The giant list of plays and musicals on the Philadelphia theater circuit this fall

The engines are rolling, says LaNeshe Miller-White, executive director of Theatre Philadelphia, the Philadelphia theater community’s marketing organization. “The industry is more mobilized toward coming back. They are in rehearsals. They are moving forward until someone makes them stop.”

All the activity makes her confident in predicting a robust 2021-22 theater season, but she’s keeping her fingers crossed. “Everyone is wanting to get back to the theater,” she said.

On the Kimmel Center campus, touring Broadway shows make their comeback, starting with Hamilton and including the return of Anastasia. (Looking ahead to 2022, we’ve got the local premieres of Hadestown and the reinvented Oklahoma!)

On the safety front, theaters in the region are in active, collaborative, and ongoing discussions concerning joint protocols. But the situation is so fluid that the best practice is to check with the theater venue both when buying tickets and before attending performances.

What happens when a devious developer sets his sights on a vacant lot in South Philly? Comedy, chaos ensue. (Through Sept. 19, free, in five South Philly parks, Theatre Exile, 215-218-4022, theatreexile.org)

A one-man show based on the works of Richard Wright about growing up Black in the South during the Jim Crow era. (Through Sept. 19, $15-$20, Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High St., Pottstown, 610-970-1199, steelriver-playhouse.org)

An enchanted forest, confused lovers, and powerful fairies. (Through Sept. 19, Delaware Shakespeare, free, Rodney Square, 1000 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE, 302-468-4890, delshakes.org)

Yes, there can be a musical about a bar mitzvah — and the angst of adolescence. (Through Sept. 19, The Road Company, $30-$20 Grand Theatre, 405 S. Main St., Williamstown, NJ, 856-728-2120, roadcompany.com)

You and a partner must have smartphones as you wander throughout the city’s historic district and figure out the mysteries of the New Promethean Society with connections to the bioether. (through Sept. 22, Pig Iron Theatre Co., free, but sign up for the app, 215-425-1100, pigiron.org)

A musical mystery — clearly a lack of harmony. (through Sept. 25, Without a Cue Productions, $56.99, Fishers Restaurant, 1858 Street Rd. Bensalem, PA, 215-978-9901, withoutacue.com)

Central High School graduate and Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes of In the Heights fame penned Daphne’s Dive about a Philadelphia bar that represents a microcosm of life. (through Sept. 26, South Camden Theatre Co., $20, $5 for Camden residents, Waterfront South Theatre, 400 Jasper St., Camden, NJ, 866-811-4111, southcamdentheatre.org)

Somehow the prison-industrial complex costars with sex and community gardening in an online Fringe situation comedy offering peppered with diabolical commercials. (through Oct. 2, Paper Doll Ensemble, online. Pay what you can, paperdollensemble.com)

Romantic, contemporary musical about the parallel lives of a young woman in New York. (through Oct. 2, Players Club of Swarthmore, $28-$14 614 Fairview Rd., Swarthmore, PA, 610-328-4271, pcstheater.org)

Pirates, fairies and a boy who never wants to grow up. Children’s theater, outdoors. (through Oct. 2, Hedgerow Theatre Co., $15, 64 Rose Valley Rd., Rose Valley, PA, 610-565-4211, hedgerowtheatre.org)

Great speeches from great plays are the weapons used to battle it out on a bocce court. A Fringe production. (through Oct. 3, Philadelphia Artists Collective, free, advanced registration. Bardascino Park, 1000 S. 10th St., philartistscollective.org)

Online. A legendary blues player makes a deal with the devil. But will the devil renegotiate? (through Oct. 17, Lantern Theater Co., $20 per household online, 215-829-0395, lanterntheater.org)

A comedy ghost tour at Peddler’s Village with the intent to deceive. (through Nov. 5, Without a Cue Productions, $25, Route 202 and Street Road, 2400 Street Rd., New Hope, 215-794-4000, withoutacue.com)

A serial science-fiction epic available in nine parts through various media, culminating in a live show in 2023. You can still catch up by contacting Applied Mechanics — third episode coming in October. (through 2023, Applied Mechanics, $50-$15 per episode, appliedmechanics.us)

