Walnut Street Theatre, Neoclassical theatre in Washington Square West, Philadelphia, United States.
The Walnut Street Theatre is a neoclassical playhouse in the Washington Square West neighborhood of central Philadelphia. The facade displays brick Doric columns painted white, while the auditorium rises through multiple balcony tiers arranged in a traditional horseshoe layout.
The building opened in 1809 as a circus venue and converted to a playhouse within a few years. Famous performers such as Edwin Booth and Sarah Bernhardt appeared here during the 19th century, before the house became the oldest continuously operating stage in the country during the 20th century.
The theater serves the city as an active performance house, showing plays to local and touring audiences every evening of the week. Families often attend weekend matinees, while weeknight shows typically draw adult crowds.
The box office sells tickets for all upcoming productions, and staff assist with questions about accessibility or seating choices. Visitors reach the house on foot from the historic district and find nearby parking in public garages.
On September 23, 1976, the second televised debate between President Gerald Ford and challenger Jimmy Carter took place here. During the broadcast, the audio signal failed for 27 minutes, and both candidates stood silently on stage until the problem was fixed.
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