Walnut Street Theatre (WST)’s first main stage production of the 2020s is Oscar Wilde’s A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE. I attended this classic comedy of manners last night with my daughters. Cultures clash, long-held secrets are exposed, and as the master of biting wit, A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE satirizes the roles we play.

A beautiful, wealthy, American woman travels to England seeking to marry a titled aristocrat. Oscar Wilde created this simple plot to mock British society—and the Englishness of the English. Wilde held an unfiltered mirror up to the bourgeois life of Victorian England, while extolling the virtues of refreshing American values.

Well known for his mastery of wit and satire, Oscar Wilde penned A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE in the height of his career in the 1890s. The play premiered in 1893 at London’s Haymarket Theatre. Wilde pulled no punches when criticizing the social constructs of the Victorian era in which he lived. Women held very few rights compared to men during this time, and Wilde tackled the societal double standards that pervaded the late 19^th century.

Walnut Producing Artistic Director Bernard Havard leads the cast from the director’s seat for this production. 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 served America’s Oldest Theatre for over 35 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. 

Walnut veteran Ian Merrill Peakes plays the amorous bachelor Lord Illingworth. This show marks Peakes’ 13^th at the Walnut, including The Curious Incident…Night-time, Harvey, Ideal Husband, Baskervilles, and Of Mice and Men. Additionally, this will be his 129^th professional production in his long career that includes three Barrymore Awards, a Helen Hayes Award, and two Best of Denver Awards. He shares the stage with his wife, Karen Peakes, who is playing the flirtatious Mrs. Allonby. She has been seen on the WST Mainstage in The Curious Incident…Night-Time, Comedy of Tenors, Of Mice and Men, Fallen Angels, and Born Yesterday; and in the Independence Studio on 3 in Speaking in Tongues, Doubt, and Last of the Red Hot Lovers.

A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE satirizes the improprieties and anxieties of Britain’s upper class. After the first hour, the plot revolves around the revelations of Gerald Arbuthnot’s (Brandon O’Rourke) parentage. Twenty years earlier, Lord Illingworth seduced Rachel Arbuthnot (Alicia Roper), who then gave birth to Gerald. Havard does a fine job of taking the audience back to the late 19^th century.  

Walnut teaching artist Jessica Bedford returns to play the naïve Lady Stutfield. Bedford starred in the Walnut’s and Then There Were None, The Prescott Method, and most recently, this season’s Meteor Shower in the Independence Studio on 3. She also teaches at the Walnut as part of its theatre school faculty and has taught at Montgomery County Community College, Villanova University, Temple University, University of the Arts, DeSales University, and for the Performing Arts Project at Wake Forest University.

Making their Walnut Street Theatre debuts are Audrey Ward and Tyler Ivey. Ward plays the show’s sole American character, Miss Hester Worsley and is a sophomore at Temple University, earning her B.A. in Theater Studies. She was most recently seen on stage in the Temple Theater production of An Enemy of the People. Tyler Ivey plays the dual roles of the butler, Farquhar, and the footman, Francis. Ivey is a graduate of Temple University’s Musical Theatre program and has been seen performing for the Penobscot Theatre Company, 11^th Hour Theatre Co., and the national tour of Mad Libs Live!

A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE runs at the Walnut through March 1, 2020. This production is sponsored by P.J. Clarke’s. Media Partners are 6abc, Metro, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787.

Photo by Mark Garvin: Ian Merrill Peakes and Karen Peakes

Walnut Street Theatre (WST) continues its 211^th season with the Broadway hit, SHREK THE MUSICAL. I was thrilled to attend the press preview with my youngest daughter last week. Having had surgery three weeks prior, I was ready for some laughs.  

Here’s the plot you may already know: a grumpy green ogre and a wisecracking donkey save the land from evil Lord Farquaad and rescue Princess Fiona from a terrible fate. All-new songs and outrageous humor contribute to this modern fairy tale.  

The greatest fairy tale never told comes to life in SHREK THE MUSICAL, the Broadway musical based on the Oscar-winning movie. Shrek finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside his sidekick Donkey and a feisty princess. A short-tempered wannabe king, a cookie with an attitude, and other classic fairy tale misfits partake in the riotously dysfunctional road trip.

