Walnut Street Theatre Gala Concert
On May 6, the Walnut Street Theatre celebrated its 207th anniversary with a gala concert. Founded in 1809, the theater is America's oldest, as well as the most-subscribed theater in world, with 55,000 season ticket-holders. About 700 guests were treated t
On May 6, the Walnut Street Theatre celebrated its 207th anniversary with a gala concert. Founded in 1809, the theater is America's oldest, as well as the most-subscribed theater in world, with 55,000 season ticket-holders. About 700 guests were treated to an evening of entertainment by John Kander and Frank Ebb, the lyricist and composer known for some of America's classic musicals, including Chicago, Cabaret, and New York, New York. The program also featured an award program, with Audrey Merves and Len Karabell presented the 2016 Edwin Forrest Award, named after Edwin Forrest, America's first great actor and a native Philadelphian. The award recognizes individuals for long-term contributions to American theatre. In the end, the evening brought in $125,000 to be used to support the Walnut Street Theatre's arts-in-education programs, which reach 180,000 students annually.