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Broadway LA Announces 2011-2012 Season At Pantages Theatre

wickedBroadway LA has announced its 2011-2012 season that includes six Los Angeles premieres, including the last two shows to win the Tony award for Best Musical and the return of the most “Popular” musical in L.A. history.

 

Making their local premieres are “Come Fly Away,” “Billy Elliot the Musical,” “The Addams Family,” The Addams Family,” “Million Dollar Quartet,” “La Cage Aux Folles” and “Memphis,” as well as a return engagement for the most successful show in Pantages Theatre’s history, “Wicked.” In addition, the Pantages will host return engagements of “Riverdance” and “Mamma Mia” as optional add-ons to Season Ticket Packages.


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Season Ticket Holders lock in the best seats at the best prices, and they enjoy a host of benefits not available to the general public, such as lost ticket insurance and any-time-any-reason exchange.  Season Ticket Holders have 24/7 account access through a custom website that provides the ability to check performance dates and seating locations, update account information, secure additional priority seats, and make payments online with a few simple clicks.

Season Tickets Packages may be reserved beginning today at www.BroadwayLA.org.  Best seats will be reserved by those who order earliest, although actual seat locations will not be assigned until a later date, after completion of renewals of existing Season Ticket Holders.  To purchase by phone, please call Season Ticket Services toll-free 866-755-BWAY(2929).

This season, the Pantages Theatre has re-organized pricing sections, with all 5 price levels now available on the main floor Orchestra Level.  (Previously, the lowest two ticket prices were only available in the Rear Mezzanine.)  Orchestra level Season Ticket packages begin at just $236 for all seven shows!

Once again this season, Broadway/L.A. is proud to offer the discriminating theatre patron the ultimate theatrical package, offering VIP service, prestige, privileges and convenience.  A limited number of positions are available in The President’s Club®, which provides members four priority seats to our seven-show season — priority seat access to all Nederlander theatres worldwide, the ability to purchase extra “house seats” to all Broadway/L.A. shows, free parking for all season productions, access to theatre VIP Suite for members, and invitations to any opening night parties during the season.  To find out more about becoming a member, please visit www.BroadwayLA.org/PrezClub, or call Jeff Loeb at 323-468-1732.

Broadway/L.A. is the Los Angeles theatrical division of The Nederlander Organization, owner of the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.  The Nederlander Organization also owns or operates nine theatres on Broadway, three theatres on the West End in London, and operates Broadway Seasons in several other U.S. cities.

Opening the season at the Pantages is “Come Fly Away,” October 19-30, 2011

From the visionary creator of the Tony Award-winning “Movin’ Out” comes the Los Angeles premiere of the new Broadway musical, “Come Fly Away,” conceived, choreographed and directed by Tony Award winner Twyla Tharp and featuring vocals by Frank Sinatra.

“Come Fly Away” follows four couples as they fall in and out of love during one song and dance filled evening at a crowded nightclub.  Blending the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra with a live on-stage big band and 15 of the world’s finest dancers, “Come Fly Away” weaves an unparalleled hit parade of classics, including “Fly Me To The Moon,” “My Way,” and “That’s Life,” into a soaring musical fantasy of romance and seduction. The show’s score combines classic and newly discovered vocal performances from the Sinatra archives along with signature arrangements (Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Quincy Jones) as well as brand new charts for this fresh innovative musical.

“Come Fly Away” is the next and most elaborate chapter in one of the most fruitful collaborations in contemporary dance.  Twyla Tharp’s creative relationship with the music of Frank Sinatra began in 1976 with the premiere of Once More Frank, a duet created for the American Ballet Theatre, performed by Ms. Tharp and Mikhail Baryshnikov.  The collaboration continued with Nine Sinatra Songs, Ms. Tharp’s acclaimed piece for fourteen dancers which had its world premiere with Twyla Tharp Dance in 1982, and was followed by Sinatra Suite, a duet featuring Mr. Baryshnikov and Elaine Kudo, which had its world premiere in 1984 with American Ballet Theatre at the Kennedy Center.  Citing it as one of the purest expressions of his body of work, Mr. Sinatra requested that Sinatra Suite be performed when he received his Kennedy Center Honors Award.

“Come Fly Away” features scenic design by James Youmans, costume design by Katherine Roth, lighting design by Donald Holder, and sound design by Peter McBoyle.  Additional arrangements and orchestrations are by Dave Pierce and Don Sebesky.

