White Plains Performing Arts Center Announces 08-09 Season

 Jack W. Batman, Executive Producer of the White Plains Performing Arts Center, the professional, not-for-profit theatre located in City Center in downtown White Plains, has announced the theatre's 2008-2009 season that includes all-new productions of four classic Broadway musicals plus a Family & Kids Series and dance and music events to appeal to the area's diverse population.  

The season begins with Camelot, directed by Sidney J. Burgoyne with musical direction by James Bassi, the artistic team that gave WPPAC audiences last season's thrilling, sold-out production of Ragtime. Camelot, winner of four 1961 Tony Awards, plays September 26-28 and October 3-5 and will offer a new look at Lerner and Loewe's timeless masterpiece about King Arthur's enchanted kingdom, where honor and chivalry reign. The show, which originally opened in 1960, caught the imagination of the country and its youthful president, John F. Kennedy, and this musical play became forever entwined with the American values of social equality and justice. Camelot seems more relevant than ever this election year as we weary of war, yearn for a return to a more-perfect time and re-discover the grandeur of one of history's greatest love stories.  
A brand-new production of Lionel Bart's Oliver!, winner of three 1963 Tony Awards, will be WPPAC's holiday musical, playing four weeks, November 20-December 14. Based on the novel by Charles Dickens and directed by Luke Yankee (who brought Man of La Mancha to glorious life last season), audiences will delight in Fagin, Oliver, Nancy, the evil Bill Sykes, the Artful Dodger and all the rest. Oliver!, with outstanding musical numbers like "Food, Glorious Food," "I'd Do Anything," "Consider Yourself" and "As Long As He Needs Me," is truly a musical theatre classic and a perfect show for the entire family.  

From March 5-22, WPPAC will present one of Broadway's most neglected masterpieces, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's romantic and achingly beautiful A Little Night Music, directed by Sidney J. Burgoyne. Winner of six 1973 Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical, the show deals with the universal subject of love in all it wondrous, humorous and ironic permutations. Sophisticated, literate and stylish, A Little Night Music is also disarmingly warm, funny, charming and very human. The lilting, Ravel-inspired score in 3/4 time contains Sondheim's most popular song, the haunting "Send in the Clowns."  

Closing out the season from April 30-May 17, is an all-new production of Jerry Herman's delightful Hello, Dolly!, directed by Jack W. Batman. This hilarious whirlwind race around NYC at the turn of the twentieth century follows the adventures of America's most beloved matchmaker, Dolly Gallagher Levi. "Some people paint, some sew…I meddle," says Dolly in this wildly-popular musical full of memorable songs that include "Put on Your Sunday Clothes," "Ribbons Down My Back," "Before the Parade Passes By," "It Only Takes A Moment" and the riotous title tune. Hello, Dolly! is the winner of ten 1964 Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical.

Subscriptions and tickets are now on sale at the box office, by phone at 914.328.1600 or online at www.wppac.com. White Plains Performing Arts Center is located on the third level of City Center at the corner of Main and Mamaroneck in downtown White Plains, with ample parking just steps from the theatre.  

White Plains Performing Arts Center is a professional, not-for-profit theatre that brings innovative and eclectic entertainment and classic Broadway musicals to appreciative audiences from Westchester and beyond. The 410-seat, $6 million theatre, under the direction of Executive Producer Jack W. Batman, also hosts local, national and international performing artists whose work reflects Westchester's diverse population. The 2008-2009 Season is sponsored by the Louis R. Cappelli Foundation and made possible, in part, by grants from the City of White Plains, major corporations, government and private foundations and individual donors.  

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