Celebrating the overall success of the Philadelphia Eagles NFC Championship season, Bucks County Playhouse will create and produce an all-new production of Ray Didinger’s autobiographical play, “Tommy and Me,” at the Playhouse in New Hope, May 19 to June 20.
Nick Corley will direct. The new production will kick off Bucks County Playhouse’s 2023 Season. Tickets can be purchased at BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or 215-862-2121.
“This year, the Philadelphia Eagles captured the attention of the entire region with a truly exciting season. When I saw “Tommy and Me” a year ago, I was so moved I wanted to mount our own production,” said Alexander Fraser, producing director. “We hope to keep the spirit of the Eagles season going by revisiting this play and are excited to welcome football fans, and theater fans, back to the Playhouse this May.”
“I’m delighted to bring the story of ‘Tommy and Me’ back to the Bucks County Playhouse,” said Ray Didinger, playwright and award-winning journalist. “We had a wonderful run there last spring. We had full houses almost every night with many in the audience wearing Eagles green, but the story of my friendship with Hall of Famer Tommy McDonald connected with even non-football fans. It’s a story about little boys, their heroes and dreams coming true. Those are themes that will resonate with anyone.”
Magical things can happen when a boy meets his sports idol. Legendary sports journalist Ray Didinger’s lifelong relationship with famously tough, Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver Tommy McDonald led both down an unexpected path — straight to Canton, Ohio, and the National Football League’s Hall of Fame. “Tommy and Me” is a valentine to the relationship between sports stars and fans everywhere.
Ray Didinger was the first print journalist inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. As a columnist for the Philadelphia Bulletin and Philadelphia Daily News, he was named Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year five times. In 1995, he won the Dick McCann Award for long and distinguished reporting on pro football, and his name was added to the writers’ honor roll at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He also won six Emmy Awards as a writer and producer for NFL Films. He has authored or co-authored 11 books, including “One Last Read: The Collected Works of the World’s Slowest Sportswriter” (Temple) and “The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies.”
“Tommy and Me” tickets are available for the entire run, which starts May 19 and goes through June 20. Tickets can be purchased at BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or by calling 215-862-2121.
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