Mirvish Theatre Announces 2016-17 Season ft North American Premieres of 'STRICTLY BALLROOM' & 'MRS HENDERSON'

David Mirvish has announced today the 14 shows in the 2016 - 2017 Mirvish Theatre Season. There will be seven shows in the Mainstage Subscription Series, three in the Off-Mirvish Subscription Series, and four bonus shows not on subscription.

The Main Subscription Season features seven shows, including five musicals: the Broadway blockbuster, BEAUTIFUL -The Carole King Musical; two musicals direct from London's West End -MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS and THE BODYGUARD; the dazzling new Australian production of STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL; and a new hit musical on its way to Broadway, COME FROM AWAY. We round out the main season with a visit to the private rooms of Buckingham Palace in the Olivier and Tony Award®-winning drama THE AUDIENCE, and the most unusual acrobatic kitchen you can imagine in CUISINE & CONFESSIONS.

The popular Off-Mirvish Subscription Season will feature three adventurous new shows: the high-octane, interactive election experience of FIGHT NIGHT; the Olivier Award-winning comedy, MY NIGHT WITH REG; and BUTCHER, a nail-biting new play that is full of so many twists and turns, it will surely have you on the edge of your seat!

THE 7 SHOW SUBSCRIPTION is priced from $169 to $719, ($159 - $679 for renewing subscribers).

THE 7 FINGERS' CUISINE & CONFESSIONS
Directed by Shana Carroll and Sébastien Soldevila
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016
COME FOR THE CIRCUS, STAY FOR THE BANANA BREAD!

Storytelling through food... this is the sweet taste of childhood, of a summer breeze through a screen door. Or the hot chocolate-dampened lips of a first kiss.

Life happens in the kitchen. Late night confessionals over tea and a jar of Nutella. Elaborately choreographed family meals. Lessons learned, secrets exchanged, bonds forged, reinforced by our most visceral of senses. Accompanying the usual eye-popping flight of acrobatic choreography and pulsating music are the other three senses - the touch of hands in batter, the smell of cookies baking, the taste of roasted oregano - leading us through a span of times and countries, all the while the iconic kitchen our common meeting point.

From the creators of this past season's smash hit Traces, comes CUISINE & CONFESSIONS, a culinary and acrobatic treat that will satisfy the senses!

COME FROM AWAY - A NEW MUSICAL
PRE-BROADWAY
Book, Music & Lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Directed by Christopher Ashley
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

COME FROM AWAY is the breathtaking new musical that played record-breaking engagements in La Jolla and Seattle - and now it's coming to Toronto prior to its Broadway run. Written by Canadians Irene Sankoff and David Hein (My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding), this is the stunning production from Tony®-nominated director Christopher Ashley (Memphis) that the Los Angeles Times calls "an affecting and stirring new musical."

On September 11th, 2001, 38 planes with 6,579 passengers were stranded in Gander, a remote town in Newfoundland. The locals opened their hearts and homes, and hosted this international community of strangers for a week - spurring unexpected camaraderie in extraordinary circumstances.

When the world stopped, their stories moved us all.

THE AUDIENCE
By Peter Morgan
Starring Fiona Reid as Queen Elizabeth II
Directed by Christopher Newton
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017

For over 60 years, Queen Elizabeth II has met with each Prime Minister in a private weekly meeting. This meeting is known as The Audience. No one knows what they discuss, not even their spouses. Canada's very own television, screen and stage star, Fiona Reid will take the throne in this riveting new play by Peter Morgan, the writer of the Academy Award®-nominated film, The Queen.

THE AUDIENCE takes theatregoers behind the walls of Buckingham Palace and into the private chambers of Queen Elizabeth II as she meets with each of her Prime Ministers through her 60 year reign, from when she was a young mother to now as a Great Grandmother. From the old warrior Winston Churchill, to the Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, through the charm offensive of Tony Blair right up to today's meetings with the current incumbent David Cameron, the Queen advises her Prime Ministers on all matters both public and personal. Through these private audiences, we see glimpses of the woman behind the crown and witness the moments that shaped a monarch. Don't miss being a part of THE AUDIENCE.

