North Shore Music Theatre Reopens Under New Leadership for 2010 Season

North Shore Music Theatre, which closed in June 2009, is back with an exciting 2010 musical season filled with classic, contemporary and much-loved Broadway favorites. The new NSMT is under the leadership and ownership of Bill Hanney. Experienced in theater management, Hanney is also the Owner/Producer of Theatre By The Sea in Rhode Island, a 500 seat summer theatre now in it's 4th successful year under his leadership. Mr Hanney is also the owner/operator of Entertainment Cinemas, a chain of movie theatres throughout New England.

Long time Artistic Director of the Cape Playhouse, Evans Haile will be joining NSMT as Producing Artistic Director, bringing over 25 years of Professional Producing and Artistic experience to the North Shore. Celebrating more than 80 seasons, the Cape Playhouse is proud to be America's Oldest Professional Summer Theatre.

"I am honored to welcome audiences back to NSMT for my first season here in Beverly," said Owner/Producer Hanney. "I am excited to be working with Evans Haile, and know that our team of experienced theatre professionals will operate NSMT with an efficient business model and a strong focus on entertainment and production values."

"My goal for NSMT in 2010 is to create a season that celebrates musical theater and delivers the excellent quality and intimate atmosphere that audiences expect from NSMT," revealed Hanney. "While I am dedicated to maintaining a high level of artistic quality, I am equally dedicated to keeping a close eye on the business to ensure NSMT's long term success. I want audiences to enjoy their experience at the new NSMT and come back for more!"

In addition to the 4 show subscription series, NSMT proudly announces the return of its Holiday Spectacular, North Shore Music Theatre's time honored production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, directed by Jon Kimbell. Performances run December 3 - December 23.

The 2010 subscription musical season will be "coming up roses" when the classic Broadway musical, GYPSY takes the stage from July 6 - July 25. This musical fable, inspired by the life of the burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee, is about the quintessential stage mother, Mamma Rose, a woman who pushes her two children into show business at any cost, to fulfill the dream of stardom she never achieved herself. It is a story of ambition, suppressed dreams, and sacrifice. The score is jam-packed with iconic show tunes including "Let Me Entertain You," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "All I Need is the Girl," and "Together (Wherever We Go)."

The summer entertainment will continue with a spectacular production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (running August 3 - August 22), Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's entertaining family musical retelling of the biblical story of Joseph, his devoted father, his jealous brothers, and his incredible series of adventures. Filled with eye-popping costumes and high energy dance numbers, the story is told through a variety of musical styles - everything from country to calypso to rock 'n' roll. The 2001 production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT was one of the most successful shows in NSMT history. This season's production will feature a large children's chorus made up of many local young performing artists.

Audiences will want to keep an eye on their wallets and jewelry when DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS takes the stage from September 21 - October 10. Based on the hit 1988 movie starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, this hysterical musical follows two very different con artists working their schemes on the French Riviera. Their high society high jinks result in a friendly competition to see which one can swindle an innocent heiress out of her fortune. Audiences will roar with laughter when they see how far each one is willing to go to win the bet.

The 2010 Musical Season will conclude with the ultimate celebration of the American Musical, A CHORUS LINE, playing November 2 - November 21. Audiences will sit in on an audition and share in the story of 17 dancers competing for a few coveted spots in the chorus of a Broadway musical. Through the audition they bare their souls while sharing stories of their childhood, ambitions, fears, and experiences in show business. This groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize-winning musical is for anyone who has ever put it all on the line, whether it is for promotion, for attention, for approval, or for love.

Throughout 2010 NSMT looks forward to bringing celebrity concerts and exciting children's programming. Please visit www.nsmt.org for news, and sign up for the email club to receive updates and announcements through the year.

2010 Musical Season subscriptions are on sale now. Subscriptions offer the biggest savings along with special benefits such as seating priority and the maximum flexibility to exchange tickets, as well as the ability to renew specific seats each year.

To subscribe, or for more information, contact the NSMT Box Office at (978) 232-7200, log on to www.nsmt.org, or visit in person at 62 Dunham Road, Beverly, 01915. Single tickets for all NSMT shows go on sale May 1 to the public. Gift certificates for all 2010 productions are currently on sale through the NSMT box office.

Former subscribers who held seats in 2008 can reclaim their seating location. Please watch your mailbox for more information or contact the box office before March 31.