Our History
“We’ll have a theatre if we have to play in the Hedgerows.”
— Jasper Deeter, Founder of Hedgerow Theatre
In 1923, Hedgerow launched the first resident repertory theatre that, over its 100 years (count ‘em!), become a magnet for many national theatre artists, from Richard Basehart to Edward Albee; from Ann Harding to Susan Glaspell; to—more recently—Keanu Reeves and this season, once again, Austin Pendleton. In our 100th season, we welcomed the legendary David Shiner as performer and co-director of Juliette Dunn’s The Puzzle and continue to nurture connections with emerging and seasoned artists toward the elevation of bold artistry and collaboration.
A vision born of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Hedgerow is inextricably entwined with the legacy of the Rose Valley Arts and Crafts Movement: a movement that defines itself by independent thinkers resisting the wave of industrialization rushing over society.
Founding Artistic Director, Jasper Deeter, recognized in this movement a kindred spirit after visiting his sister and watching her perform at what was Guild Hall. He saw here was the place to create an independent theater and transformed Guild Hall into Hedgerow Theatre.
In this act, Deeter foreshadowed the regional not-for-profit theatre movement, and pushed for a racially integrated company of artists both near and far, crafting an identity for Hedgerow as a beacon for artists throughout the country.
Hedgerow quickly became a haven for cutting edge artists of the early 20th century, and it gained a national and international reputation as a proving ground for era-defining artists such as Eugene O’Neill, Henrik Ibsen, Lynn Riggs, Susan Glaspell, Langston Hughes, George Bernard Shaw, Sean O’Casey, Theodore Dreiser, Bertolt Brecht, and Wharton Esherick and more.
The company’s history is vast. Hedgerow has and continues to produce bold works, in our intimate space in a spirit of inclusion.
George Bernard Shaw and Eugene O’Neill gave their plays royalty-free to Hedgerow to produce. Jasper Deeter taught Langston Hughes the craft of playwriting. Hughes wrote his play Mulatto at Hedgerow in the summer of 1928. Bella Spewack (who wrote Kiss Me Kate) began her career at Hedgerow as Bella Cohen. Many of Lynn Rigg’s plays premiered at Hedgerow (Green Grow the Lilacs became the musical OKLAHOMA!). Richard Hepburn (Katherine Hepburn’s brother) wrote Behold Your God, which premiered at Hedgerow. Playwright Christopher Fry was also associated with Hedgerow. Robert Earl Jones (James Earl Jones’ father) performed as a member of Hedgerow’s company. Countless artists launched or continued their careers in this enchanted venue in Rose Valley.
Hedgerow has been celebrated as the “mother of all Philadelphia theatres” for the companies that were founded by Hedgerow artists branching out - including People’s Light, Freedom Theatre (now New Freedom Theatre), The Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA), Curio Theatre Company and more.
Hedgerow is here today thanks to the artistry, excellence, generosity, diligence, and passion of so many. We thank our artists, students, patrons, donors, community partners, volunteer board members, and staff from the beginning to today for being a part of this special place.
“Long live the Abbey Theatre! Long live the Moscow Arts Theatre! And long live the Hedgerow Theatre… in the state of Pennsylvania!”
— Seán O’Casey, Irish dramatist (1888-1964)
Jasper Deeter at Hedgerow’s piano, 1950s.
Jasper Deeter and Ann Harding, film star of the 30's, on the steps of Hedgerow Theatre
Shaw Festival
