VICTORIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION

2011-2012 Season Announcement

The Victoria Theatre Association hosted a special event Tuesday evening to announce their upcoming season to a Wintergarden-packed collection of special guests, subscribers and donors.  The event had a theatrical flair complete with special lighting, dramatically unfurled banners, a prop or two and even a cash bar.  The focus of the event was to build a buzz for the upcoming productions that will be included on the various series offered by the organization for the 2011-12 season.

The line up includes many titles that will be familiar to Dayton audiences.  The biggest surprise of the evening was the announcement that Wicked would make a return trip to the Gem City.  The musical broke VTA box office records just a year ago.  The witches will return to the Schuster Center in Spring 2012.  The big questions will be whether or not the Dayton market will be able to support another 3 1/2 week run of the mega-musical, and whether the VTA staff will ever be willing to voluntarily wear green again.

Some promising moments in the Broadway series include the first visit of Jersey Boys, the 2006 Tony Award winning musical and Wishful Drinking starring Carrie Fisher, the one woman Broadway show starring everyone’s favorite inter-galactic princess.

The Human Race Theatre Company’s contribution to the 2011-12 Broadway series will be the world premiere production of Tenderly:  The Rosemary Clooney Musical. This musical about the legendary stage & screen star from the Cincinnati area was developed by area writers Janet Yates Vogt & Mark Friedman.  The show received a developmental workshop in the Human Race Theatre Co. 2010 summer Musical Theatre Workshop.

There are additional local ties in at least two of the productions on the schedule.  1986 Wright State University alum Brad Sherwood, mostly widely recognized from his appearances on the TV program Whose Line Is It Anyways? will return to Dayton in Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood:  Two Man Group. Muse Machine alum Benjamin Magnuson will appear in the cast of the 25th anniversary production of Les Miserables. Ben has  a couple major Broadway credits under his belt, most notably his performance as Anthony in the recent John Doyle revival of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, alongside Patti Lupone & Michael Cerveris.

Besides a few questionable selections, the 2011-2012 line up of VTA performances should prove to be fairly well received, yet it still seems like very safe programming.  I can understand the desire to play it safe in the current economic climate, but I was really hoping that there would be at least a couple of envelope pushing titles (similar to the inclusion of Spring Awakening & Avenue Q on this season’s Star Attractions…perhaps Next To Normal or even the recent revival of Hair).  It sounds as if the upcoming Avenue Q is selling quite well, so I hope that there are a couple of additional Star Attractions, yet to be named, even if only one-night-only affairs.

Below is the official press information for each of the shows listed in four of the major series offered.  The VTA offers additional programs such as The Discovery Series for kids, the Mid-Day Arts Cafe, the ImPACT series and other educational opportunities.  Read about these other offerings and more information about the organization at www.VictoriaTheatre.com.

Season subscriptions for the 2011-2012 Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Hospitals Broadway Series are on sale now via Ticket Center Stage and may be purchased at the Box Office, online at www.ticketcenterstage.com or by phone 937/228-3630 or toll free at 888/228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday noon – 4 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.

Victoria Theatre Association 2011-2012 Selections:

Mel Brooks’ YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

October 4 – 9, 2011– Schuster Center

The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE…and it’s headed to Dayton! This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that’s Fronkensteen) as he attempts to create a monster — but not without scary and hilarious complications. The brains behind the laughter is mad genius and three-time Tony® winner Mel Brooks himself — who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book along with his record-breaking, award-winning team from The Producers.

Adult situations and language.

TRACES

December 6 – 18, 2011 – Victoria Theatre

TRACES combines awe-inspiring acrobatics with infectious urban energy. With versatile artists who deliver dazzling, gravity-defying displays of skill, dance, and acrobatic brilliance. Created by 7 Fingers, an astonishingly talented company that has pioneered a whole new brand of theatrical entertainment, this unique new show is described as “Family Friendly and Urban Date Night Cool!” by Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune.

JERSEY BOYS

January 17 – February 5, 2012 – Schuster Center

Too Good to Be True!,” raves the New York Post for JERSEY BOYS, the 2006 Tony Award®-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, The Four Seasons:  Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were 30! JERSEY BOYS, winner of the 2006 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album and most recently, the 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, features their hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”

Authentic, profane Jersey language and adult situations.

