Playcrafters of Skippack presents….
A quirky retelling of the classic gothic tale of Sleepy Hollow that will make audiences shiver this Halloween season! Schoolteacher and outsider Ichabod Crane falls for the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel, unaware that the Headless Horseman who haunts the village will ultimately decide Ichabod’s fate.
Oct 18, 19, 25, 26; Nov 1, 2 @ 8 PM
Oct 20, 26, 27; Nov 3 @ 2 PM
Ticket link: Tix – Ticket Sales
For more information, visit Playcrafters
1812 Productions is dedicated to creating theatrical works of comedy and comedic works of theater.
The Play That Goes Wrong is a rambunctious farce follows the inept and accident-prone Conley Polytechnic Drama Society as the produce an ambitious 1920s murder mystery. As hilarious disaster after disaster ensues and the cast starts to crack under the pressure, can they get the production back on track before the final curtain falls?
The Play That Goes Wrong runs Nov. 29-Dec. 29, and tickets start at $39.
All performances at: Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA
Call the box office at 215-592-9560 or visit 1812 Productions for questions/reservations.
Walnut Street Theatre (WST) begins their 216th season with the Broadway musical phenomenon Jersey Boys. Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons with this Broadway musical phenomenon. The show begins previews on October 1, opens Oct. 9, and closes on Nov. 3.
They were just four guys from Jersey, and while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story — their story has made them an international sensation all over again. This Broadway-hit takes you behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi as we explore the rise of one of the most iconic pop bands in American music history.
With a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music by The Four Seasons member Bob Gaudio, and lyrics by Bob Crewe, the show premiered on Broadway in 2005 to critical acclaim and has won four Tony Awards. The documentary-style show dramatizes the personal and professional struggles of the members of The Four Seasons, from early brushes with the law to the group’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The show features a rich selection of the band’s greatest hits, including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
Richard Stafford returns to the Walnut as Director/Choreographer, having previously directed and choreographed numerous Mainstage shows, including Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. In addition to his work with the Walnut, Stafford has also choreographed on Broadway and the New York City Opera. Music and vocal direction will be provided by Chris Burcheri, whose Walnut credits include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Elvis – A Musical Revolution; Rocky, the Musical; and Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. Burcheri has also served as the music director for the WST for Kids series and the Associate Conductor on Annie and Holiday Inn.
Returning to the Walnut for the first time since his role as Bobby C in Saturday Night Fever is Will Stephan Connell as Frankie Valli, the frontman of The Four Seasons. Appearing alongside Connell as band member Bob Gaudio is Eddie Olmo II, fresh from his role as Barry Mann in Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. Returning to the Walnut as a founding member of the band, Tommy Devito, is Ken Sandberg, last seen in Elvis – A Musical Revolution. Rounding out The Four Seasons quartet and appearing as Nick Massi is Chris Stevens, known for his role as Gaston in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
Walnut favorite Fran Prisco takes on the role of mob boss Gyp Decarlo in his 41st WST production, having just appeared in last season’s Beautiful – The Carole King Musical and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Appearing as producer Bob Crewe is Ryan Kleinman, who made his Walnut debut with Beautiful – The Carole King Musical.
Returning to the Walnut as various friends and paramours of the band members are Walnut veterans Kimberly Maxson (Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Dana Orange (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Beautiful – The Carole King Musical), Kerri Rose (Saturday Night Fever; A Christmas Story), and Audrey Biehl Simmons (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Beautiful – The Carole King Musical).
Making their WST Mainstage acting debuts and rounding out the cast are Tommy Craig, who understudied for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, and Dance Captain/Associate Choreographer Joseph Cullinane.
