During a recent work trip to Philly, we got to come here to see Million Dollar Quartet. I wasn't really sure what I was getting into but the play was amazing. I was engulfed the whole time. The theater is small but I actually think it was perfect. They have a bar and snacks to purchase beforehand and the staff were all very friendly. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Walnut Street Theatre is the oldest theatre in America and it's the only theatre that's been operating continuously as a theatre since it opened in 1809! I would love to see another show there. read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love that Philly has all these historical landmarks - the Walnut Street Theatre is the oldest playhouse in the nation. I came here to see Sherlock a few months ago. The seats were not the most comfortable but were tolerable. There were empty seats that night so the staff came around to let us know that we could move up to a different row if we wanted. read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Came here to watch A Christmas Story and honestly had a great time. The acoustics were clean and crisp, and the seats were surprisingly comfortable. You can actually settle in without fidgeting the whole show. The lobby is tiny though, so getting in and out feels a little chaotic, especially during the holidays. It gives slight fire-hazard energy, but I get it. Popular show, peak season, everyone trying to squeeze in at once. Inside, everything is dressed up for the holidays with cute, festive decor. Staff was super friendly. Tickets were scanned fast and they were really attentive, especially helping older guests find their seats. Bathrooms are one floor down. I overheard someone with a cane trying to figure out ADA options, so accessibility could be easier to navigate. Restrooms were stocked but could use more frequent cleaning, which is pretty normal for a packed show. Overall, solid experience. Expect crowds and lots of foot traffic, but the vibe and performances make it worth it. Excited to come back for the Sherlock Holmes show. read more

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I was really excited to see the production of Dreamgirls here. The theater is small but very nice. We got in quickly and got seated without issue. The play started a few minutes late, which was good for people needing an extra few minutes. They did some great things with costumes, but it was not my favorite production I've seen of the play. Some of the characters did not embody their role, and the singing was questionable for what I feel is usually a musical to showcase a grand vocals. There is also a parking lot ($25) next door, which was convenient, but getting out was a little hassle after the show. read more

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We enjoyed 1776 immensely! Tom at the box office was so helpful in giving us information and making us feel very welcomed as tourists to the area. So impressed with the cast and professionalism of all involved. The facilities were also well kept and we enjoyed a themed cocktail for the show. Hope for another opportunity to return and will be recommending to anyone heading to Philly :) read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Bows for 1776. - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My husband surprised me with tickets to see Elf right as we walked up to the theater. I am not from Philly and it was my first time at this theater, I thought it was cool that this is the oldest theater in the country, even though it is fully renovated and you wouldn't know. The theater is small, which is sort of nice because none of the seats feel like "nose bleeds". The lighting, music, and everything else related to the show was great. I will say we were confused about whether or not there is a coat room; there were signs but we couldn't find it. Other than that, we had a great time! read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Elf the musical - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My friend and I went to go Dreamgirls at the walnut street theater. The process to enter was seamless we had to walk up one flight of steps to get to our Mezzanine seating. There was a small area to buy drinks and snacks for the show. We had tickets for a 7:30pm show and it started on time. Our seats were great! We could see the entire stage. read more

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I saw the most wonderful production of Dreamgirls here. The seating was great, the theater is beautiful. There are not elevators. There are stairs down to the restrooms and to the balcony level. It was a beautiful experience and parking next door lot is very convenient. I continue to love the shows here. Totally recommend. read more

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I love Walnut Street theatre! It such a beautiful staple to the city, America's oldest theatre. It is a tradition for my husband and I to see a few productions every year. We have loved every single one of them; Shrek, Elf, Million Dollar Quartet, Cinderella, Mary Poppins, just to name a few. We always went to see the Christmas Carol with our niece almost every year. The acting and singing has always been pretty good. The staff is always welcoming and it's nice to be able to buy a drink or a snack inside. There are also plenty of restaurants just walking distance from it and you can go to the theatre website and see that some will give you a discount if you show your ticket. It makes a perfect date night for us. read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Very nice and accessible theater. The seats are pretty tight as usual. We saw Rocky and we were in the fourth row-which is pretty close to everything! There are concession stands on each floor and the prices are ththeater expensive read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Pleasant experience Acoustics and visual were good Convenient parking is available Purchasing process easy ! read more

I was so hesitant to order tickets to see Jersey boys but after covid cancelling the last time I was scheduled to see it I decided to brave the uncomfortable theater anyway. Well to my surprise and extreme delight they redid the theater. Wow what a difference!! Much more comfortable chairs with some leg room I will be back again. read more