TENDERLY: The Rosemary Clooney Musical
By Janet Yates Vogt & Mark Friedman
produced by The Human Race Theatre Company

February 21 – March 4, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

The story of film actress and legendary singer Rosemary Clooney comes to life on stage in TENDERLY, an engaging new musical that captures the highlights of her amazing career and the challenges she faced as wife, mother and performer.  Hear her beloved and classic songs, meet the characters who touched her life, and follow this remarkable woman on a journey that leads to ultimate triumph.

WISHFUL DRINKING starring Carrie Fisher

April 10 – 22, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

The daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher became a cultural icon when she starred as “Princess Leia” in the first Star Wars trilogy at 19 years old. Forever changed, Carrie’s life did not stay picture perfect. Fisher is the life of the party in this uproarious and sobering look at her Hollywood hangover. A colorful evening of what Fisher calls “talking about myself behind my back,” Wishful Drinking is a breezy combination of one-liners and behind-the-Hollywood-scenes-gossip, all relayed with Fisher’s withering, dry humor.

Adult language and situations.

WICKED

May 30 – June 24, 2012 – Schuster Center

Entertainment Weekly calls WICKED “the best musical of the decade,” and when it first played Dayton in 2010, it broke box office records and sold out in record time. Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, WICKED is Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, a cultural phenomenon and was just named “the defining musical of the decade” by The New York Times.

THE FLYING KARAMAZOV BROTHERS

October 7, 2011 – Victoria Theatre

Four times triumphant on Broadway, the award-winning Flying Karamazov Brothers are back with an unforgettable spectacle of music, comedy, dance, theatre and juggling. “100 minutes of cleverness and comedy go by in a flash,” “It’s the Julliard String Quartet meets Monty Python,” and “as close to a sure thing as can be found on stage.”  “It’s unleashed fun!” Come join the Flying K’s in proving with each unique performance, that the unexpected events in our lives are the best part of being human.

GONE MADIGAN with KATHLEEN MADIGAN

February 3, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

“One of America’s funniest female comics” (Jay Leno), “The funniest woman in America” (Lewis Black) and “One of my favorite comedians” (Bob Costas), comedienne Kathleen Madigan has made a name for herself around the globe since her winning bout on the 2004 “Last Comic Standing.” In addition to three CDs and now four DVDs of her hilarious work, she has been seen extensively on TV including E!, CNN, “The Tonight Show” (10 appearances), “The Late Show with David Letterman” (5 appearances), “The Conan O’Brien Show,” HBO, Comedy Central, and ESPN.

COLIN MOCHRIE & BRAD SHERWOOD: TWO MAN GROUP

April 28, 2012 – Victoria Theatre

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, stars of the EmmyR-nominated “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” have teamed up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy.  Using their quick wit, Colin and Brad take contributions from the audience to create hilarious and original scenes — just like a live version of “Whose Line”!  Their high-profile presentations have played to sold-out venues all over the country. “A two-hour laugh riot!” – Springfield Sun News

Star Attractions appeal to the cultural and ethnic variety of our community and may include blockbuster Broadway hits, cutting-edge off-Broadway theatre, family-friendly shows and concerts. Ranging from one-week runs to single-evening events, Victoria Theatre Association’s Star Attractions are presented to appeal to a variety of different audiences and guaranteed to provide you with the finest entertainment.

DAVID SEDARIS

October 27, 2011 – Victoria Theatre

The celebrated NPR humorist comes to the Victoria Theatre for an evening of cutting wit, social satire, and riveting conversation, including a question and answer session! Experience live, the hilarious brilliance that created the national bestsellers: Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and his latest best-seller, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk. “One of America’s most prickly and most delicious, young comic talents.” – The Washington Post

MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT

October 30, 2011 – Schuster Center

Winner of the 2005 Tony® Award for Best Musical, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Directed by Tony® Award-winner Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy® Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, SPAMALOT tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail.  Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up SPAMALOT.

Adult content.

LES MISÉRABLES

November 22 – 27, 2011 – Schuster Center

DREAM THE DREAM. Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25^th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.  This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes. The New York Times calls this LES MISÉRABLES “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.”  NY1-TV proclaims “musical theatre fans can rejoice: ‘Les Miz’ is born again.”

