Write celebration: Tony Award-winning actor, Harvey Fierstein, booked for annual Milford Readers and Writers Festival

Sep. 20—Fall in Northeast Pennsylvania is known for its colorful vistas and crisp air, but literary lovers know the beginning of the season also marks the return of a beloved event in historic Milford.

The annual Milford Readers and Writers Festival celebrates conversations, education and entertainment borne from books with a weekend of panel discussions, author appearances and more, from Friday, Sept. 22, through Sunday, Sept. 24, at various venues throughout Milford.

In the past, the event has drawn author and activist Gloria Steinem and actor and author Alan Alda. This year, the festival welcomes Tony Award-winning actor, cultural icon, gay rights activist, playwright and author Harvey Fierstein to Pike County to discuss his 2023 memoir, "I Was Better Last Night" with director, actor and author David Drake.

In addition to mainstage events, the weekend includes free events, book signings and readings by authors at several venues around the borough. An Authors Reception also will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 5:15 to 7 p.m. at the theater, which features food, wine and a chance to meet this year's authors.

Prices for the festival's events start at $35. For more information and to purchase festival passes, or individual tickets, visit milfordreadersandwriters.com.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 Milford Readers and Writers Festival.

Main stage events

All events take place at the Milford Theatre, 114 E. Catharine St., unless otherwise noted.

Amanda McBroom

Friday, Sept. 22, 7 to 9 p.m.

Hailed one of the greatest cabaret performers of her generation, McBroom rose to popularity when Bette Midler's version of her song "The Rose" hit number one all over the world in 1979.

McBroom has an illustrious career of her own, starring in productions of "Sweeney Todd," "A Little Night Music," "Mame" and more, including her own musical based on her songs, "Heartbeats." She recently released "Voices," her sixth studio recording. McBroom will perform an evening of songs and conversation in Milford, followed by a Q&A with local musician, author and poet, Michelle Oram.

Rewriting Shakespeare with Dr. Ismaili Abu Bakr, Rob Armstrong and Lenore Hart

Saturday, Sept. 23, 10 to 11:15 a.m.

Dr. Ismaili Abu Bakr, Rob Armstrong, and Lenore Hart will discuss whether books should be revised to reflect social change. They will talk about the shifting cultural norms that have prompted revisions in works by Roald Dahl, R.L. Stine and Ursula K. Le Guin, among others.

Charles Busch in Conversation with Dick Scanlan

Saturday, Sept. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

LGBT icon, Tony Award-nominated writer and Sundance Festival award winner Charles Busch's memoir "Leading Lady" is an anecdotal account of his "Oz-like" journey in the worlds of Off-Broadway, Broadway and Hollywood. Busch will be in conversation with Dick Scanlan, reminiscing about their lives in and out of the spotlight.

Vampires, Batman, Wytches, OH MY!

Saturday, Sept. 23, 2:15 to 3:30 p.m.

Award-winning graphic novelist and comic book writer Scott Snyder will talk about his career writing for major comic super heroes of Marvel and DC, and his short stories and graphic novels in the fantasy and horror genre. Snyder will discuss his horror classic series, "Wytches," for which he is co-writing an animated television series for Amazon Prime Video, with Joe Ott. Ott is director of special programs at Zapp Comics in Wayne, New Jersey, and also serves as program coordinator at Essex County College. Mostly, he's known more for being a multi-instrumentalist who has toured nationally and recorded with dozens of artists. He currently plays drums for the band Chained To The Dead and also alongside his vocalist wife, Vanessa, for Essex County's Coro d'Italia.

Harvey Fierstein in Conversation with David Drake

Saturday, Sept. 23, 3:45 to 5 p.m.

Tony Award — winning performer Harvey Fierstein's 2023 memoir, "I Was Better Last Night" quickly made it way to the New York Times bestseller list, is filled with never-before-told stories of his personal struggles and conflict, sex and romance, and the cultural icon, gay rights activist, actor and playwright's career. Fierstein will be joined on stage by director, actor and author David Drake to discuss his memoir, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

Free events

SciFi: The Monsters That Make Us

Saturday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m. to noon

Pike County Public Library, 119 E. Harford St., Milford

Good versus Evil is a tale as old as time, especially in fiction, including speculative fiction. Robert Levy, Dr. Charles E. Gannon, Carol Gyzander, Stephanie Feldman, with Karen Heuler as the moderator, will discuss the fundamental conflict between the world we know and the world as it may be changed. This event also is co-produced by Lillian Longendorfer and the Virginia Kidd Literary Agengy.

THE PICTURE BOOK: An Experience for a Child

Saturday, Sept. 23, 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.

Pike County Public Library

Lindsay Barrett George will share what it takes to create a best-selling children's book.

YOUNG AUTHORS: Journeys in Publishing

Saturday, Sept. 23, 2 to 3:15 p.m.

Pike County Public Library

Teen authors Hallie, Auttie and Owen will discuss their books and journeys in publishing at a young age in conversation with local public librarian, Rose Chiocchi. Topics will include school-life balance, their feelings on censorship, and their future plans in the book-writing world.

WHAT THE DEAD KNOW: Learning About Life as a New York City Death Investigator

Sunday, Sept. 24, 11 a.m.

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 110 W. Catharine St., Milford

Author Barbara Butcher spent 23 years at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner as a death investigator, director of the Forensic Sciences Training Program, and chief of staff. She will be interviewed by best-selling spy thriller author David Lender.

LIVING UPRIVER, ARTFUL HOMES, IDYLLIC LIVES: Barbara de Vries with Emma Austen Tucillo

Sunday, Sept. 24, 1 to 2:15 p.m.

The Waterwheel, 150 Water St., Milford

Highlighting Barbara's inspiration for the book — which documents 13 homes belonging to the new pioneers, who were creative individuals embracing a slower lifestyle by combining nostalgic remote living with modern connectivity — the discussion with Emma Austen Tuccillo will showcase an artisanal country way of life. They hope to inspire audiences to bring nature home, be true to oneself and to foster a warm and welcoming community.

'LYNCHED BY A MOB': The 1892 Lynching of Robert Lewis in Port Jervis, New York

Sunday, Sept. 24, 1 p.m.

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

In June 1892, Robert Lewis was dragged by a mob through the streets, before being hanged from the limb of a tree in Port Jervis, New York. His alleged crime was that he assaulted a white woman and no one was ever held accountable for his death.

Michael J. Worden, the author of "Lynched by a Mob," will be in conversation with Christa Caceres, who is president of the Monroe County chapter of the NAACP.

PERSPECTIVES ON CANCER Finding Healing and Hope

Sunday, Sept. 24, 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.

The Waterwheel

Tim Sohn and Savio P. Clemente share about their experiences with cancer and their perspectives, providing a safe space to audience members to share their stories.

WHERE FICTION MEETS HISTORY: 'Gideon's Revolution' and the Treason of Benedict Arnold

Sunday, Sept. 24, 3 p.m.

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

A conversation between author Brian Carso and ethicist Joseph Curran, talking about Carso's novel, "Gideon's Revolution" and more generally about the use of fiction to illuminate history.

Contact the writer:

gmazur@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9127;

@gmazurTT on X