Walnut Street Theatre Presents THE PRESCOTT METHOD, 3/26

Walnut Street Theatre's 2012-2013 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with the World Premiere of THE PRESCOTT METHOD: EASY STEPS TO PERFECT BREAD BAKING, EVERY TIME. Written by local playwright Michael Whistler, and directed by Greg Wood, the production begins on March 26th, opens March 28th and continues through April 14th in the Walnut's Independence Studio on 3.

It's 1966, and Veronica DiGregorio wants Peg Merwood to teach her how to bake bread, using the special flair of THE PRESCOTT METHOD. The women meet regularly, break bread and take the time necessary to escape from their daily routines. The kind-hearted, lonely Peg, wife of a college professor, is working hard to fit into her new university setting. The animated and inquisitive Veronica, mother of six, longs for a little quiet time. As they bake bread, they discover that the best ingredients for coping with the lives they have chosen are friendship, conversation and trust.

THE PRESCOTT METHOD is a World Premiere comedy by Philadelphia playwright Michael Whistler. The idea for the play came when Whistler saw two women on the Today Show holding a sign that read "On vacation from our husbands." He comments, "It made me think of the women who raised me, and who they might be when they were by themselves, and not busy being wives and mothers. I wrote the piece as a love letter to them-and the 60's suburbia I grew up in." Whistler's additional credits include the plays Little Lamb and Hidden Rivers. He is also coordinator of the Theatre Arts Faculty at Montgomery County Community College.

At the helm of the production is Director Greg Wood. An award-winning actor for over 30 years, this is Wood's directorial debut at Walnut Street Theatre. He has been seen on stage at the Walnut in numerous productions, including God of Carnage, Amadeus, Fallen Angels and Born Yesterday. His film and television credits include The Sixth Sense, Signs, The Happening and several seasons of Law and Order. Christopher McGinnis will join Wood as Assistant Director.

The cast of THE PRESCOTT METHOD includes three of Philadelphia's strongest leading ladies: Jessica Bedford as Peg Merwood, Madi Distefano as Veronica DiGregorio and Susan Riley Stevens as Elizabeth Prescott. A graduate of DeSales University (B.A.) and Villanova University (M.A.), and Associate Artistic Director of Montgomery Theatre, Bedford makes her Walnut debut in this production. She has been seen on local stages including People's Light and Theatre, Montgomery Theater, Lantern Theatre, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and Act II Playhouse. The award-winning Distefano returns to the Walnut having entertained audiences in The Mystery of Irma Vep, The Odd Couple, Biloxi Blues, and Lost in Yonkers. She is a Philadelphia-based playwright, director, teacher and the founding Artistic Director of BRAT Productions. Walnut audiences will remember Barrymore Award-winner Stevens as the tulip-crazed Annette in God of Carnage, as well as her performances in A Streetcar Named Desire, Fallen Angels and Speaking in Tongues. She has also been seen on regional stages including Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arden Theatre, Dallas Theatre Center and PA Shakespeare Festival.

"Nothing makes a house a home like the smell of freshly baked bread" Elizabeth Prescott notes in the play. In this case, it also involves a fantastic creative team led by Set Designer Glen Sears (O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln, The Mousetrap, Plaid Tidings). Lighting Designer Thom Weaver returns having just designed for Vincent in Brixton in Walnut's Studio 3 theatre. Walnut audiences have seen Mary Folino's costume designs as part of over 20 productions, including The Mousetrap and Around the World in 80 Days. Her style is back for THE PRESCOTT METHOD, along with award-winning Sound Designer Christopher Colucci who returns to the Walnut to fill the space with sweet sounds of the 1960s.

Season sponsor for the 2012-2013 Independence Studio on 3 Season is The Independence Foundation. Media season sponsors are Philadelphia Weekly and WRTI Radio. Tickets are $30 - $40 and are now available at 215-574-3550 or 215-336-1234. Tickets are also available at WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.

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