Returning to the Walnut to bring the streets of New Jersey to the Walnut’s stage is Scenic Designer John Farrell, whose designs were seen most recently in Aspects of Love on the Mainstage. Joining Farrell are Walnut veterans Lighting Designer Matt DeMascolo (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast) and Sound Designer
Ed Chapman (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), along with Assistant Lighting Designer Jen Donsky. Returning to the Walnut fresh from Beautiful – The Carole King Musical to costume our rockstars and capture the iconic hair of the 60s are Costume Designer Mary Folino and Wig Designer Carissa Thorlakson.
From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s just too good to be true! The 2024-25 season also includes: Elf the Broadway Musical, Driving Miss Daisy, Noël Coward’s Hay Fever, and Dreamgirls.
Subscriptions are available now for as little as $26 per show – up to a 75% savings compared to regular ticket prices! Individual tickets go on-sale July 23. For information on season subscriptions or individual tickets, call the Walnut at 215-574-3550 x6 or visit WalnutStreetTheatre.org.
There are no new updates on Susan Wefel’s possible eviction from Hedgerow House. Susan will be on stage in “The Homecoming” at Colonial Playhouse in December 2024.
In the fall, an article was published in the Philadelphia area about the situation with Susan Wefel and Hedgerow Theatre. It’s available at this link:
Home No More: Hedgerow’s last company member must leave Hedgerow House – phindie
On Oct. 9, Susan, with a lot of support from generations of Hedgerow theatre alumni and friends, attended a court-ordered eviction hearing. The judge ruled that, because there was no lease agreement, the case was brought to the wrong court. So, for now, Susan remains in residence at Hedgerow House.
Also on this page, you’ll find the previous Delco Culture Vultures features that the Phindie article references. Lastly, if you want to help Susan, at the very bottom of this page, you’ll find the link to the Go Fund Me for Susan which is still active.
By Betty Lou Roselle
I was first introduced to Hedgerow Theatre in the 80s. I had just gone through a divorce, and I would use my sense of humor to help get through it. A shy sweet girl named Kathy said, “Betty Lou, you should look into classes at Hedgerow,” where she was currently studying. It was just minutes from my home and the rest is history.
Susan Wefel and Carl Smith in ‘Corpse.’
It was wonderful back in those days. You had a core of resident actors who lived in the house at the top of Rose Valley Road. They were involved in all aspects of theater, building sets, making costumes, learning lighting, etc. Those of us who were novice actors just taking classes could look to them for examples of where we would hopefully be some day. One of those residents is Susan Wefel. She has a wonderful vulnerability that serves her chosen career well and makes her liked by all who know her.
She teases that I was the salt (blond) and she was the pepper (brunette). Janet Kelsey, my favorite teacher and mentor seemed to take turns casting us. As the years went by, I continued acting as my hobby but was lucky enough to enjoy creating ads for the newspaper which is how I make my living.
The resident members came and went but Susie remained. A lovely writer I worked with named John Dubois would ask me to set up interviews with Wefel whenever he was doing a piece about the theatre. He told me, “She knows everything about that theater.”
Susan Wefel as Grandma in “The Addams Family.” Musical” at the Media Theatre in 2014.
Unfortunately, about three years ago Susie was told that she would have to leave in 2024. I am not criticizing the theatre. I still write reviews of shows in the area and can see how hard it is for theatres to stay afloat. Plus being in the publishing business, I have seen many friends let go from their jobs. I thank God for my bosses, owners of the Delaware County Magazine and Main Line Chronicles, they work hard to keep us going.
But what I would love to see especially from a company that is part of the Arts, is the art of kindness. Show Susan the respect she deserves. Members of the Board may not realize that she followed her teacher from Boston University to this little theatre right out of college. This has been her home all those years and she has stuck by the theatre in good times and bad.
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” at Hedgerow Theatre, 1992, with (l-r) John Barrett, Aetna Gallagher, Ken Opdenaker and Susan Wefel as Martha.
To all the patrons who loved seeing her on the boards, stop in to see Susan at the Hedgerow House, 146 Rose Valley Road, Wallingford, PA 19086 or send a card to tell her much you enjoyed her work over the years. And to those of us who had the honor of working with her, drop by to give her a hug and let her know how appreciated she is.