Season Production #2, “Wicked” returns to the Pantages from November 30, 2011 – January 22, 2012

When it first played the Pantages, it broke box office records and sold out in record time. Now back by “Popular” demand, “Wicked” returns to its Los Angeles home for a limited engagement.  With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (“Godspell,” “Pippin,” Academy Award-winner for “Pocahontas” and “The Prince of Egypt”) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So-Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), “Wicked,” the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (“Take Me Out,” “Love! Valour! Compassion!,” “The Vagina Monologues”) and features musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (“Aida,” “The Who’s Tommy,” “ How To Succeed…”).

Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, “Wicked,” winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz.  It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

“I’m very pleased that we have secured a return of ‘Wicked’ for Los Angeles.  It has been a thrill to have so much excitement at the Pantages Theatre again,” said the theatre’s General Manager, Martin Wiviott.  “In my opinion, the national tour is even better than the Broadway production, which I also loved.  The producers of ‘Wicked’ should be complimented for sending out such a high-quality show.”

Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz.  One – born with emerald-green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood.  The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular.  “Wicked” tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Called “a cultural phenomenon” by Variety and named “the defining musical of the decade” by The New York Times, “Wicked” continues to thrill audiences around the world. There are currently seven productions of “Wicked” worldwide, including two North American tours, a Broadway production, London production, a Japanese-language production, a German-language production and Australian production.   A Dutch-language production of “Wicked” will open in 2011.

“Wicked” features set design by Tony Award winner Eugene Lee (“Ragtime,” “Show Boat,” “Candide,” “Sweeney Todd”), costume design by Tony winner Susan Hilferty (“Into the Woods,” “Assassins”), lighting design by Tony nominee Kenneth Posner (“The Coast of Utopia,” “Hairspray”) and sound design by Tony Meola (“The Lion King”).  Stephen Oremus is the show’s musical director.  Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.

Grammy Award-winning cast recording available on Decca Broadway. For more information about “Wicked,” log on to www.wickedthemusical.com.

billy_elliotSeason Production #3 is “Billy Elliot the Musical” at the Pantages Theatre, April 12 – June 2, 2012

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions bring the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical “Billy Elliot the Musical” to Los Angeles for its long-awaited Southern California premiere engagement.  Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, “Billy Elliot the Musical” has earned critical acclaim on Broadway, as well as winning a staggering 10 Tony Awards.

“Billy Elliot the Musical” is the joyous celebration of one boy’s journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising passion that inspires his family and his whole community.

In addition to the Tony Award for Best Musical, “Billy Elliot the Musical” received the award for Best Direction of a Musical (Stephen Daldry); Best Book of a Musical (Lee Hall); Best Choreography (Peter Darling); Best Orchestrations (Martin Koch); Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Ian MacNeil); Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Rick Fisher); Best Sound Design of a Musical (Paul Arditti); Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish); Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Jbara).

Including its Tonys, the production has been awarded 73 national and international awards including, Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle.

“Billy Elliot the Musical” is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Sally Greene. Angela Morrison and David Furnish are Executive Producers. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.  Nina Lannan and Devin Keudell of Nina Lannan Associates are the general managers for the North American productions.
Additional information about “Billy Elliot the Musical” is available at www.billyelliotthemusical.com.

addams_familySeason Production #4 is “The Addams Family” at the Pantages Theatre,  June 5 – 17, 2012.

The national tour of the new musical “The Addams Family,” based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its Los Angeles premiere at the Pantages Theatre.

“The Addams Family,” entering its second year on Broadway, began performances in March 2010 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and immediately became one of Broadway’s biggest hits, regularly grossing over $1 million a week.

“The Addams Family” features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The production is directed and designed (sets and costumes) by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, with creative consultation by Jerry Zaks and choreography by Sergio Trujillo. The production features lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Acme Sound Partners and puppetry by Basil Twist.

“The Addams Family” features an original story. It’s every parent’s nightmare: that innocent little girl has suddenly become a young woman, and what’s worse, she’s fallen deliriously in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. Yes, Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has a “normal” boyfriend, and for parents Gomez and Morticia, it’s a shocking development that turns the Addams house upside down when they are forced to host a dinner for the young man and his parents.

