Walnut Street Theatre (WST) is ending our 215th season with the highly anticipated BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL. I attended opening night last week – this show entertains from start to finish.

This inspiring true story of Carole King’s remarkable journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame features 20 multitalented performers and a live orchestra. The show will close out the season on May 5. 

With a career spanning over six decades, Carole King has left an indelible mark on the music industry. From her early days as a songwriter composing chart-topping hits for artists like The Shirelles and The Drifters, to her groundbreaking solo album “Tapestry,” which is one of the bestselling albums of all time, King remains one of the most prolific musicians.

Her unique blend of heartfelt lyrics and unforgettable melodies has earned her numerous accolades, including four Grammy Awards, inductions into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the prestigious Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. 

With a book by DOUGLAS MCGRATH and words and music by CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN, BARRY MAN, and CYNTHIA WEIL, BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL made its Broadway debut in 2014, captivating audiences for over 2400 performances with its depiction of a schoolgirl turned superstar.

From King’s relationship with husband and songwriter Gerry Goffin to their friendly rivalry with song-writing duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the show captures the untold story of Carole King’s journey. Featuring over two dozen hits, including “One Fine Day,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” and “Natural Woman,” this Broadway celebration is filled with the songs you remember and a story you’ll never forget!

RICHARD STAFFORD returns to the Walnut as Director/Choreographer, having previously directed and choreographed numerous Mainstage shows, including Rocky, the Musical. In addition to his work with the Walnut, Stafford has also choreographed on Broadway and the New York City Opera.

Music and vocal direction are provided by CHRIS BURCHERI, whose Walnut credits include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Elvis – A Musical Revolution; Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella; and Rocky, the Musical. Associate Choreographer JOSEPH CULLINANE in his Walnut debut and returning Stage Managers PATRICK DAVID EGAN and MICHELE BEGLEY also lend their skills to this talented production team.

Making her Walnut debut and embodying the role of Carole King is SARA SHEPERD, an Ohio native who’s no stranger to the role, having played King in the national tour of BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL. Returning to the Walnut as Genie Klein, Carole King’s disillusioned mother, is SABRINA PROFITT, last seen onstage at the Walnut in Rocky, the Musical. Celebrating his 40^th production at the Walnut and portraying music publisher Don Kirshner is FRAN PRISCO, who audiences will recognize as having just played Cogsworth in this season’s Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

MATTHEW AMIRA returns as Gerry Goffin, Carole King’s former husband and songwriting partner. Amira is a Walnut favorite, known for his role as Rocky in the Philadelphia premiere of Rocky, the Musical and Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Walnut Street Theare. Making their Walnut debuts are KATHRYN BOSWELL and EDDIE OLMO II as the songwriting duo Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. Boswell has appeared in shows including Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) and

The Watcher (Netflix), while Philadelphia-born Olmo has appeared in Broadway’s The Book of Mormon. 

Returning to the Walnut as members of famous musical groups and friends of the songwriting duos are CHALI COOKE (Elvis – A Musical Revolution), DANA ORANGE in his 10^th Walnut production (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), SAMANTHA ROCHE (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Dance Captain AUDREY BIEHL SIMMONS (Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville), DEVON SINCLAIR (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), and Philadelphia-born SIERRA WILSON (Rocky, the Musical; Beehive – The 60s Musical).

Preparing the cast for this Broadway celebration are Costume Designer MARY FOLINO and Wig Designer CARISSA THORLAKSON. Folino’s designs have graced the stage for shows including Holiday Inn; Young Frankenstein; Rocky, the Musical; and Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, while Thorlakson’s work has appeared in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Elvis – A Musical Revolution; Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella; Rocky, the Musical and more here at the Walnut.

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL started performances at the Walnut on March 26, 2024. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.

The 2024 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show “United by Flowers” has dozens of exhibitors that create the must-see floral spectacle that has become a Philadelphia tradition.  

“United by Flowers” celebrates the colorful community that comes together to share in their love of gardening, flowers, and plants, and the impact they make on our lives all year round.  Now in its 195^th year, the award-winning PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is a world-renowned gardening event and PHS’s main fundraiser to support its impactful greening work that advances health and well-being in the region.

The event is known for its stunning visual displays, world-class plant competitions, family activities, artisanal crafts, educational offerings, and curated shopping.

The 2024 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show gathers some of the most cutting-edge, renowned landscape architects, garden designers, horticulturists, and florists from around the world to design dozens of breathtaking exhibits capturing the essence of this year’s theme, “United by Flowers” For a full list of exhibitors, visit: PHSOnline.org/the-flower-show.  

The PHS Entrance Garden at the Flower Show captivates with its innovative use of water as an artistic medium. Boasting the Show’s largest-ever created body of water, this glass-like centerpiece showcases vibrant floral sculptures emerging gracefully, while a colossal aerial floral sculpture reflects enchanting colors.

