Walnut Street Theatre (WST)’s world premiere adaptation of a classic mystery with Sherlock Holmes – The Adventure of The Speckled Band offers comedic mystery in this classic tale. Written and directed by Walnut favorite Bill Van Horn, the production continues through March 27 on the Walnut’s Mainstage. 

After her twin sister’s unusual death at the family’s run-down country manor, a young woman is terrified she will be next. To avoid a similar fate – and mystified by her sister’s final words, “It was…the speckled band” – she enlists the world’s greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, and Dr. Watson. Six talented actors, playing over 30 quirky characters, take you deep into a world of quick-change disguises and murderous mayhem to unravel The Adventure of The Speckled Band. 

The Walnut’s Producing Artistic Director Bernard Havard commissioned Bill Van Horn to create this adaption of The Speckled Band, which was originally a 1910 three-act play by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Van Horn is no stranger to writing and adapting for the stage. He has done so for productions in the Walnut’s Independence Studio on 3 and WST for Kids Series, including yearly productions of A Christmas Carol.

In addition to leading the cast as director, Van Horn will also take on the role of Holmes’ familiar sidekick, Dr. Watson. Van Horn has previously played the role in Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville, A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. His other WST roles include Grimsby in this season’s Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Sir John Pontefract in A Woman of No Importance.

In the role of the titular detective, among other characters, is Ian Merrill Peakes. He is a veteran of the Walnut’s Mainstage with credits including A Woman of No Importance, The Curious Incident…, Matilda, and Of Mice and Men. A proud Philadelphia actor, this will be Peakes’ 134th professional production in his career, during which he has earned multiple awards in Philadelphia and beyond. 

Karen Peakes will play several roles, including Enid Stoner, the woman who employs the help of Holmes and Watson to solve the mystery of her sister’s death. Her WST credits include A Woman of No Importance, The Curious Incident…, and A Comedy of Tenors, in addition to work at several other Philadelphia theatres. When not on the stage, she is an Audie Award-nominated audiobook narrator of over 80 titles. Actress Mary Martello returns to the Walnut to also play a variety of characters. Audiences will remember Martello from roles in Walnut shows like Young Frankenstein, Annie, The Humans,and 9 to 5. In her impressive career, she has received many awards and performed at Philadelphia theatres such as 1812 Productions, The Wilma, and The Arden. 

Rounding out the cast and playing a handful of characters each are Dan Hodge and Justin Lujan, both last seen at the Walnut in The Curious Incident… Hodge’s theatrical credits also include the one-man show Dogs of Rwanda at Urban Stages and an award-winning turn in Around the World in 80 Days at Delaware Theatre Company. Lujan, the current Program Director for Acting at University of the Arts, has a background in comedy as a graduate of The Groundlings School of Improvisation in Los Angeles. He has helped devise performance in Seoul and acted in film and television in LA. 

Scenic Designer Brian Froonjian (Beehive), who also serves as the Walnut’s Technical Director, takes us from a stately manor in Surrey to Holmes’ base at 221B Baker Street in London. Creating a large variety of costumes for the actors’ quick changes is the Walnut’s Costume Shop Manager Natalia De La Torre whose work includes Nina Simone at People’s Light and Snow White at the Arden. They are joined by Lighting Designer Shon Causer (A Woman of No Importance, A Comedy of Tenors, The Humans) and multi-award-winning Sound Designer Christopher Colucci (A Woman of No Importance, A Comedy of Tenors, and The Humans).

SHERLOCK HOLMES – THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND runs at the Walnut through March 27, 2022. Discounted tickets are sponsored by PNC Arts Alive.

For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.  

Photo Credit: Mark Garvin

Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) presents the Philadelphia premiere of Broadway smash hit Choir Boy, by Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney through March 13 only. The TONY Award-winning drama features soaring gospel, spiritual and R&B musical performances in this story about singing in your own key and finding your way.

Audiences are transported to the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys, which is an elite all-boys, all-Black prep school dedicated to the education of strong, ethical black men. Honor. Legacy. Pride. Taking his place out front as the choir leader, Pharus Young is determined to make his mark by challenging expectations in a world steeped in deep-rooted traditions. But can he make his way through the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key?

