2003 American Idol Champion Ruben Studdard Headlines 30th Anniversary Tour of Ain’t Misbehavin’ at the Academy of Music, January 9-11
December 2, 2008
Ruben Studdard
"ELECTRIFYING!" —New York Times
Tickets on Sale Now for Holiday Gift-Giving!
The 30th Anniversary National Tour of the Tony Award®-winning musical Ain’t Misbehavin’ starring Ruben Studdard comes to the Academy of Music in Philadelphia for a limited 5-performance weekend engagement, January 9-11, 2008.
Part of the Broadway Series, tickets ranging in price from $28 to $100 can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad and Spruce Streets (open daily 10am to 6pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (open during performances only). Groups of 15 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947.
Performances include: Friday & Saturday evenings at 8pm and Sunday evening at 6:30pm. Matinees Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 1pm.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ is a musical revue with a book by Murray Horowitz and Richard Maltby, Jr., music by Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller, orchestrations and additional music by Luther Henderson, and lyrics by various writers. Fats Waller, the outrageously prodigious comic and musical soul of 1930s Harlem, lives on in this rollicking, finger-snapping show that is still considered one of Broadway’s most well crafted revues.
Dubbed "The Velvet Teddy Bear" by legendary R&B soulstress Gladys Knight, Ruben Studdard shot to fame in 2003 after winning the TV talent competition smash hit American Idol. The Grammy®-nominated star will be joined on stage by two other American Idol alums: 2003 contestant and star of Broadway’s RENT Frenchie Davis along with 2003 top five finalist Trenyce Cobbins. Together with a first-class cast and a live, on-stage band, they will bring classic popular hits like "Honeysuckle Rose," "This Joint is Jumpin’," "Your Feet’s Too Big," and the title song "Ain’t Misbehavin'" to life. Further casting will be announced shortly.
Legendary Broadway director and author Richard Maltby, Jr. (Miss Saigon, Fosse, Big, Song and Dance, The Pirate Queen) recreates his Tony Award®-winning direction for this production. Tony Award®-winner John Lee Beatty also recreates his original scenic design.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ originally opened in the Manhattan Theatre Club's East 73rd Street Cabaret on February 8, 1978 with featured singer Irene Cara. The show was an instant hit among theatergoers, and was quickly developed into a full-scale Broadway production. After fourteen previews, the production opened on May 9, 1978 at the Longacre Theatre, later moving to the Plymouth Theatre and then to the Belasco Theatre before finally completing its 1604-performance run. The show launched the career of the late Nell Carter, and won the 1978 Tony® Awards for Best Musical and Best Performance by a Featured Actress for Ms. Carter. In 1988, Ain’t Misbehavin’ was revived on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre, with Carter as an above-the-title star. The original Broadway cast recording of Ain’t Misbehavin’ was released by RCA Victor, and is still available in stores nationwide.
The 30th Anniversary Tour of Ain’t Misbehavin’ is executive produced by Daniel Sher of Big League Productions. For more information, visit www.AintMisbehavinOnTour.com
The new 2008-2009 Broadway Series, where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre, also includes: A Chorus Line (Dec. 16 – Jan. 4) at the Forrest Theatre; Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Jan. 9 – 11); Jesus Christ Superstar (Jan. 30 – Feb. 1); RENT (Feb. 3 – 8); Happy Days – A New Musical (Mar. 24 – 29); Riverdance (Mar. 31 – Apr. 5); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (April 7 – 12); Movin’ Out (May 15 – 17); and Spring Awakening (June 23 – 28) at the Academy of Music.
All performances of the Broadway Series are supported by CITI, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Broadway Series.
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