I saw the Little Mermaid here, and it's a historic theater with a lot of pictures around showcasing its history. That was really interesting to read, and I wish there was a side gallery or something for it because putting a bunch of photos on staircases and in bathroom entrances, so some were hard to read. Also John Wilkes Booth performed here, so that's a fun fact. I think because the theater was older, the aisles were really narrow. Some theaters you can stand and let people pass, here you basically had to have the entire row come out so people could go in. The play itself was good, well staged. It wasn't Broadway, but having the actors fake swimming and fake ships were well done to my eyes. There are parking lots nearby but they range from like $10 to $30. I parked a few streets away for cheaper, so circle around if you can. There current COVID policy requires a mask + vaccine proof but maybe that's necessary to avoid shutting down. It's a nice little historic theater, so I got to spend the day doing some touristy things then stroll over here for a play, so it was a nice way to spend the day. read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Junius Boothe - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My friend and I went to see Always...Patsy Cline. It was phenomenal show! It was upbeat with of course great music. Both actresses were amazing As was the band. This theater is the oldest in the US. It is a small theater so all the seats are pretty good. The seats were comfortable. There is a bar on the first level. Bathrooms are large and clean. The staff were friendly and helpful. Ticket prices were more reasonable than some of the others. The theater has $35 tickets on day of show. read more

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Fantastic small theatre. I sat in the balcony for a matinee of Hay Fever. I do not believe there is a bad seat in the house! The stage was intricately designed and everyone there was very friendly. Huge discount for day-of ticket sales as well! read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went to see my very first play. Driving Miss Daisy Really a great performance. Nice theater. Will be back for sure. read more

We came here to watch The Rocky the musical. As someone whose never watched the actual movie it was so impressive and the actors and actresses were so talented! Even the stage production was quite beautiful and you know they put a lot of effort into it. For seating we sat at the mezzanine left level and we were still able to get a really good view of the stage. The other seatings I saw were mezzanine center and right. There's also orchestra right, left and center which was a lot closer to the stage. The theatre has three floors, on each floor there's a bar. We got the cranberry vodka and it came in a reusable cup which was very cute! They also have small snack options such as candy, pretzels, and Pringles. The theatre was decorated so beautifully and very aesthetic to the eye! They had posters of old movie and old actors and actresses. It has that touch of Philly charm you really fall in love with. The service was incredible, everyone was so helpful and kind. I can't want to come back and bring more people here to enjoy the arts! read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wonderful theatre! Very comfortable seats and good sound! Lots of cool photos of the theaters long history and many performers. Fun basement bar. read more

We stopped at the box office to pick up tickets for the evening show, and ended up just in time to make the matinee! Great rainy day find!. Box office staff and ushers were excellent. Comfy and roomy seats, incredible set design and awesome show: Noel Coward's, "Hay Fever." Highly recommend. Also, basement "Speak Easy," was cozy for pre- and post- show cocktail...or for intermission. read more

Great view no matter where your seats are! Loved loved loved seeing Elf. Parking was directly next to the theatre it worked out amazing.

Escape to Margaritaville was the best show I've seen in a long time, and so much fun!! The theater had great themed drinks and the cast was phenomenal. So sad that it's not playing longer. read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Curtain call - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Have had season tickets here for a couple of years. The season ticket packages are surprisingly affordable as compared to just buying tickets outright. It tends to be an older crowd and I'm not sure why. The theatre is old which adds to appeal. It's claim to Dane is that it is America's oldest theatre but that does lead to some small seats. At 5'4 it's not a problem for me but I know some folks who are taller and larger have complained about the seats. The staff there is always attentive and accommodating. I like supporting local theatre and this is the place to do it. read more

Our group representative of 10-15 (changes each year) for the last 15 years had a pretty terrible experience this week with a phone representative. We received an email about having our tickets refunded due to the pandemic. We followed the instructions given only to find out that the decision had been made for us. A customer service called our group rep and basically treated her poorly. We have all been affected by the pandemic and we understand frustration. But when a group that has been a loyal group for 15 years is treated with such disrespect, it makes you rethink your decision. We are consistent customers and you thought nothing of treating us poorly. Shame on you, WST! If you want specific feedback, I urge you to reach out. read more

We wanted to give a shout out to the manager of Ticketing, Jeff. He went above and beyond to help us on an issue we had. Really kind person who helped a family out; plus the shows here are well done! Highly recommend! read more

Nice little theater for a great show Saw Shrek there and it was great. The seats are more comfortable than the Academy of Music It's a little more intimate Sound was good Lighting was good read more

I've been a season-ticket holder for over 30 years and with only one exception was I not thrilled with every show. It always amazes me how creative they are with their set design, and the scenery is phenomenal. They attract great actors and also benefit from our vast local talent. Each season has a nice variety of plays from dramas to musicals. Parking is easy as it's right next-door to the theater and there's a lovely little bar downstairs in the building that will give you an opportunity to relax before the play read more

