Walnut Street Theatre to Present 'ALEXANDER,' 1/31-2/8

It's moving day for Alexander's family, but has he started packing? Alexander definitely does NOT want to move a thousand miles away! Maybe one of the neighbors has extra room for a small boy. It might just be easier to hide! In this "moving" musical, home is where your family is.

Best-selling author Judith Viorst is a native to the area, having been born and raised in New Jersey. She is a graduate of Rutgers University and currently resides in Washington, DC. Viorst used inspiration from her real-life family to create the lovable characters in the Alexander series, basing Alexander on her youngest son and Alexander's brothers on Viorst's two older sons.

Walnut Street Theatre welcomes back Bill Van Horn as Director. Along with directing this season's WST for Kids' production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Van Horn was seen on stage this holiday season as Santa in the hit production Elf. Mark Yurkanin returns as Music and Vocal Director. Yurkanin has worked on over 100 musicals including A Christmas Carol at Walnut with Van Horn.

Bringing the playful world of Alexander to life is Set Designer Robert J. Martin. Joining Martin is Lighting Designer Mark Grady (A Christmas Carol, Diary of a Worm, Spider, and Fly) and Sound Designer Ryan Peavey (A Christmas Carol). Choreographer Samuel Antonio Reyes (A Christmas Carol) will get these characters "moving" with fun and hip dances. This season's costume apprentices, Abigail Wyatt and Katie Yamaguchi, will add bright styles to Alexander's colorful imagination with their eye catching designs.

The Walnut is thrilled to welcome back the entire cast from last season's production of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Audiences will remember Brandon O'Rourke, who returns as Alexander, as Gavroche in LES MISERABLES and the Artful Dodger in Oliver. Portraying Alexander's loving parents, annoying brothers, best friends and beloved neighbors are Nate Golden (A Christmas Carol, Grease), Emily Kleimo, Matthew Mastronardi (A Christmas Carol), Samantha Joy Pearlman (Miss Nelson is Missing), Tara Tagliaferro (Grease), and Bren Thomas (Love Story, the musical), all Philadelphia locals.

The Walnut Street Theatre for Kids Series is celebrated for its commitment to encouraging parents (and grandparents) to read to their kids. Families can read together, and then discover a whole new level of imagination when they see the shows live onstage. The Walnut takes pride in bringing families together through reading and the arts.

Alexander Who's Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move is an ideal outing for every elementary classroom and family with weekday and weekend matinee performances January 31st and February 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th. Tickets are $10-$16 with group discounts available for groups of ten or more. For tickets and information, please call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets can also be purchased online at Ticketmaster or by visiting the Walnut's website at www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org.

Photo courtesy of Walnut Street Theatre