PPAC Announces 2011/2012 'From Screen to Stage.. A Picture Perfect' Season

J.L. "Lynn" Singleton, President of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), is pleased to announce PPAC's 34th Anniversary Broadway Season. The 2011/2012 Broadway Series features seven productions: the 80s love story ROCK OF AGES, followed by the stunning new 25th Anniversary production of LES MISÉRABLES, a two-week engagement of the hit Broadway musical MARY POPPINS, the whimsical CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE, the lovable SHREK THE MUSICAL, the delightfully macabre THE ADDAMS FAMILY, and the explosive BRING IT ON: The Musical.

PPAC would like to welcome Cranston-based TACO/The White Family Foundation as a returning sponsor of the TACO/The White Family Foundation Contemporary Classics Series. The 2011/2012 TACO/The White Family Foundation Contemporary Classics Series includes a week-long engagement of Dr. Seuss' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! The Musical, the romantic COME FLY AWAY, and the sensational BURN THE FLOOR.

Please note that regularly scheduled performance times for PPAC have changed; the NEW performance times are Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 7P, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30P, Saturdays at 2P & 8P, and Sundays at 1P & 6:30P.

Singleton said, "Our 34th Broadway Season features 'picture perfect' theatrical selections for our patrons. We are very pleased to be hosting so many Rhode Island premieres during the 2011/2012 season, including a two-week engagement of MARY POPPINS! New subscribers can subscribe with just a $99 deposit. Our renewal deadline for current subscribers is Friday, May 20; if you are a subscriber and would like to retain your current seats, please call the Box Office at (401) 421 - ARTS (2787) or Direct Response at (401) 574 - 3136."

John Hazen White, Jr., President and CEO of TACO, Inc., said, "Everyone at The White Family Foundation and at TACO is honored to continue supporting the fantastic shows in the Contemporary Classic Series at PPAC."

The 2011/2012 Broadway Series launches with the five-time Tony Award® nominated ROCK OF AGES October 4 - 9, 2011. In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in L.A.'s most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs from the 80s. ROCK OF AGES is an "impossible to resist" (The New York Times) arena-rock love story told through the songs of Journey, Night Ranger, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake, and many more.

The new 25th Anniversary production of LES MISÉRABLES performs at PPAC November 1 - 6, 2011. Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg's legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans, and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes. The New York Times calls this LES MISÉRABLES "an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish." The London Times hails the new show as "a five star hit, astonishingly powerful."

From renowned director Neil Goldberg, CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE reinvents the holiday season at PPAC December 13 - 18, 2011. The New York Daily News says CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE is "so full of energy it could end our dependence on oil" and the Erie Time News says, "[CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE] is stuffed with so much holiday cheer and audacious acts, Scrooge would exit with a big ol' smile on his face." An international cast of over 30 multi-talented and brilliantly costumed artists come to life and perform astonishing acrobatic feats. An original music score and some seasonal favorites accompany hundreds of spectacular costumes and holiday dreams in a setting of gigantic gifts, colossal candy canes, and 30-foot towering soldiers.

SHREK THE MUSICAL, based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks film, celebrates the New Year at PPAC January 3 - 8, 2012. In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre - not a handsome prince - shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won't shut up, a villain with a SHORT temper, a cookie with an attitude, and over a dozen fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand . . . and his name is Shrek. Featuring a score of 19 all-new songs, big laughs, great dancing and breathtaking scenery, WWOR-TV proclaimed SHREK THE MUSICAL as "far, far and away the funniest new musical on Broadway!"

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present MARY POPPINS at PPAC February 8 - 19, 2012. Variety raves, "This is the rare touring production that over-delivers on every level!" Featuring the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand-new breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular stage-craft, MARY POPPINS is everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show! The New York Post gives MARY POPPINS 4 out of 4 stars and calls the production "a perfect piece of musical theater."

