POPCORN FALLS Opens Tomorrow At The Walnut

The Walnut Street Theatre continues its 2019-20 Independence Studio on 3 season with the Philadelphia premiere of the quirky comedy, POPCORN FALLS. Written by James Hindman, directed by Ellie Mooney, and starring Luke Bradt and Dan Olmstead, the production begins previews on February 25, opens March 5, and continues through March 29.

A nasty neighboring town has shut off Popcorn Falls' namesake waterfall and targeted them as a sewage treatment site. But the enterprising Popcorn Falls townsfolk ("kernels") discover a loophole when they find they can secure a town-saving grant if they can produce a play - in just one week! The only problems: no playhouse, no players, and no play! Two actors frantically transform into over twenty roles in this over-the-top comedy that proves one play can save the world (or at least one town)!

Director, choreographer, performer, teaching artist and Walnut favorite Ellie Mooney returns to direct Popcorn Falls. At the Walnut, Mooney's credits as director include Jerry's Girls and I Love a Piano. She has also performed in numerous WST productions, including Matilda, The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, Sister Act, and Harvey. Nationally, Mooney has served as director and choreographer for A Kid's Life!, associate director and choreographer for I Love a Piano, and assistant choreographer for the Broadway First National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Representing the entire town of Popcorn Falls by playing over twenty different roles will be Dan Olmstead and Luke Bradt. The duo reunites for another hilarious comedy after starring as The Monster (Dan Olmstead) and Igor (Luke Bradt) in this season's record-breaking opener, Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein The Musical. Walnut favorite Dan Olmstead will primarily assume the role of the town's new mayor, Mr. Trundle, in addition to playing a multitude of other Popcorn Falls residents. Olmstead is a graduate of Temple University and has starred in over 20 WST productions, including Matilda, South Pacific, Harvey, High Society, Arsenic and Old Lace, Good People, Amadeus, Fiddler on the Roof, Fallen Angels, A Streetcar Named Desire, Enchanted April, and Of Mice and Men. Luke Bradt makes his Independence Studio on 3 debut and first appears in the production as anxious janitor, Joe, before taking on more than 10 other Popcorn Falls characters. In addition to Young Frankenstein The Musical, audiences may recognize Bradt from WST's Annie, as well as his regional appearances in Ragtime (Eagle Theatre), Cinderella (People's Light), and Biloxi Blues (Act II Playhouse).

Welcoming audiences to the town hall of Popcorn Falls is Scenic Designer Laura Revelt (Kate, Disney's Aladdin Jr., Junie B. Jones). She has designed sets for a number of regional productions and has served as art director and designer for a variety of independent films. Revelt is joined by Costume Designer Mandy Boandl, whose work was seen last season during Pinkalicious: The Musical and A Christmas Carol during her time as a Walnut costume apprentice. Lighting Designer Sasha Anistratova (A Child's Christmas in Wales) and Sound Designer John Kolbinski (Civil War Voices, The Winter Wonderettes, Baskerville) round out the design team.

Tickets are also available at walnutstreettheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.

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