Behind the Footlights: “All The World’s A Stage” - Fall Theatre Preview


By Ellen Wilson Dilks

     The Delaware Valley region is blessed with an abundance of theatre companies—both professional and non-professional. And the talent pool of actors, directors and technical people is deep. Here is a rundown of just some of the productions coming up for the 2017—2018 season:

Act II Playhouse [56 E. Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA 19002. For tickets call 215-654-0200. www.act2.org] = WHICH REMINDS ME… – 8/29—10/1; RED HERRING- 10/24—11/19; BAD DATES – 12/12—31; A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS – 1/9—28, 2018; I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES (Neal Simon) – 2/27—3/25; CAMELOT – 5/15—6/10. See the website for other special events.
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Allens Lane Arts Center [601 W. Allens La., Philadelphia, PA 19119. For tickets call 215.248.0546. www.aleenslane.org] = THE GRAPES OF WRATH - 9/22—10/8; RASHEEDA SPEAKING – 11/17—12/3; YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU – 1/12—28, 2018; THE MOST DESERVING – 3/2—18; I HATE HAMLET – 5/4—20.
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The Arden Theatre Company [40 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106. For tickets, call 215.922.1122. www.ardentheatre.org] = CABARET- 9/21—1022; TOUCH TONES – (World premiere by Michael Hollinger) 10/19—12/3; A DOLL’S HOUSE - 1/11—2/25, 2018; TONI MORRISON’S THE BLUES - 3/1—4/1; FUN HOME - 5/17—6/17; EVERY BRILLIANT THING - 11/9—13/3. See the website for other special events.
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The Barnstormers [402 Tome St., Ridley Park, PA 19078. For tickets call 610-461-9969 www.barnstormerstheater.com] = 1984 – 9/15—23; EVIL DEAD – 10/20—31; A CHRISTMAS CAROL – 12/1—10; AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS – 1/26 & 27,2018; MURDER COMES TO THE BARN – 2/23—3/4; FOREVER PLAID – 4/13—21; SPAMALOT – 6/1—9. See the website for other special events.
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Bristol Riverside Theatre [120 Radcliffe St., Bristol, PA 19007. For tickets call 215-785-0100 www.brtstage.org] = 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - 9/19—10/15; QUARTET - 10/31—11/19; TIME STANDS STILL – 1/23—2/11, 2018; THE PRODUCERS – 3/6—4/1.   See the website for other special events.
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Colonial Playhouse [522 W. Magnolia Ave., Aldan, PA 19018. For tickets call 610-622-5773. www.colonialplayhouse.net] = ALL MY SONS - 9/22—10/7; A CHRISTMAS CAROL - 11/24—12/10; BORN YESTERDAY - 1/18—2/3, 2018; THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER - 3/9—24; CALENDAR GIRLS - 5/4—19; 18TH ANNUAL COLONIAL QUICKIES – 6/8—23.
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Curio Theatre Company [4740 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19143. For tickets call 215-525-1350.   www.curiotheatre.org] = SEASON TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON! Curio will be part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival with I, PEASEBLOSSOM, performed at the Woodlands Cemetery @ 7pm from 9/13—17.
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Hedgerow Theatre Company [64 Rose Valley Rd., Rose Valley, PA 19086. For tickets call 610-565-4211. www.hedgerowtheatre.org] = TREASURE ISLAND (Storyboard Series) – 9/1—17; BLITHE SPIRIT – 10/5—11/5; A CHRISTMAS CAROL (25th Annual production) – 11/24—12/24; BOOGIE WOOGIE RADIO HOUR – 1/10—28, 2018; WAIT UNTIL DARK – 2/7—3/18, 2018. Additional titles to be announced soon.  See the website for other special events.
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InterAct Theatre Company [@ The Drake, 302 South Hicks Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102. For tickets call 215-568-8079.  www.interact.org] = a season of World Premieres: BROKEN STONES – 10/27—11/19; SENSITIVE GUYS – 1/19—2/11, 2018; HUMAN RIGHTS – 3/23—4/15; DRAW THE CIRCLE – 6/1—24. See the website for other special events.
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Kimmel Center [300 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA. for tickets call 215-893-1999. www.kimmelcenter.org] = PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - 11/--12; FINDING NEVERLAND - 11/21—26; LES MISERABLES - 1/9—21, 2018; SOMETHING ROTTEN - 2/27—3/4; SCHOOL OF ROCK - 3/27—4/1; ON YOUR FEET - 4/10—15; ALADDIN - 6/13—7/1. See the website for other special events.
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Lantern Theatre Company [@ St. Stephens Church, 10th & Ludlow Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107. For tickets call 215-829-0395. www.lanterntheatre.org] = RED VELVET – 9/7—10/8; THE CRAFTSMAN (World Premiere by Bruce Graham) – 11/9—12/10; COPENHAGEN – 1/11—2/11, 2018; Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST – 3/15—4/22; DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER – 5/24—6/24.
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Media Theatre [ 104 E. State St., Media, PA 19063. For tickets call 610-891-0100. www.mediatheatre.org] = CAROUSEL – 9/20—10/22; DISNEY’S BEAUTY & THE BEAST – 11/15, 2017—1/14, 2018; NEXT TO NORMAL – 1/31—2/25; IF/THEN – 3/14—4/1; NEWSIES – April thru June 2018. See the website for other special events.
