Hedgerow Theatre
Encyclopedia
Hedgerow Theatre is a theatre company based in Rose Valley, Pennsylvania
, near Philadelphia. It is the oldest residential repertory theatre company in the United States
.
Hedgerow was founded in 1923 by New York
-based director and actor Jasper Deeter in Rose Valley, less than 3 miles from Media
and Swarthmore
. The theatre itself, originally a grist-mill built in 1840, seats 144 spectators, after a reconstruction designed by architect Will Price
. It is a contributing structure in the Rose Valley Historic District. Hedgerow’s green room showcases a staircase and table designed by Wharton Esherick
, acclaimed American craftsman, as well as one time set designer for Hedgerow. Located a half mile from the theatre is Hedgerow House, utilized as housing for the residential company members as well as a rehearsal space, school, and office, accompanied by the costume and prop shops.
Claimed to be “The Mother of all Philadelphia Theatre,” Hedgerow has helped to spawn other popular theatre companies, such as People's Light and Theatre Company
. Hedgerow has been the site of many play debuts, and has received recognition by producing the plays of George Bernard Shaw
, Eugene O'Neill
, and Sean O'Casey
. Its actors have included Richard Basehart
, Ann Harding
, Keanu Reeves
, and Austin Pendleton
.
Since 1990, Hedgerow has been under the artistic direction of Penelope Reed, who has encouraged the educational growth of the company as well as an atmosphere of collaboration. The company stages upwards of two dozen productions a year and relies on the dedication of its full-time company members, volunteers, and surrounding community. The typical Mainstage season consists of, but is never limited to, new plays, farces, Shakespeare, mysteries, and the seasonal favorite, A Christmas Carol
. The Horizons series runs in repertory with the Mainstage season and frequently showcases new plays, often featuring the younger company members. Recently, the Mainstage season has been divided into two different series. The theatre has started to operated under a Small Professional Theatre contract, featuring more equity
artists in what will be known as the Signature series, while the entire company and emerging artists will be featured in the Heritage series.
Hedgerow prides itself on educational productions and focuses much dedication to school tours as well as outreach programs to underserved audiences. The Children’s Theatre productions also serve as an educational outlet, featuring actors from ages three and up, many of whom have taken classes through the Hedgerow Theatre School, originally formed by Rose Schulman. It also offers fellowships to recent college graduates pursuing professional and practical experience. Fellows typically stay with the company for a year in residence at Hedgerow House and gain experience in acting, stage management, design, administration, and development.
Hedgerow was recently awarded the Best New Play 2005 Barrymore Award
for The Lives of Bosie by John Wolfson.
Rose Valley, Pennsylvania
Rose Valley is a small but historic borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its area is and the population was 944 at the 2000 census. It was settled by Quaker farmers in 1682, and later water mills along Ridley Creek drove manufacturing in the nineteenth century...
, near Philadelphia. It is the oldest residential repertory theatre company in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Hedgerow was founded in 1923 by New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based director and actor Jasper Deeter in Rose Valley, less than 3 miles from Media
Media, Pennsylvania
The borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and is located west of Philadelphia. Media was incorporated in 1850 at the same time that it was named the county seat. The population was 5,533 at the 2000 census. Its school district is the Rose Tree Media School District...
and Swarthmore
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Swarthmore was originally named Westdale in honor of noted painter Benjamin West, who was one of the early residents of the town. The name was changed to Swarthmore after the establishment of Swarthmore College...
. The theatre itself, originally a grist-mill built in 1840, seats 144 spectators, after a reconstruction designed by architect Will Price
Will Price
William Lightfoot Price was an influential American architect, a pioneer in the use of reinforced concrete, and a founder of the utopian communities of Arden, Delaware and Rose Valley, Pennsylvania.-Career:...
. It is a contributing structure in the Rose Valley Historic District. Hedgerow’s green room showcases a staircase and table designed by Wharton Esherick
Wharton Esherick
Wharton Esherick was a sculptor who worked primarily in wood. He reveled in applying the principles of sculpture to common utilitarian objects. Consequently he is best known for his sculptural furniture and furnishings...
, acclaimed American craftsman, as well as one time set designer for Hedgerow. Located a half mile from the theatre is Hedgerow House, utilized as housing for the residential company members as well as a rehearsal space, school, and office, accompanied by the costume and prop shops.
Claimed to be “The Mother of all Philadelphia Theatre,” Hedgerow has helped to spawn other popular theatre companies, such as People's Light and Theatre Company
People's Light and Theatre Company
The People's Light & Theatre Company is a non-profit, professional theatre founded in 1974 in Malvern, Pennsylvania. People's Light produces 8-9 productions per season, as well as plays performed by the Summerstage school program. There is a holiday show each season, and the past 3 years have...
. Hedgerow has been the site of many play debuts, and has received recognition by producing the plays of George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
, Eugene O'Neill
Eugene O'Neill
Eugene Gladstone O'Neill was an American playwright and Nobel laureate in Literature. His poetically titled plays were among the first to introduce into American drama techniques of realism earlier associated with Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, and Swedish...
, and Sean O'Casey
Seán O'Casey
Seán O'Casey was an Irish dramatist and memoirist. A committed socialist, he was the first Irish playwright of note to write about the Dublin working classes.- Early life:...
. Its actors have included Richard Basehart
Richard Basehart
John Richard Basehart was an American actor. He starred in the 1960s television science fiction drama Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, in the role of Admiral Harriman Nelson.-Career:...
, Ann Harding
Ann Harding
Ann Harding was an American theatre, motion picture, radio, and television actress.-Early years:Born Dorothy Walton Gatley at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, to George G. Gatley and Elizabeth "Bessie" Crabb. The daughter of a career army officer, she traveled often during her early life...
, Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
, and Austin Pendleton
Austin Pendleton
Austin Pendleton is an American film, television, and stage actor, a playwright, and a theatre director and instructor.-Life and career:...
.
Since 1990, Hedgerow has been under the artistic direction of Penelope Reed, who has encouraged the educational growth of the company as well as an atmosphere of collaboration. The company stages upwards of two dozen productions a year and relies on the dedication of its full-time company members, volunteers, and surrounding community. The typical Mainstage season consists of, but is never limited to, new plays, farces, Shakespeare, mysteries, and the seasonal favorite, A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
. The Horizons series runs in repertory with the Mainstage season and frequently showcases new plays, often featuring the younger company members. Recently, the Mainstage season has been divided into two different series. The theatre has started to operated under a Small Professional Theatre contract, featuring more equity
Actors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
artists in what will be known as the Signature series, while the entire company and emerging artists will be featured in the Heritage series.
Hedgerow prides itself on educational productions and focuses much dedication to school tours as well as outreach programs to underserved audiences. The Children’s Theatre productions also serve as an educational outlet, featuring actors from ages three and up, many of whom have taken classes through the Hedgerow Theatre School, originally formed by Rose Schulman. It also offers fellowships to recent college graduates pursuing professional and practical experience. Fellows typically stay with the company for a year in residence at Hedgerow House and gain experience in acting, stage management, design, administration, and development.
Hedgerow was recently awarded the Best New Play 2005 Barrymore Award
Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater
The Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater are awards presented by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia for Philadelphia-area theater productions. One journalist referred to the award as "Philadelphia’s equivalent of a Tony."...
for The Lives of Bosie by John Wolfson.