Philadelphicon: Walnut Street Theatre

You would think the Walnut Street Theatre would rest on its laurels. After all, the country’s oldest continuously operating theater has, in its 198-year history, hosted an astounding array of talent. George C. Scott. Jack Lemmon. The Marx Brothers. Helen Hayes. Henry and Jane Fonda. Both Hepburns. And some guy named Brando. The Suzanne Roberts Theatre is a now-opening glitzier showplace, but this National Historic Landmark retains its own magic. In this year’s nominee list for the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre, the Walnut appears 22 times — far more than any of its competition — including six nods for last winter’s heart-wrenching Of Mice and Men. This season, patrons will enjoy plays by Arthur Miller and Neil Simon, as well as more intimate offerings. Curtain, please.