America's Oldest · Founded 1808

Some Enchanted Evening Gala Concert Honors Actress Ellen Tobie and Arts Patron Larry Gilberti

April 11, 2015

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Walnut Street Theatre is pleased to announce that it will honor Actress and Walnut Trustee Ellen Tobie and Director of the Syde Hurdus Foundation Larry Gilberti with the 2015 Edwin Forrest Award at its annual Gala. The evening’s events will begin with a 90-minute concert filled with unforgettable songs from the Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook. Featuring some of Philadelphia’s favorite performers, including Travis Keith Battle, Jeffrey Coon, Cameron Flurry, Laura Giknis, Lauren Grajewski, Alexis Gwynn, Billy D. Hart, Jesse Jones, Scott Langdon, Ben Lipitz, Mary Martello, Brandon O’Rourke, Nichalas Parker, Owen Pelesh, Jenny Piersol, Fran Prisco, Kerri Rose, Edward C. Smith, Christopher Sutton, JD Triolo, Denise Whelan and Jacob Wilner, guests will enjoy music selections from The King and I, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, and more. All proceeds from the Gala benefit the Walnut Street Theatre’s Education and Outreach programming, which reaches over 150,000 students, teachers and families annually in the Delaware Valley.


The Gala Concert, Some Enchanted Evening, will take place on Walnut Street Theatre’s Mainstage at 7:00PM on Friday, May 1. Before the concert begins, guests will receive a glass of wine to enjoy during the performance. Following the Gala Concert, a VIP Party will be held on the Thomas Jefferson University Campus in the Jefferson Alumni Hall Atrium (1020 Locust Street, between 10th and 11th Streets).


This event is held annually to honor members of the business and artistic communities with the Edwin Forrest Award for their contributions to American Theatre. The award was created in 1990 in honor of the leading American actor of the nineteenth century, Edwin Forrest. Forrest is a Philadelphia native who made his debut at the Walnut in 1820.


The Walnut is happy to honor Ellen and Larry for their dedication to Walnut Street Theatre.