This isn't just for travelers. Secret - same day tickets are half price. For 35 clams I sat center section for last Sunday's showing of 39 Steps (Hitchcock) at the Walnut. I am no expert, I don't write scripts, but I frequent rep theater frequently and know maybe a little thing or two. I definitely know what I like. And I liked the Walnut Theatre (and the current run) a lot. The venue is warm, with insanely nice greeters and a gift store with tokens for all the theater-lovers in your life. The bar is downstairs, where I visited and wept. The theater itself is a few hundred seats, one balcony, good acoustics and sight lines, simple yet attractive furnishings. And the nicest usher I've ever met. If you're headed to Philly for a visit, or if you're fortunate enough to live there, check this place out. It's good clean fun for children of all ages. read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Nicest usher ever. - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Was here last night to see Sister Act with the old lady because apparently she has a thing for watching pretend nuns wear sequin covered habits while they shake their asses. As someone who thankfully never saw or remembered seeing the movie it was all too much to take. The Show: The show itself starts out fairly slow for the first 20-30 minutes and during that time it's fairly laugh free and quite honestly is about as fun as watching your weeds getting whacked. After that things pick up and the jokes get cornier, the music is all four on the floor disco/soul and the storyline is about as believable as watching a Loony Tunes cartoon but if you're hear for realism, you've clearly picked the wrong show. The woman who plays the main character (Deloris/Sister Mary Clarence) has got a set of pipes on here that are formidable. The rest of the cast also does a good job during the collective solos/group performances. Everything clocked in at around 135 minutes with it being split up as a 75 minute first act, 20 minute intermission and an hour and change for act two. Like most shows, act two works a lot better than act one both in terms of the songs, the story and the pacing of the show. The Theatre: It goes without saying that a lot of history has happened here over the years which is to be expected when you're talking about 200+ plus years of events/actors with everything from a presidential debate to Marlon Brando and now to....Sister Act. The building is not what you would call opulent by any stretch but it serves its purpose well. Lots of pictures from years/shows gone by with decently comfortable seating, good sightlines and sound that was surprisingly good. I hate to use the cliche but no seat is a bad seat. One negative from last night's proceedings. The lobby is very, very small and while it's pouring rain the ushers did a horrible job scanning phones, processing will call orders and simply getting people into the building. They need more people upfront especially on night's with weather to just get people into the building and away from the outside smokers which probably numbered at least forty to fifty. That aside, it was a good enough show and the price was right so I suppose it was a win all around. (On a interesting sidebar, the people sitting across from us were going to be moving out of the area and giving up their season ticket subscription that they've had since...1966! Unreal.) read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We went to the Walnut Street Theater to see Mamma Mia! This was the 209th Season of the theater running a show. When we arrived, there was a Welcoming Crew at the door to take our tickets and say welcome! I came here for my wife's birthday. We had very comfortable seat, but the rows were very tight and hard to walk through. We were in the last row in the center of the theater. I imagined these would be great seats.... they were good, but I would have enjoyed more leg room (the only reason for 4 of 5 Stars). That's the only knock I have against this experience. Knowing this, I would have chosen a balcony seat, a front row seat, or an aisle seat. We'll see if one of these makes a difference next time. The theater is historic and this is one of the reasons I wanted to come here. It's the oldest theater in the nation. Many of the shows that went to Broadway had their start at this theater. President Jefferson enjoyed a show here back in the day. It's that old. Also to note, there's a bell that rings 5 minutes before the show begins if you're in the restroom. And the concessions are quite affordable compared to snacks at the movie theater or some place like the Kennedy Center in DC. read more

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I have been a season subscriber to Walnut Street Theater for over 10 years. My friend and I attend on Thursday matinee shows. I have always enjoyed the plays! Most recently, we attended Jimmy Buffet's Escape to Margaritaville last Thursday. What a fun show!! The actors were awesome, the story was so entertaining, and, of course, the music was great!! It was really a super feel good show!! Ending this season on a really fun note! Looking forward to next year! read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Escape to Margaritaville at Walnut Street Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I recently had the chance to check out a tiny theater on the right side when you enter the walnut street theater that I didn't know existed. The show was "I love you, you're perfect, now change" which runs through the end of June and was amazing and hilarious! What it'll cost you: Tickets are about $40 and general admission so you could be inches from the actors if you get there before the other 50 people who fit in this theater. The show: -Very intimate atmosphere, the actors might be singing to you. -Minimal sets, but maximum laughs and a surprising amount of props and costume changes. -Excellent extremely talented 4 person cast. -The show is a series of short vignettes exploring everything in dating and love from terrible first dates to marriage and babies and picking up at a funeral. Getting there: You can take the elevator or the stairs up ( on the way down, the fire exit is the door you want to go through, confusing and scary, I know). If recommend not being late because it's a very small theater and it's awkward of you are coming in late (personal experience here). Definitely recommend for a fun night out and if you need a good laugh! read more

the play was alright very hard to find your seats, the usher moved my party to a random seat that was not what we bought. worst part was the parking, if you are going to the play be ready to be charged $30-50 for one hour parking and to deal with angry and un helpful employees, kinda ruined my experience leaving. read more

