Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Presents MARY POPPINS, 8/25

Led by the two most recent Tony® Award winners for Broadway's Best Musical, the 2010/11 Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series presented by the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center features a fantastic lineup of Broadway's most popular and critically acclaimed shows.  

The highlight of the 2010/11 series is the first national tour of the 2009 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL. In addition, IN THE HEIGHTS, winner of four 2008 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the 2008 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album; and the critically acclaimed NEXT TO NORMAL, the 2009 Tony Award winner for Best Score, will play the Queen City in the coming year.

Many of the other shows in the upcoming season are inspired by some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. SHREK THE MUSICAL, Broadway's big, bright, beautiful musical featuring everyone's favorite ogre, takes center stage in a production sure to delight legions of Shrek fans of all ages. The new Mel Brooks musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN and 9 to 5: THE MUSICAL also offer hilarious musical versions of Hollywood hits, while the sweet and funny Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS will put a special gleam on the 2010 holiday season in the Queen City.

DREAMGIRLS, the Tony, Grammy and Academy® Award-winning story of a 1960's female singing group coming of age at the birth of the Motown sound, rounds out the season lineup.
Duke Energy returns this season as the sponsor of the Broadway Lights Series - a lineup that includes eight blockbusters that have been nominated for a total of more than 40 Tony Awards, taking home 18 trophies.

NEXT TO NORMAL (along with two "Broadway Extras" - AVENUE Q & MOMIX) will appear in the intimate Knight Theater, marking the first time the city's newest theater has played host to nationally touring Broadway shows.

2010/11 DUKE ENERGY BROADWAY LIGHTS SERIES (BLS)
9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL (Oct. 5 - 10, 2010 - Ovens Auditorium)

DREAMGIRLS (Nov. 9 - 14, 2010 - Belk Theater)

Irving Berlin'S WHITE CHRISTMAS (Dec. 7 - 12, 2010 - Ovens Auditorium)

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL (Jan. 12 - 30, 2011 - Ovens Auditorium)

IN THE HEIGHTS (Feb. 15 - 20, 2011 - Belk Theater)

The New Mel Brooks Musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (March 15 - 20, 2011 - Belk Theater)

SHREK THE MUSICAL (June 14 - 19, 2011 - Belk Theater)

NEXT TO NORMAL (July 12 - 17, 2011 - Knight Theater)

In addition to the Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series, six "Broadway Extras" are part of the schedule, giving the 2010/2011 season 14 Broadway titles, the most ever presented by the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in one season.

BROADWAY EXTRAS
MARY POPPINS (Aug. 25 - Sept. 12, 2010 - Belk Theater)
MOMIX (Feb. 22 - 27, 2011 - Knight Theater)
AVENUE Q (April 5 - 10, 2011 - Knight Theater)
Blue Man Group (April 19 - 24, 2011 - Belk Theater)
CATS (May 24 - 29, 2011 - Belk Theater)
MAMMA MIA! (JULY 26 - 31, 2011 - Belk Theater)

"This is an extraordinary lineup of Broadway hits that is sure to keep theater-goers on The Edge of their seats all season long," said Center President Tom Gabbard. "We've always strived to offer variety in our Broadway lineup, and we're thrilled to be able to present more titles than ever before and to continue to bring the top national touring shows to Charlotte.

Tickets for the Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series shows currently are available only as part of a season subscription. Both seven and eight-show subscriptions are available, with prices ranging from $168.50 to $598.35. A seven-show subscription includes 9 to 5: THE MUSICAL, DREAMGIRLS, WHITE CHRISTMAS, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, IN THE HEIGHTS, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN and SHREK THE MUSICAL. An eight-show subscription also includes NEXT TO NORMAL.

Current Subscribers will receive renewal packages in the mail over the next few weeks and will have until mid-May to renew. They also may contact Subscriber Services to renew now by phone at 704.335.1010, renew in person at the Belk Theater box office or when they attend JERSEY BOYS March 31- April 18 at the Belk Theater.

Orders for new subscriptions also are being accepted now. To order or get more information, call 704.335.1010. New orders also will be accepted at the Belk Theater during JERSEY BOYS. Renewals, as well as sales for new subscribers, will be available online in April.

Along with guaranteed seats for the series shows, season subscribers receive many other special benefits, including access to the best seats at the best price since subscribers are seated before single ticket buyers, and receive a discount to many of the season shows. Subscribers also may purchase additional single tickets to the Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series shows or the Broadway Extras now, long before tickets go on sale to the public. Subscriber discounts are applied to these additional single tickets, too. Throughout the year, subscribers also will be offered priority purchase opportunities for all Center sponsored events.

One of the most popular subscriber benefits is the subscriber swap option, which allows subscribers to trade their season tickets for one series show for anything else on the Center schedule. Another popular option that returns this year is the extended payment plan, allowing subscribers to spread the cost of their subscriptions over four monthly payments. For complete information on all the subscriber benefits, visit BlumenthalCenter.org/Broadway.

"We're committed to offering our subscribers the best content, the best value and the chance to make their own choices about the shows that they want to see," Gabbard said. "The benefits of being a season subscriber are better than ever for those very reasons - great choices, great shows and great prices."