Hershey Area Playhouse Announces 2018 Season

Thought-provoking dramas, inspirational stories, heartwarming tales and comedies are all a part of Hershey Area Playhouse's 2018 season.

"The Playhouse's Artistic Committee and board of directors are enthusiastic to announce the main stage shows for the 2018 season," said Jill Panyard, Artistic Committee chairperson. "With a blend of light-hearted and dramatically rich, these productions will please not only community actors, but eclectic audiences as well."

The Playhouse will kick off its 18th season on February 8-11 and 15-18, 2018, with The Secret Garden, a musical about Mary Lennox, who is sent to live in England after her parents die in India. Misselthwaite Manor turns out to be a gloomy fortress. Her uncle is rarely home and his young son, Colin, never leaves his room - convinced he's an incurable invalid. Mary discovers a strange walled garden that has been locked up for years. With the gardener's apprentice, Dickon, a lad who can talk to the animals, Mary coaxes the garden back to life. The Playhouse is pleased to welcome first time director Jilly Harris to direct this popular musical.

From April 12-15 and 19-22, 2018 the Playhouse will present its spring production, Italian American Reconciliation, a story about Huey Maximillian Bonfigliano's journey through romance. Written by John Patrick Shanley and directed by Cory Wilkerson, Italian American Reconciliation is a fanciful, lighthearted and zestfully-comic exploration of male and female relationships, and the sometimes unsettling (and very funny) complications that can ensue.

Once Upon a Mattress takes the stage as the Playhouse's summer show. This musical is about Winnifred the Woebegone's journey to pass all the tests of Queen Aggravain in the effort to be worthy of marrying Prince Dauntless. Written by Mary Rodgers, Marshall Barer, Jay Thompson, and Dean Fuller and directed by Dr. Jeffrey Cartwright, performances will take place July 19-22 and 26-29, 2018.

October brings the production of Inherit the Wind, directed by Skip Becker. Authors Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee wrote a story about the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial that dealt with the debate over evolution versus creationism. The Scopes trial revolves around the conviction of John T. Scopes for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in his science class, which was contrary to Tennessee state law at the time. Performances will take place October 4-7 and 11-14, 2018.

Rounding out the Playhouse's 2018 season will be our Christmas show, which isn't ready to be unwrapped yet. Once it is, we will announce the show that will run from December 6-9 and 13-16, 2018.

All performances will take place at Hershey Area Playhouse, 830 Cherry Drive, Hershey, Pa. Show times are 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Discounted season tickets are available by purchasing at least four shows; individual tickets are also available. For tickets and more information, please visit www.HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.