A madcap musical murder, plus a champagne boat cruise. (Sept. 21-Oct. 10, Bristol Riverside Theatre, $55-$15, 120 Radcliffe St. Bristol, PA, 215-785-0100, brtstage.org)

Online. The widow of a famous footballer attends her funeral and wonders why no one recognizes her. What went wrong? (Sept. 22-26, The Irish Heritage Theatre, $15, 215-680-3876, irishheritagetheatre.org)

Playwright James Ijames’ version of a modern Frankenstein story gleefully skewers racism, misogyny, and cultural appropriation. (Sept. 23-Oct. 3, Villanova Theatre, $30-$28, John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts, Villanova University, 800 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova, PA, 610-519-7474, villanovatheatre.org)

Grouchy Simon Cowell from America’s Got Talent told Scotti, “you genuinely made me laugh.” (Sept. 24-25, Eagle Theatre, $25-$18, 208 Vine St., Hammonton, NJ, 609-704-5012, eagletheatre.org)

Ten offbeat and suspenseful monologues written by Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-winning author John Patrick Stanley. (Sept. 24-26 online; Sept. 30-Oct. 10, Stagecrafters Theater, $25-$15, 8130 Germantown Ave., 215-247-9913, thestagecrafters.org)

A fatal car accident on the Northeast Extension raises troubling questions. (Sept. 25-26, DCP Theatre, $10, 795 Ridge Rd., Telford, PA, 215-234-0966, dcptheatre.com)

Part of the Fringe, this world premiere at Glen Foerd envisions a topsy-turvy wonderland where Alice hides from adults. (Sept. 28-30, EgoPo Classic Theatre, $32, $50 with cocktails and appetizers at Glen Foerd, 5001 Grant Ave., 267-273-1414, egopo.org)

A rocking celebration of that era’s powerful female voices — from Janis Joplin to Aretha Franklin. (Sept. 28-Oct. 31, Walnut Street Theatre, $87-$25, 825 Walnut St., 215-574-3550, walnutstreettheatre.org)

(). For the Fringe, a folk-rock opera based on the Decemberists’ acclaimed concept album of the same name. Love is fraught with danger. (Sept. 29-30, Oct. 1-2, The Hum’n’Bards at Front Street Dive, $10 available through the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Front Street Dive, 10 N. Front St., Humnbards.com)

Online. Agnes’ deceased sister’s Dungeons and Dragons notebook takes Agnes on a comedic, yet emotional, journey. (Sept. 30-Oct. 2, Temple University, free, donation requested, tfma.temple.edu/events)

Online. An affluent Black woman is on the lam with her deaf sister. Sign language is part of this offering being workshopped during Fringe. (Sept. 30-Oct. 4, Revolution Shakespeare, revolutionshakespeare.org)

Miami’s Fab Four are planning their annual Halloween shindig. Who invited the ghosts and ghouls? They’re ready to wreak havoc. (Oct. 1-Nov. 13, Without A Cue Production, Peddler’s Village, Route 202 and Street Road, 2400 Street Rd., New Hope, 215-794-4000, withoutacue.com)

One-act plays written by DCP members and friends. (Oct. 2-3, DCP Theatre, Telford, $10, 795 Ridge Rd., Telford, PA, 215-234-0966, dcptheatre.com)

Love, music, and the bonds of sisterhood right out of Disney. Children’s theater. (Oct. 2-30, The Media Music Theatre Co., 104 E. State St., Media, PA, 610-891-0100, mediatheatre.org)

You can check off your Chekhov box with six versions of Anton Chekhov’s’s Uncle Vanya, all played at the same time, with a hilarious assist from Google Translate. (Oct. 5-24, Wilma Theater, $59-$25, 265 S. Broad St., 215-546-7824, wilmatheater.org)

The true story of an Augustine monk who hijacks a jetliner. His weapon? Holy water. (Oct. 6-24, Inis Nua Theatre Co. at the Drake, $30-$15, Louis Bluver Theatres at The Drake, 302 S. Hicks St., 215-454-9776, inisnuatheatre.org)

