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.