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

Walnut Street Theatre (WST) continues its 214^th season with a comedic romantic romp in Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Written by the legendary Neil Simon (who received his start at the Walnut with the 1961 premiere of “Come Blow Your Horn”), the production opened January 18, and continues through February 5, 2023, on the Walnut’s Mainstage.

I thoroughly enjoyed the media preview last week. Bring your significant other or a friend and get ready to laugh.

Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers will have you laughing from start to finish. Barney Cashman believes life is passing him by (maybe a mid-life crisis?) so he sets out to put some excitement into his life. His mother’s apartment is empty one afternoon each week, so he decides seduction—with three uniquely comedic women—is the answer. His failed attempts lead to hilarious results as Barney discovers he may not actually be the Last of the Red Hot Lovers. Neil Simon’s hit comedy is a guaranteed laugh-out-loud romantic romp.

Bringing the comedic beats to life and making her Walnut directorial debut is Jennifer Childs. Childs has been seen in the Walnut’s Studio series in Pumpboys and Dinettes (Prudie), and is the producing artistic director of 1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s All-Comedy Theatre Company.

Playing the role of the romance rummaging Barney Cashman is Walnut veteran Scott Greer. Audiences will recognize Greer from 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 is Grace Gonglewski as the foul-mouthed bundle of neuroses Elaine Navazio. Gonglewski was last seen on the Walnut stage as Margaret Lord in High Society. Her off-Broadway credits include The Guys,and she has been seen in regional theatres such as The Arden, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Orlando Shakespeare Festival, and more.

Playing the young ‘kooky’ actress Bobbi Michele is Jessica Bedford. Bedford’s WST credits include A Woman of No Importance, Meteor Shower, And Then There Were None, and The Prescott Method. And rounding out the comedic quartet is Susan Riley Stevens as the angsty housewife Jeanette Fisher. Stevens was recently seen in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit in the spring of 2022.

Scenic Designer Brian Froonjian (Beehive, Speckled Band, Always…Patsy Cline), who also serves as the Walnut’s technical director, brings to life the story’s iconic Manhattan of the ‘60s. Creating the authentic ‘60s’ fashion is Costume Designer Leigh Paradise whose recent credits include This Is The Week That Is at 1812 Productions and Town at Theatre Horizon. Giving us the iconic ‘60s’ hairstyles is Wig Designer Carissa Thorlakson (Cinderella and Rocky). They are joined by Lighting Designer Shon Causer (Blithe Spirit, A Woman of No Importance, A Comedy of Tenors) and Sound Designer Elizabeth Atkinson (The Importance of Being Earnest).

NEIL SIMON’S LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS runs at the Walnut through February 5, 2023. Season 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 Grace Gonglewski and Scott Greer by Mark Garvin

Walnut Street Theatre (WST) continues its 214^th season with one of most beloved stories of all time–Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, a timeless, enchanting story of love and hope. This Walnut production is a delightful holiday season treat for the entire family. I was thrilled to attend the media preview of CINDERELLA last week with my younger daughter.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s Cinderella was originally written for television and premiered in 1957. It is based on the French version of the fairy tale Cendrillon, ou la petite pantoufle de verre by Charles Perrault and is the only musical Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote for television that was later adapted for the stage. This enchanting new Broadway adaptation features a lighthearted and romantic new book by Douglas Carter Beane (Sister Act) and includes Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classics like “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago.”

The Walnut’s production features a cast of 22 performers and a live orchestra. Glenn Casale, who directed the Walnut’s record-breaking 2021 production of 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. His work also includes the 1999 Broadway revival of Peter Pan, which received a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical, as well as the National Tour of Peter Pan and its A&E television production. He also directed The Property Known as Garland and Dragapella! at Studio 54, which was nominated for a Drama Desk and two Lucille Lortel Awards.

Chris Burcheri returns as Music Director, having just completed Rocky, the Musical, and Gerry McIntyre makes his WST debut as choreographer. During the 2021-2022 season, Burcheri took the podium as music director for Beehive, The Little Mermaid, and Always…Patsy Cline. He has also served as music director for the WST for Kids series and the associate conductor on Annie and Holiday Inn. McIntyre is the Associate Artistic Director of the York Theatre in NYC and has choreographed Ain’t Misbehavin’, Anything Can Happen in The Theatre,in addition to Side by Side, Tommy and My Fair Lady at the Berkshire Theatre Festival; andLaura Comstock’s Bag-Punching Dog, and Color Purple at Broadway Sacramento and The Wiz.