A Detroit group rises from obscurity to stardom. (Oct. 7-23, Road Company Theater Group, Williamstown, $30-$20, Grand Theatre, 405 S. Main St., Williamstown, NJ, 856-728-2120, roadcompany.com)

Online. Neil Bartlett’s adaption of Albert Camus’ classic makes its American debut, with back-to-the-future questions about the rise of fascism. (Oct. 7-Nov. 7, Lantern Theater Co., 215-829-0395, lanterntheater.org)

He steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Children’s theater, outdoors. (Oct. 9-24, Hedgerow Theatre Co., Rose Valley, $15, 64 Rose Valley Rd., Rose Valley, PA, 610-565-4211, hedgerowtheatre.org)

Broadway’s Carter Calvert, backed by the Roger Cohen Band, evokes the songs and sentiments of the legendary country singer. (Oct. 14-24, Bucks County Playhouse, $45, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, PA, 215-862-2121, bcptheater.org)

The cast lineup includes Felicia “Snoop” Pearson from The Wire and Clifton Powell from Next Friday. (Oct. 15, Lawrence Theatre Co., $75 to $50, The Met, 858 N. Broad St., 856-625-4445, lawrencetheatrecompany.org)

After a shooting at her lesbian bar, Mia, in an act of defiance, reopens. (Oct. 15-23, Pulley & Buttonhole Theatre Co., Jenkintown, 215-392-9958, pulleyandbuttonholetheatre.org)

Singing, storytelling, an evening of tunes and tall tales. (Oct. 17, Merriam, $69 to $39, 250 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, kimmelculturalcampus.org)

This historic crowd-pleaser returns to historic Philadelphia. (Oct. 20-Nov. 28, Academy of Music, $399-$39, 240 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, kimmelculturalcampus.org) 🎟️ Buy tickets

A classic whodunit by Agatha Christie. (Oct. 22-Nov. 6, Players Club of Swarthmore, $28-$14, 614 Fairview Rd., Swarthmore, PA, 610-328-4271, pcstheater.org)

The world is ending. Grab peanut butter, Wolf Blitzer, and Herschel, the Jewish fish. (Oct. 28-Nov. 7, 11th Hour Theatre Co., $40-$15, Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St., 267-987-9865, 11thhourtheatrecompany.org)

A Tejano family takes extreme measures to get on television. Family dynamics in the face of financial hardship. Bold, complex, funny. (Oct. 28-Nov. 21, Theatre Exile, 1340 S. 13th St., 215-218-4022, theatreexile.org)

It’s been a hard day’s night (or maybe a hard year), but we deserve the Beatles. All we need is love. (Oct. 29-31, Merriam, $124-$54 250 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, kimmelculturalcampus.org)

Motherhood — it’s about laughing/crying while juggling. (Oct. 29-31, DCP Theatre, Telford, $10, 795 Ridge Rd., Telford, PA 18969, 215-234-0966, dcptheatre.com)

Boy and Grandmother vs. the Grand High Witch and her followers. (Oct. 29-Nov. 7, Montgomery Theater Co., Souderton, $14-$10 124 N. Main St., Souderton, PA, 215-723-9984, montgomerytheater.org)

An unbreakable bond between brothers, equal parts love and despair. (Oct. 29-Nov 14, South Camden Theatre Co., $20, $5 for Camden residents, Waterfront South Theatre, 400 Jasper St., Camden, NJ, 866-811-4111, southcamdentheatre.org)

The first Chinese woman to set foot in the United States wants to bridge the cultural gap with her sideshow. Does it work or worsen? (Oct. 29-Nov. 21, InterAct Theatre Co., $37-$17, The Drake, 302 S. Hicks St., 215-568-8079, interacttheatre.org)

When a Jewish lawyer defends a skinhead accused of a vicious crime, they both learn about hate and forgiveness. (Oct. 30-31, live, location to be announced, Nov. 6-7, digital, Theatre Ariel, 610-667-9230, theatreariel.org)

