How to Have a Perfect Philly Day, according to ‘The Outsiders’ actor John Michael Peterson
usical theater actor John Michael Peterson has performed in dozens of theaters around the nation on Broadway tours, but the Medford, N.J. native holds special pride in the Academy of Music, which he considers his hometown theater.
“I do, biasedly, believe it’s the prettiest house in the country,” said Peterson, 30, who now lives in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood. He grew up going to see shows at the Academy and Walnut Street Theatre, where his parents were season ticket holders.
As a teen, Peterson was struck by seeing West Side Story at the Academy of Music with his mom and best friend, and he dreamed of returning one day to grace the stage. Now he’s back in town performing on that storied stage for the second time, as one of the preppy Socs in The Outsiders (running through June 7).
His ideal day in Philadelphia takes him back to the Academy for a show, but not before stopping for pickles, chocolate chip cookies, and wandering around the Art Museum.
10 a.m.
I’m getting up at 10 a.m. and I think first thing first is coffee at [my parents’] home in Medford. I have a little lake in my backyard, and that’s really nice. I’ll sit on my deck.
We can start the day by grabbing a bagel at the Medford Bagel Shop. We’re gonna do a chocolate chip bagel with cream cheese, toasted. Then we’re gonna drive into Philly.
11 a.m.
I think I’ll start the day at the Art Museum. I’ve always loved going. We’ll spend a few hours wandering the museum and, obviously, running up the steps — I gotta make sure I can do that every time I visit.
1 p.m.
Then we’re actually going to bounce over to Fishtown. I love Suraya for lunch. Afterward I’ll walk around Fishtown, it’s so cute over there. I’ll also stop at the Fishtown Pickle Project, an excellent local picklery, or brinery— is that how you say that? They have homemade pickles, I’ll get cheddar dill.
2 p.m.
I would go walk around Reading Terminal Market to find the best chocolate chip cookie. That’s my guilty pleasure.
4 p.m.
We’ll head more toward Rittenhouse area and walk around. I love when it’s Christmastime and they have the shops up, but since it’s spring I could go to the Fine Art Show that they’re about to have. We’ll be getting a second coffee at K’Far Cafe.
5:30 p.m.
I do love Parc, so let’s do a pre-show dinner. I think it’s so great how they open up the windows when it’s nice out. I love to look out at the park and eat a nice meal before a show at the Academy of Music.
10 p.m.
After the show, I do love the Ritz Carlton lobby bar, we can start there. It’s so gorgeous. That’s just for the views, it’s a huge lobby and the bar is stunning. Then honestly we’d go to another part of town — on the water is Lucky Duck. It’s a tavern, but it’s got great views of the river and a stunning interior. They’re open pretty late. Then end the night at Frankie Bradley’s, it’s a little divey but we gotta give the Gayborhood a shoutout.
‘The Outsiders’ runs through June 7 at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, 215-893-1999 or ensembleartsphilly.org.
The conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity.
