In the setting of the newly restored Opera
House, Broadway in Boston / ClearChannel Entertainment announced
its Lexus Boston Dealers Broadway in Boston 2005-2006
series. The season was unveiled by Drew Murphy, President
of Broadway in Boston, via a multimedia presentation. The series presently
includes thirteen productions -- more will no doubt be added.
From The Emerald City to Concord, Massachusetts, and
magicians to orphans, the line-up will include something old to town,
something new to town and a couple of things new to the world.
The schedule, by date, includes:
The
pre-Broadway engagement of
“Martin Short:
If I’d Saved, I Wouldn’t Be Here”
The Colonial Theatre
Fall 2005
In the grand tradition of “West Side Story” and “Sweeney
Todd” comes the next great American musical. But until that happens,
there’s Martin Short’s send-up of one-man shows, combining
musical comedy sketches, dance numbers and at least one intermission.
Sharing the stage will be such Short creations as Jiminy Glick, Ed Grimley
and many others. This show is set to hit Broadway in the Spring of 2006
-- we're getting a first look.
“Hairspray”
The Opera House
October 4 - 16, 2005
Broadway’s Tony Award winning musical comedy sensation takes you
back to 1962 Baltimore as 16-year old Tracy Turnblad sets out to dance
her way into TV’s most popular show. When “Hairspray”
played the Colonial at the start of its national tour, it took the town
by storm.
Hal
Linden in Mitch Albom’s
“Tuesdays With Morrie”
The Colonial Theatre
October 18 - 30
Adapted from the novel by Mitch Albom that remained on the New York
Times Bestseller List for four years, “Tuesdays with Morrie”
is the inspirational and autobiographical story of a career-obsessed
journalist and his former college professor, Morris Schwartz.
“Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
The Colonial Theatre
November 1 - 13, 2005
Broadway star Patrick Cassidy is Joseph and “American
Idol’s” Amy Adams is the Narrator in this
rainbow ride through Biblical Egypt on the wings of Andrew Lloyd
Webber’s uplifting music and the humor and poetry of
Tim Rice. Cassidy is fresh from his Broadway appearance in
“42nd Street.”
Boston Ballet’s
“The Nutcracker”
The Opera House
November 25 - December 30, 2005
The beloved tradition of Boston’s Ballet’s “Nutcracker”
arrives this season with a production customized for the newly restored
Opera House. Choreography is by Mikko Nissinon.
“Little
Women: The Musical”
Starring Maureen McGovern
The Opera House
January 10 - 22, 2006
Direct from Broadway and based on one of America’s most beloved
books, this is Louisa May Alcott’s story of the remarkable March
sisters of Concord, Massachusetts. This new Tony-nominated musical tells
a timeless tale of family, friendship and romance.
“David Copperfield:
An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion”
The Opera House
February 3 - 5, 2006
True to its title, “Grand Illusion” is the logical and incredible
evolution of this conjurer’s art. Copperfield’s goal is
to take one’s dreams (and maybe a few nightmares) and make them
a reality using his state of the art wizardry.
“Les Miserables”
The Opera House
February 15 - March 19, 2006
Around the globe, tens of thousands of people have been swept away by
the power, the passion and the triumph of the human spirit in Victor
Hugo’s “Les Miserables.” The epic musical
story of Jean Valjean’s battle against the self-righteous Inspector
Javert has captured more than 50 international theater awards, including
eight 1987 Tony Awards.
“Clifford The Big Red Dog, LIVE!”
The Opera House
March 24 - 26, 2006
For more than 40 years, Scholastic’s Clifford The Big Red Dog
has charmed and amazed with his engaging adventures and “Big Ideas.”
Featuring a new story, “Clifford The Big Red Dog LIVE!”
brings the well-loved characters from Birdwell Island, including Emily
Elizabeth, Cleo, T-Bone, Jetta, Charlie, and of course, Clifford, to
Boston.
“Wicked”
The Opera House
April 12 - May 14, 2006
So much happened before Dorothy dropped in. That’s “Wicked”
in a nutshell. Long before the girl from Kansas plunked down in Munchkin
Land, two other girls meet in the merry old land of Oz. One,
born with emerald green skin, is smart and fiery and misunderstood.
The other is beautiful, blonde, ambitious and popular. The story of
how these two grow up to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda
The Good Witch has been captivating audiences on Broadway for more than
a year, picking up 15 major awards, including the Grammy and 3 Tonys,
along the way. The “defying gravity” musical has music and
lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, composer of such shows
as “Pippin,” “Godspell,” “Children
of Eden,” “Rags” and the films “Pocahontas,”
“The Prince of Egypt” and “The Hunchback
of Notre Dame.”
Matthew
Bourne’s
“Swan Lake”
The Colonial Theatre
April 20 - 23, 2006
The London Independent said: “See it. Or live to regret
it.” Director / Choreographer Matthew Bourne ignited the theater
world in 1995 with this stunning reinvention of Tchaikovsky’s
“Swan Lake,” shattering traditional concepts to create a
passionate and contemporary ballet.
“Movin’ Out”
The Colonial Theatre
May 17 - 28, 2006
The spectacular musical by Twyla Tharp and
Billy Joel is back by popular demand. “Movin’ Out”
brings 24 Billy Joel classics to new life as it tells the story of five
life-long friends over two turbulent decades.
“Annie”
Featuring John Schuck and MacKenzie Phillips
The Opera House
June 13 - 25, 2006
Leapin’ Lizards, the little red-haired kid with no pupils is back!
The storybook tale of Little Orphan Annie returns to give a whole new
generation the chance to experience the classic musical about never
giving up hope. This all-new production features a new song, “Why
Should I Change A Thing?” by Martin Charnin and
Charles Strouse.
Adding
celebrity to the early morning gathering at The Opera House was Maureen
McGovern (left), star of “Little Women” as above,
who sang the show's 11 o’clock number, “Days of
Plenty,” for the crowd, filling the theater with her
powerful voice. McGovern was introduced by the show’s composer
Jason Howland, and lyricist, Mindi Dickstein,
who, coincidentally, are originally from the Boston area. Adding yet
another local connection was a short welcome from Concord author Gregory
Maguire, who wrote the original novel upon which “Wicked"
is based.
Tickets are presently available through the Broadway
in Boston subscription and member programs at 866-523-7469. An on sale
date for individual seats will be announced soon. For more information,
visit www.broadwayinboston.com.