BAM PERCUSSION: THE BLUE BARREL SHOW

November 5 & 6, 2011

Meet three completely odd characters who will have you rolling – and dancing! – in the aisles: BAM!  Fabulous drumming is mixed with zany, slide-splitting humor, and the results are contagious. With audience participation, quick-witted humor and impeccable timing, BAM has performed for thousands all around the world, including  extensive tours of Europe, Canada, Asia, South America, Africa and more, making it clear we all laugh in the same language.

GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS

December 3 & 4, 2011

Exponents of the 25-century-old tradition of Chinese acrobatics, the Golden Dragon Acrobats defeat gravity and fear with feats of balancing, tumbling and startling gymnastic wizardry. They captivate audiences everywhere with the charm and swashbuckling showmanship of ancient skills, such as the Dancing Plates, the Diablo Yo-Yo, and The Tower of Chairs. Don’t miss this thrilling parade of contortionists, jugglers and dizzying, seat-wiggling entertainment.

STINKY CHEESE MAN & OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES

Based on the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

February 4 & 5, 2012

Poor Jack. He’s got to use his wits to save himself from the terrible Giant, but a host of familiar fairytale characters keep messing up his plans – and then there’s that annoying Stinky Cheese Man! The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales deconstructs the tradition of the fairy tale. Characters slide in and out of tales, Cinderella rebuffs Rumpelstiltskin, and Goldilocks meets the Three Elephants. Nothing is quite the same as you remember it, but all is hilariously fun!

THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS LIVE

March 24 & 25, 2012

Seatbelts everyone! The Magic School Bus® celebrates its 25th anniversary with an all-new musical adventure.  Ms. Frizzle’s students are putting on a play about global warming, and they need some cold, hard facts. The Friz and her reptilian sidekick, Liz, know just where to find them!  This is no ordinary field trip, as a hop on the Magic School Bus takes the class and the audience on a whirlwind tour. From the Arctic to the Equator, they see telltale signs of climate change and learn how conservation, recycling and alternative energy can make a positive difference.

Tickets & Performance Information:

WHY SUBSCRIBE?

Series subscribers receive many perks, including VIP service and the chance to purchase single tickets to shows before tickets go on sale to the general public.

• GUARANTEED SEATS & THE BEST SEATS.

By the time tickets go on sale, the best seats will be snatched up by our series subscribers.  Sometimes just getting a seat at all is a challenge! Buy the series of your choice and get the best seats for every show!

• SAVINGS.

With the Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Broadway Series, you’re getting six shows for the price of five– and saving as much as 15 percent over buying single tickets. Subscribe to all six Broadway shows for as little as $244, the three-show Variety series for as little as $83, and our five-show Family series for just $52!

• ADVANCE SALE OPPORTUNITIES.

All series subscribers or season ticket holders can buy extra tickets to series shows–including JERSEY BOYS and WICKED–before they go on sale to the general public. Plus, you get the first crack at tickets to new shows as they’re added to our calendar!

• FLEXIBILITY.

With subscriber exchange privileges, you can change your plans and change your seats for another performance time–no problem! A small up-charge fee will be applied if you switch into a more expensive performance.

• TICKET INSURANCE.

If you misplace your tickets, just call Ticket Center Stage and we’ll reprint them for you.

• DISCOUNTED PARKING.

Only series subscribers can purchase prepaid parking at the Arts Garage at Second and Ludlow Streets (to the west of the Schuster Center) at a discount! You’ll pay only $5 a park–instead of $7 for event parking. Parking packages are available for all three series.

• GREAT ENTERTAINMENT.

Mark your calendar now with as many great performances as you like. We all need to relax and recharge, and there’s nothing like a fabulous performance to do just that!

SEASON TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW!

To become a Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Hospitals Broadway Series subscriber, call Ticket Center Stage, at (937) 228-3630 (toll free (888) 228-3630), or subscribe online.

Not a subscriber? Call 937/228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com and purchase your subscription today!

Please note: New subscribers will be seated per their requests once renewing subscriber’s requests have been handled.

-SA/VTA Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to onStageDayton@gmail.com.