Walnut Street Theatre announces it’s spectacular holiday musical for the whole family, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST . It begins previews  on November 21, opens on November 29, and runs through the holiday season ending December 31, 2023. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST tells the story of a prince who is cursed by a magic spell and Belle, who wanders from her village to his castle and helps him  break the spell. The staged version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST  combines the  songs of the animated film  with an expanded score and 6 additional songs. The first staged production on Broadway, following the success of the animated film , received 9 Tony Award nominations. Walnut Street’s production will feature an ensemble cast of 25 performers, many of them familiar to Walnut Street audiences, alongside a live orchestra. Open captioning will be available  during the 7pm performance on 12/3. For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550 or visit online at walnutstreettheatre.org or ticketmaster.com

ELVIS- A Musical Revolution

Lucas Pastrana

Walnut Street Theatre is producing the World Premiere of ELVIS - A Musical Revolution through November 5, 2023. Lucas Pastrana exudes Elvis as he evolves from  his first  recording session through his tumultuous successes and decline decades later. Through 16 show-stopping tunes, he leaves the audience enthralled with his voice, his on-stage gyrations, and his grit. With the aid of the projection designs of Caite Hevner, the audience is whisked back in time to see Elvis as a young boy. Several scenes are beautifully enacted with the very talented kid Elvis ( Joey Caroto ) and his mother, the talented veteran Walnut Street actor, Rebecca Robbins. (Joey Caroto shares the role with Hunter Silverman on alternate performances.) Kid Elvis is interspersed with adult Elvis throughout the performance as time shifts back and forth. The projections show dates as well as real-life photos of Elvis. Kelly Briggs  gives a very strong performance as Colonel Parker. You might love Elvis, but this is one character you’ll love to hate. Director and choreographer Jeff Calhoun has been remarkably enterprising with the dance numbers. Not only are  they catchy and fun to watch, but the routines also utilize cast members who have other parts in the performance. This show is transformative, washing away years from those who lived through the Elvis Era and enlightening others on the star's birth, influence and eventual musical decline. No matter how you have perceived Elvis in the past, ELVIS- A Musical Revolution is one show you should not miss. For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550 ext 6,  or visit online at walnutstreettheatre.org. or ticketmaster.com.