Walnut Street Theatre News

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced the election of Mark D. Sylvester, Managing Director of Philadelphia?s historic Walnut Street Theatre, as its new Treasurer.

'West Side Story' is Eric's 4th Broadway show and, he says, 'the pinnacle of dancing' in all musical theater.

Following a six week sold-out run earlier this year, Brooklyn's famed Billie Holiday Theatre will present a nine week return engagement of THE HIGH PRIESTESS OF DARK ALLEY, a new play by playwright/director Jackie Alexander.

Arden Theatre Company presents The Seafarer by Conor McPherson May 14 through June14, 2009. Broadway's recent Tony Awarding-winning hit features a collection of misfits playing poker on Christmas Eve in Ireland. A group of men, tied loosely together by their affiliation with misfortune, spend a boozy night playing poker.

The Walnut Street Theatre concludes its landmark 200th anniversary season with an all-new production of Mel Brooks' Tony-Award winning masterpiece, The Producers. Directed by Marc Robin and featuring some of the best talent from Philadelphia and abroad, The Producers starts May 12, opens May 20 and runs through July 19 on the Walnut Mainstage.

The Walnut Street Theatre announces that it will celebrate multiple honorees this year with the 2009 Edwin Forrest Award at its landmark 200th Birthday Gala. The gala will be held at the famed Crystal Tea Room in The Wannamaker Building on Juniper and Market Sts, Philadelphia, on Saturday, April 18th at 6:00pm.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will embark on a two-week journey of South American music with conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya and the ¡Música Ardiente? Festival, May 27-June 6.The festival, presented by CNN en Español, will feature three programs.

George Street Playhouse has announced full casting for New Year's Eve a world premiere from the pen of ARTHUR LAURENTS. George Street Playhouse Artistic Director DAVID SAINT will direct a starry cast comprised of WALTER BELENKY, KEITH CARRADINE, PETER FRECHETTE, MARLO THOMAS and NATASHA GREGSON WAGNER. New Year's Eve marks the ninth collaboration between Saint and Laurents at the New Brunswick Playhouse, and the return engagement of Ms. Thomas, who starred in Elaine May's Roger is Dead last season.

In celebration of its 22nd year, Philadelphia Young Playwrights will hold its annual benefit, Write On! A Celebration of Student Voices, on Wednesday, June 3rd from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. at World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia). The celebration will highlight the transformative effects of the Philadelphia Young Playwrights experience and feature the inspiring voices of past and present winning young playwrights, as the organization salutes some of the remarkable advocates who have made a lasting impact on the organization.

The Walnut Street Theatre announces that it will celebrate multiple honorees this year with the 2009 Edwin Forrest Award at its landmark 200th Birthday Gala. The gala will be held at the famed Crystal Tea Room in The Wannamaker Building on Juniper and Market Sts, Philadelphia, on Saturday, April 18th at 6:00pm.

Theatre Exile's final production of their 12th season is the classic, American Buffalo by Pulitzer Prize-winning, David Mamet. Directed by Associate Artistic Director and 2008 F. Otto Haas Award winner, Matt Pfeiffer. The show runs April 9 - May 3 at Plays and Players Theatre. American Buffalo is recommended for mature audiences.

Shirl Bernheim, best known for originating the role of 'Frieda' in Charles Busch's THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE, passed away on March 30. She was 87.

Students from The University of the Arts come together with three of Philadelphia's leading theater artists to bring John Irving's 1985 novel 'The Cider House Rules' to the Merriam Theater stage April 3-5. Johnnie Hobbs Jr. and Aaron Cromie, faculty members in the university's School of Theater Arts, direct the play's first and second parts, respectively.

Luna Stage announces the final production of the 2008-2009 season - the World Premiere of Not God, a play in verse by Marc J. Straus. Previews are April 16-23, with the opening performances on April 24 and 25. The production runs through May 17, 2009.

The Walnut Street Theatre's 2008-2009 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with Criminal Hearts, Jane Martin's starkly funny tale of a unique friendship forged by two very different women from two very different worlds. Directed by Barrymore Award-winner Madi Distefano, Criminal Hearts starts on March 31, opens on April 2 and closes April 19.

Last season the Walnut?s young audiences had a blast seeing Cinderella for our 2008 Kids? Series. This year?s show is a different ?matter? entirely, bringing Philadelphia?s own Berenstain Bears to life! Join us for our 2009 WST For Kids production of The Berenstain Bears? Family Matters. This hilarious world premiere musical, created by Michael Borton, takes three beloved Berenstain Bears tales and weaves them into one big adventure! The Berenstain Bears Family Matters runs at 11am on March 21 and April 4; 10:30am on March 20, 27 and April 2; and at 10:30am, 1pm and 3:30pm on March 28.

The Walnut Street Theatre's 2008-2009 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with Criminal Hearts, Jane Martin's starkly funny tale of a unique friendship forged by two very different women from two very different worlds. Directed by Barrymore Award-winner Madi Distefano, Criminal Hearts starts on March 31, opens on April 2 and closes April 19.

Students from The University of the Arts come together with three of Philadelphia's leading theater artists to bring John Irving's 1985 novel 'The Cider House Rules' to the Merriam Theater stage April 3-5. Johnnie Hobbs Jr. and Aaron Cromie, faculty members in the university's School of Theater Arts, direct the play's first and second parts, respectively.

George Street Playhouse has announced full casting for New Year's Eve a world premiere from the pen of ARTHUR LAURENTS. George Street Playhouse Artistic Director DAVID SAINT will direct a starry cast comprised of WALTER BELENKY, KEITH CARRADINE, PETER FRECHETTE, MARLO THOMAS and NATASHA GREGSON WAGNER. New Year's Eve marks the ninth collaboration between Saint and Laurents at the New Brunswick Playhouse, and the return engagement of Ms. Thomas, who starred in Elaine May's Roger is Dead last season.

The producers of ROCK OF AGES announced the complete, awesome cast for Broadway's new, smash hit musical today. Constantine Maroulis, ('American Idol' Season 4, Broadway's The Wedding Singer, RENT) reprising his critically acclaimed role as 'Drew', is now joined by Broadway's best 1970's & 1980's period actors Amy Spanger (The Wedding Singer, Kiss Me Kate) as 'Sherrie' and James Carpinello (Saturday Night Fever, VH1's 'So NoTORIous') as 'Stacee Jaxx'.