Seamlessly connecting water to sky, the garden offers a modern, refreshing vibe with bold angles and a kaleidoscope of colors, evoking a serene tropical sunset. Adorned with suspended floral clouds and petals, this oasis invites contemplation, and is a polished, vibrant blend of artistry and nature. 

In an innovative approach to showcasing the rich tapestry of local neighborhoods that make the region unique, educational exhibitors designed exhibits inspired by the special characteristics of select neighborhoods. Saul High School pays homage to its neighborhood Roxborough, while Temple University evokes the spirit of South Philly’s Pennsport.

The Lakeside School honors the famed Italian Market and Mercer County Community College celebrates the bond between Northeast Philadelphia and Trenton. Meanwhile, the University of Delaware encapsulates the essence of Spring Garden, and Delaware Valley University garners inspiration from the charming suburban town, Doylestown. 

The 2024 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show runs through March 10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Tickets are on sale now at tickets.phsonline.org, with flexible ticket options starting at $29.99. 

Each visitor who purchases a Flower Show ticket, attends a Flower Show special event, or becomes a PHS member contributes to PHS advancing health and well-being through gardening. Through planting trees, supporting neighborhood greening, improving access to fresh food through community gardens, providing job training, managing public gardens, and connecting people with horticulture, PHS helps improve quality of life for all in the region. 

To stay up to date with the latest information on the 2024 Flower Show, visit phsonline.org/the-flower-show. 

Last week, I was happy to catch the opening night of GROUCHO: A LIFE IN REVUE, a must-see for anyone who needs a laugh!

The Marx Brothers had a historic three-month run 100 years ago at the Walnut with this hilarious and moving tribute to ‘The Kings of Comedy.’ Original New York and London’s Olivier Award-nominated star and Walnut favorite Frank Ferrante along with a versatile cast take you from The Marx Brothers’ earliest days in vaudeville to film, stage, radio, and television stardom. This spirited musical comedy features classic songs and chronicles the remarkable rags-to-riches story of America’s funniest entertainer.

The legendary Marx Brothers performed their musical-comedy revue, I’LL SAY SHE IS, at Walnut Street Theatre from June 4th through September 1st, 1923, and to this day it holds the record for the Walnut’s longest running show. The following spring, after a national tour, the brothers returned to the Walnut for three weeks. On May 19th, 1924, two days after the Philadelphia closing, Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo Marx debuted I’LL SAY SHE IS on Broadway.

Julius Henry “Groucho” Marx was a 20^th century American comedian, actor, singer, writer, game show host, and vaudeville star. His trademark look—thick glasses, mustache, and greasepaint eyebrows—is a recognizable costume staple. Dubbed “Groucho Glasses,” these one-piece masks consisting of a plastic nose, black glasses, and fake mustache and eyebrows are only part of Groucho Marx’s legacy.

In addition to his solo work, Groucho performed with his brothers, appearing as “the Marx Brothers” on stage and on screen. With 14 feature films to their name, the Marx Brothers are considered among the most influential comedians of the 20^th century. GROUCHO: A LIFE IN REVUE, written by Groucho Marx’s son Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, is a tribute to the life and career of one of America’s greatest comedians.

Bringing Groucho to life as director and star of the show is Walnut favorite and lifelong Groucho devotee FRANK FERRANTE. Ferrante starred as Groucho in the show’s 1987 off-Broadway debut, marking the beginning of a decades-long career portraying the inimitable comedian. Described by The New York Times as “the greatest living interpreter of Groucho Marx’s material,” Ferrante first appeared on the Walnut mainstage 31 years ago in a production of GROUCHO: A LIFE IN REVUE and has since become a Walnut fan favorite.

Making his Walnut debut as both Harpo and Chico, the two brothers who formed the core of the Marx Brothers’ comedic act with Groucho, is MATT ROPER. The British-born actor is known for his comedic presence and has appeared in several adaptations of Marx Brothers’ material, including a production of The Cocoanuts with Frank Ferrante.

Returning to the Walnut as a Freedonian citizen and the off-stage voice of Lee Shubert and others is DAVE JOHNSON, who last appeared at WST in a production of Shipwrecked. Rounding out the cast and appearing as a variety of roles, from chorus girls to Groucho’s wives to Margaret Dumont, is DREYA WEBER, who made her Walnut debut in A Comedy of Tenors. Weber is no stranger to the Marx Brothers, having directed the stage and film versions of Frank Ferrante‘s Groucho.

Capturing the essence of the 20^th century theatre experience, complete with a replica of the wooden eagle that graced the proscenium arch when the Marx Brothers took the Walnut stage 100 years ago, is Set Designer DAVID P. GORDON. Gordon, who previously designed the WST productions of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Trilogy, Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor, and Ken Ludwing’s A Comedy of Tenors, is joined by Lighting Designer and WST Technical Supervisor MATT DEMASCOLO (Beehive The 60’s Musical; Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast) and veteran Sound Designer CHRISTOPHER COLUCCI (A Comedy of Tenors; Peter and the Starcatcher; Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?).