The smash-hit musical comedy THE ADDAMS FAMILY brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Lurch to PPAC March 20 - 25, 2012. THE ADDAMS FAMILY is based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa, choreographer Sergio Trujillo, and Olivier Award-winning director/designers Phelim McDermott & Julian Coruch with creative consultation by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks.

BRING IT ON: The Musical will explode on the PPAC stage April 24 - 29, 2012, uniting breathtaking dance and the thrilling, cutthroat world of competitive cheerleading with one of the most remarkable scores in years. The team behind this explosive new show is an extraordinarily rare union of Broadway's most acclaimed, award-winning young creators. With an original libretto by Tony Award® winner Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), music and lyrics by Tony Award®-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In The Heights), music by Pulitzer and Tony Award®-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), lyrics by Amanda Green (High Fidelity), and music supervision by Tony Award® winner Alex Lacamoire (Wicked), BRING IT ON: The Musical is directed and choreographed by Tony Award® winner Andy Blankenbuehler (In The Heights). AOL.com calls this original musical comedy "nothing like you expect and everything you will love!"

The 2011/2012 TACO/The White Family Foundation Contemporary Classics Series launches with Dr. Seuss' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! The Musical November 15 - 20, 2011. Featuring the hit songs "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome Christmas," The Grinch discovers there's more to Christmas than he bargained for in this heart-warming holiday classic. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is "two sizes too small," decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos. Thousands of families have been delighted by this heart-warming musical, which The New York Times praises as "100 times better than any bedside story."

COME FLY AWAY, performing at PPAC March 2 - 4, 2012, is the new Broadway musical that brings together the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra and the creative vision of Tony Award® winner Twyla Tharp (Movin' Out). This unique experience combines the seductive vocals of Sinatra with the sizzling sound of a live on-stage big band and the visceral thrill of Tharp's choreography. As 14 of the world's best dancers tell the story of four couples falling in and out of love, you will experience the exhilaration of a first kiss, the excitement of a first dance, and the bittersweet moments of a first good-bye in a world of sparkling romance and astonishing beauty. The New York Times says, "Twyla Tharp's electrifying celebration of the music of Frank Sinatra will sweep you up in a complete spell" and Newsday says COME FLY AWAY is "a dangerously gorgeous dance adventure."

The international dance sensation BURN THE FLOOR visits PPAC May 4 - 6, 2012. You've seen Ballroom dance on shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. Now, with BURN THE FLOOR, you will feel, live on stage, all the passion, the drama, and the sizzling excitement of 20 gorgeous champion dancers, in a true theatrical experience, a performance with a grace and athleticism that The New York Times calls, "dazzling!" From Harlem's hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot, and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba, and Salsa steamed up the stage, BURN THE FLOOR takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance. The elegance of the Viennese Waltz, the exuberance of the Jive, the intensity of the Paso Doble - audiences will experience them all, as well as the Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep, and Swing. BURN THE FLOOR - it's Ballroom. Reinvented.

WPRI-TV Channel 12 is the proud media sponsor of the 2011/2012 Broadway Series and Cox Communications is the proud media sponsor of the 2011/2012 TACO/The White Family Foundation Contemporary Classics Series.

New subscribers can reserve a subscription with just a $99 deposit now. Subscribers receive first choice in seating, advance order options, and a host of other subscription benefits. For more information on how to subscribe to the 2011/2012 Broadway Series and the 2011/2012 TACO/The White Family Foundation Contemporary Classics Series, please contact the PPAC Box Office at (401) 421-ARTS (2787) or Sharon Corcoran in Direct Response at (401) 574-3136.

Beginning now through Saturday, September 3, Direct Response Hours are Monday through Friday, 9A to 5P and Saturday, 10A to 2P. Regular Box Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 10A to 5P; Saturday, 10A to 2P, and through curtain time(s) on performance days. The Box Office will be closed Friday, May 27 through Monday, May 30. Summer Box Office Hours, which begin Tuesday, May 31, are Monday through Thursday, 10A to 3P and through curtain time(s) on performance days. Regular Box Office Hours resume on Tuesday, September 6.