Van Horn News

Important new works for the stage are regularly being produced all across Greater Philadelphia in significant numbers! Currently, at the Walnut Street Theatre, two new plays can be seen - one a timeless look at the corrupt politician (The Prince by Bill Van Horn and Armen Pandola), and the other about the seeds of change that brought our national politics to where it is today (The Eclectic Society by Eric Conger).

Bill Van Horn and Armen Pandola have created a well-written political comedy currently playing at the Walnut Street Theatre's Studio 3. The Prince features two characters portrayed by the playwrights themselves. Nick Collas (Armen Pandola) is law ethics professor recounting to his students (the audience) the case of indicted politician Paul 'The Duke' Ducachevski (Bill Van Horn). Both actors spend the entire time in these roles and therefore spend a good deal of time addressing invisible people. However, when Van Horn as the Duke has a meeting or personally greets people at a crowded event, the acting and writing allow the audience to clearly see the people he's addressing.

The Walnut Street Theatre's 2009-2010 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with the world premiere of THE PRINCE.

The Walnut Street Theatre's 2009-2010 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with the world premiere of THE PRINCE.

International singing sensation Marti Pellow will return to star as ‘Billy Flynn' in the UK National tour of the smash-hit musical 'CHICAGO' for six weeks only from Monday 18 January until Saturday 26 February 2010. Marti first played the role to great acclaim in the West End, subsequently repeating his performance in New York and on the UK national tour, playing to sell-out houses. Emma Barton, currently starring in the show on tour as ‘Roxie Hart', will continue to play the role opposite Marti Pellow.

The Walnut Street Theatre's 2009-2010 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with the world premiere of THE PRINCE.

The Hartt School's Theatre Division presents Twelve Angry Women and Waiting for Godot in repertory, on October 29 through November 1, at the Kent McCray Theater, Mort and Imra Handel Performing Arts Center, 35 Westbourne Parkway, Hartford.

The Hartt School's Theatre Division presents Twelve Angry Women and Waiting for Godot in repertory, on October 29 through November 1, at the Kent McCray Theater, Mort and Imra Handel Performing Arts Center, 35 Westbourne Parkway, Hartford.

The Walnut Street Theatre's 2009-2010 Independence Studio on 3 season opens with Red, White and Tuna - the tale of a tiny Texas town celebrating a very crazy Fourth of July. Directed by Barrymore Award winner Madi Distefano and featuring the talents of Bill Van Horn and John Zak; Red, White and Tuna starts on November 24, opens on December 3 and closes on January 3.

The Hartt School's Theatre Division presents Twelve Angry Women and Waiting for Godot in repertory, on October 29 through November 1, at the Kent McCray Theater, Mort and Imra Handel Performing Arts Center, 35 Westbourne Parkway, Hartford.

International singing sensation Marti Pellow will return to star as ‘Billy Flynn' in the UK National tour of the smash-hit musical 'CHICAGO' for six weeks only from Monday 18 January until Saturday 26 February 2010. Marti first played the role to great acclaim in the West End, subsequently repeating his performance in New York and on the UK national tour, playing to sell-out houses. Emma Barton, currently starring in the show on tour as ‘Roxie Hart', will continue to play the role opposite Marti Pellow.

'Alice in Wonderland' has never been more magical than in the world premiere musical kicking off the performance season at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre in September. Appearing for the first time at Kelsey, Twenty Minutes to Curtain Productions, under the wing of legendary costume designer and show producer Arthur Gerold, presents this professional production of a literary and family classic.

'Alice in Wonderland' has never been more magical than in the world premiere musical kicking off the performance season at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre in September. Appearing for the first time at Kelsey, Twenty Minutes to Curtain Productions, under the wing of legendary costume designer and show producer Arthur Gerold, presents this professional production of a literary and family classic.

Playwrights Joan Ackermann, Eric Bogosian, Larry Gelbart, and David Mamet to Write Original Short Plays for Berkshire Playwrights Lab Gala, Actors Karen Allen, Elizabeth Franz, Dan Lauria, Wendie Malick, Peter Riegert, and Jay Thomas Set to Perform.

Playwrights Joan Ackermann, Eric Bogosian, Larry Gelbart, and David Mamet to Write Original Short Plays for Berkshire Playwrights Lab Gala, Actors Karen Allen, Elizabeth Franz, Dan Lauria, Wendie Malick, Peter Riegert, and Jay Thomas Set to Perform.

The Walnut Street Theater welcomes another American classic to round out their 200th anniversary season with 'Born Yesterday'.

The Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 200th anniversary season with Born Yesterday - Garson Kanin's brilliant blend of satire, comedy and laughter. Directed by Mark Clements, this all-new production starts March 10, opens March 18 and runs through April 26 on the Walnut Mainstage.

The Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 200th anniversary season with Born Yesterday - Garson Kanin's brilliant blend of satire, comedy and laughter. Directed by Mark Clements, this all-new production starts March 10, opens March 18 and runs through April 26 on the Walnut Mainstage.

This February, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia is celebrating the theatre community's commitment to the development of new works. The month of February will be the perfect time to check out a Premiere in America's First Great Theatre City! There are a number of fully staged productions running throughout the month, as well as readings, workshops and discussions. In the coming weeks the Theatre Alliance will be sending information highlighting new play development activities happening in February throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. Stay tuned for our weekly updates about what is coming to your local stages!

This February, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia is celebrating the theatre community's commitment to the development of new works. The month of February will be the perfect time to check out a Premiere in America's First Great Theatre City! There are a number of fully staged productions running throughout the month, as well as readings, workshops and discussions. On Monday, February 23, starting at 6:00 PM, the Theatre Alliance is hosting a celebration party, sponsored by Philadelphia Weekly, to honor the new works being developed and premiered right here. While the Theatre Alliance has devoted February to new play development, this commitment to producing new works is not limited to any one month of the year. This past December, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia commissioned a Theatre Snapshot report, with funding, guidance and support from The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative and additional funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. This Theatre Snapshot report, based upon data in the Pennsylvania Cultural Data Project (PACDP), found that, in 2006, 81 world premieres were presented in Philadelphia; a total that accounts for 26% of all productions. This total is significantly higher than the 12% proportion of world premieres-to-total productions from a comparative set of TCG theatres. In addition, 2006 boasted 63 workshops or readings of new works and Philadelphia Theatres also commissioned 17 new works.