On stage: The Walnut Street Theatre production of High Society will continue through Oct. 25. SOURCE: WALNUT STREET THEATRE
Megan Nicole Arnoldy is in town to play the lead in the Walnut Street Theatre production of Cole Porter’s High Society, and she’s overjoyed to be in the cast.
“I’m excited, honored and grateful to be part of it,” she said.
The show opened on Sept. 8 and will continue through Oct. 25. The Walnut Street Theatre is at 825 Walnut St., and is in its 207th season.
Arnoldy is a native of Apollo, a town northeast of Pittsburgh, and she has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater from Penn State. She’s back at the Walnut for the first time since 2006, when she was part of the cast of 42nd Street.
“It’s great to come back,” she said.
Most recently, she played Lorraine in the Las Vegas production of Jersey Boys.
In High Society, she plays Tracy Lord.
“It’s a switch in gears to be in a show about the Frankie Valli story to be playing a very wealthy woman in 1938,” she said. “The piece has a certain style. It’s 1938. These are people who are extremely wealthy.”
Arnoldy, who lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, also performed as the starlet Janet on the national tour of The Drowsy Chaperone, which takes a look at musicals in the 1920s.
“This reminds me of that a little bit,” she said, comparing High Society to The Drowsy Chaperone.
High Society is a feel-good musical based on the stage comedy The Philadelphia Story and the 1956 film musical High Society, starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra.
Arnoldy watched High Society and the film version of The Philadelphia Story in preparation for the role.
Tracy Lord, a wealthy socialite, is planning her lavish summer wedding when her ex-husband appears to try to win her back. When charming tabloid reporter Mike Connor arrives to cover the nuptials, he, too, takes a shine to the bride-to-be. As the day of the wedding draws closer, Tracy has a decision to make.
“She wants to find someone who truly loves her for her authentic self,” Arnoldy said.
Grace Kelly played Tracy in the film High Society. Katharine Hepburn played the role in the movie The Philadelphia Story.
“These two very iconic women create big shoes to fill,” Arnoldy said.
The show features the songs Let’s Misbehave, Just One of Those Things, True Love and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Walnut’s producing artistic director, Bernard Havard, said, “This musical is based on The Philadelphia Story, which we produced in an earlier season to audience’s delight. High Society incorporates the gorgeous music of Cole Porter with Philip Barry’s great story, a perfect match. Philadelphia audiences will fall in love with this show.”
Arnoldy agrees.
“It will be a really fun night at the theater,” she said. ••
Prices vary by performance and range from $20-$95. There will be no performances from Sept. 25–27 due to the visit by Pope Francis. For tickets and information, call 215–574–3550 or visit www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org