SHREK THE MUSICAL is a perfect show for the holiday season. The colorful characters shine in their unique roles. The Donkey delivered the most laughs and his facial expressions were priceless.   

SHREK will move adults and children alike. Shrek embraces what makes you different and rallies for love in different shapes and sizes. I watched the audience give it a standing ovation on opening night.    

Glenn Casale returns to the Walnut to direct SHREK THE MUSICAL. Casale’s work was last seen on the Mainstage during 2017’s Annie. His work includes the 1999 Broadway revival of Peter Pan, which received a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical.  

Nichalas Parker assumes the main role of Shrek. Parker undergoes a costume and make-up process that takes up to an hour and a half in order to become the large green ogre. When he is not performing, Parker works as a resident teaching artist in Philadelphia, teaching students with multiple disabilities both at the Walnut Street Theatre and 1812 Productions.

The wise-cracking Donkey is played by fellow WST acting apprentice alum Dana Orange. Audiences may recognize Orange from his regional appearances in Sister Act (Walnut). Completing the lead trio is Julia Udine playing Princess Fiona. Udine was last seen on the Walnut stage in the one-woman show Tell Me on a Sunday. She has appeared in TV’s Law and Order: SVU and All My Children.

SHREK THE MUSICAL runs at the Walnut through January 5, 2020. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.

Photo by Mark Garvin: Nichalas L. Parker and Julia Udine

Earlier this month, we learned the origins of the Super Hero comic book at the new Marvel exhibit, which coincides with Marvel’s 80th anniversary year.

Allow yourself enough time because this is not an exhibit you want to rush through. Marvel features more than 300 artifacts, including some of Marvel’s most iconic pages, costumes, and props.

Life-size statues of Marvel characters bring the comic book world to life. Take selfies with your children alongside representations of Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Marvel super heroes.

We found Marvel to be the most fascinating out of all the Franklin exhibits we’ve seen thus far. The exhibition recounts the evolution of Marvel and its influence on culture throughout history: it tells the stories of individual characters including Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Doctor Strange.

View rare, hand-drawn images of heroes such as Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Captain America with his ally Bucky by the artists who first designed them. Learn about Stan Lee, who was part of a family-run business and became Marvel Comic’s creative leader for two decades, leading its expansion from a small publishing house division to a multimedia corporation that dominated the comics industry.

Sketches, props, and costumes celebrate the 10th anniversary of Marvel Studios. Interactive elements include the chance to travel through Doctor Strange’s mirror dimension.

Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes runs through September 2, so plan your visit this summer. https://www.fi.edu/exhibit/marvel-universe-super-heroes

Purchase your tickets at fi.edu or call 215-448-1200.  

Image: The Franklin Institute

Two weeks ago, my daughters and I were thrilled to attend the media preview of Walnut Street Theatre’s LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL.

Based on the smash hit movie, LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL follows Elle Woods’ journey as a pink-loving SoCal sorority girl to a Harvard law student, all on her own terms. In this fabulously fun, award-winning Broadway musical, Elle tackles all obstacles, and educates us all on staying true to our dreams through rousing songs and show-stopping dance numbers. 

Richard Stafford returns to the Walnut as director and choreographer of LEGALLY BLONDE. In addition to directing and choreographing last season’s production of Mamma Mia!, Stafford’s previous Walnut credits include direction and choreography for Saturday Night Fever, Sister Act, Memphis, Curtains, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Beauty and the Beast, and Cats, as well as choreography for La Vie en Bleu, Evita, and The Goodbye Girl.

After performing in Walnut productions as a child, Kathryn Brunner returns as an adult to play Elle Woods. Brunner was seven years old when she was cast in the Walnut’s production of The Sound of Music, her first regional theatre credit. She followed that up by performing in the Mainstage productions of Evita in 2002 and Annie Warbucks in 2004 (at 10 years old). Since graduating from Temple University, Brunner has starred in many regional productions including Mamma Mia!, Oklahoma!, and Footloose.

Elliott Styles stars opposite Brunner as Emmett Forrest. Styles was most recently seen on the Walnut stage as the Doctor in Roald Dahl’s Matilda. The hilarious owner of Hair Affair, Paulette, is played by Walnut veteran Rebecca Robbins. This marks Robbins’ 18^th show with the Walnut Street Theatre, with her most recent appearance being in Annie as Grace Farrell. Robbins has been seen performing on Broadway in The Phantom of The Opera and A Tale of Two Cities.

