Feeling Wicked? Do you have a Fiddler on the Roof? Or, would you like to go and see great musical theatre performances? Answering yes to at least one of these questions means its time to see a show from Broadway Across America this season.
During the 2012 season, Broadway Across America will present Fiddler on the Roof (January), Mary Poppins (March), Blue Man Group (April), Billy Elliot the Musical (June-July), and Wicked (September). All performances will take place in Whitney Hall at Kentucky Center for the Arts, located at 501 West Main Street in downtown Louisville.
Season ticket packages are available and vary in price, depending on the day of attendance and seat. There is even a traditional package, which includes the shows, or a premium package, which includes premium seating, free parking, and other benefits. More information can be found at the Broadway Across America website or by calling 1-800-294-1849.
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof opens Broadway Across America's season tomorrow. The show features a Russian milkman named Tevye in 1915 trying to hold on to traditions and his relationship with God in the middle of family and nation changes. His daughters, for instance, have chosen different paths for marriage instead of letting their father choose. There is also a new power in Russia that may force Teyve and his family from their home.
Famous songs featured in this musical include Matchmaker, Matchmaker and If I Were a Rich Man. The show opened on Broadway in 1964 and ran for 3,242 performances before closing in 1972. It has since been revived four times on Broadway, most recently in 2005.
Joseph Stein created the book, Jerry Bock wrote the music, and Sheldon Harnick created the lyrics for Fiddler on the Roof.
Fiddler on the Roof runs from tomorrow to Jan. 22. Tickets are available for this show and can be found at the Kentucky Center website, at the box office, or by calling the box office at 1-800-775-7777.
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins will bring its Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious attitude to Kentucky Center in March. The musical (perhaps remembered most famously as the 1964 Disney movie) features a rather peculiar new nanny who leads the Banks children and, eventually, the parents, on a magical journey that includes the classic and infectious songs A Spoonful of Sugar, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, and Chim-Chim-Cher-ee.
Mary Poppins went to Broadway in 2006 and is still there, performing at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Julian Fellowes created the book, Richard M. and Richard B. Sherman created the lyrics and music for Mary Poppins.
Mary Poppins will run at Kentucky Center from March 13-18.
Blue Man Group
The musical troupe/theatrical performers Blue Man Group will head to Kentucky Center in April. Blue Man Group is a company that brings together music, comedy, technology, no speaking, and plenty of blue faces into a very unique performance. They have been seen on many major TV programs, including The Tonight Show (where they even brought Robin Williams and Mel Gibson into their performances) and primetime shows.
Blue Man Group will perform at the Kentucky Center from April 10-15.
Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical will dance its way to Kentucky Center in June and July. Billy Elliot is a kid from a working-class, run down town training to be a boxer until he discovers and eventually becomes obsessed with the world of dance. This causes much chagrin among his family. Yet, Billy has a shot for a prestigious dance school that may be his only way out of his town.
Billy Elliot the Musical opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in 2008 and closed on Jan. 8, 2012. Lee Hall created the book and lyrics while Elton John created the music for Billy Elliot the Musical.
Billy Elliot the Musical will take place at Kentucky Center from June 26-July 1.
Wicked
Closing Broadway Across America's 2012 season is one of the most popular musicals of the past decade, Wicked. The musical features the relationship between Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West before Dorothy's house dropped in. One was born with green skin, is smart, and somewhat misunderstood. The other is considerably more beautiful, more outgoing, and popular.
Speaking of Popular, that song is included alongside other catchy numbers like For Good and The Wizard and I.
Wicked went to Broadway in 2003 at the George Gershwin Theatre, and the show still resides there. Wicked features Stephen Schwartz's music and lyrics and Winnie Holzman's book. Wicked will run at Kentucky Center from September 12-30.
More information on any of these shows can be found at Broadway Across America's Louisville website.
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(Image from Broadway Across America)