Susan Wefel in the one woman show “Shirley Valentine.” Photo by Rick Prieur
I am utterly disgusted about what Hedgerow is doing to Susan after she gave her all to this theater for literally decades! It needs to be pointed out that she didn’t decide to leave on her own for other ventures, she is literally being banned from performing there ever again. They took her keys to the theater as another slap in the face. And to top it off she is being evicted from the only home she has known since graduating college! How is this allowed to happen to someone who gave her all and only wanted to do what she loved for the rest of her life at her home – Hedgerow.
– Cory Solar
I met Susie when I first became a resident at Hedgerow many years ago. She was (and is) a gifted and versatile actress; going from kid’s theater troll queens to tennis playing ingenues on any given day. I particularly loved watching her in the “Out out Damned Spot” scene of the Scottish play. Aside from being a gifted actress that I learned so much from, she guided so much of resident life, creating the weekly schedule for cleaning, rehearsals and meals, doing the shopping and driving the van that took us on children’s theater tours. She quite literally kept chaos at bay in the house. She was the backbone of the resident company. Susie, Janet Kelsey and Moira Rankin are the only reason Hedgerow survived the fire.
-Gwen Armstrong Barker
An arson fire destroyed the interior of Hedgerow Theatre in 1985. Susan Wefel was one of the company members that helped the theater survive and open its doors again in 1991.
I had the pleasure of seeing Susan Wefel perform in several of the plays I wrote which were performed at Hedgerow Theatre. It was so much fun to see her bring to life many of the characters I wrote: Grandmother /The Lady of Summer in The Snow Queen; aristocrats and common folk in The Scarlet Pimpernel and many characters in Tales From Poe. I was also the stage manager for many shows that she was cast in – she was always a true professional, performing just for the love of it and doing whatever was needed to keep her beloved Hedgerow Theatre afloat.
-Margie Royal
My first memories of Susie were meeting her offstage during AS YOU LIKE IT while I was assistant stage Manager backstage and I remember how welcoming she was, explaining a bit about Hedgerow Theatre. Shortly after Susan appeared in ‘THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL while I was doing wigs for a few of the cast. She was really wonderful. in that and we got to know each other a bit more.
Susan Wefel (front right) in the opening scene of “The Scarlet Pimpernel” at Hedgerow Theatre, 1995.
GOOD MEMORIES and such a MAGICAL time at Hedgerow Theatre – always in my 
!“This was a wonderful story. She seems like an amazing person!” – K.P
“So here I was thirty years old in therapy trying to figure out why I didn’t feel good about anything in my life. I found Hedgerow theater. I was with a friend and asked if he wanted to take classes with me and he didn’t show up – but I did. And then my life began…
Hedgerow was everything to me and one of the main reasons that it worked was Susie. She showed me a lot pretty much everything I know and she was just always there for me just like this wonderful theater that she supported. I spent many a Christmas with her family at the Hedgerow house because that was her home. She didn’t get to go anywhere else for Christmas because she was in “A Christmas Carol”.
She was Shirley Valentine… she was/is the show at Hedgerow… all the time…every time…
I love you Susie and I am so sorry that your legacy is being treated like it meant nothing And shame on you Hedgerow….I don’t know what happened, but you used to be a place of magic and ghosts….and firepits and fresh talent bright eyed coming together…
I hope the big business turn you took is worth it.”
-Jess Bye Stinson
“Whether you have performed alongside her, taken one of her adult classes, or grown up in one of the countless camps and children’s shows she’s been associated with, it is impossible to cross paths with Susan Wefel without leaving the interaction a fuller person than you were before.”
-Robert Gene Pellechio
Ari Baker and Sammy Hurley have started a GoFundMe page for Susan Wefel. It’s available at this link.