Paul Schoeffler is back to the Walnut stage as the conniving Professor Callahan. Schoeffler’s many Broadway credits include Sunset Boulevard, Rock of Ages and Sweet Charity. He can be seen on TV’s Blacklist and is featured on Amazon’s new animated series, Bug Diaries.His Walnut credits include South Pacific, 9 to 5 and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Sean Thompson, who originated the role of Raoul on the national tour of Love Never Dies, plays Elle’s ex-boyfriend and self-absorbed law student Warner Huntington III. Before making his Broadway debut in Sunset Boulevard, Thompson was last seen at the Walnut as Buzz Adams in South Pacific.

LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL runs at the Walnut through July 14. This production is sponsored by TD Bank, Robert and Louise Harman, and Richard Mitchell and Marna Carlton. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.

Image: Photo courtesy of Walnut Street Theatre.  

Walnut Street Theatre continues its 210th anniversary season with Simon Stephens’ THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME. Directed by Bill Van Horn, the play opened on March 20^th and runs through April 28^th on the Walnut’s Mainstage. My oldest daughter and I enjoyed this Tony Award-winning Best Play last night.    

Fifteen-year-old Christopher is on a mission. After the untimely death of his neighbor’s dog, the smart and unique boy is compelled to investigate the crime. Christopher embarks on a journey where he challenges assumed truths and discovers life-changing secrets. Based on Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME is a heartwarming and uplifting adventure story for all. 

Mark Haddon’s novel was released in 2003 and won the Whitbread Book Award, among others. The title quotes Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1892 “The Adventure of Silver Blaze.” Haddon created Christopher’s distinctive voice after imaging a deadpan and factual description of a dead dog. From there, the character was created – a character quirky and clever but unable to deal with the world around him so the reader needs to fill in the blanks. 

For several years Haddon claimed his novel was unadaptable, due to the complexities of Christopher’s character. In 2007, he approached friend and playwright Simon Stephens about rewriting the show for the stage. The resulting work opened in the West End in 2012 and won seven Olivier Awards. The set and direction were designed to physically place the audience in a dimensional representation of Christopher’s mind in a space that came to life through projections and stage magic. Instead of being told in first-person like Haddon’s novel, it was told through Christopher’s writings read aloud by his teacher Siobhan. 

A year after THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME opened in London, it transferred to Broadway. The Broadway production won five Tony Awards, including Best Play. The show has since enjoyed a UK, US, Australian, and International Tour and productions in Mexico, Seoul, South Africa, and Belgium. 

Making his Walnut debut is 17-year-old Austin Nedrow as Christopher Boone. A Lancaster native, Nedrow is currently a senior at Conestoga Valley. He has performed in several shows at the Fulton Theatre and Maine State Music Theatre and teaches at Prestige Gymnastics and the Vikto Yeliohin International Ballet Academy.  

Playing Christopher’s parents are Ian Merrill Peakes and wife, Karen Peakes. The two are Walnut stage veterans, both appearing in Mainstage shows this season. Karen was most recently seen as Maria Merelli, the feisty and stubborn wife of an opera star in Ken Ludwig’s A Comedy of Tenors. Ian also donned a dress and wig on the Mainstage this season for his portrayal of Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical. This show will mark Ian Merrill Peakes’ 12^th at the Walnut including Harvey, Ideal Husband, Baskervilles, Of Mice and Men, and 128^th professional production. Karen Peakes has been seen in Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Private Lives, Of Mice and Men, and Born Yesterday.  

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME is sponsored by PNC Arts Alive, DrinkerBiddle, and Frank and Ramona Gwynn. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.

Image: Photo courtesy of Mark Garvin.

I was happy to catch the Philly Flower Show this month with family. It has become a tradition for us to attend this show every year. The 2019 theme was Flower Power, offering 1960s-themed events produced by the PA Horticultural Society. Since this year was the 50^th anniversary of Woodstock, PHS added a 1960s vibe to some events.

The entrance to the show featured a hanging meadow of 18,000 flowers and plants. The colors were breathtaking.

