MILFORD, PA — Harvey Fierstein, a four-time Tony Award winner, will discuss his career and his new memoir “I Was Better Last Night” at the sixth annual Milford Readers & Writers Festival in September.

Fierstein authored Tony winners “Torch Song Trilogy” and “La Cage aux Folles,” and won Tonys for his performances in “Torch Song Trilogy” and “Hairspray.”

He also appeared in “Fiddler on the Roof,” “La Cage aux Folles,” “Gently Down the Stream” and “A Catered Affair.” 

His film and TV appearances include “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “The Good Wife,” “Cheers” and many more. 

He will be joined on stage by playwright, director, actor and author David Drake, best known as the author and original performer of the hit play “The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me.”

The festival will take place Friday through Sunday, September 22 to September 24 at the Milford Theater & Performing Arts Center, located at 114 E. Catharine St. 

It opens on Friday evening with songs and conversation starring Amanda McBroom, called the greatest cabaret performer of her generation. She exploded on the scene when Bette Midler performed “The Rose,” which was written by Amanda.

On Saturday the Main Stage will feature three additional events:

“Rewriting Shakespeare - Should Books Be Revised To Reflect Social Change?”

A discussion on the shifting cultural norms that have prompted revising works by Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming and others. Editor and author Lenore Hart, who also writes as Elisabeth Graves, will moderate the discussion with journalist and author Rob Armstrong and playwright, poet and author Dr. Rashidah Ismaili.

“In Conversation with Leading Lady, Charles Busch.”

Busch’s memoir, “Leading Lady,” is a poignant, anecdotal account of an artist’s journey into Off-Broadway, Broadway and Hollywood. 

His play “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” received a Tony nod for Best Play. 

He will be interviewed by actor, director and writer Dick Scanlan, whose hits include “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” and more.  

“Vampires, Batman, Wytches, Oh My!”

Graphic novelist and comic book writer Scott Snyder will talk about his career writing for major comic superheroes and his short stories and graphic novels in the fantasy and horror genre. 

The discussion will include Scott’s horror classic series “Wytches,” for which he is co-writing an animated television series for Amazon Prime Video.

All Main Stage programs will include an opportunity for conversation between the authors and the audience. 

 On Saturday evening, there will be a private reception for festival speakers, open only to festival pass-holders.

 In addition to the ticketed events, the festival also offers a variety of free programs including the fantasy-themed science fiction panel “The Monsters That Make Us” at the Pike County Public Library. Lindsay Barrett George, an award-winning children’s book writer and editor, will also be appearing at the library. 

There will be more free events, book signings and readings by authors at several venues around Milford.

For more information about the festival and to purchase festival passes, go to milfordreadersandwriters.com.

About the Milford Readers & Writers Festival

The Milford Readers & Writers Festival is a project of Pike Artworks, a 501(c)3 organization, created by a group of community volunteers from the Upper Delaware River Valley region.

For more information, visit www.milfordreadersandwriters.com, the festival’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MRWFestival or Instagram page at www.instagram.com/mrwfestival.