Piedmont Players Theatre Announces 54th Season

Piedmont Players Theatre (PPT) is proud to announce the line up for its 54th season! The 2014-2015 season will be a little different this year. Instead of the standard fall musical this year, PPT will collaborate with the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra on a truly spectacular production of Les Miserables which will take place Oct 17-19 at Keppel Auditorium on the campus of Catawba College. Although Les Miserables is not considered part of the season, 2014-2015 PPT Season ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to Les Mis now. General tickets to the public will not go on sale until the first week of September; only PPT and SSO season tickets holders will be able to reserve seats for the Keppel performance until after Labor Day.

PPT's 54th season is perhaps the most exciting line up yet. The youth season features one of the most popular stories of all time; Charlotte's Web, as well as the Disney smash hit, Tarzan! The Meroney season is anchored by 7 time Tony Award Winning Musical - CATS and 3 Time Tony Award Winning Musical - Ain't Misbehavin'. For a complete list of shows as well as details on season tickets, Les Miserables tickets and sponsorship opportunities call 70-633-5471 or visit PiedmontPlayers.com!

2014-2015 Meroney Theater Season (213 S. Main St.)

Lombardi - CATS - One Man, Two Guvnors - Ain't Misbehavin'

2014-2015 Norvell Theater Season (135 E. Fisher St.)

The Magic Treehouse: Dinosaurs Before Dark - A Seussified Christmas Carol - The Scottish Play - Charlotte's Web - Disney's TARZAN

*Tickets to the PPT/Salisbury Symphony production of Les Miserables will be available to those purchasing 2014-2015 Season Tickets.

SHOW DESCRIPTIONS

Meroney Theater

LOMBARDI

Show Dates: Jan 29-31, Feb 1, 4-7

Auditions: Dec 1-2

Based on the book When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss, Lombardi is a play that follows legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi through a week in the 1965 season, as he attempts to lead his team to the championship. A reporter wants to "find out what makes Lombardi win." When players on the team refuse to be interviewed, he goes instead to Lombardi's wife, Marie, for answers. Marie reveals that the family had an emotional move to Green Bay, Wisconsin when Lombardi joined the Packers and the reporter realizes that Lombardi is "the most imperfect, perfect man" he ever met.

Based on the book When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss.

CATS

Show Dates: March 12-15 & 18-21

Auditions: Jan 6-7

Since Cats first opened on the West End stage in 1981, it has become one of the world's best known and best-loved musicals and is the second longest running Broadway Musical in history. Cats has been presented in over 20 countries and won numerous awards, including Best Musical at both the Laurence Olivier Awards and the Tony Awards. The London production ran for twenty-one years and the Broadway production ran for eighteen years, both setting new records.

WINNER of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical & Best Original Score

WINNER of 2 Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical

ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS

Show Dates: Apr 23-26, 29-30 May 1-2

Auditions: Mar 16-17

In 1960s Brighton, an easily confused Francis Henshall becomes separately employed by two men - Roscoe Crabbe, a local gangster and Stanley Stubbers, an upper class criminal. Francis tries to keep the two from meeting, in order to avoid each of them learning that Francis is also working for someone else. An award winning English adaptation of Servant of Two Masters, 1 MAN 2 GUVERNORS is a glorious celebration of British comedy - a unique, laugh-out-loud mix of satire, songs, slapstick and glittering one-liners. The Guardian gave it 5 stars, saying that it was "A triumph of visual and verbal comedy. One of the funniest productions in the National's history.

BEST NEW PLAY Critics' Circle Award, Evening Standard Award

AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'

Show Dates: July 23-26 & 29-31 Aug 1

Auditions: May 11-12

The inimitable Thomas "Fats" Waller rose to international fame during the Golden Age of the Cotton Club, honky tonk dives along Lenox Avenue, rent parties, stride piano players and that jumpin' new beat, Swing. AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' is a tribute to the black musicians of the 1920s and '30s who were part of the Harlem Renaissance, an era of growing creativity. Evoking the delightful humor and infectious energy of this American original, a versatile cast struts, strums and sings the songs he made famous. One of the most popular, well-crafted revues of all time, this musical is sometimes sassy, sometimes sultry, with moments of devastating beauty, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' is simply unforgettable.

WINNER of 3 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

WINNER of 3 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical.

WINNER of 2 Theatre World Awards

Norvell Theater

MAGIC TREE HOUSE: DINOSAURS BEFORE DARK

Producing Partner: Salisbury Academy

School Show Dates: Nov 11-14

Public Show Dates: Nov 14-15 & Nov 21-22

Auditions: Sept 22-23

Join Jack and Annie on their adventure back in time to experience an amazing group of dinosaurs face to face. MAGIC TREE HOUSE: DINOSAURS BEFORE DARK KIDS is an adaptation of the first of Mary Pope Osborne's award-winning fantasy adventure books from the Magic Tree House book series. The books are number one New York Times bestsellers - more than 100 million copies have been sold in North America alone.

A SEUSSIFIED CHRISTMAS CAROL

School Show Dates: Dec 9-12

Public Show Dates: Dec 12-13, 19-20

Auditions: Oct 21-22

A whimsical reinvention of Dickens' most beloved Christmas story in wacky rhymed couplets. With zoot fruited juices and binka bird geese, from Bed-Headed Fred to Timmy Loo Hoo, this tale of glorious holiday cheer is similar to something Dr. Seuss might have come up with -- if he ever had his way with the story!

THE SCOTTISH PLAY

Producing Partners: Edward & Susan Norvell

School Show Dates: Feb 18-20

Public Show Dates: Feb 20-21 & 27-28

Auditions: Jan 5-6

Macbeth is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy, and tells the story of a brave Scottish general named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne for himself. Over the course of many centuries, the play has attracted some of the most renowned actors to the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

CHARLOTTE'S WEB

Producing Partners: Owen & Elizabeth Norvell

Public Show Dates: May 7-10 & 14-16

Auditions: Mar 30-31

The Children's Literature Association named this "the best American children's book of the past two hundred years." The play captures this work in a thrilling and utterly practical theatrical presentation. Determined to save Wilbur the pig, Charlotte, the spider, begins a campaign with the "miracle" of her web in which she writes, "Some pig." It's the beginning of a victorious campaign, which ultimately ends with the now-safe Wilbur doing what is most important to Charlotte. This is a beautiful, knowing play about friendship that will give your actors a great opportunity and your audience an evening of enchantment

DISNEY'S TARZAN

Show Dates: July 9-12 & 16-18

Auditions: May 18-19

Washed up on the shores of West Africa, an infant boy is taken in and raised by gorillas who name him TARZAN. Apart from striving for acceptance from his ape father, Tarzan's life is mostly monkey business until a human expedition treks into his tribe's territory and he encounters creatures like himself for the first time. Tarzan struggles to navigate a jungle, thick with emotion as he discovers his animal upbringing clashing with his human instincts.

Based on Disney's epic animated musical adventure, TARZAN features heart-pumping music by rock legend Phil Collins and a book by Tony Award-winning playwright, David Henry Hwang. High-flying excitement and hits like the Academy Award winning "You'll Be in My Heart" as well as "Son of Man" and "Two Worlds" make TARZAN an unforgettable theatrical experience.

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