Kimmel Center Presents Broadway at the Academy 2006/07 Season
March 1, 2006
Tony Award-Winning Monty Python’s SPAMALOT, Broadway Hits and West End Musicals Will Highlight 2006/07 Broadway at the Academy Season
Edward Scissorhands, Pippin, I Can’t Stop Loving You To Make Philadelphia Premieres
Subscription Season Ticket Packages Available Now!
A dazzling lineup of musicals, including Broadway shows, London West End productions, and spectacular family entertainment will usher in the upcoming 2006/2007 Kimmel Center Presents Broadway at the Academy theater season. The sparkling new subscription season will feature four national touring productions, and five additional shows for the entire family.
The 2006/2007 Broadway subscription season will include: I Can’t Stop Loving You(September 26 - October 1, 2006); Edward Scissorhands (January 16 - 21, 2007); Monty Python’s Spamalot (subscription week March 20 – 25, 2007); and Pippin (dates to be announced).
Additional Broadway at the Academy shows will include: Dorothy the Dinosaur’s Dance Party(September 16 and 17, 2006); Disney Live! (November 24 and 25, 2006); The Beatles Experience, performed by Rain (January 4 – 7, 2007); Annie (March 1 – 4, 2007) and Riverdance (May 15 – 20, 2007).
Subscription packages are on sale now by calling 215-731-3333 or visiting www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway. Single tickets will go on sale at a later date.
“In keeping with our tradition of bringing first-rate productions to Philadelphia, we are proud and excited to offer eight sensational musicals to theater fans,” said Kimmel Center, Inc. President and CEO Janice Price. “This year our shows will provide families with a greater variety of musical entertainment than ever before, including Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals and first-time Philadelphia premieres, the return of two successful and favorite national tours, and two new stage musicals geared toward the young theatergoer. We are extremely pleased to provide families throughout the Philadelphia area with the opportunity to choose from such a great variety of stellar shows coming to the Academy stage.”
The success of the Kimmel’s 2005/2006 Broadway season was highlighted by the premieres of two smash Broadway blockbusters—the national tours of Wicked, opening at the Academy of Music later this month, March 22 – April 9, 2006 and Disney’s The Lion King, coming to the Academy this summer, June 8 – September 10, 2006.
Last year’s 2005/06 Broadway at the Academy series reached a subscription milestone, setting a record breaking achievement of 10,000 subscribers for the first time in its history.
“We are absolutely thrilled to continue to bring the highest caliber of Broadway entertainment to Philadelphia’s Academy of Music,” said Kimmel Center, Inc. Director of Theatrical Presentations Jordan Fiksenbaum. “The overwhelming response of our patrons has allowed us to not only bring in the best of Broadway, but to offer families an expanded variety of new shows and all-time favorites. We are delighted that we have the opportunity to provide this choice for all to enjoy.”
The Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2005, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (March 20 – 25, 2007) will highlight the Academy’s new Broadway season. The outrageous new musical comedy—sold-out since it opened spring 2005—has remained the hottest ticket on Broadway and continues to break box office records. Directed by Mike Nichols, Month Python’s SPAMALOT features a book by Eric Idle, based on the screenplay of Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, with music and lyrics by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. Casey Nicholaw is the choreographer. The winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director, SPAMALOT also received the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for best musical. The original cast recording of Monty Python’s SPAMALOT recently won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
Telling the legendary tale of King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT features a chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, flying cows, killer rabbits and one legless knight.
Edward Scissorhands (January 16 – 21, 2007), a magical new stage adaptation of the classic Tim Burton motion picture, is a treat for the whole family. Directed by Matthew Bourne with music composed, arranged and adapted by Terry Davies, based on the original motion picture score by Danny Elfman, this touching and witty Gothic fairytale tells the story of a boy created by an eccentric inventor who dies leaving him alone and unfinished. Left with only scissors for hands, Edward must find his place in a world where the well-meaning community around him struggles to see past his appearance to the innocence and gentleness within. The internationally-acclaimed Bourne recently choreographed the new hit musical, Mary Poppins. A five time Olivier award winner, he is also the creator of the world’s longest-running ballet production and is the only British director to have won the Tony Award for Best Director and Best Choreographer of a Musical—in 1999 for Swan Lake.