My wife and I have really enjoyed the two trips we've had to Walnut Street Theatre. Both shows so far this season (Matilda and Holiday Inn) have been great! The staff has been friendly, the process to change ticket dates has been simple, and every seat we've been in has been a great view of the stage. We appreciate the initiate venue, and the quality of performances has been on par with other major shows we've seen across the country. I highly recommend you and yours stop by this beautiful theatre if in town! Looking forward to our next visit! read more

The performance was excellent from what I could see. I paid extra and went through a third party as I wanted center Mezzanine. We were celebrating my sister's special birthday and figured it would be worth it to see her expression when she saw that our seats were perfectly centered. HOWEVER, starting with our row, row J seat 110, instead of the seats alternating with the row in front of us, like most of the rows ahead of us, I had the pleasure of looking at the back of a woman with quite an updo. For whatever reason, she left and the seat was filled with a tall man. I ended up sitting on a coat and used it as a booster seat. The people behind me weren't too happy with me. The seats were recently upgraded, so I was comfortably miserable. Nowhere on the seating chart is there any indication that the seats are set up so that you do not have a viewing angle. The sound was good though and grateful it was a musical. I'd like to go back and actually see the show. read more

I recently visited Walnut street theater to see Mamamia. I had an enjoyable time in this amazing theater. I really enjoyed the nostalgic artwork and pictures in the lower level. I had no problem finding my seat and the attendees were very attentive. My only concern was the wait time for the restrooms. I waited in line so long that I ended up not actually using the restroom during the intermission, but rather waiting until the show was over. Besides that restaurant wait time incident, I really enjoyed my time at the Walnut street theater. I will be back for another show soon. read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We have been subscribers for years and they decided to remove their one Friday night 8pm show. We never received a call or email and they decided to put our tickets at 2pm on a Friday. Most people like my husband and I work full time and are not out of work at that time. Now we lost our time slot and the seats we've had for years. We were told it was due to lack of filling the seats on that week night and they have better luck filling the seats in matinee shows. So basically forget about all the loyal subscribers who have come back every year, screw us over and they just exchanged the tickets for anything they had available. Most seats were not nearly as good as the seats we paid for with our subscription for the last couple of years. They want to boost sales but they must have known by doing this they were going to have a lot of disgruntled subscribers. The manager Luke who I spoke to said they chose the night with the least subscribers so they would screw over a minimal number of people. Then they could not guarantee our seats for the next year. This is all very disheartening as we have always enjoyed walnut street theater but there is a REALLY good chance that they have lost a subscriber and we hope that sharing this experience will caution others from subscribing. They clearly don't care about their subscribers as much as they act like they do. read more

Pros - Nice theater with accessible parking lots very close. Parking discount for theater subscribers, decent selection of plays each season with one outstanding play. Children's theater, small bar and gift selection area. Nice evening out in the city with plenty of dining selections within walking distance. Cons - seats offer little leg room, ushers seem not to care when patrons move to seats for which they did not pay, bathrooms are small read more

After many years of season tickets, I finally stopped going because it was unpleasant. They just weren't very nice.

The Walnut Street Theater is on the smaller end of theaters I've been to, but the quality of the performance was in no way diminished. I had come to see High Society, and the seller performance greatly impacted my opinion of the place. Set and costume design was on oar for a theater this size (I'm always amazed at how small theaters can utilize their sets and props for multiple scenes. Many do a poor job and you can see large portions of the set being recycled in the play; this was not the case here. Every new scene seemed fresh and unique). The cast did a great job in their roles, so much that I wondered for a bit if there was type-casting involved, which I doubt. I also loved how the play kept you guessing as to how it would end. Not something that usually happens, at least for me. The theater itself is full of history and is a small museum in itself. Be sure to come early so you can explore all the photography and stories on display. The building is just so elegant, going here is a real event. read more

This is a great theater. We have been here to see several shows. Tonight we saw Annie. The talent is not quite broadway but pretty darn close. We purchased a six pack of tickets for our family through their membership program. This gets us reserved seats for all of the shows done during their main stage season. You are provided discount parking passes along with tickets. The theater is easy to access. There are light refreshments including alcoholic beverages, coffee and snacks available in several areas. There is even a little cafe seating area downstairs called Barrymores. I highly recommend seeing a show at this theater and if you can afford season tickets it is a great deal! read more

Walnut Street Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania