The Philadelphia premiere of Tom Stoppard's drama Arcadia will be the premiere production at the Wilma Theatre's new 300-seat performing space at the northwest corner of Broad and Spruce Streets on the Avenue of the Arts.
Arcadia will begin previews Dec. 26, 1996 and open Jan. 3, 1997 in the new theatre.
Jiri Zizka will staged Stoppard's 1993 play that moves back and forth in time from the 20th century to the 18th in telling the story of a love affair and a mysterious murder.
A grand opening ceremony is planned for the new Wilma in November. The Wilma has been in operation since 1980.
Designed by architect Hugh Hardy, the Wilma's performing space is being billed as the first new theatre built In Center City Philadelphia since 1928. The first season in the new theatre will continue in 1997 with Doug Wright's Quills, Peter Barnes' The Ruling Class and a fourth play TBA.
