Act 1 DeSales University Theatre is presenting an absurdist comedy, while Cedar Crest College Department of Performing Arts is premiering a satire based on a well-known boy wizard.

Act 1 is staging “Rhinoceros” from Feb. 19 to March 1 at its Center Valley campus.

Cedar Crest College is staging “Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic” from Feb. 19 to Feb. 22 at its Allentown campus.

“Rhinoceros,” a provocative and darkly comic play written by Eugène Ionesco in 1959, is set in a provincial French town. When a rhinoceros appears in the town square, followed by more rhinoceroses, people begin to transform, including Bérenger’s (Ryan Plunkett) friends and love interest, Daisy (Mariana Marcel). Bérenger, initially lazy and a heavy drinker, becomes the lone figure fighting against the transformation.

The play is described as an allegory for the rise of fascism, mass conformity and the struggle to maintain individuality and logic in the face of overwhelming social and political pressure. It explores themes of alienation, mob mentality and the absurdity of human existence, as Bérenger grapples with his own identity while the world around him succumbs to the “brute force” of the rhinoceroses.

The play is a classic of the “Theatre of the Absurd,” blending dark comedy with existential dread.

“’Rhinoceros’ asks us to consider the cost of holding onto our individuality in the face of mounting group-think,” says director and Act 1 Artistic Director Jessica Bedford, DeSales associate professor of theater.

“Herds can be tempting. There’s safety in numbers. But what happens to a society when we abandon critical thinking?” Bedford asks.

“While these pressures have always existed, they’re amplified for young people today, living with constant peer and social pressure.

There will be talk backs with the cast after Feb. 22 and 23 performances.

The Feb. 21 performance will have open-captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing and audio descriptions for patrons who are blind or visually impaired. Tickets are half-price for patrons using these services on this date. Call the box office for more information.

After the Feb. 27 show, there will be “Rhinos & Reflections” that invites the audience to step beyond the stage and participate in absurd art and activities, enjoy thematic treats, and reflect on the play’s questions.

The Feb. 28 performance is pay-what-you-can.

The production is recommended for ages 13 and up.

“Rhinoceros” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28; 2 p.m. Feb. 22, March 1; 9:45 a.m. Feb. 23, DeSales Act 1 Theatre, Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-3192; https://www.desales.edu

“Puffs” is a comedic parody by Matt Cox that retells the Harry Potter story from the perspective of members of the Hufflepuff house, or Puffs, focusing on the students who weren’t the main heroes but were just trying to survive wizarding school.

The play follows a group of Puffs, including Wayne (Nik Georgievski), Oliver (Salem Perez Torres) and Megan (Ashley Rodriguez) as they navigate classes, bullies and the looming threat of a dark wizard, all while the famous “boy who lived” takes center stage.

It’s said to be a fast-paced, joke-filled romp that is affectionate to the source material but not officially part of the Harry Potter canon. The show ran off-Broadway in 2016.

The show is directed by Jarrod Yuskauskas in his Cedar Crest directorial debut.

There will be a “Nerd Night,” celebrating STEM minds, fandom love and third-place pride, at 6 p.m. Feb. 21 in the alumnae green room. Register online.

“Puffs,” 7 p.m. Feb. 19, 20, 21; 2 p.m. Feb. 22, Samuels Theater, Cedar Crest College, 100 College Drive, Allentown. 610-740-3780, https://www.cedarcrest.edu.

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com