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IF you love @RentTheMusical & @n2nbroadway, THEN you’ll love this… national tour of @IfThenMusical makes Philly Premiere 6/21-26 #BWYPHL
Press Contact:
Amanda Conte
(215) 790-5847
aconte@kimmelcenter.org
BROADWAY PHILADELPHIA PRESENTS PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE OF IF/THEN AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC, JUNE 21–26, 2016
Featuring Original Broadway Cast Members Jackie Burns and Anthony Rapp, Joined by Tamyra Gray and Matthew Hydzik
From the Creators of the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Next to Normal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, May 23, 2016) –– Broadway Philadelphia presents the Philadelphia Premiere of If/Then at the Academy of Music June 21-26, 2016. Produced by David Stone, of the team behind the record-breaking musical Wicked, the first National Tour of this production brings together original Broadway cast members Jackie Burns (Wicked; Hair) and Anthony Rapp (Rent; Six Degrees of Separation; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown) with Tamyra Gray (American Idol Season One Finalist; Rent), and Matthew Hydzik (Side Show; West Side Story; Grease).
If/Then is an original Broadway musical which reunites composer Tom Kitt, book writer/lyricist Brian Yorkey, and director Michael Greif, the creative team behind the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal. This contemporary new musical follows two distinct storylines in the life of Elizabeth, a city planner who moves back to New York to restart her life in the city of infinite possibilities. When her carefully designed plans collide with the whims of fate, Elizabeth’s life splits into two parallel paths. If/Then follows both stories simultaneously as this modern woman faces the intersection of choice and chance.
“If/Then serves as a marvelous bookend to our 2015/16 Broadway Philadelphia season,” said Ed Cambron, Executive Vice President of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “Thisis a deeply moving story that reflects on the choices and inherent contradictions in all of our daily lives and we are certain Philadelphia audiences will love it.”
Of working on the show, Wicked producer David Stone told The Wall Street Journal:“Working on If/Then over the past several years has been one of the most professionally satisfying and personally fulfilling experiences of my career…. I am extremely proud of this musical, the entire creative team and cast, and the remarkable work they have done in bringing this story to life.”
Jackie Burns will play Elizabeth, a woman on the verge of turning 40 whose smallest decisions or most random occurrences will impact her world in ways she never dreamt possible. Jackie recently played the role of Elizabeth in If/Then on Broadway and has also played the iconic role of Elphaba in Wicked, both on Broadway and in the first national tour. She starred in the 2009 Tony Award-winning revival of Hair and also appeared in the original Off-Broadway cast of Rock of Ages.
Anthony Rapp will play Lucas, an old college friend of Elizabeth, who reconnects with her when she moves back to New York City. Anthony is best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in Jonathan Larson’s Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Rent. His other Broadway credits include his Broadway debut in Precious Sons with Judith Ivey and Ed Harris, for which he received an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Drama Desk nomination; the original company of John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation; and the revival of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Tamyra Gray, who will play Kate, an elementary school teacher and Elizabeth’s spirited new neighbor, is best known as one of the Top 4 finalists of the first season of American Idol. Tamyra is no stranger to Broadway having made her Broadway debut in Bombay Dreams in 2004, followed by playing Mimi Marquez in Rent. She penned the songs "I Believe" for Fantasia Barrino and "You Thought Wrong" for Kelly Clarkson.
Matthew Hydzik will play Josh, a handsome doctor and army reservist who meets Elizabeth on her first day back in New York City. Mr. Hydzik’s Broadway credits include Side Show, West Side Story and Grease, to name a few. His national tour credits include Rent, Fame, Grease and Flashdance.
The production also features Janine DiVita, who will play Anne, Jacques C. Smith, who will play Stephen, and Marc de la Cruz, who will play David. The ensemble includes English Bernhardt, Charissa Bertels, Xavier Cano, Trey Ellett, Kyra Faith, Corey Greenan, Cliffton Hall, Deedee Magno Hall, Tyler McGee, Joseph Morales, Emily Rogers, and Alicia Taylor Tomasko.
If/Then features choreography by Larry Keigwin, set design by Tony Award-nominee Mark Wendland, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Tony Award-winner Kenneth Posner and sound design by Tony Award-winner Brian Ronan. Casting is by Telsey + Company/Craig Burns, CSA. Mark Myars is the Associate Choreographer.
The original Broadway Cast Recording of If/Then was released by Sony Masterworks and is available on iTunes.
For more information about If/Then, please visit IfThenTheMusical.com.
IF/THEN
Academy of Music
Tuesday, June 21, 2016, 7:30 pm
Wednesday, June 22, 2016, 7:30 pm
Thursday, June 23, 2016, 7:30 pm
Friday, June 24, 2016, 8:00 pm
Saturday, June 25, 2016, 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
Sunday, June 26, 2016, 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm
Tickets
Tickets are on sale to the public now and start at $20. Tickets can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting www.kimmelculturalcampus.org, at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (215) 790-5883.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, the Kimmel Center’s mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the University of the Arts’ Merriam Theater. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2014-2015 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.
Since its founding in 1900, THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION has been in the forefront of the American theatre. Under the leadership of Philip J. Smith, Chairman, and Robert E. Wankel, President, the Shubert Organization owns and operates 17 historic Broadway theatres and six Off-Broadway venues as well as the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia.
Over the years, the company has produced and co-produced hundreds of Broadway plays and musicals, including Cats, Dreamgirls, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, City of Angels, Chess, Passion, Sunday in the Park with George, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, The Gin Game, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Amadeus, Lettice & Lovage, The Real Thing, Children of a Lesser God, Master Harold…and the Boys, Skylight, Amy’s View, Indiscretions, The Heidi Chronicles, A Few Good Men, Dirty Blonde, The Blue Room, Closer, The Judas Kiss, The Grapes of Wrath, A Behanding in Spokane, Three Days of Rain, A Steady Rain, God of Carnage, That Championship Season, Equus, Exit the King, Spamalot.
Productions in recent seasons include Lucky Guy, The Audience, The Elephant Man, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, School of Rock –The Musical, and King Charles III. The Shubert Organization is proud of its ongoing refurbishment program for its theatres, seeking to preserve the historic character while modernizing them to accommodate the needs of today’s audiences.
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For a PDF version of this press release, please click here.
Facebook: Facebook.com/ifthenmusical
Twitter: @ifthenmusical
YouTube: youtube.com/ifthenmusical
Instagram: instagram.com/ifthenmusical
“THE BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR!
In its formal daring, and in the intelligence of its execution, IF/THEN moves into new territory with intense and thrilling results. Every single thing in this show is new – you absolutely never know what is going to happen, right up to the last, powerfully moving beat.”
- New York Magazine
“A SMART, DEEPLY TOUCHING AND BIG-HEARTED NEW MUSICAL. Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s score is invested with melodic urgency, bringing you to tears or breathlessness.”
- The Washington Post
“A THOROUGHLY FASCINATING, INTELLECTUALLY AND MUSICALLY RICH NEW MUSICAL.
It is not an adaptation of anything, but a very compelling and involving idea. Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s beautiful score hits an especially sweet spot, keeping the audience in its pocket. It is a zesty, savvy and ambitious original.”
- Chicago Tribune
“THE BRAVEST NEW MUSICAL IN A LONG TIME.
It is one of the very few new Broadway shows that actually looks and sounds like the world of today.”
- Toronto Star