Single Tickets Go On Sale for Select Cadillac Broadway Series Presentations on Monday, August 20 with Several New Hit Shows Added
August 1, 2007
In addition to the above shows, several others will be available to ticket buyers through the Kimmel Center’s "Choose 3" subscription program along with Kimmel Center Presents Sponsored by Citi performances, including THE DROWSEY CHAPERONE, AVENUE Q, MY FAIR LADY, THE COLOR PURPLE, MAMMA MIA!, and RENT.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings (additional fees may apply). For group sales call 215-790-5883.
In addition, the Cadillac Broadway Series online digital media player allows patrons the opportunity to hear audio clips of all shows in the series before they buy, and is located at http://www.kimmelcenter.org/player. (Available after August 7, 2007.)
New shows added since the Spring 2007 season announcement include:
RAIN, at the Academy of Music January 15-20, 2008, is the award-winning Beatles Experience Show and makes its triumphant return to Philadelphia. The next best thing to seeing the Beatles, RAIN features music performed live, set and costume changes and video screens with historical footage from the ‘60s.
"For those who were lucky enough to see The Beatles live, this is a tremendous opportunity to relive that time. For those who haven’t, welcome to RAIN!" —Sid Bernstein (legendary promoter who first introduced The Beatles to America at Carnegie Hall and Shea Stadium)
AFRICAN FOOTPRINT comes to the Academy of Music February 29-March 2, 2008. After 3,500 performances, 2 1/2 years of sold out performances in Europe and tours in Australia, China, Israel and India; South Africa’s longest running show is coming to America. The hypnotic heartbeat of the African drum, the soulful saxophone and the haunting pennywhistle, meld Afro- and Euro-centric music and dance—Kwela-jive, traditional gumboot, tap, contemporary ballet, hip-hop pantsula... into an ‘explosive stampede of song and dance’ that tells the vibrant and diverse history of South Africa. Join us for the Philadelphia premiere of AFRICAN FOOTPRINT.
"AFRICAN FOOTPRINT is to South Africa what Riverdance is to the Irish and Stomp to the Brits!" —Entertainment iafrica.com, South Africa
ANNIE returns to Philadelphia and the Academy of Music March 21-23, 2008. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including "It’s the Hard-Knock Life,""Easy Street,""N.Y.C." and the ever optimistic "Tomorrow," ANNIE is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family. Don’t miss this all-new production that Variety calls "a winner!"
HAIRSPRAY comes to the Academy of Music May 2-4, 2008. Broadway’s Tony Award®-winning musical/comedy phenomenon takes audiences back to 1962 Baltimore, as 16 year-old Tracy Turnblad sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a big girl with big dreams—and even bigger hair!—change the world…and still have time to win the boy she loves?
This mega-hit is piled bouffant-high with laughter and romance—and enough deliriously tuneful new songs to fill a nonstop platter-party. It’s the winner of eight 2003 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical. As The New York Times says, "If life were everything it should be, it would be more like HAIRSPRAY. It’s irresistible!"
GYPSY comes to the Academy of Music May 9-11, 2008. From the blast of the first trumpet to the last hot spotlight, it’s little wonder why GYPSY reigns as one of the greatest Broadway musicals of the 20th century. The big, brassy, funny and unforgettable show—with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents— gloriously returns to the stage in this Phoenix Entertainment production. Packing a powerful wallop, GYPSY serves up one popular standard after another like, "Everything’s Up Coming Up Roses," "You Gotta Get a Gimmick," and "Let Me Entertain You." Everyone agrees—Broadway musicals don’t get much better than GYPSY.
DAVID COPPERFIELD: AN INTIMATE EVENING OF GRAND ILLUSION comes to the Academy of Music May 16-17, 2008, and is an affecting, life-changing event that reaches into the audiences’ minds and hearts and takes them on a feast of wish-fulfillment. Displaying his off-the-cuff brand of humor, Copperfield breaks new ground in Grand Illusion and takes his art to a grand-yet intimate, personal-yet universal, dimension for an evening of wonders audiences will never forget.
Along with the above shows, additional Cadillac Broadway shows at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre available through the "Choose 3" program include:
Get ready to be transported to a magical, wonderful world when the new musical comedy THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (November 27 - December 2, 2007, Academy of Music) kicks off the subscription season. Filled with tons of laughs, and the most 2006 Tony Awards® of any musical on Broadway, it all begins when a die-hard musical fan plays his favorite cast album, a 1928 smash hit called "The Drowsy Chaperone," and the show literally bursts to life in his living room. We are instantly immersed in the glamorous, hilarious tale of a celebrity bride and her uproarious wedding day, complete with thrills and surprises that take both the cast (literally) and the audience (metaphorically) soaring into the rafters.
