Crossover takes its annual look at the Walnut Street Theatre's new season. Beginning its 206th season as the oldest theater company in the English-speaking world, the Walnut has always represented the best of Broadway in Philadelphia, but with a twist.
Every production is its own production. Unlike other venues, the Walnut does not bring in the national touring companies for the shows it stages. The theater's creative team mounts locally produced productions of national hit shows - its own cast, mostly made up of local talent, its own sets and design, and its own musicians. Just the script and the score remain as they were on Broadway.
This season's locally produced mainstage shows include 9 to 5: The Musical, Mary Poppins, Private Lives, And Then There Were None, and Memphis.
Jill Pasternak speaks with members of the Walnut Street Theatre's creative team about the season, in a program interspersed with music from the season's three musical offerings, including lots of Mary Poppins' memorable tunes.
Crossover with Jill Pasternak airs Saturday mornings at 11:30 on WRTI-FM, with an encore the following Friday evening at 7 pm on WRTI-HD2. Both airings can be heard on the All-Classical web stream at wrti.org.