People’s Light & Theatre Company [39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets call 610-644-3500.  www.peopleslight.org] = LIGHTS OUT: NAT “KING” COLE (with Dulé Hill) – 10/11—12/3; ALADDIN: A MUSICAL PANTO – 11/15,2017—1/7, 2018; MORNING’S AT SEVEN – 1/10—2/4; THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK – 2/21—3/21; I WILL NOT GO GENTLY – 3/21—4/15; ROMEO & JULIET: A REQUIEM – 4/25—5/27; SKELETON CREW – 6/13—7/8; MARK TWAIN’S RIVER OF SONG – 8/1—26. See the website for special Community Events.
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The Philadelphia Theatre Company [@ the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19146. For tickets call 215.985.0420. www.philadelphiatheatrecompany.org] = RUGGEDLY JEWISH - 9/15 & 16; KATHLEEN TURNER’S FINDING MY VOICE – 9/25 ONLY!; WRESTLING JERUSALEM – 10/18—11/5; KERRIGAN & LOWDERMILK’S THE MAD ONES (both grew up in Delaware County) – 10/23 ONLY; MIKE DAISEY’S THE END OF JOURNALISM & THIS IS NOT NORMAL – 11/9—11; UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE: WE KNOW HOW TO DIE – 12/1 & 2; A DREAM IS A WISH: PRINCESS CONCERT – 12/17 ONLY; MUSICAL THRONES: A PARODY – 2/9 & 10, 2018; SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS – 3/13—4/1.
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Players Club of Swarthmore [614 Fairview Ave., Swarthmore, PA 19081. For tickets call TheaterMania.com at 1-866-811-4111. www.pcstheater.org] = CHICAGO – 9/15—30; OTHER DESERT CITIES – 10/20—11/4; THE LITTLE MERMAID – 1/24—12/9; ITALIAN AMERICAN RECONCILIATION – 1/5—20, 2018; LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS – 2/9—24; THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING – 3/16—31; JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR – 4/20—5/5. See the website for info on the 2nd Stage & Children’s Series productions and other special events.
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Quintessence Theatre Company [@ the Sedgewick Theatre, 7137 Germantown Ave., Mt. Airy, PA 19119. For tickets call 215-987-4450. www.quintessencetheatre.org] = LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT – 10/4—22; MY FAIR LADY – 11/15—12/17; WAITING FOR GODOT – 1/31—2/18, 2018; JULIUS CAESAR – 3/21—4/22; THE WILD DUCK – 4/4—21. Family Series = AESOP’S FABLES – 9/6—17, 2017; THE PRINCE & THE PAUPER – 5/16—6/3, 2018.
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Spotlight Theatre [@ Swarthmore United Methodist Church (SUMC), 129 Park Ave., Swarthmore, PA 19081. For tickets call 610-328-1079.  www.spotlighttheatrepa.org NOT AFFILIATED WITH SUMC] = STEEL MAGNOLIAS – 9/15—30; HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL – 10/20—11/4; INSPECTING CAROL – 12/1—16; PROMISES, PROMISES -  1/26—2/10, 2018; MEDEA – 3/16—31; ART – 5/4—19; LEADING LADIES – 6/15—30. The theatre also hosts improv nights and other special events—check out their website.
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The Stagecrafters Theatre [8130 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia PA 19118. For tickets call 215-247-9913. www.thestagecrafters.org] = ON GOLDEN POND – 9/14—30; THE MISER – 11/24—12/10; COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA – 2/9—25, 2018; BLITHE SPIRIT – 4/13—29; RACE – 6/15—30.
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Theatre Horizon [401 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA 19401. For tickets call 610-283-2230. www.theatrehorizon.org] = “A Season About Women Who Dare” 2.5 MINUTE RIDE – 10/6--29, 2017; THE REVOLUTIONISTS – 2/1--25, 2018; PETER AND THE STARCATCHER – 4.26—5.27, 2018.
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Walnut Street Theatre [825 Walnut ST., Philadelphia, PA 19107. For tickets call 215-574-3550. www.walnutstreettheatre.org] = Mainstage—A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM – 9/5—10/22; ANNIE – 11/7, 2017—1/7, 2018; THE HUMANS- 1/16—3/4; NOISES OFF – 3/13—4/29; MAMMA MIA – 5/15—7/15. Independence Studio on 3 Series—SOUVENIR, A FANTASIA ON THE LIFE OF FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS – 9/12—10/15; IT’S A WONDERFUL IFE: A RADIO PLAY – 10/31—12/17; KEN LUDWIG’S BASKERVILLE, A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY – ½--2/4, 2018; A STEADY RAIN – 2/20—3/25; TELL ME ON SUNDAY – 4/10—6/10.  WST For Kids—HONK, JR. 9/23—10/8; STINKY KIDS, THE MUSICAL – 2/3—11, 2018; THE MUSICAL ADVENTURES OF FLAT STANLEY JR. – 3/31—4/14; IVY + BEAN – 6/1—10.
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The Wilma Theatre [265 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19107. For tickets call 215-546-7824. www.wilmatheatre.org] = BLOOD WEDDING – 10/25—11/19; PASSING STRANGE – 1/10—2/18, 2018; PASSAGE – 4/18—5/13
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     And there are many more smaller companies throughout the region offering a wide variety of entertainment. So, residents of Delaware County don’t have to head to New York City for quality live theatre—we’ve got great thing happening right in our own backyard.


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