley said.