Hedgerow Theatre's Fall Season To Feature Comedy, Mystery and Music

Hedgerow Theatre's fall schedule offers something for every taste, starting with a comedy by Neil Simon, mystery and intrigue from Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe, Andy Kahn's Great American Songbook, a classic Broadway musical, and two versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Neil Simon's The Good Doctor, which runs through September 18th, is the great American writer's tribute to a great Russian one, Anton Chekhov. Chekhov was also a physician who was fascinated by the human condition, and he created many memorable characters. Simon brings them to life, building a comedy from short stories, narrated by a character based on Chekhov himself played here by Juilliard-trained actor Jared Reed. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m on Sunday.

Hercule Poirot then takes to the Hedgerow stage in Agatha Christie's Black Coffee, directed by Producing Artistic Director Penelope Reed, which runs September 22nd to November 13th. The Belgian detective is invited to the home of a famous physicist, but arrives to find the man has been murdered, a secret formula is missing, and there's a houseful of possible suspects. The audience gets to help solve the mystery during intermission in the popular whodunnit contest. After previews on September 22nd to 24th at 7:30 p.m. and on September 25th at 2 p.m., performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays from September 30th to October 30th and November 11th to 13th. There is also a Wednesday matinee at 2 p.m on October 5th.

Pianist Andy Kahn comes back in October to entertain audiences with selections from the Great American Songbook, part of his Music by Intention concert series. Kahn is passionate about the music by American composers such as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, and he shares anecdotes about them in addition to playing and singing their well-known standards. He'll appear on October 1st and 8th at 4 p.m., and October 2nd and 9th at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday nights in October will have a touch of the macabre as Tales From Poe are performed. Adapted by Margie Royal, the five classic tales featured are The Tell-Tale Heart, William Wilson, The Cask of Amontillado, Ligeia and The Masque of the Red Death. It will run on October 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th at 7:30 p.m., and is available for matinee performances for schools at the theatre by special arrangement.

Broadway performers and real-life married couple Brad Little and Barbara McCulloh bring a lighter note in November with the musical I Do! I Do! by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, the team that wrote The Fantasticks. The endearing 1966 two-person show spans 50 years in the lives of a couple, starting on their wedding night and following them through the ups and downs of their marriage as they grow old together. While they both have long resumes, Little is best known for playing the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera in New York and in productions around the world, and McCulloh had the role of Anna in The King and I on Broadway. They'll be directed by Penelope Reed. There will be a preview on Thursday, November 3rd at 7:30 p.m., then performances on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., November 4th to 6th and 18th to 27th.

December marks the return of both the annual presentation of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol and Jared Reed's critically acclaimed one-man show, A Dickens Christmas. Hedgerow's A Christmas Carol is a faithful adaptation of the Dickens tale by internationally known playwright Nagle Jackson, and tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation from miser to philanthropist. In A Dickens Christmas, Jared Reed transforms himself into Charles Dickens as he gives a public reading of A Christmas Carol. When it premiered last year, critics called it "a holiday delight, definitely not to be missed." A Christmas Carol has multiple performances almost every day from December 1st to 24th, and is available for school groups at the theatre. A Dickens Christmas is at 7:30 p.m. on December 8th, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th and 24th, and at 3 p.m. on December 21st.

Adult ticket prices for Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows are $29, Thursday shows are $25, and Wednesday matinees are $22. There is a $3 discount for seniors; tickets for students with valid ID and children under 18 are $10. Previews are $20, with no additional discounts. Prices include all fees and borough taxes. Also available is a special Flex-Six package of six mix-and-match tickets to any show for $135 for adults or $115 for seniors. For reservations, call 610-565-4211, or visit www.hedgerowtheatre.org. Hedgerow Theatre is at 64 Rose Valley Road, in Rose Valle(near Media).

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