Weekend Planner: Gardening, Basketball, Art

Learn gardening know-how, have a few laughs with a Hatboro troupe, or help bring out the kids' inner-artist this weekend.

Spring may feel like it's far away, but there are a few things you can do locally this weekend to gear up for the planting (and harvesting) season. Here are some options: GARDENING 101 Where/when: 435 W. Glenside Ave., Glenside, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Why go: Techniques for getting the most out of a raised bed vegetable garden using less space, time and effort will be shared. Cost: $10 ART CLASSES FOR KIDS Where/when: 1219 Glenburnie Lane, Dresher, Friday at 4:30 p.m. Why go: Children and develop their artistic skills with lessons in drawing, painting, and working with clay. Cost: Free ‘DROP DEAD’ FUNNY Where/when: The Village Players of Hatboro, 401 Jefferson Ave., Hatboro, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Why go: Share a few …

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Hatboro Theater Fundraises to Keep it Cool

The Village Players of Hatboro continue its fund drive to purchase new air-conditioning units.

Even in unseasonably warm winter days, chances are you're not even thinking about air-conditioning or when you'll be looking to cool things down. But, the Village Players of Hatboro certainly are.  The volunteer-run theater has been fundraising to replace its "beyond repair" air-conditioning system since last spring. With a shoestring budget, the nonprofit group was staring down a $20,000 cost that actor and director Fran Carroll said could potentially close the curtains for good. Since then, Carroll said the group has shifted direction a bit. Instead of replacing the entire system, Carroll said the Village Players are buying smaller air-conditioning units at roughly $5,000 apiece. So far, the group has bought one - to keep audiences cool …

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Hatboro Troupe Staging 'Drop Dead' Funny Play

The Village Players of Hatboro's upcoming performance is 'Drop Dead,' a slapstick, silly play.

Director Fran Carroll describes The Village Players of Hatboro’s upcoming show as a “play within a play.” “But the play is supposed to be really bad,” said Carroll, who acted in the same show, “Drop Dead,” 17 years ago. “It’s so bad that they can’t afford a set so the furniture is literally painted on the wall.” Unlike the internal play within the Village Players’ production of the show penned by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, the real thing is funny, Carroll said.  “It might be (my favorite) just because it’s very, very silly,” he said. “I keep telling people, ‘don’t be afraid of going overboard.’ ” The play incorporates “a lot of slapstick” and “a lot of really bad puns,” Carroll said. Since rehearsals began in October, Carroll said …

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Thefts Reported at Hatboro's Village Players

Someone stole nine downspouts from the Hatboro-based community theater and attempted to steal the air-conditioning unit, Hatboro Police said.

Hatboro-based Village Players, which has been struggling for months to afford a new air-conditioning system, was hit with another blow when someone stole nine aluminum gutter downspouts from the Jefferson Avenue theater, police said. The downspouts – valued at approximately $200 - were first discovered missing on Aug. 17. They were reported to the Hatboro Police Department at that time. According to police, the suspect also attempted to steal the playhouse’s air-conditioning unit.  Village Players’ Spokesman, Fran Carroll, told Patch that a local boy scout troop is “lending a helping hand” in the coming weeks to offer various repairs to the building, including fixing the door frame to the entrance. “They will probably have to add replacing…

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Village Players Tackle End of World

Hatboro's community theater is putting the finishing touches on its next play, "Early One Evening at The Rainbow Bar & Grille."

The world is coming to an end. What do you do? The Village Players' upcoming performance explores just that. "Early One Evening at The Rainbow Bar & Grille" is an apocalyptic drama with a tinge of comedy set in a small town in "Pennsyltucky" that focuses on a group of six people who interact at a local watering hole. "No one really knows what's going on inside or outside of the bar," director Ron Green explained. The cause of the impending doom is never clear, but the bar-goers all discuss what they plan to do during their last day on Earth. Bartender Shep hangs at work and debates taking his life. Roy plans to go to Disneyland, but needs to have a few beers first. Willie goes on a rampage and kills her husband. Shirley starts checking …

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Photo of the Day: February 19

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Village Players Laugh Their Way to Vegas

The Village Players of Hatboro's production of "Four Weddings and an Elvis" begins Friday and continues through Jan. 21.

Practically nothing is more over-the-top than Las Vegas weddings, and, of course, Elvis impersonators. Playwright Nancy Frick, of Plymouth Meeting, combined both in her comedic “Four Weddings and an Elvis,” which will be staged beginning Friday at Village Players of Hatboro. “Love is wonderful fodder,” said Frick, who works by day writing in the marketing/advertising field. “I knew I would write the story some day.” Frick herself was married in Las Vegas - 10 years prior to the play’s creation in the late ‘90s. With her husband in mind, she quips that writing what would become her first published play wasn’t on her mind as she exchanged vows. “I wasn’t actually thinking about it in the ceremony,” she said, adding that, unlike some of her …

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Get Out Weekend Planner

Walk to honor two members of the Hatboro-Horsham class of 2010, or meet Horsham's firefighters.

Pay no attention to the clouds. Your weekend is going to be bright and sunny, so pick out a few of these options and go enjoy! 5K RUN/WALK FUNDRAISER FOR HATBORO-HORSHAM GRADS Where/when: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Hatboro-Horsham High School Why go: This is a fundraiser organized in honor of Robert Nagel and Edward Coombs, two Hatboro-Horsham graduates killed in a car crash. Proceeds will go to the Edward Coombs Foundation and be used to fund scholarships. Awards will be given in age groups from 5 to 60 and over, so all are welcome. Cost: $20 HORSHAM FIRE OPEN HOUSE Where/when: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Horsham Fire Company Battalion 2, 1023 Horsham Road, Horsham. Why go: Demonstrations, food and tours, not to mention a chance …

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Up For a Scare?

Hatboro's Village Players to present Halloween horror classic

In a secluded house on a private island, a group of strangers gather for an evening dinner party. Moments later, one of them drops dead. Though they try to brush it off as suicide, they know the truth; whomever has invited them intends to kill each of them, one by one. Is this the start of the next "Scream" movie? Not really. In fact, you might call it a prequel. This is the start of Agatha Christie’s "And Then There Were None," a stage play being presented three consecutive weekends this month by The Village Players of Hatboro. The play is based on Christie’s story, "Ten Little Indians," a top-selling mystery novel. It’s so popular that it has been adapted in a variety of ways, including five different movies, a graphic novel, and a video…

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Fran Carroll

3:43 pm on Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Don't forget the Village Players of Hatboro will be holding auditions for the January show show, "Four Weddings and an Elvis" this Sunday and Monday at 7 o'clock. No experience needed! Check out our "event" here on The Patch for more information.   more ›

5 Things: July 8

Perfect weather makes a perfect weekend.

1. Weather: The weekend forecast starts off not looking so hot with thundershowers today. But rest assured, the remainder of the weekend looks great with sunny skies and temperatures reaching 86 and 87. 2. Movies: For a rainy Friday, come see the following movies: "Horrible Bosses" (which is getting rave reviews) or "Zookeeper." 3. Saturday is a day to go out to dinner. Come to Harrigan’s Pub for great food and live music. Stage 5 is playing. 4. Recipe: Sunday brunch is a great time to sip mimosas and make the perfect eggs benedict for yourself, or the entire family. 5. Perhaps that good breakfast will prepare you for another Village Players of Hatboro audition Sunday at 7 p.m. As always, no experience is necessary.

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