Making her return to Walnut Street Theatre and bringing the role of Cinderella (Ella) to life is Kathryn Brunner. Brunner’s development as a performer started with classes at the Theatre School at the Walnut. Her first professional credits her were here as well. Brunner was last seen on the Walnut stage as Elle in Legally Blonde. Other theatre credits include Sophie in Mamma Mia! (Pioneer Theatre), Val in A Chorus Line (Penn Shakespeare Festival), and Mary Phagan in Parade (Arden Theatre Co).

Making his Walnut debut as the charming Prince Topher is Canadian Brent Thiessen. This is Theissen’s second time to Philadelphia, as only just this year he was here in January while touring with the Broadway musical Pretty Woman. Rebecca Robbins is a WST veteran and returns as the compassionate Fairy Godmother, Marie. Robbins has been seen in Rocky (Gloria), Always…Patsy Cline (Louise), The Little Mermaid (Ursula), Legally Blonde (Paulette), Souvenir (FlorenceFoster Jenkins), and Mary Poppins (Mrs. Banks).

Returning as Lord Pinkleton and Sebastian, the aids to Prince Topher, are Walnut regulars Ben Dibble and Fran Prisco. Ben Dibble (who has performed in over 26 productions at the Walnut) was last seen on stage in Rocky, the Musical and has been in the Walnut productions of Young Frankenstein (Frederick Frankenstein), The Little Mermaid (Chef Louis), Shrek (Lord Farquaad), to name a few. Fran Prisco is celebrating over 22 years of productions at the Walnut, starting with Singin’ in the Rain in 2000. Other credits include Rocky, the Musical (Paulie), Young Frankenstein (Kemp/Hermit), and South Pacific (Hula’d Billis). Returning as the callous stepmother, Madame, is Mary Martello. Martello is another Walnut regular with over 30 WST productions including Blithe Spirit, Young Frankenstein, Annie, 9 to 5, and Memphis. Playing Ella’s stepsisters, Gabrielle and Charlotte, are Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters and Amanda Jill Robinson. Walters is an award-winning playwright who works are also performed at many theatres. Robinson’s Walnut credits include Blithe Spirit, The Gifts of the Magi, Winter Wonderettes, and A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Returning to the Walnut as the firebrand Jean-Michel is Adam Hoyak. Audiences will recognize Hoyak as one of the electrifying eels in the WST production of The Little Mermaid. Hoyak’s other credits include Shrek and Matilda (WST), Honk! (Delaware Theatre Co.), Cabaret and Triumph of Love (Bristol Riverside), and Ragtime, Rock of Ages, and John & Jen (The Eagle Theatre).

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA is now extended through December 31, 2022. This production is sponsored by Fox Rothschild and Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant. Media Sponsors are 6ABC, Metro Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Inquirer. 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.  

Philadelphia Theatre Company brings the theatre season alive with a world premiere rock musical about the radical history of the tattooed ladies. The Tattooed Lady is a new musical by Obie Award-winning playwright Erin Courtney (Map of Virtue), Lortel-winner Max Vernon (KPOP on Broadway, The View Upstairs), developed and directed by Drama League-winner Ellie Heyman (Space Dogs) and choreographed by Mayte Natalio (How to Dance in Ohio).

Emmy-nominee and Obie Award-winner Jackie Hoffman (Hairspray, Feud, and Only Murders in the Building) stars as the fictional sideshow luminary Ida Gibson. The Tattooed Lady runs October 29 to November 20, 2022, with opening night set to coincide with the Philadelphia Theatre Company Gala on Friday, November 4th at 8:00pm. During the show run, look for special events, the Ink Industry Night, tattoo-themed art experiences, talk-backs with local experts, themed cocktails and much more.

The Tattooed Lady was developed with support from the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals, the Kimmel Center, National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) and Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater. Major support for The Tattooed Lady has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Frank Young Fund for New Musicals.

The story of The Tattooed Lady highlights one of sideshow’s biggest stars, the fictional Ida Gibson, in a moving, fantastical tale that reveals the generational chasms and connections between Ida and her granddaughter Joy. A parade of beguiling characters appear, on a mission to liberate Ida from her self-imposed exile and help Joy find freedom through forgiveness. The musical celebrates the resilience of women whose choices have the power to liberate them.

For the show’s Creative Producer Paige Price (the former PTC Producing Artistic Director who commissioned the work), The Tattooed Lady represents a new path forward for theatre in Philly.

Price said, “In this day and age, theatres can no longer afford to play it safe.”

