This fall, Philadelphia stages are alive with stories written by, directed by, and centered on women. From intimate monologues to intergalactic dramas, these productions spotlight the power and complexity of female-led narratives.
‘Walden’
This production comes from InterAct Theatre Company, an organization known for holding a tradition of “bold, timely storytelling.” Their latest show is directed by InterAct’s Producing Artistic Director Seth Rozin, with assistant Director Lisi Levy. ‘Walden’ (by Amy Berryman) follows Cassie, a NASA botanist, who returns from a year-long Moon mission and finds herself in a remote cabin in the woods. There, her estranged twin sister, Stella, a former NASA architect, has found a new life with her Earth Advocate fiancé, Bryan.
The sisters must work to repair some previous relationship damage, all while dealing with other inter-galactic obstacles. ‘Walden’ runs Oct. 31 through Nov. 23, with opening night on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Theatre at The Drake, 302 S Hicks St, interacttheatre.org
‘La Otra’
Co-created by Tanaquil Márquez and Eliana Fabiyi, ‘La Otra’ will be playing for a limited engagement as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. The show follows three Colombian sisters who gather in Bogotá to celebrate their father’s 80th birthday before an unexpected guest arrives and shakes things up.
As a release notes, in conjunction with the production, 1812 Productions will present a series of “Spotlight Performances,” teaming up with local nonprofits to further the company’s commitment to community connection and social engagement. Each designated evening will highlight the work of a different partner organization including Justice at Work (Sept. 26) and Juntos (Sept. 27) at the Arden Theatre Company.
40 N 2nd St.,fringearts.com/event/la-otra
‘The Unexpected 3rd: A Radical, Rollicking Rumination on the Optimism of Staying Alive’
This new work at People’s Light was recently extended another week in its run. ‘The Unexpected 3rd’ is written and performed by Obie award-winning actor and writer, Kathryn Grody. As a release notes, the show marks Grody’s return to the stage with a deeply personal and humorous meditation on aging, identity, and staying true to one’s self – no matter what the world expects of you. Directed by acclaimed regional theatre director, and Grody’s longtime friend and collaborator, Timothy Near, the production blurs the line between personal monologue and theatrical memoir to “invite audiences of all generations to reflect on what it means to age in a culture obsessed with staying young.”
Originally scheduled to run Sept. 17 through Oct. 19, six performances have been added to the run of ‘The Unexpected 3rd’ from Tuesday, Oct. 21 through Sunday, Oct. 26.
“I’m beyond moved by the response already,” says Grody. “When you put your heart into a piece like this, you can only hope it speaks to others. To feel that hope realized even before opening night is such a gift. I can’t wait to welcome audiences – old friends and new – into the world of The Unexpected 3rd.”
39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, peopleslight.org
‘The Snow Queen’
This fantastical show comes from the Wilma Theatre’s Co-Artistic Director, Yury Urnov. Opening at the Broad Street locale on Nov. 11, the story follows a young girl named Gerda, who embarks on an adventure through icy landscapes and mystical forces to confront the complexities of love, loss, and the human spirit and ultimately to save her brother. The show is open to a younger audience (recommended for anyone ages 7+) and will run on stage at the Wilma until Nov. 23.
265 S Broad St., wilmatheater.org
‘Fly Me to the Moon’
Hedgerow Theatre Company‘s latest production comes from Northern Irish playwright Marie Jones. As a release notes, directed by Emma Gibson, the plot follows two cash-strapped community care workers, Francis and Loretta, on their way to a routine visit to their patient, Davey McGee—a lonely man dedicated to his newspaper, horse races, and memories of Frank Sinatra. The day takes an unexpected turn for Davey, as Jones spins a sharply funny tale exploring what happens when ordinary people are tempted with extraordinary (if not slightly outrageous) opportunities.
This show also launches a new viewing opportunity with Hedgerow’s Watch Word Live performances featuring smart glasses. The experience offers immersive, real-time captioning for live theatre by displaying a synchronized transcript of the play directly on the lenses. All lenses are customizable for user comfort. This makes Hedgerow only the third company in the United States to embrace the technology, joining fellow regional theaters People’s Light and Arden Theatre Company in the movement.
‘Fly Me to the Moon’ is set to run from Oct. 15 to Nov. 2, with 14 performances presented in Hedgerow’s 100-seat theatre, housed in a 19th-century grist mill.