This year’s show hosted the FTD World Cup, an international floral design competition. The cup brought the world’s best floral designers from 23 countries to compete. This was the first time in 30 years that the competition has been held in the U.S. Show attendees were able to watch it live.

For me, the highlight of the show was walking around and viewing the World Cup winning displays.

Two exhibits that stood out:

One exhibitor with a family member who passed away from Alzheimer’s disease worked with the Alzheimer’s Association to spotlight how plants can help people with Alzheimer’s or dementia.  

Stoney Bank Nurseries’ exhibit focused on healthy childhood development – the significance of enjoying nature through play. Their children’s garden featured ways for children to experience nature around them.

The 2020 Flower Show theme is RIVIERA HOLIDAY. It will focus on a walk through opulent Mediterranean-inspired gardens. We can’t wait to be there next year!  

Earlier this month, we checked out Vikings: Beyond the Legend exhibit, which showcases the story of the explorers who set sail from Scandinavia centuries ago.

The Franklin Institute reveals how Vikings were skilled craftspeople, successful merchants, and farmers with vast reach across western Europe and beyond. The Institute brings the Viking Age to life through artifacts, multimedia, and interactive elements.   

The kids and I thought the best part of the exhibit was the Roskilde 6, the longest Viking warship ever discovered, which stands at 122-feet-long. A quarter of the original ship remains intact including most of the hull and inner timber. The Roskilde 6 was built to carry 100 warriors and their weapons almost 1,000 years ago.

We learned that Vikings are known for their legendary longships. These large ships made it possible for warriors and merchants to travel long distances quickly. This led to trade along the European coast and beyond, and conquests as distant as the Middle East and Asia.

Another highlight of the exhibit is the Jelling Stone. Considered by many historians to be Denmark’s official birth certificate, the Jelling Stone is a key landmark in Viking history. One of the earliest depictions of Christ in Scandinavia, the stone was the official declaration confirming Denmark as a Christian nation. The stone was carved at the order of King Harald Bluetooth around the year 965 CE.

We also learned about the day-to-day life of the Vikings, where most individuals spent their time on the farm making a living through agriculture. Typically, there were six to seven farms in a village; each farm would be part of the family’s longhouse. This house’s wooden structure resembled their longships. Longhouses spanned from 50 to 250 feet in length. With elongated fireplaces in their homes, these houses allowed for cooking and keeping warm in the frigid Scandinavian winters.

Vikings: Beyond the Legend only runs through March 3rd, so plan your visit soon. https://www.fi.edu/exhibit/vikings-beyond-legend

Purchase your tickets at fi.edu or call 215-448-1200.  

Image: The Franklin Institute

Audiences of all ages will love the frighteningly fun Walnut Street Theatre for Kids’ (WST for Kids’) production of R.L. Stine’s GOOSEBUMPS: Phantom of the Auditorium! On Sunday, we were happy to see one of America’s most popular children’s book series and its delightful thrills come to life on the historic Walnut stage.

R.L. Stine’s GOOSEBUMPS: Phantom of the Auditorium is based on the beloved book series from R. L. Stine and investigates the strange happenings during rehearsals of Brooke and Zeke’s school play. Is it a practical joke or is the school’s theater really haunted? We followed the two on a silly and (only a little) spooky musical mystery.

R.L. Stine is one of the best-selling children’s authors in history. In July 1992, Scholastic introduced his Goosebumps book series with Welcome to Dead House. Over 25 years later, Goosebumps is now one of the best-selling children’s series of all time—with more than 400 million copies in print in 32 languages. The series’ success was recognized locally in 2002 when R.L. Stine received the Philadelphia Free Library’s first ever “Champion of Reading” award.

As the series grew in popularity, Goosebumps has been adapted into a television series and three feature length films, one of which starred actor, comedian, and musician Jack Black. The famed series received a new musical adaptation in 2016 when Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium was created as a stage musical with book and lyrics written by John Maclay and orchestrations and music written by Danny Abosch.

