While nearby Philadelphia may overshadow Delaware County with its wealth of culture, including numerous festivals, restaurants, theatres, music venues, and other cultural spaces, there are plenty of enriching experiences to be had without having to travel into the big city. The Media Theatre is one of the most revered cultural destinations in Delco and its only professional music theatre. From September through May, there is a steady rotation of Broadway musicals right in the heart of quaint downtown Media. Our Delaware County personal injury lawyers love taking out families here when we’re looking to get some culture right in our own backyard. A few of the many reasons why we love this space so much include:

Broadway Shows

As mentioned above, you can treat yourself and your family to some of the most popular Broadway shows around right here in Media, without needing to trek to Philly or New York City. Current and upcoming Broadway shows at the Media Theatre include:

Next To Normal (January 31-February 25)

This Pulitzer Prize winner takes audiences into the home of a family affected by mental illness, offering unique insight into the highs, lows, and coping mechanisms such families go through. The musical won three Tony Awards in 2009, including Best Musical Score and received overwhelming critical accolades from the likes of The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone.

This musical is a heartfelt, humanizing look at a subject matter of which many families are familiar. The family of main characters at first seems typical, but soon the audience learns that the mother has been suffering from manic depression for 16 years. However, this type of family dynamic is more normal than many of us may realize. The touching story is told through masterful dramatic performances by award-winning performers Krissy Fraelich and Ben Dibble, with help from a catchy pop/rock score.

Always, Patsy Cline (March 15-April 1)

This popular and critically-lauded musical has run productions throughout the United States over the past few years and tells the tragic story of Patsy Cline, a talented country singer who lost her life in a plane crash in 1963. This play tells the story of Cline’s friendship with one of her fans, a Houston woman named Louise Seger. Over 27 songs are featured, including classics like Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams, and Walking After Midnight.

Newsies (April/May/June 2018)

Newsies is based on a 1992 motion picture of the same name and is scored by 8-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (whose other productions have included Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Sister Act, and more). During its Broadway run, the production was nominated for 23 major theatrical awards, including eight Tony Award nominations. It’s set in New York City at the turn of the 20th century and tells the story of a group of teenage newsies who rebel against publishers Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, who have raised distribution prices and hurt the newsies’ bottom line in the process.

Kid’s Shows

The Media Theatre also runs productions made for kids. From now through February 25th, a play called The Princess and the Pea runs every Sunday at noon. Beginning on March 25, Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid will be running every Sunday at noon and Saturday, March 31 at 11 a.m.

Classes

People of all ages can also develop their own theatre careers at the Media Theatre, through a wide array of instructional classes, including:

  • Acting and Singing– Classes are divided into Grades K-3, Grades 4-6, Teens, and Adults
  • Dance Machine – A dance class for participants age 8 and up, instructed by Philadelphia performers Ronnie Keller and Kimberly Maxson, who are regular performers on stage at the Media Theatre.