2018 Fall Theater Preview

Here are the must-see musicals and plays this season around the Main Line.

Act II Playhouse

Led by artistic director Tony Braithwaite, Act II’s hilarious ensemble will tackle a range of shows this fall, beginning with the Tony-winning Neil Simon classic, Biloxi Blues (Aug. 28-Sept. 23), an autobiographical coming-of-age tale. Switching gears, the playhouse tackles Donald Margulies’ Collected Stories (Oct. 23-Nov. 18), a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, (215) 654-0200, act2.org.

Arden Theatre Company

First up for Arden is the Tony-winning musical, Once (Sept. 20-Oct. 21), a lighthearted story of love in the streets of Dublin. Next is a sequel to last season’s A Doll’s House (Oct. 24-Dec. 9), which takes place 15 years after Nora made her life-changing decision.

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40 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, (215) 922-8900, www.ardentheatre.org.

Hedgerow Theatre

This intimate gem of a theater takes audiences south to Dishman Springs (Sept. 13-30), where Ida celebrates her 75th birthday and rediscovers her younger self. Then it’s on to ancient Greece for Euripides’ Medea (Oct. 18-Nov. 11).

64 Rose Valley Road, Rose Valley, (610) 565-4211, www.hedgerowtheatre.org.


Related: Meet the Mother and Son Duo Behind Hedgerow Theatre’s Success


Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Nov. 6-18) comes to the Academy of Music—and be sure to get tickets now for next year’s performance of Hamilton (Aug 27.-Nov. 17, 2019).

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300 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, (215) 893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.

Lantern Theater Company

Lantern celebrates its 25th season with the local premiere of Hapgood (Sept. 6-Oct. 14), about a female spy who’s balancing a career and home life with some serious Russian espionage. Another Philadelphia premiere, The Heir Apparent (Nov. 8-Dec. 16) is a hilarious look at a family’s efforts to get their piece of a relative’s estate.

923 Ludlow St., Philadelphia, (215) 829-0395, www.lanterntheater.org.

Media Theatre

This fall, it’s two audience favorites: Sweeney Todd (Oct. 3-28) and the beloved family classic, The Wizard of Oz (Nov. 14-Jan. 13, 2019).

104 E. State St., Media, (610) 891-0100, mediatheatre.org.

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People’s Light

Eclecticism and bold choices are the norm at People’s Light. Such Things as Vampires (Sept. 20-Oct. 31) is a little like Dracula set to a punk-folk soundtrack. And Cinderella: A Musical Panto (Nov. 14-Jan. 6, 2019) marks the 15th anniversary of the theater’s beloved panto tradition.

39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, (610) 644-3500, www.peopleslight.org.

Players Club of Swarthmore

PCS kicks off fall on a familiar note with Frank Loesser’s Guys and Dolls (Sept. 14-29), before moving on to the lesser-known Bruce Graham work, The Outgoing Tide (Oct. 19-Nov. 3), set in the Chesapeake Bay region. Rounding out 2018: the quintessential holiday classic A Christmas Story (Nov. 23-Dec. 8).

614 Fairview Ave., Swarthmore, (610) 328-4271, www.pcstheater.org.

Resident Theatre Company

RTC founder Kristin McLaughlin Mitchell has quickly gained a reputation for bringing top-notch on-stage talent to the western suburbs—and this season is no exception. Fall begins with the auspicious Tony-winning musical Evita (Oct. 12-28). Then it’s Lend Me a Tenor (Dec. 14-30). Mitchell is no stranger to this classic screwball comedy, having worked alongside director Stanley Tucci on the Broadway version.

226 N. High St., West Chester, (610) 356-2787, rtcwc.org.


Related: Kristin McLaughlin Mitchell is Helping Transform West Chester’s Theater Scene


SALT Performing Arts

If there’s a local theater that never sleeps, it’s SALT. Chugging along seamlessly from summer to fall, its season kicks off with Little Women: The Play (Sept. 7-16), tackling the travails of Louis May Alcott’s March sisters. Later, audiences are treated to the Broadway sensation Cats (Oct. 19-Nov. 4).

1645 Art School Road, Chester springs, (610) 703-1734, www.saltpa.com.

Spotlight Theatre

Spotlight celebrates its 78th season with four shows. In Ron Bernas’ A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody (Sept. 14-29), a husband decides that the only way to ditch his wife is to kill her. Next, the troupe tackles Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein (Oct. 19-28), followed by Neil Simon’s The Front Page (Nov. 30-Dec. 15).

129 Park Ave., Swarthmore, (610) 328-1079, spotlighttheatrepa.org.

Walnut Street Theatre

This Philly institution christens its season with Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn (Sept. 4-Oct. 21), before moving on to something the kids will love: Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical  (Nov. 6-Jan. 6, 2019).

825 Walnut St., Philadelphia, (215) 574-3550, www.walnutstreettheatre.org.

Our Best of the Main Line Elimination Ballot is open through February 22!