Performance and classical music listings

An Act of the Imagination

Blackmail & conspiracy abound when a writer's steamy romance novel is suspected of being confessional. Closes 11/17. Hedgerow Theatre, 64 Rose Valley Rd., Media; 610-565-4211,

» READ MORE: www.hedgerowtheatre.org

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$10-$22.

Antigone Timeless story by one of the great authors of Greek tragedy, Sophocles. Reservations: 610-282-3192. Closes 10/7. DeSales University, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley; www.desales.edu. $18-$27.

Assassins Dark musical comedy about the lives of nine people who tried to assassinate a president. Closes 10/21. Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2d St.; 215-922-1122, www.ardentheatre.org. $27-$45.

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Philadelphia premiere of outrageous comedy spoof. Closes 10/13. Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; Reservations required: 215-735-0630. www.playsandplayers.org. $15-$25.

An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf Dark comedy about an American living in Paris who contemplates life & unrequited love at his restaurant. Closes 12/2. Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2d St.; 215-922-1122, www.ardentheatre.org. Preview performance. 10/11.

The Lonesome West Comedy about two warring Irish brothers & a priest who tries to aid them. Closes 10/6. Lantern Theater Company at St. Stephen's Theater, 923 Ludlow St. www.lanterntheater.org.; 215-829-0395. $25-$35; $22-$30 seniors; $15-$25 students.

A Night in the Old Marketplace Magic tale set to klezmer music. Closes 10/21. Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St.; 215-569-9700. www.princemusictheater.org. $30.

Sunshine Two lost souls come together in this compelling play from one of America's premier playwrights. Closes 10/7. New City Stage Company, 825 Walnut St.; 215-563-7500. www.newcitystage.org. $16-$18; $14 students & seniors.

Princess Cindy & the Wizards Costume Party

Cinderella & her friends throw a fun ball. Closes 11/17. Hedgerow Theatre, 64 Rose Valley Rd., Media; 610-565-4211,

» READ MORE: www.hedgerowtheatre.org

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$10; $8 children.

Beyond Therapy

Madcap comedy about two singles seeking love & finding romance. Closes 10/14. Villanova University - Vasey Hall, 800 Lancaster, Villanova; 610-519-7474.

» READ MORE: www.theatre.villanova.edu

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$20-$24.

Cole Musical based on the life of Cole Porter, featuring many of his hits. Closes 10/14. The Little Theatre (Sketch Club), 433 Glover St., Woodbury; 856-848-8089, www.sketchclubplayers.org. $15; $13 seniors.

Done to Death Group of mystery authors find themselves having to solve a series of actual mysteries. Closes 10/6. Haddonfield Plays & Players, 957 E. Atlantic Ave., Haddonfield; 856-429-8139, www.haddonfieldplayers.com. $14-$16.

The Fantasticks Musical, dessert & beverages. Closes 10/27. Off-Broad Street Theatre, 5 S. Greenwood Ave., Hopewell; Reservations required: 609-466-2766. www.off-broadstreet.com. $25.50-$27.25.

History Alive: Life Stories of Famous American Women Presented by Heritage Theatre Guild. Closes 10/5. Main Line Unitarian Church, 816 S. Valley Forge Rd., Devon; 610-688-8332. www.mluc.org. Donations accepted.

The Robber Bridegroom Based on novella by Eudora Welty. Southern fairy tale set in 18th-century Mississippi. Closes 10/21. DeSales University, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley; 610-282-3192. www.desales.edu. $18-$20; $16-$18 students & seniors.

A Deadly Briefcase

Interactive "whodunit" features comedy, romance, intrigue & murder. Closes 3/29. Bistro Romano, 120 Lombard St.; Reservations required: 215-925-8880.

» READ MORE: www.bistroromano.com

. $42.95 includes hors d'oeuvres & four-course dinner.

Here's Killing You, Kid! Dinner & a murder mystery that spoofs film noir. Reservations required: 215-794-4051. Closes 12/29. Peddler's Village, Rtes. 202 & 263, Lahaska; www.peddlersvillage.com. $44.95.

A Little North of South Musical comedy set during the Civil War in a town that straddles a state line dividing North & South. Closes 10/27. Freedom Chapel Dinner Theatre, 15 N. Bridge St., Christiana; Reservations required: 610-593-7013. www.freedomchapeldinnertheatre.

8th Annual Family Concert

William Tennent High School, 333 Centennial Rd., Warminster; Warminster Symphony Orchestra: 215-675-4388,

» READ MORE: www.warmsymphony.org

. $5; free for children with paying adult. 10/7 3:30 pm.

Orchestra 2001: Exotic Birds, Kurt Weill & Gilbert Kalish Weill, Mackey & Messaien. Gilbert Kalish & Geoffrey Michaels, soloists. Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore; 215-922-2190, www.orchestra2001.org. Donations accepted. 10/7 7:30 pm.