A co-production with the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.

THE BODYGUARD
Screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan
Book by Alexander Dinelaris
Directed by Thea Sharrock
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2017

The smash hit musical direct from London's West End. Former Secret Service agent Frank Farmer is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge - what they don't expect is to fall in love...

Based on the 1992 Warner Bros. film written by acclaimed, Oscar®-nominated screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan and adapted by Academy Award®-winner Alexander Dinelaris, this exciting, thrilling, uplifting and moving production of THE BODYGUARD is headed to Toronto.

A "BRILLIANT" (The Times), breathtakingly romantic thriller featuring a whole host of Whitney Houston's greatest hits including Queen of the Night, One Moment in Time, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and, of course, the legendary I Will Always Love You.

MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS
Book and Direction by Terry Johnson
Lyrics by Don Black
Music by George Fenton and Simon Chamberlain
FEBRUARY / APRIL 2017
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Direct from London's West End comes the new hit musical MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS.

It's London, 1937, and recently widowed eccentric, Laura Henderson, is looking for a way of spending her time and money when her attention falls on a run down former cinema in Great Windmill Street. Hiring feisty impresario Vivian Van Damm to look after the newly renovated Windmill Theatre, the improbable duo present a bill of non-stop variety acts. But as war looms something more is required to boost morale and box office... When Mrs Henderson comes up with the idea of The Windmill Girls - glamorous young women posing as nude statues - audiences flock.

And as the Blitz hits London, The Windmill provides a refuge for all, boasting the spirit-raising slogan "We Never Close". Contains elegant nudity.

STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL
Presented by Global Creatures
Created by Baz Luhrmann
Directed and Choreographed by Drew McOnie
APRIL / MAY 2017
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Get ready to fall in love with STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL, the dazzling new show based on the much-loved hit Australian film. This joyous musical has audiences dancing in the aisles in a kaleidoscope of colour and fun - and now it's Toronto's turn!

This brand new stage production is brought to life by an international team including the original creative duo behind the classic 1992 film, Baz Luhrmann and Academy Award®-winning designer Catherine Martin. STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL is the inspiring story of a championship ballroom dancer who defies all the rules to follow his heart. It features classic songs from the film including Love is in the Air, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps and Time After Time, as well as wonderful new songs from internationally-acclaimed artists such as Sia.

Get ready to Cha Cha Cha and experience this feel-good story that inspired the world to dance.

BEAUTIFUL - The Carole King Musical
Book by Douglas McGrath
Words and Music by Gerry Goffin & Carole King, and Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Choreographed by Josh PrinceDirected by Marc Bruni
JULY / AUGUST 2017

BEAUTIFUL - The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history.

Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation. Featuring a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including I Feel The Earth Move, One Fine Day, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, You've Got A Friend and the title song, BEAUTIFUL has a book by Tony Award®- nominee and Academy Award®-nominated writer Douglas McGrath, direction by Marc Bruni, choreography by Josh Prince, and took home two 2014 Tony® Awards and a 2015 Grammy®.

OFF-MIRVISH SEASON- THE 3-SHOW OFF-MIRVISH SUBSCRIPTION is priced at only $115 (rear orchestra) or $165 (front orchestra).

FIGHT NIGHT - Directed by Alexander Devriendt

Ontroerend Goed and The Border Project in co-production with Richard Jordan Productions, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Kunstencentrum Vooruit in association with Adelaide Festival

NOVEMBER 2016, FIVE PERFORMERS. FIVE ROUNDS. YOUR VOTE. ONE SURVIOR.

As one of the most controversial elections in the world is underway in the United States this November, we bring you an acclaimed show that examines the notion of how we choose our political candidates and how we ultimately decide on who to support.

FIGHT NIGHT takes the form of an actual election. We in the audience are the electorate. We are each given a mobile electronic device with which we can cast our votes. Five candidates offer us their background and platforms. We then have to decide who to vote for.

But then, we are given more information, some of it quite surprising. All of a sudden how we view each candidate changes.

How much of our choice is based on preconceived notions on each candidate's looks, clothing style, race, gender, age and speaking style? How much of it is based on the content of each candidate's speech?

