Theatre at the Center Announces Exciting 2009 Season

 
 

William Pullinsi, Artistic Director, coming off Theatre at the Center's most successful season to date, announces Theatre at the Center's 2009 season featuring four classic Broadway style musicals and a new comedy. Musicals featured in the 2007-2008 season included the Jeff-recommended Knute Rockne All-American, La Cage aux Folles and the current production of Phantom, which all did capacity business. The Producers, which has won more Tony awards than any other musical in Broadway history, will star Norm Boucher and Michael Mahler. The production is already selling tickets at a fast pace and will preview September 11th, open September 18th, and close October 19th. Following The Producers, the family favorite A Wonderful Life will preview November 13th, open November 21st, and close December 21st.
 
The 2009 season includes Ken Ludwig's farce Leading Ladies which will make its Chicago area premiere February 19th and run through March 22nd; Crazy for You, the Tony award winning Gershwin musical extravaganza previews May 7th and runs through June 14th; Footloose,  the Broadway sensation based on the 1984 movie previews July 9th and runs through August 16th; Man of La Mancha , the romantic musical about Don Quixote will preview September 10th and run through October 11th; and the critically acclaimed Chicago holiday and family classic The Christmas Schooner previews November 12th and runs through December 20th.
 
The season opens with the outrageously funny farce Leading Ladies. In this delightful comedy, two English Shakespearean actors find themselves down and out in1950's Amish Pennsylvania. When the actors get word of a dying heiress about to leave a fortune to her two long lost English nephews, the pair hatch a scheme to get the cash. However, once they get there they realize that the sought-after relatives aren't nephews at all, but nieces! Gender bending is a piece of cake for a couple of Shakespearean actors – until you throw a little romance into the mix to shake things up. Ken Ludwig, the author of Leading Ladies, is known for his popular comedies such as Lend Me a Tenor.
 
 
The high-energy musical Crazy for You features music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and won three Tony Awards including Best Musical. The production features classic Gershwin songs such as "Embraceable You", "Nice Work If You Can Get It", "I Got Rhythm", and "Someone to Watch Over Me." In this show-stopping hit, a stage-struck son of a New York banking family is sent to Deadrock, Nevada to close down the local theater. But when he falls head over heels for the theater owner's daughter, he finds himself putting on a top-notch production to save the theatre, but also to keep his dreams of romance alive.
 
The season continues with the four-time Tony Award winner, Footloose, an exhilarating musical based on the hit 1984 movie. Hailed as a show that "makes you want to dance in the street!" Footloose tells the story of a boy from Chicago who finds himself having to move to a small, rural town where dancing and rock 'n roll are forbidden. The teenager creates a sensation when he plans a high school dance, but ultimately reinvigorates the conservative community by even convincing the town's minister to cut footloose. With music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford, this high-energy production by a 20-plus ensemble features some great dance tunes including "Holding out for a Hero,"  "Let's Hear It for the Boy," and Kenny Loggin's "Footloose."
 
Five-time Tony Award winner Man of La Mancha tells the story of a romantic and epic journey of a knight and his sidekick who set out to find the woman of his dreams. Based on The Adventures of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, this play within a play is performed by Cervantes and his fellow prisoners as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. The spectacular production comes alive on stage with soaring music including the classic song "The Impossible Dream." Man of La Mancha is written by Dale Wasserman and the show's music is by Mitch Leigh.
 
The season closes with the heartwarming classic The Christmas Schooner. This holiday musical shares of the story of a Michigan shipping captain who braves the deadly winter weather to bring Christmas trees to homesick German American families in turn-of-the-century Chicago. His voyages to the fire-ravaged city become a yearly Tannenbaum tradition despite his wife's wishes – until she too comes to realize the true importance of his mission. Filled with lively music and dancing, the show is perfect family holiday entertainment. The Christmas Schooner book is by Chicago actor John Reeger and music and lyrics are by Julie Shannon.
 
Founded in 1991, Theatre at the Center has grown into a year-round professional, equity theater at its home, The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Theatre at the Center is conveniently located off I-80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago.
 
Performances for the 2009 season are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. ($36.00); Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ($40.00); Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. ($40.00); Sundays at 2:30 p.m. ($40.00) and select Thursdays at 7:30, Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 pm ($36.00).  Season subscriptions to all of these timeless classics are available for $150. Theatre at the Center also offers Flex Passes for customers to enjoy the 2008 season at their own convenience. The Flex Pass ($140.00) is good for four seat credits to be used for any remaining performance in the subscription series and makes a great gift. To purchase season tickets, individual tickets or Flex Passes call the Box Office at 219.836.3255 or Tickets.com at 800.511.1552.  Group discounts, available for groups of 20 or more; and gift certificates, perfect for all special occasions are also available by calling the Box Office at 219.836.3255.  For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit www.theatreatthecenter.org.

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