NORRISTOWN, PA — As Valentine’s Day approaches, a different kind of love story is unfolding on stage in Montgomery County, one told not by fictional characters but by neighbors sharing their own lives, losses, laughter, and connections.
Theatre Horizon will present XOXO: MontCo’s Variety Show from February 11 through February 22 at its Arts Hill District home, offering a community-built production that blends live music, comedy, spoken word, dance, and storytelling into a single, fast-moving evening. Timed for the Valentine’s season, the show positions itself as an alternative to traditional romantic fare, widening the lens to include love in its platonic, familial, and communal forms.
Developed through a devised theater process and directed by Ontaria Kim Wilson, the production draws directly from the lived experiences of performers from Norristown and across Montgomery County. Rather than scripted roles, the cast steps on stage as themselves—parents, retirees, musicians, activists, longtime theater supporters—offering personal reflections shaped by honesty, humor, and vulnerability.
The evening is framed by a simple throughline: a mail carrier on his first day, traveling the city and delivering messages that open windows into other people’s lives. The metaphor underscores the show’s central idea—that stories move through communities the same way letters do, connecting people who may never otherwise meet.
Performances range from intimate musical moments to unexpected feats of illusion, with styles shifting rapidly to mirror the variety of voices represented. Collectively, the pieces form what the theater describes as a portrait of Montgomery County life, rooted in generosity and the courage to be seen.
XOXO runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission and is recommended for audiences ages 13 and up. Tickets range from $35 to $55, with a slate of special events including a pay-what-you-want dress rehearsal, opening-night festivities, and discounted Front Row Fridays. Additional details and tickets are available at https://theatrehorizon.org/xoxo.
Founded in 2005, Theatre Horizon is a professional nonprofit company known for pairing nationally recognized work with deep community engagement. With XOXO, the company leans fully into that mission, inviting audiences to see their own county reflected back at them—one story, one voice, and one shared moment at a time.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.