FIGHT NIGHT is playful, immersive theatre. It is a timely, exciting exploration of democratic processes. Every performance is different because the vote is yours and can never be predicted. But can it be? After all, do we really have "free choice" in any election?

MY NIGHT WITH REG - A Studio180 Theatre Production
By Kevin Elyot, Directed by Joel Greenberg
FEBRUARY 2017 - CANADIAN PREMIERE

Kevin Elyot's Olivier Award-winning comedy, MY NIGHT WITH REG, has been hailed by critics and audiences alike, confirming its status as a classic of modern British theatre.

At Guy's London flat, old friends and new gather to party through the night. This is the summer of 1985, and for Guy and his circle the world is about to change forever. Deliciously funny and bittersweet, MY NIGHT WITH REG perfectly captures the fragility of friendship, happiness and life itself.

Contains mature content, strong language and nudity.

BUTCHER - A Why Not Theatre Production
By Nicolas Billon, Directed by Weyni Mengesha
MARCH / APRIL 2017
Who is the Butcher?

A mysterious old man is dropped off at a police station, wearing a foreign military uniform, and a Santa hat, with a meat hook dangling around his neck. As a lawyer, a police officer, and a translator struggle to unravel the truth, they uncover a past that won't stay buried, and a decades old quest for justice that must be served. Haunted by events a world away, no one is who they seem to be.

Written by the Governor General Award-winning playwright Nicolas Billon, Why Not Theatre's production of BUTCHER made its Toronto premiere this past season to audience and critical acclaim.4 BONUS SHOWS

Not included in the 2016/2017 Subscription Packages

THE BOOK OF MORMON
Book, Music & Lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, Co-directed by Trey Parker and Casey Nicholaw
Choreographed by Casey Nicholaw
FEBRUARY 28 - APRIL 16, 2017
Princess of Wales Theatre

Hailed by The New York Times as "the best musical of this century" and the winner of nine Tony Awards®,THE BOOK OF MORMON is the blockbuster Broadway smash from South Park creators Trey Parker andMatt Stone, and the Oscar®-winning composer of Disney's Frozen and Avenue Q, Bobby Lopez.

This outrageous musical comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. Now with standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, THE BOOK OF MORMON has truly become an international sensation.

Contains explicit language.

FOREVER PLAID, A STARVOX Entertainment presentation
By Stuart Ross
Begins May 17, 2016
Panasonic Theatre

PLAID IS BACK!

Toronto's favourite heavenly musical - FOREVER PLAID returns! The classic pop hits of the 1950s in pitch-perfect harmony!

A quartet of male singers takes a detour to heaven on the way to their first big concert. They posthumously take the stage for one final gig in this goofy 1950s nostalgia trip. Fantastically funny and timelessly tuneful, their close harmonies and charming choreography take you on a journey through your favourite pop hits of the 1950s, such as Moments to Remember, Heart and Soul and Love is a Many Splendored Thing.

THE ILLUSIONISTS - LIVE FROM BROADWAY
Directed and Choreographed by Neil Dorward

DECEMBER 6 - 31, 2016
Princess of Wales Theatre
Direct from Broadway, the world's best-selling magic show is coming to Toronto.

This mind blowing spectacular showcases the jaw dropping talents of seven of the most incredible Illusionists on earth. THE ILLUSIONISTS - LIVE FROM BROADWAY has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.

Roundabout Theatre Company's CABARET
Book by Joe Masteroff
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
FEBRUARY 14 - 19, 2017
Princess of Wales Theatre

As part of their 50th Anniversary Season, the critically-acclaimed and award-winning Roundabout Theatre Company is proud to present Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) and Rob Marshall's (Into the Woods and Chicago, the films) Tony Award®-winning production of CABARET.

Come hear some of the most memorable songs in theatre history, including "Cabaret", "Willkommen" and "Maybe This Time." Leave your troubles outside-life is beautiful at CABARET, John Kander, Fred Ebband Joe Masteroff's Tony®-winning musical about following your heart while the world loses its way.

For more information, visit www.mirvish.com 1-800-771-3933

Photo credit James Morgan / GLOBAL CREATURES