MEDIA, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Theaters have been struggling ever since the pandemic. A change meant to help one local theater has caused conflict in Delaware County.
For decades, Hedgerow Theater in Media took a unique approach in hiring a company of resident actors who lived long-term on their property, in a building they call Hedgerow House.
In 2021, the board of directors changed that policy. They said in a recent statement, “To continue the theatre’s success and growth over the long term, we will need to house new, diverse artists throughout the year for short-term stays.”
But one resident has been fighting to stay. 74-year-old Susan Wefel has been working and living at Hedgerow since 1978.
“I decided I wanted to try to just focus solely on a theater and just be all things to that theater,” she said. In addition to performing, she was in charge of commissary for the house, props for shows, and served on the board for many years.
“At the time in the 70s, it was generally thought that if you were going to devote your life to this theater … you would have room and board for life.”
Penelope Reed, Executive Director of the theater from 1992 until 2017, says most actors did not share that expectation.
“Like most theaters, you don't live there the rest of your life,” she said, “and I think nobody but Sue ever assumed that.”
She said Wefel was always a hard worker and “a vital member”, but most people moved away from Hedgerow House and continued to work for the theater, often alongside other jobs.
“I think the great strength of the residency was for young people right out of college to get this intense sort of apprenticeship.”
Wefel said she was promised a “life estate” and remembered two other women, Rose Shulman and Dolores Tanner, who lived at Hedgerow House until they died. Reed noted that Shulman and Tanner were partners of the theater who held partial ownership of the house.
Five residents were asked to move out in 2021. They would still be able to audition for shows at Hedgerow; they just couldn’t live there anymore. The board said that four of them found new living arrangements within a year, and they allowed Wefel three years to make the transition.
During that time, Wefel leaned even deeper into her work at Hedgerow. “What I was doing … was trying to be the most valuable team player,” she said, “because I thought they would change their minds.”
“I didn't have any time to work on transition until May 1, when they made it very clear that I was transitioning.”
On May 1, 2024, the board notified Wefel that she would have to vacate her room by the end of August. They put her on “garden leave”, which they said removed her responsibilities to Hedgerow so that she would have time to find new accommodations while keeping her pay for four months.
Wefel felt like they were putting up a wall. She said, “I was told that I no longer would be used in any work capacity at the theater.”
The board offered to help Wefel find other housing, but Wefel said they presented senior housing options, and, “I'm not ready for the old folks home.”
She also said she couldn’t afford regular rent and does not have any retirement savings. Hedgerow had paid a weekly stipend plus room and board - the board did not confirm how much that stipend was.
Wefel left the Actors’ Equity Association - which would have offered a pension - when starting at Hedgerow because they did not have an Equity contract. She asked about rejoining, but Reed as the Executive Director told her they wouldn’t be able to cast her in as many roles. Reed said the theater did not have the money to pay Equity rates regularly, and that leadership even took a pay cut to pay the few actors who did choose to join Equity.
“Everybody needs to know, Hedgerow has no base money,” Reed said. “It's a little teeny, tiny theater built on the passion of all of us crazy people.”
Wefel is still living at Hedgerow House, for now. There was an eviction hearing in October, but the case was dismissed because there’s no written lease.
Some community members have been supporting Wefel and advocating for Hedgerow to let her stay. A few of her friends created a GoFundMe, which Wefel said she’s used to cover lawyer’s fees and to have a backup reserve.
But Reed said that posts on social media have ramped up the conflict, causing concern from people who don’t know the whole story.
“Negativity is never good for a theater or for the person for whom everybody's championing,” she said. “What they should really champion is what a hard worker Susie is, that she will end up on her feet doing great things in theater.”
While she waits to hear what’s next, Wefel is reimagining her life at 74. She has started acting at other theaters, teaching classes at the Park Avenue Community Center in Swarthmore, and making new connections.
“These are things I never did,” she said. “These are folks I never embraced before, my tribe. So, some new experiences and new people to meet.”