READING -- Final weekend for Reading Community Players' amazing reduction of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Remaining performances will be Friday  Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at 8 p.m and the final performance Sunday Oct. 2 at 3 p.m.
"It's 1935 and it's Maycomb, Alabama." Tensions are running high as Atticus Finch prepares to defend Tom Robinson, a young black man with a crippled left arm, who is accused of attacking a poor, ignorant white woman for whom he feels pity. Finch's children, Scout and Jem experience the depth of racial hatred in their town, among their friends, as well as the unexpected strengths of their father. Both walk in the skins of others, as their father instructs them to do, to understand the reclusive Boo Radley and the vicious Mrs. Dubose.
Review is in an earlier post on this blog.
For reservations call the theatre at 610-375-9106 or visit the website at www.rcptheatre.com. 

 READING -- For the younger set --  "The Boxcar Children," Yocum Institute for Arts Education will be present at  the Miller Center for the Arts  Saturday, October 8 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets: $9 Adult, $7 Child (Ages 12 and under)
Based on the books by first-grade teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner, this endearing family classic tells the story of the Alden children who, after the tragic loss of their parents and the possibility of being separated, take off on the adventure of a lifetime. The Great Depression and Bluegrass music are the backdrop that frames this extraordinary story of two brothers and two sisters who risk it all to stay together. In an abandoned boxcar in the middle of the woods they discover that "Home is where the heart is." (Recommended for ages 6+)
 Community Partnership Activity: Children's craft workshop following the 11 a.m . performance. Registration required; please call the Miller Center box office at 610-607-6270 for more information.Presented in partnership with the Greater Reading Literary Festival.

AUDUBON -- Methacton Community Theater will present "1776,"  the Tony Award-winning musical written by Peter Stone with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards on October 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 & 16, 2011 at the Shannondell Performing Arts Center in Audubon.  All performances will be open to the public.
Curtain time is 7:30 PM for Friday and Saturday evening performances and 2:00 PM for Sunday matinees.  All non-residents of Shannondell are required to park in the Giant parking lot on Egypt Road across from the entrance to Shannondell.  A free shuttle service will be provided to transport patrons from the parking lot to the theater.  Tickets are $15.00 with a discounted price of $10.00 for seniors (62 plus) and children under 12.  A 10% fee will be added to the ticket cost to cover the Lower Providence Amusement Tax.  Please call (610) 489-6449 for information and/or reservations or visit Methacton Community Theater on the web at www.methactoncommunitytheater.org.  Tickets may be purchased in advance through the Methacton Community Theater website or through Ticket Leap at www.ticketleap.com.  Only cash or check is accepted at the door.


 
READING   --  The classically-trained and thoroughly modern Aquila Theatre returns to Miller Center to perform Oscar Wilde's masterpiece "The Importance of Being Earnest" Saturday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m.
"The Importance of Being Earnest" tells the tale of Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, both young men who have taken to bending the truth to add a dash of excitement to their lives. Crammed full of larger than life characters and memorable satirical humor, Aquila's creative staging and sparkling flare for language make this production one not to be missed. Tickets: $27 Advance, $32 Door, $20 Students. Order tickets by calling our new phone number at 610-607-6270.Miller Center for the Arts - Reading Area Community College is located at  4 North Second Street, Reading, PA 19601

POTTSTOWN -- Tri-County Performing Arts Center  presents "Pippin," Thursdays through Sundays, Oct 13 – 30.  "Pippin"  is the tongue-in-cheek fairy tale that captivated Broadway audiences with its pop score and show-stopping numbers. A young prince longs to discover the secret of true happiness and fulfillment. He seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, the temptations of the flesh and the intrigues of political power. In the end, he finds the answer is simpler than he had imagined! "Pippin"  is by three-time Oscar®-winning composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, the creator of the Broadway hits "Wicked" and "Godspell", and the animated films "Pocahantas" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Parental Guidance Suggested*
PLEASE NOTE: there is no performance Saturday, Oct 15. Instead, there is an additional matinee on Saturday, Oct 29.
Special Events Opening Night Reception: 10/14; Talkbacks with Cast/Crew: Sundays, 10/16 & 10/23Tickets: ADULT:  Thurs $20; Fri, Sat & Sun $23 STUDENT/SENIOR(65+): Thurs $18; Fri, Sat, Sun $21;CHILD (12 & under): Thurs $13; Fri, Sat & Sun $15; $2 off per ticket for groups of 10 or more! Tri-County Performing Arts Center is located at 245 E. High St. in Pottstown.  For information go to www.villageproductions.org/
 
READING -- Gensius Theatre presents "The Little Dog Laughed" directed by Kirk Lawrence October 21-October 30.  Douglas Carter Beane’s, "The Little Dog Laughed" focuses on the compromises one has to make, the lies one has to tell, to get ahead in that mythical land called Hollywood. Will Mitchell’s agent Diane convince him to choose film stardom over love? Will Mitchell play gay on film, or in real life? Will Alex wind up with the man, or hit the road?
 The show does include  male nudity and is not suitable for young audiences. No one under 18 will be admitted without parental approval. For more information, go to GenesiusTheatre.org or call 610-373-9500.

OTHER AREA PERFORMANCES
 
EPHRATA -- Ephrata Performing Arts Center's Sharadin-Bigler Theater, Cocalico Street, Ephrata (717-733-7966 -- "Evil Dead: The Musical"-- Oct. 20 through Nov. 5
 
MALVERN -- People's Light and Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern (610-644-3500) -- "The Return of Don Quixote" through Oct. 16

 
PHILADELPHIA --
Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. Second St., Philadelphia (215-922-1122)
"August: Osage County" through Oct. 30

Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St., Philadelphia (215-413-1318)
"Aspects of Love" through Oct. 23

Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., Philadelphia (215-546-7824)
"Our Class" -- Oct. 12 through Nov. 13

QUAKERTOWN -- McCoole's Arts & Events Place, 10 S. Main St., Quakertown (215-538-1776)
Crowded Kitchen Players present "The Maltese Falcon" through Oct. 9.


For updates on theater happenings in Eastern Pa. Follow me on Twitter @MercArtsCheryl