MILFORD, PA — Drag legend, actor and playwright Charles Busch will be in conversation with actor, director and writer Dick Scanlan at the Milford Readers and Writers Festival on Saturday, September 23. 

Busch will discuss his memoir “Leading Lady,” an anecdotal account of his journey in the worlds of Off-Broadway, Broadway and Hollywood—and his interactions with the stars of film and stage. 

Busch received a special Drama Desk Award for career achievement as both performer and playwright. He won Tony nods for writing “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” and the Off-Broadway play “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom.”

Scanlan has also made a name for himself both on and off Broadway. He wrote the musicals “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (book and lyrics, and won a Tony Award for Best Musical); “Everyday Rapture” (Tony nomination for Best Book with Sherie Rene Scott) among others, and he has worked in television and film. 

He’s the author of the novel “Does Freddy Dance,” and his short fiction has been seen in numerous literary journals and commercial magazines.

The festival will take place from Friday, September 22 to Sunday, September 24 at the Milford Theater & Performing Arts Center.

It opens on September 22 with an evening of 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 McBroom.

On September 23, the Main Stage will feature three additional events: 

“Vampires, Batman, Wytches, Oh My!”

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

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

“I Was Better Last Night”

Award-winning actor and author Harvey Fierstein will discuss his legendary career and memoir. “I Was Better Last Night” reveals never-before-told stories of the four-time Tony Award winner’s personal struggles and of his fabled career. He will be joined on stage by playwright, director, actor and author David Drake.

“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.

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, book signings and readings by authors at several venues around Milford.

The Milford Theatre and Performing Arts Center is located at 114 East Catharine St.

 For more information and to purchase festival passes, tickets for individual panels or a ticket for the private reception only, go to milfordreadersandwriters.com.