Symphony in C (formerly Haddonfield Symphony) With Singing City Mariana Karpatova, mezzo-soprano. Works by Prokofiev & Rachmaninoff. Rutgers University - Camden Center for the Arts, 311 N. Fifth St., Camden; 856-429-1880, www.symphonyInC.org. $15-$40. 10/6 8 pm. 10/7 2 pm.

*FREE*

Brenda Morrone & Verna Law

Zion Mennonite Church, 149 Cherry Lane, Souderton; 215-723-3592.

» READ MORE: www.zionmennonite.org

. 10/7 3 pm.

The Claudia Quintet Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St.; 215-545-4302. www.philartalliance.org. $12. 10/11 8 pm.

*FREE* Dolce Suono Chamber Music: Spotlight on Philadelphia Composers Rorem, Crumb, Abramovic & Curt Cacioppo. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; 267-765-5210. www.dolcesuono.com. Panel discussion 6 pm, concert 7:30 pm. 10/10 7:30 pm.

Faculty Recital: John David Smith, Horn, With Julie Nishimura, Pianist University of Delaware, 114 Old College, Newark; 302-831-6589. www.udel.edu. $12; $8 seniors; $3 students. 10/6 5:30 pm.

*FREE* Jimmy Brent Memorial Concert Works by the late Jimmy Brent & others. Curtis Institute of Music - Field Concert Hall, 1726 Locust St.; 215-893-7902. www.curtis.edu. 10/7 2 pm.

Master Players Chamber Series Concert #1 Works by Johannes Brahms & Carl Reinecke. University of Delaware, 114 Old College, Newark; 302-831-6589. www.udel.edu. $17; $12 seniors; $5 students. 10/5 8 pm.

The Newstead Trio Pennsylvania Academy of Music resident ensemble. St. James Episcopal Church, 119 N. Duke St., Lancaster; 717-399-9733. www.newsteadtrio.com. $10; $5 students. 10/5 8 pm.

Orpheus With Emanuel Ax: Mozart Celebration Lafayette College - Morris R. Williams Center for the Arts, 111 Quad Dr., Easton; 610-330-5009. www.lafayette.edu/~artscntr/williams. $30. 10/10 8 pm.

*FREE* Student Recital Call 215-893-5261 for program details. Curtis Institute of Music - Field Concert Hall, 1726 Locust St.; 215-893-7902. www.curtis.edu. 10/8 8 pm. 10/10 8 pm.

Amici Opera Company: I Lombardi

Fully staged production. The Garden Church, 82 N. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne; 215-224-0257.

» READ MORE: www.thegardenchurch.org

. $22; $20 students & seniors; $10 children under 12. 10/7 2:30 pm.

Concert Operetta Theater: Countess Maritza Popular European operetta written by Emmerich Kalman. Helen Corning Warden Theater, 1920 Spruce St.; 215-735-1685. www.concertoperetta.com. $25; $20 students & seniors. 10/6-10/7 4 pm.

Disella Larusdottir & John Andrew Fernandez, Soprano & Baritone Music theater & cabaret favorites. Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, 8339 Old York Rd., Elkins Park; 215-887-8700, www.astralartisticservices.org. Dinner 6 pm; concert 8 pm. 10/6 8 pm.

Marcia Mau & David Pixley, Soprano & Tenor Handel, Debussy, Massenet, Strauss, Puccini & Broadway tunes. First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, 130 W. Miner St., West Chester; 610-696-0554. www.firstpreswc.com. Donations accepted. 10/7 4 pm.

Opera Company of Philadelphia: Rigoletto Verdi's masterpiece in a new production. Italian with English translations. Academy of Music, Broad & Locust Sts.; 215-893-1999; www.operaphilly.com. $7.50-$205. 10/5 8 pm. 10/7 2:30 pm. 10/10 7:30 pm.

Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale: Around the World & Back Benefit performance for Epiphany House. For tickets call 610-626-3744. The Garden Church, 82 N. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne; www.epiphany-house.org. $50. 10/7 6 pm.

Female Choreographers Showcase

Incorporates sculptural elements in the park with original choreographed dances. Grounds for Sculpture, 18 Fairgrounds Rd., Hamilton; 609-586-0616.

» READ MORE: www.groundsforsculpture.org

. $10. 10/7 2 pm.

*FREE* Headlong Dance Theater: First Friday Performance Series Headlong continues tradition of First Friday performances at Spirit Wind. Spirit Wind Internal Arts Society, 213 New St.; 215-592-7625. www.headlong.org. 10/5 8 & 9 pm.

Tango Buenos Aires Argentine company of dancers & live musicians. Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington; 302-652-5577. www.grandopera.org. $31-$37. 10/9 8 pm.

An Afternoon of Laughter & Love

Magic, sketch & improv comedy performance benefiting the Ayuda Project. Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom St.; 215-568-8077.

» READ MORE: www.interacttheatre.org

. $25-$35. 10/7 4 pm.