The Playbill - Walnut Street Theatre

Dear Theatregoer,Welcome to the Walnut Street Theatre! This fall we proudlycelebrate our landmark 204th season of live entertainment andour 30th anniversary season as a not-for-profit producing theatrecompany. As America’s Oldest Theatre, we not only honor ourrich history, we look ahead to the magnificent future in our 2012–2013 season. We owe our success to the continued support of loyaltheatregoers like you. With over 56,000 subscribers annually,you’ve made the Walnut the most popular theatre in Philadelphiaand the most subscribed theatre company in the world!We’re thrilled to share with you tonight the American premiereof Love Story, the musical, right here on our Mainstage. My wifeand I fell in love with this show when we saw it in London’sWest End last year. We found this musical adaptation of ErichSegal’s best-selling novel beautifully transformed its delicatestory of pure love and heartache. During the performance wenoticed that couples in the audience were sitting a little closertogether remembering the time they fell in love. I knew at thatmoment I wanted to share it with each of you.Photo: Mark GarvinContinuing our ‘season of love,’ we’re looking forward to two more spectacular musicals, a classiccomedy and an award-winning play, and hope that you are too. Just in time for the holidays we’llhave one of the greatest family Broadway musicals of all time. Meredith Willson’s The MusicMan will parade its way into your heart with its irresistible classic tunes. Next is Oscar Wilde’switty story of romance, An Ideal Husband, followed by the Philadelphia premiere of Broadway’shit play Good People. Then get ready to stand up and shout “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop A-wop-bamboom”with the electrifyn’ musical extravaganza Grease.I’d also like to invite you to visit us upstairs in our cozy Independence Studio on 3. Just an elevatorride away, we have a wonderful season for our intimate space. First, that heavenly boy group,Forever Plaid, performs 1950s tunes and Holiday gems in Plaid Tidings. Next is a whirlwindadventure with Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days. You can see this all-new productionhere first, before its National Tour. We’ll then produce the Olivier Award-winning Best PlayVincent in Brixton, based on actual events of Vincent Van Gogh’s life. The season ends with twoworld premieres, Michael Whistler’s The Prescott Method: Easy Steps to Perfect Bread Baking,Every Time and Armen Pandola’s DINO! An Evening With Dean Martin in the Latin Casino.Thank you for joining us for Love Story. I hope you will join us for the rest of our 204th season!Sincerely,Bernard HavardProducing Artistic Director