Take a seat in the theater and a Jeep. Bucks County Playhouse offers covered bridge tours
Dinner and a show is a great night out. But how about dinner, a show and a tour of some of Bucks County's iconic covered bridges?
The Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope has created a unique theater-going experience by teaming up with Bucks County Joyrides to organize The Bridges of Bucks County package to promote the run of "The Bridges of Madison County" at the theater.
At one point there were more than 50 covered bridges in Bucks, but "neglect, damage and replacement" resulted in the loss of all but 12. The covered bridges still standing were built between 1832 and 1874, at a time when horse-drawn buggies were the main means of transportation.
Of the 12, 10 are still in operation, carrying cars and trucks as well as the occasional walker and cyclist. The other two are in parks: Schofield Ford Covered Bridge in Newtown Township and South Perkasie Covered Bridge.
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Bucks County Playhouse offers tour package
The package includes a guided tour through Bucks County’s historic covered bridges in one of Joyride’s custom company Jeeps that hold a maximum of four riders. Folks can enjoy the views of Bucks County while making memories and learning about the iconic bridges including Loux, Cabin Run, and Erwinna bridges.
After the tour, guests will be taken back to the Playhouse where they will receive $50 credit to dine at the Playhouse Deck Restaurant — and of course, a ticket to see the Tony-winning musical — “The Bridges of Madison County.”
The show will run from Aug.11 to Sept. 10. The package is available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for $178 per person. A schedule will be on the Playhouse’s website.
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More: Buy “The Bridges of Bucks County Package" here starting Aug. 11
What is “The Bridges of Madison County” about?
“The Bridges of Madison County” is a Tony Award-winning romance musical based on the best-selling novel by Thomas Waller. The story is about an Italian woman, Francesca Johnson, who marries an American soldier in order to flee the war in Italy. In the four days she spends alone on her farm in Iowa as her family hits the 1965 state fair, romance sparks between Francesca and a National Geographic photographer. This romance changes Francesca’s life forever.
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The Bucks County Playhouse celebrates 10 years
The Bucks County Playhouse is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its reopening in 2012 as their theater continues to thrive with over 75,000 patrons walking in and out of its doors each year.
Over the years they have had many Tony Award-winning producers and Hollywood and Broadway artists on stage. The Playhouse has broken box office records with their productions of “Steel Magnolias” directed by Marsha Mason, “Mamma Mia!” directed by John Tartaglia, and four shows directed by Hunter Foster, “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” “Million Dollar Quartet,” “42nd Street,” and “Guys & Dolls."
The Wall Street Journal named the Playhouse “one of the best regional theaters on the East coast," and placed the Playhouse and Artistic Associate Hunter Foster in its Best of the Year listings for their production of “42nd Street.”
More: Bucks County Playhouse hopes to fill seats, make theater more affordable. Here's how
Bucks County Joyrides offers tours
Bucks County Joyrides was created in 2016 by Jeep lover Christopher Marano when he realized the thrill of cruising through Bucks County's backroads with the top down. Tours began last year.
He decided to share this experience with tours through Bucks County in a Jeep Wrangler. Adventurers can sign up for a tour of the valleys, historical sites, covered bridges, river towns, crossing creeks, dirt roads, and more.
More: Bucks County Joyrides' website
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County Playhouse celebrates 'The Bridges of Madison County'
