The Manatee Players announce their 2011-2012 Season of Shows

THE MANATEE PLAYERS 2011-12 SEASON!

CHICAGO - August 18 - September 4, 2011 Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred EbbBook by Fred Ebb & Bob Fosse
Based on the play CHICAGO by Maurine Dallas Watkins

CHICAGO is a Kander and Ebb musical set in prohibition era Chicago.

The book is by Ebb and Bob Fosse.

The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice, and the concept of the "celebritycriminal."

The musical is based on a 1926 play of the same name by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkinsabout actual criminals and crimes she had reported on.The original 1975 Broadway production ran for a total of 936 performances.

Bob Fosse choreographed theoriginal production, and his style is strongly identified with the show. CHICAGO's 1996 Broadway revivalholds the record for the longest-running musical revival on Broadway.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC - September 22-October 9, 2011
Music by Richard RodgersLyrics by Oscar Hammerstein IIBook by Howard Lindsay, Russell Crouse
Suggested by "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers"The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world's most beloved musical. When a postulant proves too high-spirited for the religious life, she is dispatched to serve as governessfor the seven children of a widowed naval Captain. Her growing rapport with the youngsters, coupled with hergenerosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern Captain, and they marry. Upon returning from theirhoneymoon they discover that Austria has been invaded by the Nazis, who demand the Captain's immediateservice in their navy. The family's narrow escape over the mountains to Switzerland on the eve of World War IIprovides one of the most thrilling and inspirational finales ever presented in the theatre. The motion pictureversion remains the most popular movie musical of all time.

JERRY'S GIRLS - October 27 - November 13, 2011 Music and Lyrics by Jerry HermanConceived by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento and Jerry HermanJerry's Girls is a celebratory two-hour musical entertainment of glamour, optimism, love, melody, and women. .... More than most songwriters, Jerry Herman has put the 'larger-than-life' women of his shows center stage.There's Dolly Gallagher Levi of HELLO, DOLLY!, Auntie Mame Dennis of MAME, Countess Aurelia ofDEAR WORLD, Mabel Normand of MACK AND MABEL and female impersonator ZaZa of LA CAGE AUXFOLLES.

So it is fitting that in Jerry's Girls there are women center stage once again. JERRY'S GIRLS affectionately celebrates Jerry's special gift for writing songs that capture the true spirit of the American musicaltheatre. . The show's 'name-dropping' title song, ‘Jerry's Girls' (to the tune of ‘It's Today' from Mame), that opens ActOne, honors the 40-plus female stars who have appeared in Herman musicals over the years, and features adazzling array of songs from these landmark shows. Look forward to a brilliantly lively show with terrificmusicality and wit.

WHITE CHRISTMAS - December 1 - 23, 2011 Music & Lyrics by Irving BerlinBook by David Ives and Paul Blake Produced by the Dodt Family Foundation ..... Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming musical adaptation features seventeen IrvingBerlin songs and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake. Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have asuccessful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo ofbeautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to beowned by Bob and Phil's former army commander. The dazzling score features well known standards including Blue Skies, I Love A Piano, How Deep Is the Ocean and the perennial favorite, WhiteChristmas.
Happy Days - January 12-29, 2012 Book by Garry Marshall
Music & Lyrics by Paul Williams Co Produced by Jess Jewelers and Jon & Bette Frick Goodbye gray skies, hello blue! Happy Days are here again with Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph andthe unforgettable "king of cool" Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli. Based on the hit Paramount Pictures'television series, Happy Days - A New Musical reintroduces one of America's best loved families, theCunninghams, and the days of1959 Milwaukee complete with varsity sweaters, hula hoops, andjukebox sock-hoppin'.The famed drive-in malt shop and number one hang-out, Arnold's, is in danger of demolition, so the gang teamsup to save it with a dance contest and tv-worthy wrestling match. This perfectly family friendly musical willhave you rockin' and rollin' all week long!

EVITA - February 23-March 11, 2012 Music by Andrew Lloyd WebberLyrics by Tim RiceEvita brings to life the dynamic, larger-than-life persona of Eva Peron. Beginning with a young and ambitiousEva, the production follows her meteoric rise to sainthood. The story tells of the enormous wealth and powershe gained and the means by which she became the beloved Evita.

RING OF FIRE - March 29 - April 15, 2012 Created by Richard Maltby, Jr. Conceived by William MeadeOrchestrations by Steven Bishop and Jeff LisenbyRING OF FIRE was originally produced on Broadway by William Meade, CTM Productions, BobCuillo, GFOUR Productions and James B. Freydberg A set of gifted singers and instrumentalists sing through some of the greatest songs of one of America's mostbrilliant singer/songwriters, Johnny Cash. Though he is never impersonated, his remarkable life story is toldthrough his music, climaxing in a concert that will both move and exhilarate!

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS - May 3 - 21, 2012 Book by Lawrence Kasha and David LandayMusic by Gene de PaulLyrics by Johnny MercerNew Songs by Al Kasha and Joel HirschhornBased on the MGM film Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and The Sobbin' Women by Stephen VincentBenet "Goin' courting" has never been as much fun as in this rip-roaring stage version of the popular MGM movie,adapted by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay. Millie is a young bride living in the 1850s Oregon wildernesswhose plan to civilize and marry off her six rowdy brothers-in-law to ensure the success of her own marriagebackfires when the brothers, in their enthusiasm, kidnap six women from a neighboring town to be their brides.

Bursting with the rambunctious energy of the original film, "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" is all boisterousfun and romance that harkens back to the Glory Days of the movie musical

 

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