Ms. Walker, the energetic drama teacher, is played by Anne Bragg, a 2016-17 Walnut acting apprentice. Previous Walnut credits include Skippyjon Jones and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Jared Calhoun, a 2015-16 Walnut acting apprentice, returns to play the role of Brian. Goosebumps marks Jared’s eighth WST for Kids’ show including Ivy + Bean, StinkyKids, Junie B. Jones, Skippyjon Jones, Freckleface Strawberry, and two productions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Joining Anne and Jared are four performers making their Walnut debut in R.L. Stine’s GOOSEBUMPS: Phantom of the Auditorium. Playing the intelligent teen and hopeful star, Brooke, is Leah Senseney who was last seen in Media Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz. Zeke, a jokester teen with a love for theatre, is played by Elias Rivera who recently performed in Candlelight Theatre’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Tina, the experienced drama student, is played by Chelsey Jean who was last cast in Gateway Playhouse’s production of Little Women. Lastly, friend and drama student, Emile, is played by Tristan Horan, who built a love for children’s theatre at Upper Darby Summer Stage.  

R.L. Stine’s GOOSEBUMPS: Phantom of the Auditorium is live on stage at the Walnut February 2 to 10 and is sponsored by the Mutual Fire Foundation. Media partner for this production is Courier-Post. WST for Kids’ season sponsor is Sharon and Scott Rankin. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.

Image: Photo courtesy of the Walnut Street Theatre. Actors from left to right are Jared Calhoun, Leah Senseney and Elias Rivera.

It’s time for families and friends to come together and enjoy Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, live on stage. Walnut Street Theatre (WST) for Kids’ heartwarming hour-long musical adaptation of Dickens’ classic novel runs through December 23.

I had the pleasure of watching a performance last weekend with family. Audiences are transported to 1840’s London, where they meet Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter old man who greets holiday cheer with a “Bah, Humbug.” However, on one unforgettable Christmas Eve, he is visited by three ghostly spirits determined to change old Scrooge’s ways forever. Traveling through his past, present, and possible future, Scrooge is awakened to the magic of Christmas and truly learns what the holiday season is all about: family, generosity and love.

Filled with joy, laughter, and whimsical spirits, WST for Kids’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL stands not only as a Walnut favorite, but also as a Philadelphia tradition. Now in its 19th year, the production has been updated with a fresh new set designed by Brian Froonjian to ensure the scenery provides a new experience for audiences.

This year’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL production is directed and written by Walnut veteran Bill Van Horn, who recently directed Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville, A Sherlock Holmes Mystery and last season’s production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. He has also appeared on stage in Baskerville, and numerous other Walnut productions, including: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Story, Mary Poppins, Elf, and Fiddler on the Roof.

Benjamin Lovell, a Philadelphia actor who has previously performed at the Walnut, The Arden, and the National Tour of Beauty and the Beast, plays the role of the “bah-humbugging” old man, Ebenezer Scrooge. He is joined by Oliver Shevlin, a second-grader and Devon, PA resident, who will make his Walnut and acting debut as Tiny Tim.

Joining Lovell and Shevlin on the stage are Michael Fuchs, Nate Golden, Ella Hampton, Fionnaula Meister, Hannah Fink, Eli Lynn, Aanand Shah, and Liam Mulshine all of Philadelphia, PA; Rachel DeMasi of Sewell, NJ; Sammi Deutsch of Wyndmoor, PA; and Charles Lamonaca of Folsom, PA; Catherine Purcell of Norristown, PA; and Christian Tuffy of Huntingdon Valley, PA. Current Walnut acting apprentices Blake Lowry, Kahlil Wyatt, Taylor Mitchell, and Katie Raulerson complete the cast.

For students, Walnut Street Theatre’s Education Department helps to transform Dickens’ powerful and magical story into a memorable educational experience. In addition to giving students the opportunity to see the novel they’ve read spring to life right before their eyes, the Walnut provides teachers with free online study guides to spark meaningful conversation about the show before students enter the theatre. Exploring the content of the story in the classroom not only further engages students but also adds excitement to the experience of seeing the familiar characters and period fashion and hearing the bright holiday music of A CHRISTMAS CAROL on stage.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL has remaining family matinee performances on December 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, and 21 at 10:30am. For tickets and information, please call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets can also be purchased at the Walnut ticket office, online at Ticketmaster, or by visiting the Walnut’s website at walnutstreettheatre.org.

Image: Photo courtesy of the Walnut Street Theatre.