In a prolific career spanning six decades, Charles Addams created several thousand cartoons, sketches and drawings, many of which were published in The New Yorker. But it was his creation of characters that came to be known as The Addams Family that brought Addams his greatest acclaim. With a unique style that combined the twisted, macabre and just plain weird with charm, wit and enchantment, Addams’ drawings have entertained millions worldwide and served as the inspiration for multiple television series and motion pictures.

“The Addams Family” is produced on Broadway by Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Prods., Stephen Schuler, Decca Theatricals, Scott M. Delman, Stuart Ditsky, Terry Allen Kramer, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, Eva Price, Jam Theatricals/Mary Lu Roffe, Pittsburgh CLO/Gutterman-Swinsky, Vivek Tiwary/Gary Kaplan, The Weinstein Co./Clarence, LLC and Adam Zotovich/Tribe Theatricals, by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical.

For more information on “The Addams Family,” visit www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com.

million_dollar_quartetSeason Production #5 is “Million Dollar Quartet” at the Pantages Theatre, June 19 – July 1, 2012.

The national tour of “Million Dollar Quartet,” the Tony Award®-winning new musical inspired by the true story of four rock ‘n’ roll icons, will make its Los Angeles premiere at the Pantages this season.

On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records’ storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” who discovered them all. The four young musicians united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll jam sessions of all time.

“Million Dollar Quartet” brings that legendary night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations featuring an eclectic score of rock, gospel , R&B and country hits including; “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Matchbox,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” ” Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Hound Dog,” and more.

“Million Dollar Quartet” is directed by Eric Schaeffer and features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. The design team for the national tour includes: Derek McLane (scenic design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Kai Harada (sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision).

In 2008 the smash-hit musical opened in Chicago and continues its run at the Apollo Theatre. The Broadway production premiered at the Nederlander Theater in April of 2010. The first international production of “Million Dollar Quartet” debuted in February 2011 at the Noël Coward Theatre in London’s West End. “Million Dollar Quartet” won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical (Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux). The show received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Musical Revue and three Drama League nominations including Distinguished Production of a Musical and Distinguished Performance.

“Million Dollar Quartet” is produced on Broadway by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, Broadway Across America and James L. Nederlander. For more information, please visit www.milliondollarquartetlive.com.

la_cageSeason Production #6 is “La Cage Aux Folles” at the Pantages Theatre, July 10 – 22, 2012.

The critically acclaimed production of “La Cage Aux Folles,” winner of three 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, will have its Los Angeles premiere at the Pantages Theatre. The production will feature the work of the production’s entire creative team including director Terry Johnson, who won a 2010 Tony Award for his La Cage direction, choreographer Lynne Page, set designer Tim Shortall, costume designer Matthew Wright, lighting designer Nick Richings, sound designer Jonathan Deans and orchestrator/musical supervisor Jason Carr.

“La Cage Aux Folles” recently made Tony Awards history as the first show to ever win the Tony Award three times for best production.   The classic musical comedy by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein originally won six Tony Awards in 1984, including Best Musical.  A Broadway revival won two 2005 Tony Awards including the Best Revival of a Musical prize.  The new, freshly reconceived La Cage won three 2010 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Director of a Musical (Terry Johnson). 
The production is also the winner of three Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical, four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical and Outstanding Director of a Musical (Terry Johnson) and the Drama League Award for Distinguished Revival of a Musical.

“La Cage Aux Folles” features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the play by Jean Poiret. 
The new production of “La Cage Aux Folles” played during the 2007-2008 season at London’s acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory, earning across the board raves and moving in October 2008 to the West End’s Playhouse Theatre, where it was nominated for seven 2009 Olivier Awards, winning for Best Musical Revival and Best Actor in a Musical for Douglas Hodge, and won the 2009 Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Musical. The tour is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, David Babani and Fran and Barry Weissler.

The original production of “La Cage Aux Folles” was one of Broadway’s biggest hits of the 1980s.  It opened August 21, 1983 at the Palace Theatre, where it played for over four years and 1,761 performances.  The show won six Tony Awards in 1984, including Best Musical, Best Score (Jerry Herman) and Best Book (Harvey Fierstein).

