Walnut Street Theatre Presents DOUBT, 3/27-4/15

Walnut Street Theatre's 2011-2012 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with John Patrick Shanley's Tony Award-winning Broadway play, DOUBT – A PARABLE. Directed by John Peakes, the production begins with previews on March 27th, opens March 29th and continues through April 15th in the Walnut's Independence Studio on 3.

DOUBT – A PARABLE is a drama about Sister Aloysius of the St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx, who believes in restraint, self-control and a rigid dedication to discipline. When she learns that the progressive parish priest Father Flynn has taken a special interest in a troubled altar boy, she becomes suspicious of his engaging attitudes. Something must be done. A seed of doubt is sown.

DOUBT – A PARABLE premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Club in 2004, before it transferred to Broadway in 2005. Running for 525 performances, the play was recognized by the theatre community in 2005 with the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Tony Award for Best Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play and the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play. It toured nationally in 2007 winning the Touring Broadway Award for Best Play.

Written by the American playwright John Patrick Shanley, DOUBT – A PARABLE has been produced on international stages in Venezuela, Australia, Singapore, Philippines, New Zealand, London, France and Poland. The play was adapted for film and directed by Shanley in 2008, garnering Oscar nominations for the four lead actors and Shanley himself as playwright. This was the second time Shanely had been nominated for an Academy Award, having won for Best Screenplay for the film Moonstruck. His writing also led to an Emmy nomination for his work on the HBO movie Live from Baghdad. His playwrighting credits, which extend over twenty, include Romantic Poetry, Defiance, Dirty Story and Cellini.

The cast of DOUBT – A PARABLE includes local favorites Jeffrey Coon (Father Flynn), Ellen Tobie (Sister Aloysius), Karen Peakes (Sister James) and Kaci M. Fannin (Mrs. Muller). Jeffrey Coon has appeared in Walnut productions including Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Bob Wallace) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Stanley Kowalski). Ellen Tobie returns to the Walnut after appearing in Honor and the River (Wawa) and Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound (Kate). Tobie has also performed on Broadway in shows including Rose Tattoo and The Heiress. Karen Peakes, from Walnut productions Speaking in Tongues (Jane/Sarah) and Fallen Angels (Jane), also joins the cast of DOUBT – A PARABLE. Finally, having recently performed in the regional tour of The Scottsboro Boys, Walnut audiences will remember Kaci M. Fannin as Bo in Criminal Hearts.

DOUBT – A PARABLE is directed by John Peakes who has previously entertained Walnut audiences with the hilarious Travels With My Aunt and the psychological thriller Speaking in Tongues. He has also been seen on the Walnut's Mainstage in productions including Oliver! and 42nd Street. Peakes is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of BoarsHead Theatre in Lansing, Michigan.

The Walnut welcomes back Scenic Designer Glen Sears (The Mousetrap), Sound Designer Paul Winnick (Speaking in Tongues, The Ugly One) and Costume Designer Julia Poiesz (Speaking In Tongues, A Christmas Carol). Thom Weaver brings his talent to the Walnut's Independence Studio on 3 stage for the first time as Lighting Designer.

Season sponsors for the 2011-2012 Independence Studio on 3 Season are The Independence Foundation and Macy's. Media season sponsors are Philadelphia Weekly and WRTI Radio. Tickets are $30 and are now available at 215-574-3550 or 215-336-1234. Tickets are also available at WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.

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