Walnut Street Theatre: Difference between revisions

[[File:WalnutStTheatrebyChasBurtonc1830.jpg|250px|thumb|left|DrawingAn by1830 Charlesillustration Burtonof (c.Walnut 1830)Street Theatre]]

The Walnut Theatre was the first theatre to install gas [[footlight]]s in 1837.<ref name="Story of Theatre"/> In 1855, it was also the first theatre to feature [[air conditioning]]. The theatre switched to electric [[chandelier]]s and footlights in 1892.<ref name="Timeline"/> The theatre has undergone many renovations since its opening.

In May 2019, Walnut Street Theatre announced a major expansion, to begin in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.philly.com/arts/walnut-street-theatre-expansion-theater-in-the-round-parking-lot-20190504.html|title=Walnut Street Theatre announces a major expansion, set to start in 2020|author=John Timpane|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|date=May 4, 2019|access-date=May 4, 2019|quote=The Walnut Street Theatre announced Saturday evening that fund-raising is now underway for a substantial new wing of the building. Plans would expand the 210-year-old theater's footprint partway into the parking lot next door and add a 400-seat theater in the round. The three-story, 35,000-square-foot addition would break ground in May 2020 and be completed in 2022.}}</ref>

In March 2020, the expansion was postponed six weeks from its initial groundbreaking due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/commercial/walnut-street-theatre-funding-donor-new-name-20221017.html | title=Walnut Street Theatre wants to sell naming rights for $10 million, as expansion costs rise | date=17 October 2022 }}</ref>