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE features the Tony Award® winning creative team of Bob Martin and Don McKellar (Book), Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison (Music & Lyrics), and is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw (Spamalot).
RENT comes to the Academy of Music January 4-6, 2008. Broadway’s smash-hit musical is set in the East Village of New York City and is about being young and learning to survive in NYC. It’s about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award® for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize, RENT has made a lasting mark on Broadway with songs that rock and a story that really resonates. Whether its audiences 1st time or their 100th time, the time is now for RENT.
AVENUE Q (January 29 - February 10, 2008), Broadway’s smash-hit 2004 Tony Award® winner for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book, makes its Philadelphia debut at the Forrest Theatre. A hilarious show full of heart and hummable tunes, AVENUE Q is about trying to make it in NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. Called "one of the funniest shows you’re ever likely to see" by Entertainment Weekly, AVENUE Q features a cast of people and puppets who tell the story in a smart, risqué and downright entertaining way. The New Yorker calls it "Subversive and Uproarious!" Recommended for ages 13 and up.
AVENUE Q composers/lyricists Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx won the 2004 Tony Award® for Best Musical Score, and Jeff Whitty (Book) won the Tony Award® for Best Book of a Musical. Based on an Original Concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, the creative team also includes: Jason Moore (director), who was nominated for a 2004 Tony Award® and Ken Roberson (choreography).
MY FAIR LADY (March 11 - 16, 2008, Academy of Music) premieres in the U.S. direct from its 50th Anniversary London production and U.K. national tour. The legendary Lerner & Loewe musical will star acclaimed British theatre actors Christopher Cazenove and Lisa O’Hare who earned rave reviews for their dynamic performances as Professor Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. Based on the Cameron Mackintosh/National Theatre of Great Britain’s award-winning London sensation, and hailed as "the revival against which all others will be measured" (London Daily Mail), this glorious, new production features one of Broadway’s most beloved scores including "The Rain In Spain," "I Could Have Danced All Night," and "Get Me to the Church on Time."
The U.S. national tour of MY FAIR LADY brings together the original U.K. artistic team with direction by Trevor Nunn (Les Miserables), choreography and musical staging by Matthew Bourne (Mary Poppins) , and production design by Anthony Ward (Gypsy).
Oprah Winfrey Presents THE COLOR PURPLE for a special four week engagement (June 17 - July 13, 2008, Academy of Music), nominated for eleven Tony Awards®, including Best Musical. THE COLOR PURPLE opened on December 1, 2006 at the Broadway Theatre, where it continues its record breaking run. It is based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg. It is an inspiring and unforgettable story of a woman named Celie, who through love finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. With a moving book and a score featuring gospel, jazz, pop and the blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is about hope, a testament to the healing power of love and a celebration of life.
As on Broadway, the first North American Tour of THE COLOR PURPLE will be directed by Gary Griffin. THE COLOR PURPLE features a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Grammy® Award-winning composers/lyricists Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, and choreography by Donald Byrd. The original creative team of Tony Award®-winner John Lee Beatty (sets), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Tony Award®-winner Brian MacDevitt (lighting), Jon Weston (sound), Jonathan Tunick (orchestrations) and Kevin Stites (Music Supervisor) has been reunited for the tour.
MAMMA MIA! (July 15 - 27, 2008) returns to Philadelphia for the fourth time, making its Academy of Music premiere next summer. "Dancing Queen," "Take A Chance on Me" and "Waterloo"—You know and love these ABBA classics, so don’t miss your chance to see this wonderfully entertaining show featuring 22 of ABBA’s timeless songs, and one enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship! With more productions playing internationally than any other musical, MAMMA MIA! is the World’s No. 1 show.
Cadillac Broadway Series 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 percent on additional Cadillac Broadway Series shows and Kimmel Center Presents performances, in addition to up to 50 percent savings for both senior citizens and students. Pre-paid discounted parking, 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 2007-08 Cadillac Broadway Series and Kimmel Center Presents are sponsored by Citi. Additional support is provided by Target, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Cadillac Broadway Series.
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 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 Cadillac Broadway Series of performances.
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