Direct from London’s West End, I Can’t Stop Loving You (September 26 – October 21, 2006) is the new smash-hit show that rocks the house with the legendary music of Ray Charles. It’s a non-stop party where the hits just keep on coming from a 12-piece on-stage orchestra and dazzling company of singers and dancers; Georgia, Hit the Road Jack, America the Beautiful, Unchain My Heart, What’d I Say, I Can’t Stop Loving You and many more. “This Show is Dynamite! Electrifying,” says The London Times. The Glasgow Herald hails the show as “Dazzling! A real raise-the-roof-affair.” (Not endorsed, sponsored or affiliated with the Ray Charles Estate.)
Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz introduces a hip, updated stage version of Pippin (dates to be announced), the anachronistic fairy tale that has captivated Broadway audiences and continues to appeal to the young at heart everywhere. The new production features an energetic pop-influenced score by three-time Oscar-winning composer Schwartz with one show-stopping number after another, from soaring ballads to infectious dance numbers. With choreography by original director/choreographer Bob Fosse, Pippin is a splashy, dance-driven spectacle which includes some of the most brilliant staging in Broadway history.
Back by popular demand, three musical favorites return to the Academy stage, Annie, Riverdance and the award-winning Beatles tribute show The Beatles Experience performed by Rain, are joined by two brand new touring musicals geared toward the younger theater set, Dorothy the Dinosaur’s Dance Partyand Disney Live!
The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back in Philadelphia. Annie (March 1 – March 4, 2007) continues to give a new generation the opportunity to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable musical scores, the production is again directed by lyricist Martin Charnin, who brought the original production of Annie to Broadway in 1977. A delightful theater experience for the entire family, Annie continues to be one of the must successful musicals ever.
Riverdance (May 15 – May 20, 2007), the original international dance phenomenon of Irish music, song and dance that has thrilled millions worldwide, triumphantly returns to Philadelphia with an international company of brilliant performers. Composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty, and directed by John McColgan, Riverdance was praised by The Chicago Tribune as “a family evening unlike anything else…an explosion of sight and sound that simply takes your breath away.”
The Beatles Experience (January 4 – January 7, 2007), performed by the Beatles tribute group Rain took the Academy by storm when they played to near sell-out crowds during their Philadelphia premiere. The award-winning show is performed live, with no pre-recorded or taped sequences and is the next best thing to seeing the original Fab Four. An interactive, multi-media production, Rain features set and costume changes, along with video screens and live camera projections with historical video footage from the ‘60’s.
The Wiggles, television stars and one of the the most popular musical groups in children’s entertainment, are sending their best friends on tour with Dorothy the Dinosaur’s Dance Party (September 16 and 17, 2006). Dorothy, along with fellow Wiggles friends Captain Feathersword, Wags the Dog and Henry the Octopus, will sing and dance to all your favorite Wiggles songs including, “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” “Romp Bomp A Stomp,” “Fruit Salad,” “Hot Potato” and a toe-tapping “Wiggly Medley.”
Cue the footlights! Raise the curtain! Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and an all-star Disney cast will be live on the Academy stage with Disney Live! (November 24 and 25, 2006), the Disney gang’s very own magic show spectacular! Laughs, cheers and jaw-dropping magic tricks abound in a brand new Disney production. Young theater-goers will adore this one-of-a-kind interactive experience for the whole family.
Broadway at the Academy subscribers are offered a variety of exclusive privileges including the first opportunity to select the best seats in the house and the option to renew these seats every year. Subscribers are also entitled to discounts of up to 20% on additional Broadway at the Academy shows and Kimmel Center Presents performances, in addition to up to 50% savings for senior, student and Kids Club subscription packages. Pre-paid discounted parking, a special 50/50 payment plan, restaurant and retail discounts are also available to subscribers. A flexible ticket exchange program allows subscribers to exchange tickets for another performance of the same show.
The Broadway at the Academy Kids Club allows young subscribers to attend subscription performances for up to 50% off. Young theatergoers will receive a free Broadway Kids Club t-shirt, certificate, and invitations to special events such as themed dinners and cast meet & greets.
Subscription ticket prices for the 2006/2007 season range from $87.75 to $400. To order tickets or for more information on subscription packages call 215-893-1955 or visit www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway. Groups of 20 or more call 215-790-5883.
All performances of 2006/2007 Kimmel Center Presents Broadway at the Academy are supported by the Philadelphia Coca Cola Bottling Company, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Inquirer & Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Broadway at the Academy.
Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music together serve as home to eight Resident Company performing arts organizations including: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, American Theater Arts for Youth, PHILADANCO, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. Kimmel Center, Inc.’s mission also includes arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity of programming through its Kimmel Center Presents and Broadway at the Academy series of performances.
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