For PTC’s new Co-Artistic Directors Taibi Mager and Tyler Dobrowksy, the show exemplifies the kind of work they want to see developed in the future. “We are incredibly excited to open our first season as PTC’s new artistic directors with this vibrant, thrilling new musical from some of the best theater-makers in the country,” said Magar. “The Tattooed Lady is the perfect bridge from Paige Price’s successful tenure at PTC to what we hope will be a bold new future.”

For the creators, the show debuting on stage is a very personal experience with a script that takes pages from their own lives. Vernon was bullied growing up and spent a good deal of time internalizing a lot of hate from strangers and feeling out of place. They used discoveries from their youth to create this story.

“For my own survival, I sought out stories of those who similarly didn’t fit in, who fought to live their truth and changed the world in doing so,” said Vernon. “I have some very formative early memories of making my dad take me to the Coney Island freak show. I loved the wild stories, the sense of danger, the disruption of ‘normality.’”

They added, “I became most interested in The Tattooed Lady, because it was an act that was all about self-actualization. Unlike other freaks who were essentially exploited for deformities or medical conditions, the Tattooed Ladies intentionally chose their otherness—by tattooing themselves they renounced respectable society, but gained a new kind of autonomy. I think a lot about the physical dangers of visibility vs. emotional harm of invisibility. I wanted to tell a story about the freak show that wasn’t sanitized or Disneyfied for a musical theatre audience.”

Co-writer Erin Courtney, who herself is covered in over a dozen tattoos, also felt a soul connection to the material. “As a great fan of tattoos and female centered narratives, I immediately said yes to imagining a musical about these courageous, creative women who changed the American cultural landscape by refusing to accept the traditional path. Some of the characters in the musical are very loosely based on actual women, Nora Hildebrandt and Maud Wagner. Our main character, Ida (Imagena) Gibson is a fictional creation. Through the years of imagining, writing, revising, we found one theme essential to the narrative: ‘It’s better to be odd than ordinary.’”

While there are important take-aways the artists want audiences to leave with, they also want theatre-goers to come ready for a wild ride. “The Tattooed Lady is a full course meal,” said Vernon. “The show is wild, provocative, hilarious, and entertaining in the way any trip to the freakshow should be. Underneath our tattooed surface, this is truly a musical about liberation and loving yourself even when it’s really really hard.”

For casting, PTC has assembled an all-star line-up of New York stage and screen veterans including Jackie Hoffman as the fictional famed Tattooed Lady Ida Gibson, Kim Blanck (Octet), James Dybas (Pacific Overtures), Ashley Pérez Flanagan (The Great Comet of 1812), Anastacia McCleskey (Caroline, or Change), Jessie Shelton (Hadestown), Katie Thompson (Oklahoma!), Grace Slear (Jagged Little Pill), Sophia Ramos (Party People), and introducing Maya Lagerstam.

Heyman is the Director and Co-Creator. Natalio is the Choreographer. Rodney Bush is the Music Director (Eva Noblezada, Carmen Cusak and Jay Armstrong Johnson). Lex Liang (Principal of LDC Design Associates, over 100 Int’l/Nat’l Tours/NYC/Off-B’way productions) is the Scenic and Costume Designer. Mary Ellen Stebbins (Space Dogs) is the Lighting Designer. Nevin Steinberg (Hadestown (TONY Award), Hamilton, and PTC’s Nerds) is the Sound Designer. Jason Hayes (Spring Awakening, Blithe Spirit, 13 The Musical, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular) is the Wig and Hair Designer. Trey Lyford (rainpan 43 and The Civilians) is the Magic Consultant. Chelsea Pace (A Strange Loop and Leopoldstadt) is the Intimacy Coordinator. Adam John Hunter (Mrs. Doubtfire) is the Stage Manager. Sarah Lunnie (What The Constitution Means to Me and Grand Horizons) is the Dramaturg. Former PTC Producing Artistic Director Paige Price is the Creative Producer.

The Tattooed Lady runs through November 20, 2022. Tickets cost $35 to $74 after opening. Tickets and more information are available online at www.philatheatreco.org, on the phone at 215-985-0420, or in person during box office hours. Connect with Philadelphia Theatre Company for the latest updates on social at @philatheatreco on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and @philatheatre on TikTok.

I was thrilled to attend the Broadway musical version of ROCKY with my kids at Walnut Street Theatre (WST) earlier this week. ROCKY, the Musical is a love story, and a heart-stopping, knock-out theatrical experience for everyone brave enough to follow their dreams.

Small-time boxer Rocky Balboa gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to go from loan shark enforcer to heavyweight titleholder, but does this ultimate underdog have what it takes? Based on the MGM/United Artists Academy Award-winning motion picture of the same name, ROCKY features new musical numbers, along with favorites including “Eye of the Tiger” and “Gonna Fly Now.” 