San Francisco based Costume Designer DEBRA BEAVER BAUER and Wig Designer CLAIRE WAID (Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) costume the cast for a range of decades, from 1905 to 1975.

GROUCHO: A LIFE IN REVUE runs at the Walnut through March 10, 2024. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.

At a press conference held on Friday at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) revealed new details for the 2024 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, “United by Flowers” including 4 artistic renderings offering a first glimpse of what the Show will look like.  

“United by Flowers” celebrates the colorful community that comes together to share in their love of gardening, flowers, and plants, and the impact they make on our lives all year round.  Now in its 195^th year, the award-winning PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is a world-renowned gardening event and PHS’s main fundraiser to support its impactful greening work that advances health and well-being in the region.

The event is known for its stunning visual displays, world-class plant competitions, family activities, artisanal crafts, educational offerings, and curated shopping. The 2024 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show will run March 2-10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Tickets are on sale now at tickets.phsonline.org, with flexible ticket options starting at $29.99. 

“This year’s theme, ’United by Flowers,’ focuses on coming together and we are excited to be showing all the ways that we build community with one another. From exhibits that show off the celebratory spaces that unite us to offering a series of experiences that are best when done together, there is something for every visitor to share with their loved ones at the Flower Show,” stated PHS’s Creative Director and Vice President of the Flower Show, Seth Pearsoll. 

Each visitor who purchases a Flower Show ticket, attends a Flower Show special event, or becomes a PHS member contributes to PHS advancing health and well-being through gardening. Through planting trees, supporting neighborhood greening, improving access to fresh food through community gardens, providing job training, managing public gardens, and connecting people with horticulture, PHS helps improve quality of life for all in the region. 

2024 Exhibitor Information 

The 2024 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show will gather some of the most cutting-edge, renowned landscape architects, garden designers, horticulturists, and florists from around the world to design dozens of breathtaking exhibits capturing the essence of this year’s theme, “United by Flowers” For a full list of exhibitors, please visit: PHSOnline.org/the-flower-show.  

THE PHS ENTRANCE GARDEN 

The PHS Entrance Garden at the Flower Show will captivate with its innovative use of water as an artistic medium. Boasting the Show’s largest-ever created body of water, this glass-like centerpiece will showcase vibrant floral sculptures emerging gracefully, while a colossal aerial floral sculpture reflects enchanting colors. Seamlessly connecting water to sky, the garden offers a modern, refreshing vibe with bold angles and a kaleidoscope of colors, evoking a serene tropical sunset. Adorned with suspended floral clouds and petals, this oasis invites contemplation, and is a polished, vibrant blend of artistry and nature. 

CELEBRATING THE REGION’S NEIGHBORHOODS 

In an innovative approach to showcasing the rich tapestry of local neighborhoods that make the region unique, educational exhibitors will design exhibits inspired by the special characteristics of select neighborhoods. Saul High School will pay homage to its neighborhood Roxborough, while Temple University aims to evoke the spirit of South Philly’s Pennsport. The Lakeside School will honor the famed Italian Market and Mercer County Community College will celebrate the bond between Northeast Philadelphia and Trenton. Meanwhile, the University of Delaware plans to encapsulate the essence of Spring Garden, and Delaware Valley University will garner inspiration from the charming suburban town, Doylestown. 

RETURNING EXHIBITORS 

Apiary Studio – A landscape architecture, design/build, and experimental horticulture firm known for their use of unconventional building materials, unusual hardy plants, and adaptive reuse of urban decay, Apiary Studio’s exhibit “Right of Way” salutes highway roadsides as a unifying American experience. Shoulders, embankments, and ditches as encountered when pulling over on a road trip are in a sense a garden without a gardener, and the plants form a throughway unbound by state lines. 

Black Girl Florists – Created during the pandemic to seek community in the floral industry from other female, black florists, this nationwide collective has grown to be a recognized community that supports and celebrate black women in floristry. With their acclaimed inaugural exhibit in 2023, the Flower Show is thrilled to welcome them back. The collective will express their love and support of each other by depicting unity in a space where black women gather and connect organically — a hair salon. Set against a palette of bright colors grounded by nude tones, each area will depict the uniqueness of each florist and how their collective talent creates an atmosphere of oneness. 

Jennifer Designs – A floral event company from New Jersey whose owner and professional floral designer, Jennifer Reed, has over 20 years of experience translating her love of all art mediums into their floral form. Reed draws her inspiration from extensive experience, creating pieces that emphasize sculptural composition in design, and focused on items found in nature. Reed’s “Flower Road Trip” will showcase a larger-than-life United States floral map to express how we are all connected by flowers and gardening across the 50 states. 

Robertson’s Flowers and Events – A longtime favorite Flower Show exhibitor, Robertson’s makes its return to the Flower Show for the first time since 2020.Family-owned and operated since 1927, they have created floral designs for celebrations for generations. For their exhibit, Robertson’s will honor the geometric shapes that are found in nature and work together to create a sense of connection, like the symmetry of flower petals and the rings of trees. People from diverse backgrounds will gather at this floral table, enjoying the shapes of nature and the beauty our planet provides. 

ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), an internationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in 1827, uses horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region. PHS programs create healthier living environments, increase access to fresh food, expand access to jobs and economic opportunity, and strengthen deeper social connections between people. PHS’s work spans 250 neighborhoods; an expansive network of public gardens and landscapes; year-round learning experiences; and the nation’s signature gardening event, the Philadelphia Flower Show. PHS provides everyone with opportunities to garden for the greater good as a participant, member, donor, or volunteer.  

ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW 

The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest, and the world’s longest-running horticultural event and features stunning displays by some of the world’s premier floral and landscape designers. Started in 1829 by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Show introduces diverse and sustainable plant varieties and garden and design concepts. In addition to acres of garden displays, the Flower Show hosts world-renowned competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging, gardening presentations and demonstrations, and special events.  

PHS PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW SPONSORS 

Exclusive Sponsors are Bank of America and Independence Blue Cross.  

Official Sponsors are ACME Markets, Bartlett Tree Experts, Belgard, EP Henry, Hendrick’s Gin, and The Sino-American Business & Travel Association. 

Photo Credit: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 

Earlier this week, I caught Edward Albee’s WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? at Walnut Street Theatre’s press night.

George and Martha have invited the young Nick and Honey over for a late-night party—and their lives will never be the same. A stunning portrait of two American marriages, this explosively comedic and profound masterpiece is worth seeing. Edward Albee’s WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? promises to be the most talked about play of the season!  

The actors who play George and Martha do a superb job with a sensitive topic.

Edward Albee took the theatrical world by storm with this celebrated Tony Award-winning Best Play.

Albee’s comedy was first staged in 1962 at the Billy Rose Theatre and went on to win the 1963 Tony Award for Best Play and the 1962–1963 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play. The play explores dysfunctional relationships and social expectations in a way that still resonates with audiences. Deeply invested in the tension between reality and illusion, Edward Albee asks audiences to investigate the role of fiction and illusion in their own lives. The play has been adapted into an Academy Award-winning film, banned for profanity, and nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. 

Bringing this masterpiece to life is the Walnut’s own Producing Artistic Director BERNARD HAVARD.

Havard’s Walnut directorial credits include Tennessee Wiliams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit; Oscar Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance; The Humans; God of Carnage; ART; Someone to Watch Over Me; Skylight; and Driving Miss Daisy. He has spent his life in theatre as an actor, stage manager, director, managing director and producer. Recognized as one of America’s leading theatre producers, he has proudly served America’s Oldest Theatre for 42 years. Under his leadership, the Walnut became a not-for-profit, self-producing theatre, and has gained international recognition as one of America’s premier regional theatres.

Havard is joined by Assistant Director MARY MARTELLO, fresh from her role as Mrs. Potts in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Playing the role of George, a history professor at New Carthage University and host of the night’s soiree, is Walnut veteran GREG WOOD. Wood has appeared on the WST mainstage in Noises Off; The Humans; Harvey; Private Lives; God of Carnage; Other Desert Cities.

Returning to the Walnut to play George’s unhappy, domineering wife Martha is SUSAN RILEY STEVENS. Stevens’ Walnut credits include Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers; Blithe Spirit; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Noises Off; Fallen Angels; God of Carnage; A Streetcar Named Desire.

Joining the party as Nick, the eager new faculty member and husband to Honey, is BRANDON O’ROURKE. O’Rourke has appeared in numerous WST productions, including Oscar Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance; Peter and the Starcatcher; Oliver!; and Les Misérables. Making her WST debut as Honey, Nick’s childish wife and the fourth member of the night’s party, is ANNA D. BAILEY. Bailey’s favorite credits include Annie (Grace); Matilda (Miss Honey); Goodnight, Mrs. Puffin (Pamela); Too Many Cooks (Honey).

Bringing to life the tense, intimate setting of George and Martha’s home is Scenic Designer ROMAN TATAROWICZ. His designs have been seen onstage at the Walnut in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Blithe Spirit, Thurgood, and many other memorable shows. Tatarowicz is joined by Lighting Designer RYAN O’GARA (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), and veteran Sound Designer CHRISTOPHER COLUCCI (A Comedy of Tenors, The Humans, Peter and the Starcatcher). Wig Designer and former WST apprentice CLAIRE WAID along with Costume Coordinator NATALIA DE LA TORRE ensure that the partygoers look their best for this life-altering late-night party.

EDWARD ALBEE’S WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? runs at the Walnut through February 4, 2024. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.

Greg Wood, Brandon O’Rourke, Anna D. Bailey, and Susan Riley Stevens in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Photo by Mark Garvin.

Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is a timeless, enchanting story of love and hope and a delightful holiday season treat for the entire family.It runs at the Walnut through the holiday season ending December 31, 2023.The production is directed by Glenn Casale and choreographed by Kim Arnett.

