Founded in 1809, Walnut Street Theatre continues to entertain and enlighten diverse audiences as a self-producing, non-profit theatre. The Walnut has the distinction of being the oldest, continually operating theatre in the English-speaking world, and was recently honored to be named "Best Theatre Company of 2005" by The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Style magazine. The Walnut operates both a Mainstage and a Studio, producing five shows on each stage every season. The Mainstage season features world-class productions of three musicals, a drama and a comedy. In contrast, the Independence Studio is a venue for new and rarely produced works.
Another facet of our programming is the Walnut Street Theatre for Kids series, featuring children's plays performed by renowned touring companies and our own Education Department. The Walnut also houses a Theatre School for students of all ages, a Touring Outreach Company that brings interactive theatre to over 60,000 children annually, an Adopt-A-School Program to help schools establish lasting drama programs and an Apprentice Program that prepares aspiring young theatre professionals for successful careers in the arts.