For more information, please visit www.LaCage.com.

memphisSeason Production #7 is “Memphis,” at the Pantages Theatre, July 31 – August 12, 2012

The reigning Tony Award-winning Best Musical, “Memphis” will have its L.A. premiere at the Pantages.  With a new score by Bon Jovi’s David Bryan (music and lyrics) and Joe DiPietro (book and lyrics), choreography by Sergio Trujillo and direction by Christopher Ashley, “Memphis” has been blowing the roof off of Broadway for more than a year.

“Memphis” won four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score (David Bryan and Joe DiPietro), Best Book (Joe DiPietro), and Best Orchestrations (David Bryan and Daryl Waters). “Memphis” won four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Actress (Montego Glover), Outstanding Music (David Bryan) and Outstanding Orchestration (David Bryan and Daryl Waters).  “Memphis” has also won four Outer Critic Circle Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Score (David Bryan and Joe DiPietro), Outstanding Actress (Montego Glover) and Outstanding Choreography (Sergio Trujillo).

An original Broadway musical, “Memphis” takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50’s, a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun falls in love with everything he shouldn’t: rock ‘n’ roll and an electrifying black singer.  “Memphis” weaves a story about a cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and music changed forever.

The show features a brand new score with music by Bon Jovi’s founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”), who also pens the musical’s book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the current award-winning off-Broadway hit, “The Toxic Avenger.” “Memphis” is based on a concept by the late George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated “Bedroom Farce” and the film “My Dinner With Andre”), with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (“Xanadu”) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo, who is currently represented by an astonishing three shows on Broadway (“Memphis,” “Jersey Boys” and “The Addams Family”).

Scenic Design for “Memphis” is by Tony Award winner David Gallo (“The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Reasons to Be Pretty”), Costume Design is by Tony nominee Paul Tazewell (“In The Heights”), Lighting Design is by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (“Jersey Boys”) and Sound Design is by Ken Travis (“The Threepenny Opera”).

For more information, please visit www.memphisthemusical.com.

Optional Season Event #1 is “Riverdance” at the Pantages Theatre November 15 – 20.

Few shows have touched audiences like “Riverdance,” the Original International Phenomenon. This thunderous celebration of joyful music, song and dance that has that has tapped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe, will return to its true Los Angeles home, the Pantages, where the show originally took Southern California by storm when it premiered in 1996, completely selling out its engagement by opening night.

Composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan, to date, “Riverdance” – now in its 16th phenomenal year — has played over 10,000 performances, been seen live by more than 22 million people in over 350 venues throughout 40 countries across 4 continents. They have traveled well over 600,000 miles (or to the moon and back!), played to a worldwide television audience of 2 billion; sold over 3 million copies of the Grammy Award-winning CD (certified Platinum in the US) and over 10 million videos making it one of the best-selling entertainment videos in the world!

“Riverdance” had its world premiere at the Point Theatre, Dublin, in February 1995, where it opened to unanimous critical acclaim.

An innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song, “Riverdance” draws on Irish traditions and the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music to the present day capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures. This extraordinarily unique show features an international company all performing to the magic of Bill Whelan’s music. For more information, please visit www.riverdance.com.

Optional Season Event #2 is “Mamma Mia!” at the Pantages Theatre, March 27 – April 8, 2012

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ “Mamma Mia!” the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, will again “walk down the aisle” of the Pantages Theatre when it returns for a limited two-week engagement.

Seen by over 45 million people around the world, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ global smash hit musical “Mamma Mia!” is celebrating over 3,800 performances in its tenth smash hit year at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre and remains among Broadway’s top  selling musicals. The current North American Tour has played over 3,000 performances in over 130 cities with 125 repeat visits. The original West End production of “Mamma Mia!” is now in its twelfth year and has celebrated over 4,800 performances in London and the international tour has visited more than 50 foreign cities and been seen by 3.6 million people. The blockbuster feature film adaptation of “Mamma Mia!” produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, is the most successful movie musical of all time grossing $600 million worldwide.

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends-practical and no-nonsense Rosie and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya – from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.

On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” “Mamma Mia!” is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.

Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, the creative team responsible for bringing “Mamma Mia!” to theatrical life includes some of the most gifted and celebrated talents of musical theatre and opera. With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, “Mamma Mia!” is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. “Mamma Mia!” has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

The special edition cast recording of “Mamma Mia!” is available on Decca Broadway.  For official information about “Mamma Mia!” go to www.mammamianorthamerica.com.

 

Broadway LA Announces 2011-2012 Season At Pantages Theatre

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