Walnut Street Theatre

The Walnut Street Theatre, located at the corner of Ninth and Walnut Streets, is Americaas oldest theater, a national historic landmark, and the state theater of Pennsylvania. Since its opening in 1809, world-famous stars, such as Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, and Marlon Brando, have performed on its stage. Many of the greatest works in American theater premiered there, including A Streetcar Named Desire, A Raisin in the Sun, and Neil Simonas first Broadway play, Come Blow Your Horn. In 1982, under the direction of Bernard Havard, the Walnut became a not-for-profit producing theater company. Today, with over 56,000 subscribers annually, it is the most subscribed theater company in the world. Through vintage images from the theateras archives and the Free Library of Philadelphiaas Theatre Collection, Walnut Street Theatre rediscovers the Walnutas rich past.

Bernard Havard is recognized as one of America's leading theater producers and is currently the Walnut Street Theatre's producing artistic director. Mark D. Sylvester, managing director of the Walnut Street Theatre, is widely regarded as a theatrical marketing expert and consults with organizations internationally.