MEDIA, PA — A failing pet funeral home, two desperate brothers and a racehorse that refuses to die will bring an unusual mix of comedy and chaos to Delaware County Community College as student performers present the dark comedy “Beating a Dead Horse” for four nights this November.
The college’s fall theatre production runs Nov. 18-21 at 7 p.m. in the Large Auditorium of the Academic Building at its Marple Campus, 901 South Media Line Road in Media.
Written by award-winning playwright Jenny Stafford and directed by DCCC drama professor Stephen Patrick Smith, the production offers audiences a humorous look at desperation, family relationships and the increasingly absurd consequences of a business opportunity that seems too good to refuse.
At the center of the story are brothers Steve and Marty Martin, whose struggling pet funeral home bears the unusually optimistic name “A Nice Farm Upstate with Plenty of Room to Run Around.”
With their business approaching closure, the brothers receive an unexpected opportunity when a wealthy, eccentric elderly woman offers them a fortune to arrange a funeral for her beloved racehorse, Sir Trots-A-Lot.
There is just one complication: The horse is still alive and apparently has no intention of dying.
The predicament sets the stage for a dark comedy built around the brothers’ attempts to navigate their financial troubles and an increasingly ridiculous situation.
The production gives DCCC student performers an opportunity to explore a theatrical work that combines unconventional characters, sharp humor and an absurd premise.
Stafford, the playwright behind “Beating a Dead Horse,” has an extensive background in theatre and entertainment.
An associate professor of theatre at Temple University’s School of Theatre, Film and Media Arts, Stafford has written works featured on Broadway and in productions and events associated with Lincoln Center, Cirque du Soleil and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Her professional credits also include work featured in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and “Dancing with the Stars.”
The DCCC production is directed by Stephen Patrick Smith, MFA, a professor of drama at the college.
Audiences will also have a special opportunity to meet the playwright during the show’s run.
On Thursday, Nov. 19, Stafford will participate in a pre-show talk and reception beginning at 5 p.m., two hours before that evening’s performance.
The event will give attendees an opportunity to hear directly from the playwright, with refreshments provided. Advance registration is available through the college’s theatre website.
Event Details
- What: Delaware County Community College’s student theatre production of “Beating a Dead Horse,” a dark comedy by Jenny Stafford, directed by Stephen Patrick Smith.
- When: Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 18-21, 2026, with performances at 7 p.m. each evening.
- Where: Large Auditorium, Academic Building, Delaware County Community College, Marple Campus, 901 South Media Line Road, Media, PA 19063.
- Cost/Tickets: $15 general admission; $10 for students with a valid school ID.
- Special Event: Pre-show talk and reception with playwright Jenny Stafford on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Registration is available online.
- More Info: Tickets and registration for the playwright reception are available at dccc.edu/theatre.
The four-night engagement offers local audiences an opportunity to support student theatre while enjoying a contemporary comedy by a playwright whose work has reached major theatrical and entertainment venues.
The special Nov. 19 reception adds another dimension to the experience, connecting the college’s production with the writer who created its unusual characters and storyline.
For theatre enthusiasts, students and residents looking for an evening of offbeat entertainment, “Beating a Dead Horse” promises a story in which a seemingly straightforward funeral arrangement becomes anything but simple.
With a stubborn racehorse standing between two brothers and their financial salvation, the production invites audiences to discover just how complicated the family business can become.
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