North Shore Music Theatre
"Flaunts It"
With 2008 Musical Season

Audiences at award-winning North Shore Music Theatre will find the theater's 2008 Musical Season to include everything from a rollicking backstage comedy to a provocative “dance play,” a feel-good rock and roll love story, a buzzed-about Broadway hit, an American masterpiece, and a tap dancing sensation.

The season will feature two New England regional premieres, as NSMT honors the best of the best in musical theater with "The Producers," the musical that won more Tony Awards than any other show in history, and "Contact," the hit of the 2000 Broadway season and winner of four Tony Awards
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2008 also marks the inaugural season for NSMT’s new Artistic Director and Executive Producer Barry Ivan. He commented, "My goal for my first season at NSMT was to create an overarching artistic style to connect the season. We are honored and thrilled to be able to intertwine New England premieres with a celebration of an immeasurable talent, Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. It is going to be a spectacular season.”

Susan Stroman has won five Tony Awards for her work on such outstanding musicals as "The Producers," (Best Choreography and Best Direction), "Contact," (Best Choreography), "Showboat" (Best Choreography), all part of the 2008 season, as listed below.

Ivan is also introducing a new "Screen to Stage" program providing a unique look at popular Broadway musicals whose origins are based in some of the silver screen's most beloved films.

The 2008 subscription musical season kicks off on May 13 with the New England regional premiere of "The Producers," winner of 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Based on the hit 1968 film of the same name, this Mel Brooks creation is the story of a washed-up Broadway producer and his timid accountant who hatch a scheme to get rich quick by producing a sure-fire flop. The show spoofs the big, old-fashioned Broadway musical while paying tribute to it at the same time.

"Contact," in its New England regional premiere, arrives from June 10 - 29. The winner of 4 Tony Awards and the hit of the 2000 Broadway season, "Contact" is a moving, 'dance play' divided into three sections. The first is inspired by the 18th-century painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard depicting a sexy romp in the French countryside. The second takes place in an Italian restaurant in 1954, as a woman escapes from her troubled marriage into a world of fantasy. The third centers on a lonely middle-aged man who tries to connect with a sultry young woman in a yellow dress. The show's energetic score includes "Do You Wanna Dance," "Runaround Sue," "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You," and "Sing, Sing, Sing."

North Shore puts on a happy face when "Bye, Bye Birdie" appears from July 15 - August 3. The show was the winner of four 1961 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical. In a blast from the past, the plot revolves around rock and roll superstar Conrad Birdie (not so loosely based on Elvis Presley), who, to the dismay of his adoring fans, is about to be drafted into the army. As part of a publicity stunt cooked up by his agent, he promises to give a one last farewell kiss to one lucky girl from Sweet Apple, Ohio, LIVE on "The Ed Sullivan Show." The upbeat score features "Put On A Happy Face," "A Lot of Livin' To Do" and "One Last Kiss."

Grab your dictionary when "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" comes to the NSMT stage from August 12 - August 31, as part of a co-production with Barrington Stage Company. Developed in the Berkshires and a long-running hit on Broadway, this Tony Award-winning musical comedy follows six young people in the throes of puberty and a spelling bee, overseen by a bunch of grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. In the end, they all learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. This offbeat and at times heartwarming show offers audience members the opportunity (strictly voluntary) to become part of the action as on-stage spellers.

An American masterpiece sails into town from September 23 - October 12 when"Showboat" docks at North Shore. This acclaimed classic was revived on Broadway in 1994 and featured Tony Award-winning choreography by Susan Stroman. As the Cotton Blossom steams up and down the Mississippi in the 1890s, dashing men and beautiful women forget their troubles and fall in love. But under the surface there’s a darker side of gambling, racial tension and heartbreak. The exceptional score includes "Only Make Believe," "Ol' Man River" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man."

The 2008 Musical Season will conclude with the tap-dancing extravaganza "42nd Street" from October 28 - November 16. Set in 1933, "42nd Street" captures the dazzling story of an aspiring chorus girl and her journey to find love and stardom on Broadway. The infectious score includes songs like “We're In the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” and the title number.

From September 5 - 7, a semi-staged concert version production of "The Wiz" will mark the debut of the "Stage to Screen" series. Inspired by the classic 1939 Academy Award winning film "The Wizard of Oz," the Tony Award winning musical "The Wiz" captivated Broadway audiences in 1975 with its soaring rock musical score. The concert format performance will feature a full cast (on-stage with scripts in-hand) and a full orchestra. (Note that "The Wiz" is not part of the theater's subscription season.)

Throughout the 2008 season, NSMT will continue to host its series of free audience enrichment events including:

MEET THE THEATER
This free post show discussion allows the audience to ask questions of the cast and creative staff and find out what happens behind the scenes. These discussions occur immediately following the show on the second Tuesday and the third Saturday matinee of each show.

OUT AT THE NORTH SHORE
This evening for the GLBT community offers the chance to meet members of the cast and enjoy live entertainment at a free post-show reception. Reception occurs the third Thursday evening of each show.

SPOTLIGHT ON HISTORY
A free pre-show educational series featuring a different historical topic related to each the show presented in association with the Wenham Museum. These discussions occur prior to the second Saturday matinee of each show.

Operating since 1955, NSMT has evolved into the largest non-profit producing theater in New England, with approximately 300,000 patrons annually.

Subscriptions for the full season are on sale now. For information, stop by the box office on Dunham Road in Beverly, call 978-232-7200 or visit www.nsmt.org.

-- OnStage Boston