Originally based on a French fairytale, and reimagined with the classic 1991 animated feature film, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST tells the story of a prince cursed by a magic spell and the bookish Belle who stumbles on his enchanted castle and, with the help of his spellbound servants, helps him break the curse.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will enchant audiences with a ‘tale as old as time,’ featuring all the classic songs from the animated film, including “Belle,” “Be Our Guest,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” The staged version combines the beloved songs of the animated film with an expanded score and 6 additional songs.

The 1991 film, directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, featured songs by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. Met with great critical and commercial success, Beauty and the Beast went on to become the first animated film nominated for Best Picture Academy Award. Following the success of the film, the first staged production on Broadway went on to receive 9 Tony Award nominations, on its way to playing 5,461 performances before taking its final bow in 2007.

The Walnut’s production features a company of 25 performers and a live orchestra. Glenn Casale, who directed the Walnut’s Mainstage productions of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Disney’s The Little Mermaid, returns to direct. Casale directed the 2012 Dutch production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the national tour, and several regional productions in the States.

Chris Burcheri returns as Music Director, having just completed ELVIS – A Musical Revolution at the Walnut, and Kim Arnett serves as choreographer making her WST Debut. Burcheri, currently in his fourth season providing music and vocal direction at the Walnut, took the podium in the 2022-23 season for Rocky the Musical, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville.

Making his return and Walnut Street Theatre mainstage debut as the cursed and “hideous” Beast Prince is Daniel Wisniewski. Wisniewski, a native of Northeast Philadelphia, did his acting apprenticeship at Walnut Street Theatre in 2018. Wisnieski’s Off-Broadway credits include Romeo and Bernadette and The Imbible: Day Drinking. Hisregional theatre credits include Men with Money and 1776.

Also returning to the Walnut, bringing to life the role of the strong, independent, and book-loving Belle is Julia Udine. Udine was last seen on stage at the Walnut in Shrek the Musical. Udine is best known for her four-year stint as Christne in The Phantom of the Opera both on Broadway and in the 25th Anniversary National Tour. She is a Voorhees, NJ native and attended Pennsylvania State University before leaving to join the tour of Phantom at 19 years old. 

Returning as Lumiere and Cogsworth, the Prince’s charming French valet and his excitable English major-domo, are Dana Orange and Fran Prisco, respectively. Orange has been seen on stage at the Walnut in the tropical journey of Escape to Margaritaville, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Fran Prisco is celebrating over 23 years of productions at the Walnut, starting with Singin’ in the Rain in 2000. Other credits include Rocky the Musical, Young Frankenstein, and South Pacific.

Returning as Belle’s slightly addled genius inventor father is Walnut veteran Bill Van Horn. Horn has performed in, written, and directed many shows at WST and most recently premiered his stage adaptation of Sherlock Holmes’ The Adventure of the Speckled Band. Additional recent credits include Escape to Margaritaville, Rocky the Musical, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Returning to play Gaston, the rude and narcissistic hunter vying for Belle’s hand in marriage, is Chris Stevens. Stevens has been seen in the Walnut’s productions of Shrek the Musical and South Pacific. Playing Gaston’s fawning friend and sidekick LeFou is Giovanni DiGabriele.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast runs through December 31, 2023 which includes holiday performances. Season sponsor: PNC Arts Alive. This production is sponsored by Independence Blue Cross, Spark Therapeutics, FitlerClub, and Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLC. Media Sponsors are NBC, Metro Philadelphia, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.

Don’t miss your chance to see “The King” at the new musical Elvis – A Musical Revolution opening the Walnut’s 215th ‘legendary’ season of live entertainment.

Directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award^TM-nominated director Jeff Calhoun, this fun new musical celebrates the cultural icon who changed the history of music.

Experience Elvis’ pivotal moments with those who knew him best, including his parents Vernon and Gladys, Colonel Parker, Ann-Margret, Priscilla, and the R&B pioneers who influenced his music. You’ll hear “All Shook Up,” along with dozens of his greatest hits, including “Hound Dog,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”

The Walnut’s production features 17 versatile performers, both WST regulars and newcomers, who bring this heart-pounding rock and roll story to life.

This is the first Presley biomusical to be licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises, and the first Presley biographical project to be overseen by EPE as led by his granddaughter Riley Keough, following the death of Lisa Marie Presley in 2023, and the removal of Priscilla Presley from the Presley trust.

Two-time Tony-nominee Jeff Calhoun makes his Walnut debut with this production. Calhoun was nominated for Tony’s as choreographer for the Broadway revival of Grease (1994) and director of the Broadway musical adaptation of Disney’s Newsies (2012). Chris Burcheri returns for his fourth season to provide music and vocal direction. During the 2022-2023 season, Burcheri took the podium for Rocky, the Musical, Cinderella, and Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville.

