Walnut Street Theatre is dedicated to the casting and employment of local Philadelphia-based talent. The information on this page will be updated as the season progresses, and as new information becomes available! Casting for each production begins locally. We will hold multiple open calls for the season each spring, both in Philadelphia and New York in accordance with Actors' Equity Association. Information about these auditions will be made available through AEA, Theatre Philadelphia, Backstage, and Playbill. All other auditions are held throughout the year and are scheduled by appointment only. Walnut Street Theatre contracts with both union and non-union talent.
Please follow submission instructions on any breakdowns that are released. Otherwise for consideration, please send your headshot, resume, and a brief cover letter indicating the show/role of interest to:
Casting
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Walnut Street Theatre is committed to diversity and engages in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, we encourage performers of ALL ethnicities, gender identities, body types, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to submit.
Local Philadelphia Equity Principal Auditions - Monday 24th, 2025 - Walnut Street Theatre - 10AM-6PM
NYC Equity Principal Auditions - Monday March 31st, 2025 - Actors' Equity Audition Studios - 9:30AM-5:30PM
Non-Union Local Philadelphia Open Call - TBD March '25 (check back soon)
Director: Fran Prisco
1st Rehearsal – September 9, 2025
Performances – September 30-November 2, 2025
Seeking: Most roles cast.
JERRY LEE LEWIS – 20s; male; singer/pianist; he was rock & roll’s legendary piano prodigy and celebrated “Last Man Standing.” A superb piano player, able to play like Jerry Lee Lewis; fun, energetic; comic skills a plus.
Also seeking Local, Non-Union singer/musicians to be External Understudies for all roles.
Director/Choreographer: Richard Stafford
1st Rehearsal – October 28, 2025
Performances – November 18 – January 6, 2026
Seeking: SOME roles available
JEAN SHEPHERD/NARRATOR: Late 40s to early 50s. Caucasian Male. Not a singing role. A great storyteller with charisma. Great speaking voice, who can tell an engrossing story and who has the quality to draw an audience in to his magical world and weave a spell; a good-natured curmudgeon. Believably Midwestern.
RALPHIE: 9-12 (to play 9, going on 10) Caucasian boy. His voice must be UNCHANGED. A regular cute midwestern kid. Bright, mischievous, and adventurous, but not precocious. Seeking a young kid who comes across on stage as real, but still has a large presence and personality. Must be an excellent singer and dancer, and able to carry a show. High belter.
RANDY: 8-9. Caucasian boy. Ralphie’s lovable younger brother. Smaller than Ralphie; cute, cuddly, and whiny. He admires his big brother, Ralphie, but won’t admit it. Seeking a young kid who is confident being on stage and comes across as real. Boy’s unchanged voice. High belter.
ADULT ENSEMBLE – All ages, gender-identities, ethnicities, body types, and voice parts to make up a chorus or families and people in this Indiana neighborhood. Should be able to hold harmonies and all must have strong voices and dance well.
KIDS**** - Strong singing and dancing kids, both boys and girls - 8-13. Must sing and move well to play speaking and singing roles including SCUT FARCUS, FLICK, GROVER DILL, and SCHWARTZ.
Also seeking Local, Non-Union singers and dancers to be External Understudies for all roles.
****ALL Kids auditions will take place separately in early Fall August/September. All kids must be local, non-union, and will be double cast. The kids carry a HUGE part of this production. Seeking boys and girls with natural star quality, and the boys must have unchanged voices.
*World Premiere Play*
Director: Bill Van Horn
1st Rehearsal – December 22, 2025
Performances – January 13 – February 15, 2026
Seeking: CASTING NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED BASED ON UPCOMING SCRIPT.
SHERLOCK HOLMES
WATSON
ACTORS – 5 strong comedic and classical actors, any age, sex, or ethnicity, to play a myriad of parts throughout the Sherlock literary canon. A la THE 39 STEPS
Also seeking Local Non-Union actors to be Understudies.
Director: Bernard Havard
1st Rehearsal – February 3, 2026
Performances – February 24 – March 29, 2026
Seeking: All roles cast.
Also seeking Local Non-Union actors to be Understudies.
Director/Choreographer: Glenn Casale
1st Rehearsal –March 24, 2026
Performances– April 14 – May 31, 2026
Seeking: ALL roles available.
JOHN ADAMS
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
JOHN DICKENSON
JAMES WILSON
THOMAS JEFFERSON
RICHARD HENRY LEE
EDWARD RUTLEDGE
STEPHEN HOPKINS
ROGER SHERMAN
ROBERT LIVINGSTON
LEWIS MORRIS
COL. THOMAS KCKEA
GEORGE READ
CAESAR RODNEY
DR. LYMAN HALL
SAMUEL CHASE
DR. JOSIAH BARTLETT
JOESPH HEWES
REV. JOHN WITHERSPOON
JOHN HANCOCK
CHARLES THOMSON
ANDREW MCNAIR
ABIGAIL ADAMS
MARTHA JEFFERSON
COURIER
Also seeking Local, Non-Union singer/dancers to be External Understudies for all roles.