Art imitates life in a true Philadelphia and Avenue of the Arts success story as PTC Resident Artist Jeffrey L. Page makes his directorial debut. Page found his own voice and crossed over from being a student down the street at University of the Arts to now directing this stunning work. Page directs an exceptional cast featuring a mix of rising young stars, a Broadway veteran, and a Philadelphia favorite.

“I feel tremendously excited to be doing work in Philadelphia,” said Page in a press release. “Philadelphia is a city that has seen me cross over from being a child into adulthood at University of the Arts. My roots run pretty deep in Philadelphia. I left Philadelphia and continued with my work. Here I am, back to conduct a group of artists in this stunning work. It feels really exciting to be back on Broad Street.  I am excited for all of Philadelphia and its many faces to come out to see this work.”

Choir Boy electrified Broadway with its soaring gospel, spiritual, and R&B performances. Choir Boy was nominated for five 2019 TONY Awards and won two. It won for Sound Design and a Special TONY Award for the music.

“I have been aware of this play for a long time,” said Page. “Tarell is a friend. I was in LA and I have a vivid memory of sitting in the park reading the script and just crying. The way Tarell was able to find so much color and texture inside of the breath of the words in this piece, the way he was able to paint what it feels like to be not be fully, empathetically witnessed and fully regarded – to have to exist in a small space –  while everyone else has room to move and to grow wings and soar. It’s just a powerful work.”

Page directs a cast comprised of young rising stars, a Broadway veteran, and a Philadelphia favorite. DePaul University graduate and 2021 Princess Grace Award Winner Justen Ross makes his PTC and Philadelphia debut as Pharus. Recent University of the Arts grad Jeremy Cousar plays Bobby.  Jamaal Fields-Green returns to the stage after playing John Laurents/Philip Hamilton in the Chicago cast of Hamilton to play AJ.  Tristan André, a UNC MFA and regular at PlayMakers Repertory Company, plays Junior.  Dana Orange, who recently appeared as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid at Walnut Street Theatre, plays David. Philadelphia favorite Akeem Davis, who is currently in A Streetcar Named Desire at Arden Theatre Company and last appeared at PTC in Rizzo, plays the Headmaster. Broadway veteran of Chicago and Wicked and many more, actor PJ Benjamin, plays Mr. Pendelton.

Crystal Monee Hall, a singer/songwriter, composer, and vocal arranger is the Music Director and Composer of Choir Boy. She has extensive credits on Broadway and in popular music. Philadelphian Rob Tucker is the Assistant Music Director.  Christopher Ash returns to PTC after designing The Garbologists and Sweat as Scenic and Lighting Designer, creating a minimalist set that encompasses the world of the prep school. Millie Hiibel, a Costume Designer for Opera Philadelphia, returns to PTC where she designed At Home At The Zoo. Busy Philadelphia Sound Designer Daniel Ison returns to PTC after designing this season’s The Garbologists. Alison Hassman and Jamel Baker are the Stage Managers. Casting services were provided by Bass/Valle Casting.

“The textures and colors of this play are so magnetic,” said Page. “I think this play is a powerful work of art that has the ability to reach into any person’s deepest core and help them to discover things in themselves they have forgotten about.”

Tickets are on sale now starting at $35. PTC continues its 10Tix program, supported by PNC Arts Alive, providing a select number of seats at $10 for every performance. Tickets are available at www.philatheatreco.org or by phone at 215-985-0420. All shows are performed at PTC’s home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146.

PTC is a leading regional theater company that produces, develops, and presents entertaining and imaginative contemporary theater focused on the American experience.

Founded in 1974, PTC has presented 201 World and Philadelphia premieres. More than 50 percent of PTC’s world premieres have moved on to New York and other major cities, helping to earn Philadelphia a national reputation as a hub for new play development. In 2007, PTC was instrumental in expanding Philadelphia’s thriving cultural corridor by opening the Suzanne Roberts Theatre on the Avenue of the Arts.

Photo credit: Mark Garvin