[4] It was made of brick due to the Philadelphia fire code, unlike other venues built by Pepin and Breschard.

[9] A parcel of land owned by John Brown on the corner of Walnut and 9th Street in Philadelphia was sold to Victor Pépin and Jean Baptiste Casmiere Breschard for $11,058 on October 4, 1808.

Pépin and Breschard constructed numerous venues in cities along the U.S. East Coast, which often featured, along with performances of their circus, classical plays as well as horse dramas.

[12] In 1811, the two partners commissioned architect William Strickland to design and construct a stage and orchestra pit for theatrical performances.

[4] The building was put up for auction in a sheriff's sale on February 5, 1813, but there were no bids and the lien holder James Clemson gained control of it.

[18] He then, in turn, sold it to an attorney and two merchants for the same price and they established a trust with 115 members known as the Proprietors of the Walnut Street Theatre.

[19] They renamed it Walnut Street Theatre in 1820,[5] with an opening performance of Wild Oats and The Agreeable Surprise in November 1820.

[29] In 1984, Walnut Street Theatre School was established and over 1,200 students enroll annually, and 1986 saw the introduction of the Independence Studio on 3 series.

This series of nearly 100 personally submitted video testimonials highlighted the positive impact the Walnut has had on the lives and careers of former actors, designers, staff, apprentices, and more.

[34][35] Throughout the protest, former employees and members of the Philadelphia arts community shared accounts of racism, pay inequities, and other forms of discrimination experienced at the Walnut.

[36] The many famous performers who have appeared at the theatre include Ethel Barrymore, Edwin Booth, George M. Cohan, Claudette Colbert, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Marlon Brando, Edwin Forrest, Julie Harris, Helen Hayes, Katharine Hepburn, Mark Indelicato, Samuel L. Jackson, Jack Lemmon, Groucho Marx and the Marx Brothers, Rob McClure, Mike Nichols, George Peppard, Harold Perrineau, Robert Redford, Edward G. Robinson, Laura San Giacamo, Marina Sirtis, Lucas Steele, Jarrod Spector, George C. Scott, Jessica Tandy and Ethel Waters.