Rocky’s grit and determination exemplifies Philadelphia and its people, and the deep connection between Rocky and Philadelphia has been acknowledged by Sylvester Stallone, who created the classic fighter and co-wrote the book for this new iteration of Rocky’s story. “It’s a city that really was built for this kind of character … gritty yet historical, it’s just that kind of tough place,” said Stallone.

The Walnut’s all-new production features a cast of over 23 and a live orchestra and has been updated for Philadelphia from the 2012 premier in Germany and the subsequent Broadway production in 2014. Rocky, the Musical has a book by Thomas Meehan and Sylvester Stallone, and was adapted from Stallone’s screenplay. Adding to the classic music is a new score created by Tony Award-winning writer Lynn Ahrens with music by Tony and Grammy Award Winner Stephen Flaherty.

Making his Walnut Street Theatre debut as the South Philly small time boxer, Rocky Balboa, is Matthew Amira. Amira’s theatre credits include Jersey Boys: (Ogunquit Playhouse, Fulton Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre as Nick Massi. Broadway National Tour: Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Donnie, Nick/Low Righteous Brother), Dirty Dancing (Robbie Gould).

South Philly native Gianna Yanelli makes her return to the Walnut, where she made her professional debut in Fiddler on the Roof, this time playing Adrian Pennino. Yanelli’s theatre credits include Mean Girls on Broadway (Ensemble/Janis) and Mystic Pizza (Jojo). Her TV credits include Law and Order: SVU, SNL, and Seth Myers.

Playing the role of the 1975 heavyweight boxing world champion, Apollo Creed, is Walnut veteran Nichalas L. Parker, a former Walnut Street Theatre acting apprentice. Parker’s WST credits include Shrek The Musical, Civil War Voices, A Funny Thing Happened…, and more. Walnut regular Bill Van Horn willplay the former bantamweight fighter turned trainer Mickey Goldmill. Van Horn’s recent WST appearances include The Adventure of the Speckled Band, The Little Mermaid, and A Woman of No Importance along with directing Civil War Voices, The Curious Incident…, and The Glass Menagerie.

Playing his 37^th role at the Walnut is self-described “Philly Boy” Fran Prisco as Adrian’s brother Paulie. Prisco’s Walnut credits include The Best Man, Shrek, and Young Frankenstein.

WST veteran Rebecca Robbins (Always…Patsy Cline, The Little Mermaid) is returning as Gloria. Audiences will recognize Jenny Lee Stern, who plays Angie, from her starring role in last season’s production of Always…Patsy Cline. Stern also originated the role of Joanne in the Broadway premiere of Rocky, the Musical. Karissa Harris (Beehive) makes her return to the Walnut stage as Joanne and in the ensemble. Jake Blouch, playing both Gazzo and Tom Crosetti, is back at the Walnut having last been seen in the Walnut’s production of Meteor Shower.

Making this his 25^th production at the Walnut is local actor Ben Dibble, who will be playing the roles of Newscaster Miles Jergens, and the Referee. Audiences will most recently recognize Dibble as Chef Louis in last season’s underwater hit, The Little Mermaid.

Dana Orange (The Little Mermaid, Shrek)is returning to the Walnut to play the roles of Mike and Apollo’s Manager. Mark Donaldson (The Little Mermaid, Shrek) returns as Dipper, First Cameraman, and as the Doctor.

Bringing boxing authenticity to this heart-stopping show is Boxing Consultant and Philadelphia native Maleek Jackson. Jackson is the founder of Northern Liberties’ Maleek Jackson Fitness Gym and the Azzim Dukes Initiative, an anti-gun violence and nonviolence program for inner-city and income-restricted Philadelphia kids. Scenic Designer Roman Tatarowicz (Blithe Spirit, The Best Man, A Woman of No Importance) makes his WST return to capture the authentic Philly feel. Tatarowicz is joined by returning Lighting Designer Julie Duro (Grease) and Sound Designer Ed Chapman (The Little Mermaid, Shrek). Costume Designer Mary Folino (Beehive, Shrek, Young Frankenstein) will be giving the characters onstage the signature 70’s South Philly look.

ROCKY, the Musical runs at the Walnut October 4 through October 30, 2022. This production is sponsored by CBIZ, with support from Ivy Rehab, Faegre Drinker, Independence Blue Cross, and Pat’s King of Steaks. Media Sponsors are 6ABC, Metro Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Inquirer. 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.