Watch out for that big bad wolf! Children’s theater, outdoors. (Oct. 30-Nov. 14, Hedgerow Theatre Co., Rose Valley, $15, 64 Rose Valley Rd., Rose Valley, PA, 610-565-4211, hedgerowtheatre.org)

Friendship and community are tested when four Detroit autoworkers learn their factory is closing in this work by prizewinning playwright Dominique Morrisseau. (Nov. 2-Nov. 21, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Bristol, $50-$10, 120 Radcliffe St. Bristol, PA, 215-785-0100, brtstage.org)

Elegant and prideful Gardenia has been laid off from her job and now cleans hip-hop chart-topper Kila’s dressing room. An attack on Kila’s concert forces the two women together for lessons of life, morality, and redemption. (Nov. 3-21, Azuka Theatre, Pay what you decide, Louis Bluver Theatres at the Drake, 302 S. Hicks St., 19102., azukatheatre.org)

Get all your Samuel Beckett in one show with four short works capturing the sheer absurdity of being human. (Nov. 4-14, Villanova Theatre, $30-$28, John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts, Villanova University, 800 E. Lancaster Ave., Villanova, PA, 610-519-7474, villanovatheatre.org)

This play, written by Black playwright Alice Childress in the ‘60s and set in 1918, centers on two themes — an interracial relationship and a pandemic. (Nov. 5-Nov. 20, Old Academy Players, East Falls, 215-3540-3544 Indian Queen Lane, 843-1109, oldacademyplayers.org)

Brainwashed by Kardashian worshipers, a man sees his IQ drop from IQ to Q. Will he wake up? He needs answers, but they are in short supply. (Nov. 11-21, Montgomery Theater Co., Souderton, 124 N. Main St., Souderton, PA 18964, 215-723-9984, montgomerytheater.org)

A white mansplainer and a Black Ivy League-educated newbie find connections on the job — driving a 19-ton garbage truck. (Nov. 11-Dec. 5, Philadelphia Theatre Co., Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., 215-985-0420, philadelphiatheatrecompany.org)

Work created by playwright Teyquil Skelton. (Nov. 12-14, Pulley & Buttonhole Theatre Co., Jenkintown, 215-392-9958, pulleyandbuttonholetheatre.org)

Technology runs amok, upsetting lives and love. (Nov. 12-20, Players Club of Swarthmore, $10, 614 Fairview Rd., Swarthmore, PA, 610-328-4271, pcstheater.org)

Racism erupts on campus when one of the few Black students at liberal Belmont College starts receiving hate mail. (Nov. 12-14, DCP Theatre Telford, $10, 795 Ridge Rd., Telford, PA, 215-234-0966, dcptheatre.com)

Love and letting go under the sea. (Nov. 16-Jan. 2, Walnut Street Theatre, $77-$25, 825 Walnut St., 215-574-3550, walnutstreettheatre.org)

A fresh adaptation of a favorite yuletide story with newly arranged 19th-century English carols. (Nov. 20-Jan. 2, People’s Light, 39 Conestoga Rd. Malvern, PA, 610-644-3500, peopleslight.org)

From the twilight of the Russian empire to Paris in the ‘20s, a brave woman sets out to discover her past. From the movies to the stage. (Nov. 23-28, Merriam, $119-$39, 250 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, kimmelculturalcampus.org)

A classical musical romp set aboard a ship — complete with tap-dancing. (Nov. 26-Dec. 11, Players Club of Swarthmore, $28-14, 614 Fairview Rd., Swarthmore, PA, 610-328-4271, pcstheater.org)

Says Marie Antoinette in this raucous comedy about the French Reign of Terror: “Sometimes a revolution needs a woman’s touch.” (Nov. 26-Dec. 12, Stagecrafters Theater, Chestnut Hill, $25-$15, 8130 Germantown Ave., 215-247-9913, thestagecrafters.org)

A hilarious variety show, with sketches, songs, and improv — every performance unique. (Nov. 30-Dec. 30, Act II Playhouse, $30-$27, 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-654-0200, act2.org)

» READ MORE: Find more in our complete fall arts guide

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