The Walnut Street Theatre continues its 199th season with Arthur Miller’s THE PRICE. This new production of Miller’s powerful work resonates with the timeless themes of family, pride, missed opportunities, personal integrity and sacrifice. Featuring Philadelphia native and Tony Award nominee Robert Prosky, the production runs January 15 - March 2 on the Walnut Street Theatre Mainstage.

Arthur Miller’s THE PRICE tells the story of two brothers who have not spoken to each other for sixteen years. They are reuniting at their parent’s Manhattan Brownstone to sell off the remains of their parent’s possessions to a wily, wisecracking furniture dealer (Robert Prosky). Along with the old chairs and rugs, however, are memories of choices the two brothers made when their father’s fortunes toppled. Victor (Andy Prosky) gave up his education in order to support his ailing father, becoming a policeman on a modest income. His brother Walter (John Prosky) set out on his own and became a successful and wealthy surgeon. With the furniture dealer and Victor’s wife (Leisa Mather) as witnesses, the brothers are forced to settle up in more ways than one. Walter and Victor verbally battle each other time and again, twisting motives, memories and facts upside down and inside out until nothing is what it seems to be. Which brother is truly more selfish? Which is more tormented? Who sacrificed more to become the man they are today?

Arthur Miller, heralded as perhaps the greatest American playwright of the 20th century, created THE PRICE in the grand tradition of Death of a Salesman and All My Sons: a cautionary tale on remembering who we are, where we have come from, and what choices we had to make along the way. In THE PRICE, Arthur Miller presents a moral pertinent to each and every one of us: How do our actions in the past affect who we are today? Or, as one character puts it: “You have to make decisions…and you never know what’s what until it’s too late.” THE PRICE was first performed right here at the Walnut Street Theatre in January of 1968, Forty years ago. The 1968 production, its first staging before moving to Broadway, was a resounding success with audiences and critics both in Philadelphia and New York.

Arthur Miller’s THE PRICE marks a homecoming for one of Philadelphia’s own: Robert Prosky. Mr. Prosky (playing aging antique dealer Gregory Solomon) was born and raised in Manayunk and educated at Temple University. Although he has enjoyed a varied and honored career on stage and film, he has never participated in a professional production here in Philadelphia. He has appeared in more than 200 plays on Broadway and in regional theater, as well as having appeared in thirty-eight films and numerous television shows. He has been given or has been nominated for two Tony Awards, two Helen Hayes Awards, an Emmy, the Drama Desk award and many others. He has appeared on Broadway in Glengarry Glenross, A Walk in the Woods and A View From the Bridge, among others. Highlights from regional theater include 23 years at Arena Stage, Death of a Salesman, Twelfth Night and You Can’t Take It With You. His films include Mrs. Doubtfire, The Natural and Dead Man Walking. TV credits include three years on Hill Street Blues, as well as many TV films and guest appearances. Robert Prosky is joined in this production by his two real-life sons, Andy and John Prosky.

John Prosky (Victor Franz) has appeared in over fifty TV shows including re-occurring and guest starring roles on such shows as ER, The Closer, The Practice, JAG, NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy, 24, The Bernie Mac Show and House. He has numerous regional theatre appearances to his credit, including productions at Arena Stage, Delaware Theatre Company and Playwright’s Horizons.

Andy Prosky (Walter Franz) has credits ranging from Lincoln Center’s King Lear, New York Shakespeare Festival’s Titus Andronicus, to numerous regional productions at theatres such as Arena Stage, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, and The Fords Theatre in Washington DC. Andy can be seen in several films including Men in Black, Up Close and Personal, and The Great Outdoors to name a few.

Leisa Mather (Esther Franz) reprises her role after appearing with the Proskys in Cape May Stage’s 2006 production of THE PRICE. Other credits include Hello Dolly! (Paper Mill Playhouse), the national tour of Ragtime, Cats (Grisabella), off-Broadway and touring productions of Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit, and The Visit with Chita Rivera at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.

Director Michael Carleton is intimately familiar with the material, having directed Robert, John and Andy Prosky (along with Leisa Mather) for Cape May Stage’s 2006 production of The Price. Mr. Carelton serves as the Artistic Director for Cape May Stage, and has directed for Orlando Shakespeare Festival and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival in addition to productions in New York and Chicago. Joining him on the creative team are Set Designer Robert Kramer, Lighting Designer Shelley Hicklin and Costume Designer Colleen Grady.

Set Designer Robert Kramer has the daunting task of designing an attic playing space filled to the rafters with four floor’s worth of furniture. “Detail Oriented” is a description thrown around quite frequently when describing set designers, but it truly applies to Robert’s intricate vision for The Price. This is Robert’s first Mainstage design for the Walnut, but his work has been seen in our Independence Studio on 3 with The Dishwashers, The Fantasticks and Forrest: A Riot of Dreams among others. Lighting Designer Shelley Hicklin returns to the Walnut Mainstage for the first time since winning the Barrymore Award for her design of last season’s critically acclaimed Of Mice and Men. Costume Designer Colleen Grady, a veteran of over 10 seasons at the Walnut, returns to the Mainstage with her third design of the season, following Man of La Mancha and Peter Pan.

Arthur Miller’s THE PRICE runs at the Walnut from January 15 – March 2, 2008. This production is sponsored by Harmelin Media. Media Sponsors are B101 and NBC 10. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 215-336-1234. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.