Marking his debut at the Walnut Street Theatre, Lucas Pastrana takes on the role of Elvis Presley. Pastrana’s Off-Broadway credits include Kinky Boots, while his Regional credits encompass The Music Man, Oklahoma!, Pippin, Urinetown, and Sweeney Todd.

Hailing from Philadelphia, Jenna Pastuszek makes her mainstage debut. She takes on the roles of both Priscilla Presley, wife and central figure in the life of Elvis, and Dixie, one of his early girlfriends. Pastuszek’s previous Walnut credits include Winter Wonderettes and Bad Jews.

Playing the role of Elvis’ mother, Gladys, is Walnut veteran Rebecca Robbins. Audiences will recognize Robbins as Marie from last season’s holiday production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, among many other past roles. Returning to portray Elvis’ father, Vernon, is Paul L. Nolan, last seen on the Walnut stage in And Then There Were None.

Sharing the role of Elvis as a child are Joey Caroto (weeknights) of West Chester, PA and Hunter Silverman (weekends) of Philadelphia, PA.

Making their Walnut debuts are Ken Sandberg (Regional: Million Dollar Quartet, The Legend of Georgia McBride) and Kelly Briggs (Broadway: CATS, Les Misérables), Asa Somers (Broadway: Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal). Sandberg takes on the role of Scotty Moore, Elvis’ iconic guitarist and an early key music collaborator, while Briggs assumes the character of Colonel Parker, Elvis’ longtime manager and noted shaper of his career.

Scenic Designer Roman Tatarowicz (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Rocky, the Musical, Blithe Spirit) makes his WST return to capture the heart-stopping electricity of the 50’s and 60’s rock-and-roll scene. Tatarowicz is joined by Lighting Designer Michael Gilliam (Broadway: Bonnie and Clyde, Brooklyn, Big River) and Sound Designer Ed Chapman (The Little Mermaid, Shrek The Musical). Costume Designer Mary Folino (Little Mermaid, Beehive, Shrek The Musical, Young Frankenstein) gives the characters onstage the signature “Elvis era” look.

Elvis – A Musical Revolution runs through November 5, 2023. Season sponsors are Philadelphia Council on the Arts and PNC Arts Alive. This production is sponsored by Independence Blue Cross and CBIZ. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.

Photo by Mark Garvin

Walnut Street Theatre (WST) has transformed into a tropical paradise with Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville. This cute musical comedy features Jimmy Buffett’s legendary music and will delight fans old and new!

Leading your visit is Tully, a part-time bartender, part-time singer, and full-time charmer who thinks he’s got life all figured out—until a beautiful tourist steals his heart and makes him question everything. 

ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE is heartwarming, featuring your most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, including “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Fins,” “Volcano,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and more.  

The Walnut’s production features a cast of 22 performers and a live orchestra.

Making his return to WST in the role of the smooth-talking Tully is Philly-based award-winning actor Matteo Scammell. Scammell is a graduate of the University of the Arts (UArts) and was last seen on the Walnut stage in Other Desert Cities. He is a company member of New Paradise Laboratories and of Wilma Theater’s acting ensemble, HotHouse.

Making her Walnut debut as Rachel, an ambitious scientist desperately trying to find the work-life balance, is Amanda Robles. Also a UArts graduate, Robles’ credits include Vanessa in In the Heights (Stages St. Louis and Westport Country Playhouse), Aldonza in Man of La Mancha (Stages St. Louis), and Cinderella in Into the Woods (Barrington Stage Co.).

The characters of Rachel and Tully brought the show to life.

Making her Walnut debut as director and choreographer is Lisa Stevens. Stevens’ credits include 9 to 5 The Musical (West End, London, UK, and Australian companies), Anyone Can Whistle (Off-West End, London), and The Little Prince (Theatre Calgary).Chris Burcheri returns as music and vocal director, having also performed that role in Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Rocky, the Musical. He has also served as music director for the WST for Kids series and the associate conductor on Annie and Holiday Inn.

Joining Robles in their Walnut debut as Rachel’s loyal friend and fun-seeker Tammy is Kelly J. Mazzella. Recent credits include Sound of Music, Man of La Mancha, and The Play that Goes Wrong at Fulton Theatre. Also making their Walnut debut playing Tully’s sensitive and thoughtful friend Brick is Zach Kononov. Kononov’s credits include The Spongebob Musical and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (National Tours). Making their return to the Walnut as Marley, the no-nonsense resort owner, is Demetria Joyce Bailey. Audiences will remember Bailey from her WST debut as Mrs. Phelps in Matilda the Musical.

Returning as the funny, endearing J.D. is Walnut favorite Bill Van Horn. Horn has performed in, written, and directed many shows at WST and most recently premiered his stage adaptation of Sherlock Holmes’ The Adventure of the Speckled Band. Additional recent credits include Rocky, the Musical, The Little Mermaid, A Woman of No Importance, and Annie. Playing the roles of Jamal/Ted and Chadd are returning Walnut favorites Dana Orange and Dante Brattelli. Orange and Brattelli were last seen in WST’s season opening knockout Rocky, the Musical.

Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville is now extended through April 30, 2023. This production is sponsored by Herman Goldner Co., LLC, AQUA, and Parx Casino. Media Sponsors are 6ABC, Metro Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Inquirer. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.  

This year’s Flower Show by The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) features diversity of exhibitors, and larger, immersive gardens meant to envelop guests in a magical floral world.

The Entrance Garden design this year creates a sense of mystery and intrigue with its rounded, transparent, mesh scrim that offers a fragrant hint of the opulent and lush floral world awaiting within. The silhouetted plants and flowers on the exterior of the space invite curious guests inward, through a grey hued entrance. By using a mesh scrim to conceal and encapsulate the space, guests are enveloped in a 360-degree world of unique floral pairings, textures, light, fragrance, and vibrant colors; creating an immersive, sensory experience that captures the feeling of “The Garden Electric.”

For the first time in Show history, several designers were invited to create gardens that range from 2,200 – 2,900 square feet, the largest gardens ever seen at the event. This creative direction continues the immersive experience of the previous two outdoor Flower Shows, enveloping guests in a 360-degree floral world that can be experienced from multiple viewpoints. This year’s artists hail from around the globe featuring notable up-and-coming designers as well as established industry veterans known for shaping the industry.

In its return indoors, and for the first time, the Flower Show adopted the concept of a winding promenade. This guided path is a departure from how all previous Shows have been laid out, creating a lush, self-guided experience for guests to view and engage with stunning gardens and flowers up close.

Information on the full list of exhibitors, musical talent, marketplace, and more for the 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show are available at: phsonline.org/the-flower-show. Tickets are available for purchase at tickets.phsonline.org.

Below is a short list of do-not-miss designers this year.

Black Girl Florists Network

Among the lineup of renowned exhibitors, is the Black Girl Florists network. This network was created to support and celebrate black women in floristry, and the group offers workshops, group training sessions, and more to deliver on this impactful mission. Their exhibit draws inspiration from their own unity as black florists, illustrating that together, they contribute to the growth and sustainability of their presence in the floral industry. The exhibit features an array of vibrantly colored florals reflective of the theme, lighting elements, and large-scale barrels brimming with stunning flowers pouring into a 10-ft. tree.

Ill Exotics

Ill Exotics, a boutique shop based in Philadelphia and specializing in uncommon plants from aroids to orchids and captive-bred fauna, created “Studio Exotica” a Studio-54 inspired disco taken over by tropical foliage and flowers, complete with a floral DJ, bartender, and dancers. 

Newfields led by Jonathan Wright

Renowned and esteemed designer Jonathan Wright, Director of The Garden and Fairbanks Park at Newfields, is exhibiting this year for the first time. Known as a gardening tastemaker in the field of public gardens for his creative design sensibility and elegant, yet contemporary approach, guests can anticipate a breathtaking 360-degree, mixed-media installation featuring projections, music, and florals reminiscent of immersive art shows.

Harijanto Setiawan

Harijanto Setiawan, a recipient of the Designer of the Year Award in 2013 by the President of Singapore, is an architect-turned-florist and founder of Boenga floral studio. He has worked with high-end clients such as Chanel, Dior, Hermes, Vacheron Constantin, Piaget, Swarovski, Manolo Blahnik, and Audi, uniting floral design, architecture, and high fashion. Look forward to innovative and architectural floral sculptures that captivate lovers of decadent and imaginative design.

Treeline Designz

Treeline Designz, led by Iftikhar Ahmed, will bring to life a concept that pays tribute to children facing war in Ukraine. This exhibit sheds light on Ukrainian children who have been uprooted from their homes and exposed to war. Ahmed believes that garden and landscape design can contribute to making the world a more livable, equitable, resilient, and just place. His exhibit uses locally-grown trees and plants to envision a magical, twinkling fairy house, home to the Peace Fairy, who watches over and protects all children.

Susan Cohan Gardens

Renowned garden and landscape designer Susan Cohan, named “Designer of the Year in 2021” by The Association of Professional Landscape Designers, returns to the Flower Show in 2023. Her firm’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that thoughtful and responsibly designed landscapes enhance our lives. Cohan celebrates the joy and exuberance we feel at the start of spring. Through utilizing a variety of spring ephemerals, a suspended interactive swing, and spiral motifs, Cohan invokes the blissfulness of a spring day.

ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), an internationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in 1827, uses horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the Greater Philadelphia region. PHS programs create healthier living environments, increase access to fresh food, expand access to jobs and economic opportunity, and strengthen deeper social connections between people. PHS’s work spans 250 neighborhoods; an expansive network of public gardens and landscapes; year-round learning experiences; and the nation’s signature gardening event, the Philadelphia Flower Show. PHS provides everyone with opportunities to garden for the greater good as a participant, member, donor, or volunteer.

ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW

The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest, and the world’s longest-running horticultural event and features stunning displays by some of the world’s premier floral and landscape designers. Started in 1829 by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Show introduces diverse and sustainable plant varieties and garden and design concepts. In addition to acres of garden displays, the Flower Show hosts world-renowned competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging, gardening presentations and demonstrations, and special events.

Walnut Street Theatre (WST) continues its 214^th season with a Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece in Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Written by literary genius Tennessee Williams (who premiered his A Streetcar Named Desire at the Walnut in 1947), the production continues through March 12 on the Walnut’s Mainstage.

Enjoyed the press preview last week, where the audience was transported to the sweltering Mississippi Delta.

In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Brick and his wife Maggie “the Cat” are celebrating the birthday of Brick’s father, Big Daddy. But Big Daddy is disturbed and disappointed by the tempestuous relationship between his prized son Brick, an aging football hero who is desperately trying to escape reality, and the beautiful and feisty Maggie. As the hot summer evening unfolds, the veneer of Southern gentility slips away, and long-hidden truths emerge. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a powerful, not to be missed, Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece.

Bringing this masterpiece to life is the Walnut’s own Producing Artistic Director Bernard Havard. Havard’s Walnut directorial credits include Blithe Spirit, A Woman of No Importance, The Humans, God of Carnage, ART, Someone to Watch Over Me, Skylight, and Driving Miss Daisy. He has spent his life in theatre as an actor, stage manager, director, managing director and producer. Recognized as one of America’s leading theatre producers, he has proudly served America’s Oldest Theatre for over 40 years. Under his leadership, the Walnut became a not-for-profit, self-producing theatre and has gained international recognition as one of America’s premier regional theatres.

Playing the role of Margaret (Maggie the Cat) is Walnut veteran and former WST Acting Apprentice Alanna Smith. Smith recently starred in the TV movie rom-com, Love Afloat (Crackle) and will be seen in the upcoming Disney+ film Chang Can Dunk. Recent Walnut credits include Young Frankenstein, Noises Off, The Importance of Being Earnest, and A Funny Thing…Forum.

Returning after going the distance in his Walnut Debut as the “Italian Stallion” Rocky Balboa in Rocky, the Musical is Matthew Amira playing the role of Brick, the former football hero turned alcoholic. Amira’s theatre credits include Jersey Boys (Ogunquit Playhouse, Fulton Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre), The Carole King Musical (National Tour) and Dirty Dancing (National Tour).

Walnut audiences will immediately recognize Scott Greer, who will play Brick’s father Big Daddy, the large, brash, and vulgar plantation millionaire. A Walnut veteran, Greer was the romance rummaging Barney Cashman in the most recent mainstage production, Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Greer has also been seen at the Walnut in A Funny Thing Happened…Forum, Laughter on the 23^rd Floor, Buddy, of Mice and Men, and Brighton Beach Memoirs, among others. Returning to the Walnut as the grotesquely over-fashioned yet sweet and breathless Big Mama is Wendy Scharfman. Scharfman has appeared Off-Broadway in Through Darkest Ohio (Public Theater), Bird House (Mint), and regionally in Driving Miss Daisy (National Tour) Glass Menagerie (National Tour), and Quartet (WST).

Joining the family as Gooper, a successful corporate lawyer and the scheming brother to Brick, is David Bardeen. Bardeen was last seen at the Walnut in Peter and the Starcatcher, Little Voice, Travels With My Aunt, among others. Playing Gooper’s wife and partner in crime, Mae, is Alicia Roper. Roper was recently seen on the Walnut stage in Blithe Spirit, A Woman of No Importance, and The Curious Incident, among others.

Returning to the Walnut as the tactless, opportunistic, and hypocritical guest Reverend Tooker is Johnnie Hobbs, Jr. Walnut audiences will remember Hobbs in Thurgood, Oleanna, Driving Miss Daisy (National Tour), The Other Place, and The Best Man. Playing the role of Big Daddy’s physician Doctor Baugh is Michael P. Toner. Toner’s past with the Walnut includes as an actor and director. Toner was recently seen on stage as Clarence the Angel in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play and as director of Stones in His Pockets. Playing the role of the family’s maid Sookey is Natasha S. Truitt. Truitt recently made her Walnut debut understudying in Rocky, the Musical.

The cast also features two teams of young local actors, alternating performances, who play Mae and Gooper’s children. Violet Mae Badeau of Chadds Ford, PA and Kelsey Noel Briggs of Collegeville, PA portray Dixie. Gavin Barden of Mullica Hill, NJ and Jackson Deen Goral of Jamison, PA take on the role of Buster. Playing Trixie are both Olivia Hiepler of Marietta, PA and Faye Lorena Stockmal of Bryn Mawr, PA. Grant Knudson of Collingswood, NJ and Raphael Sommer of Merion Station, PA play Sonny. 

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS’ CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF runs at the Walnut through March 12. Media Sponsors are 6ABC and Metro Philadelphia. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.  

Photo of Alanna Smith by Mark Garvin