Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, celebrates its 25th anniversary season in 2015 by bringing to the stage hilarious spoofs, rock n' roll musicals and heartwarming stories, each with a close relationship to iconic films. The season opens with ON GOLDEN POND, the touching, funny, and warmly insightful story that went from a Tony Award on Broadway to the Oscar winning film, running February 26 through March 29. Overflowing with heart and humor, the extraordinary new Broadway musical, BIG FISH, will inspire audiences to live life to the fullest May 7 to June 7. Fans of "the King" of Rock n' Roll will be thrilled to join in song and dance at ALL SHOOK UP! THE MUSIC OF ELVIS PRESLEY. Inspired by the movies and songs of Elvis Presley as well as the William Shakespeare comedy Twelfth Night, the musical runs July 16 through August 16. SPAMALOT, the uproariously hilarious Monty Python-inspired farce about King Arthur and his band of raunchy knights runs September 17 through October 18. Returning to Theatre at the Center during the holiday season is the nostalgic family favorite A CHRISTMAS STORY, running November 19 to December 27.
"We're thrilled to be celebrating this milestone anniversary season," said Theatre at the Center Artistic Director William Pullinsi. "What began as a summer theater with a few guest artists has grown into a year-round, professional equity theater attracting some of the best performers and designers, presenting classic favorites as well as Chicago area and World Premieres at affordable prices."
Kicking off the season is the beloved play, ON GOLDEN POND, running February 26 to March 29. This charming love story follows an elderly couple, Ethel and Norman Thayer, who return to their summer home in Maine. Their vacation is interrupted with the unexpected arrival of their estranged daughter, her fiancé, and his teenage son. Over the course of the summer, an unlikely friendship develops between Norman and the boy, bringing together generations and the lessons they learn from each other. Variety raves ON GOLDEN POND is "...a rare and memorable theatrical experience." The play was a Broadway hit, running for 382 performances in 1979, going on to become a classic film starring Katherine Hepburn,
Henry Fonda and
Jane Fonda in 1981.
The deeply moving, fantastical new Broadway musical BIG FISH runs May 7 through June 7, based on the celebrated novel by
Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by
Tim Burton. BIG FISH tells the magical heartfelt journey of traveling salesman Edward Bloom, and his incredible stories about his larger-than-life, teenage encounters with a Witch, a Giant and a Mermaid. Fast forward to the present day - aging Edward Bloom faces his mortality while his son, Will, prepares to be a father himself. Determined to find the truth behind his father's epic tales, Will engages on a journey of his own.
Theatre at the Center shakes things up July 16 through August 16 with ALL SHOOK UP! THE MUSIC OF ELVIS PRESLEY Loosely based on
William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, and the music of
Elvis Presley, ALL SHOOK UP is set in the Midwest in 1955. The story follows Natalie, a young girl with dreams of hitting the road, and Chad, a charismatic roustabout who brings rock and roll to the town and changes it forever. Hailed as "the best rock show since Grease", this hip-swiveling, lip-curling, action-packed musical will have audiences jumpin' out of their blue suede shoes with 24 Elvis classics, including "Heartbreak Hotel," "Jailhouse Rock," "All Shook Up," "Love Me Tender," and "Don't Be Cruel."
Inspired by the 1975 film Monty Python and The Holy Grail comes the multi Tony Award-winning musical comedy SPAMALOT, with Book and lyrics by
Eric Idle and an entirely new score created by
Eric Idle and
John Du Prez, running September 17 to October 18. Dancing divas, a legless knight, flatulent Frenchmen and killer rabbits combine in this epic story of King Arthur and his band of raunchy Round Table Knights on their pursuit of the Holy Grail. SPAMALOT was a massive hit on Broadway, playing over 1,500 performances and was seen by over two million people, and performed in theaters across the country.
A CHRISTMAS STORY, the delightfully funny holiday favorite, opens November 19 and closes December 27. Based on the hit film, the play by Phil Grecian tells the story of nine-year-old Ralphie Parker, who longs for a genuine Red Ryder BB gun. The source material for the film was the warm and hilarious story collection In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Hammond, Indiana (just minutes away from Theatre at the Center's home in Munster) native
Jean Shepherd. Unfortunately, everyone in Ralphie's life from his teacher to his mother repeatedly crush his dreams, threatening "You'll shoot your eye out!" Ralphie won't be deterred, and will do whatever it takes-mounting a hilarious hint-dropping, Santa-begging campaign and enduring a slew of calamities-to make sure he receives his prized gift on Christmas morning. A wistful reminder of growing up in a simpler time and tribute to the elusive magic of Christmas, A CHRISTMAS STORY is a heartwarming family tradition.
Performances for the 2015 season are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. and Fridays at 8:00 p.m. Saturday matinees begin at 2:30 or 4 p.m. with evening performances at 8 p.m. Sunday curtains are at 2:30 p.m. Season subscriptions are available for $150 or $160. Available for subscribers is a special Dinner Theatre Subscription Series. Complimentary Post-Show Discussions with cast members are held the second Thursday and third Wednesday of each production. Meal packages are available for select matinee and evening performances, located in the dining room, right across from the theatre lobby. 2015 Season Subscriptions will go on sale 8/25 for renewals and on 10/14 for new subscribers. Individual ticket prices for 2015 range from $40-$44 and will go on sale 12/16. To purchase season tickets, individual tickets and/or gift certificates, call the Box Office at 219.836.3255 or Tickets.com (for single tickets only) at 800.511.1552. Group discounts are available for groups of 11 or more are also available by calling 219.836.3258. For more information on Theatre at the Center visit TheatreAtTheCenter.com.
