Located on WST’s third floor, Independence Studio on 3 offers audiences a more intimate theatre experience. Designed to showcase innovative works, compelling voices, and stories that inspire conversation, the space has long served as a creative home for productions that challenge, delight, and connect audiences in meaningful ways.
“I’ve been eager to bring Walnut Street Theatre productions back to the Independence Studio on 3 stage for years,” says Producing Artistic Director Bernard Havard. “This space allows us to produce work that is adventurous, intimate, and deeply personal. The 2026-27 season reflects everything we love about Studio on 3 – extraordinary artists, thought-provoking stories, and the opportunity for audiences to experience theatre in a completely different way.”
The season begins with HEXEN – An Ancestral Witch Play, a captivating blend of song, aerial dance, history, and mysticism from acclaimed artist and Walnut favorite Dreya Weber. The season continues with GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION, the award-winning play that explores the life, love, and artistic legacy of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas against the backdrop of a cultural revolution. Concluding the season is Bernard Slade’s beloved romantic comedy SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR, a funny, tender, and bittersweet exploration of love, timing, and human connection that unfolds across the decades.
2026-27 INDEPENDENCE STUDIO ON 3 SEASON
HEXEN – An Ancestral Witch Play
January 26 – February 7, 2027
Told through song and aerial dance, Dreya Weber’s HEXEN weaves the narratives of three women representing witch archetypes. Part historical account, ancestral legacy and imaginative fancy, HEXEN explores the demonization of women, the power of reclaiming ancestry and the celebration of the mythical.
GERTRUDE STEIN AND A COMPANION
March 16 – 28, 2027
After the death of Gertrude Stein, her ghost returns to her long-term partner, Alice B. Toklas, to reflect on their life together. Set in their Parisian apartment, this beautiful story captures the feeling, art, music, and love of their time during a cultural revolution. The award-winning best play transports you to an atmosphere of an unconventional artistic life lived.
SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR
April 27 – May 9, 2027
This charming romantic comedy follows two married strangers who meet by chance and begin a yearly affair, reconnecting at the same time each year. As their lives evolve over decades, their relationship becomes a window into changing social norms, personal growth, and enduring connection. Funny, tender, and bittersweet, while exploring love, timing, and what it means to truly know someone.
Independence Studio on 3 returns January 26, 2027, bringing audiences closer than ever to the artists, stories, and experiences that make live theatre unforgettable. There has never been a better time to rediscover this unique performance space and secure your seats for a season filled with creativity, connection, and extraordinary storytelling.
Subscriptions for the 2026-27 Independence Studio on 3 season are available now, with packages starting at $56. For more information on subscribing, call Walnut Street Theatre at 215-574-3550 or visit WalnutStreetTheatre.org.
All show titles, dates, and prices are subject to change.
