Local Playwright Debuting First Show In Rose Valley

ROSE VALLEY, PA – A local woman's dream of penning a play and seeing it come to life on stage has come true, as Jane A. McNeil’s first play "Dishman Springs" is set to premier at the Hedgerow Theatre in Rose Valley this September.

The play will run at the theater from Sept. 13 through Sept. 13.

Hedgerow patrons will delight in meeting Ida Dishman, the main character "Dishman Springs," and her family as their story comes to life on the stage featuring stage actress Penelope Reed, who was the 2017 Barrymore Award winner for lifetime achievement.

Here's a bit about "Dishman Springs:"

As the curtain rises, Ida discovers her maternal instincts are alive and kicking when her grown son, Gordman, makes a sudden announcement on her 75th birthday.

With a little help from her upstairs neighbor and oldest friend, 85 year-old Mary Adams, and her adolescent grandson, Ida intends on "puttin' all her worries to rest" by showing her boy what matters most in life. Only what Ida does not realize is what is waiting for her on the outskirts of town. In "Dishman Springs," Ida will rediscover her youth, her past, and the meaning of family love.

"Hedgerow has a long history of bringing new plays to life that are centered around the ensemble. It is a real treat to have the ensemble rise to meet the vision of a local playwright," said Jared Reed, Producing Artistic Director of Hedgerow Theatre Company. "The whole development process has been a joy and we are so proud to bring a homegrown playwright’s vision to our stage."

McNeil, of Villanova, is an animated storyteller, playwright, and student of human interaction and behavior.

Throughout her life and conversations with anyone who crosses her path, McNeil has gained a unique perspective into the human spirit, the everyday survivor, and the journey back from the unmentionable.

These life experiences are what have given McNeil such a unique voice as a writer and as a newly knighted playwright.

At 40 years old, McNeil pursued her post collegiate career at Rosemont College where she received her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and developed her dramatic writing style.

About ten years ago, one of McNeil's friend asked her what he dream was. She thought about it and realized she wanted to write a play. Now, ten years later she has made that dream come true.

When not busy working in her springhouse studio, McNeil serves as Playwright-in-Residence of Hedgerow Theatre.

She lives in Villanova with her husband, two kids, and two elderly dogs in a farmhouse; where coincidentally the renowned playwright Philip Barry routinely dined with Hope Montgomery Scott, his dear friend and the real-life inspiration for his famous leading lady Tracy Lord from his Broadway play "The Philadelphia Story."

Tickets for McNeil's debut play are available online here.

The Hedgerow Theater is located at 64 Rose Valley Road in Media.

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