The Bushnell Announces 2017-18 Broadway Series Season

The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts announced today the productions that will make up its 2017-2018 Broadway Series season. Beginning this summer, The Bushnell will bring seven exciting titles to Hartford as part of the Series, along with additional off-Series hits to round out a strong season lineup. Series titles are FINDING NEVERLAND, SCHOOL OF ROCK, 2016 Tony-winning Best Revival THE COLOR PURPLE, SOMETHING ROTTEN!, THE BODYGUARD, LOVE NEVER DIES - The Phantom Returns, and ON YOUR FEET! - The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. The 2017-2018 Bushnell Broadway Series is co-sponsored by Travelers.

Smash hit Tony Award winner HAMILTON was also announced to make its Connecticut premiere during the 2018-2019 season.

A number of audience favorites will also return to The Bushnell during the 2017-2018 season including LES MISERABLES (October 3-8, 2017) and STOMP (January 12-14, 2018), both part of the Encore Series sponsored by United Technologies; A CHRISTMAS STORY (November 24-26, 2017), THE WIZARD OF OZ (April 6-8, 2018), DISENCHANTED! (April 13-15, 2018), and THE ILLUSIONISTS, (May 4-6, 2018). Also, the stage version of the holiday classic A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS will make its Bushnell debut December 1-3, 2017.

Bushnell President and CEO David Fay said of the lineup, "I'm thrilled that the staff at The Bushnell has again put together an exciting and well-rounded season of high-quality Broadway entertainment. There is much to appeal to families, Broadway traditionalists, and those who enjoy contemporary theatrical offerings. I think our season ticket holders and single ticket buyers will be very happy with these crowd-pleasing selections."

Current season ticket holders will receive their renewal packages in the coming weeks, and new subscription packages will be available in early summer; new patrons interested in season tickets may call the box office now to have their name placed on a waiting list. Single tickets will go on sale this summer. All dates, titles, and artists are subject to change.

The 2017-2018 Broadway Series

FINDING NEVERLAND, August 1-6, 2017

The winner of Broadway.com's Audience Choice Award for Best Musical, this breathtaking smash "captures the kid-at-heart," says TIME Magazine. Vogue cheers, "It's a must-see you'll remember for years to come!" Directed by visionary Tony winner Diane Paulus and based on the critically-acclaimed Academy Award winning film, FINDING NEVERLAND tells the incredible story behind one of the world's most beloved characters: Peter Pan. Playwright J.M. Barrie struggles to find inspiration until he meets four Young Brothers and their beautiful widowed mother. Spellbound by the boys' enchanting make-believe adventures, he sets out to write a play that will astound London theatergoers. With a little bit of pixie dust and a lot of faith, Barrie takes this monumental leap, leaving his old world behind for Neverland, where nothing is impossible and the wonder of childhood lasts forever. The magic of Barrie's classic tale springs spectacularly to life in this heartwarming theatrical event.

SCHOOL OF ROCK The Musical, October 24-29, 2017

SCHOOL OF ROCK is a New York Times Critics' Pick and "An inspiring jolt of energy, joy, and mad skillz!" (Entertainment Weekly). Based on the hit film, this hilarious new musical follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star posing as a substitute teacher who turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. This high-octane smash features 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, all the original songs from the movie and musical theater's first-ever kids rock band playing their instruments live on stage.

THE COLOR PURPLE, December 5-10, 2017

THE COLOR PURPLE is the 2016 Tony Award winner for Best Musical Revival! Hailed as "a direct hit to the heart" (The Hollywood Reporter), this joyous American classic has conquered Broadway in an all-new "ravishingly reconceived production that is a glory to behold" (The New York Times) directed by Tony winner John Doyle. With a soul-raising score of jazz, gospel, ragtime and blues, THE COLOR PURPLE gives an exhilarating new spirit to this Pulitzer Prize-winning story. This stunning re-imagining of an epic story about a young woman's journey to love and triumph in the American South is the musical sensation that New York Magazine calls "one of the greatest revivals ever."

SOMETHING ROTTEN!, January 30 - February 4, 2018

Direct from Broadway, SOMETHING ROTTEN! is a "big, fat hit!" (New York Post). Set in the '90s - the 1590s - this hilarious smash tells the story of Nick and Nigel Bottom, two brothers who are desperate to write their own hit play while the "rock star" Shakespeare keeps getting all the hits. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world's very first MUSICAL! With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, SOMETHING ROTTEN! is "The Producers + Spamalot + The Book of Mormon. Squared!" (New York Magazine).

THE BODYGUARD The Musical, February 20 - 25, 2018

Based on the smash hit film, the award-winning musical will star Grammy Award-nominee and R&B superstar Deborah Cox! Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don't expect is to fall in love. A breathtakingly romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a host of irresistible classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest selling songs of all time - I Will Always Love You. Based on Lawrence Kasdan's Oscar-nominatEd Warner Bros. film and adapted by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris, THE BODYGUARD had its world premiere in London's West End where it was nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and won Best New Musical at the Whatsonstage Awards.

LOVE NEVER DIES - The Phantom Returns May 29 - June 3, 2018

The ultimate love story continues in LOVE NEVER DIES, Andrew Lloyd Webber's spell-binding sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. LOVE NEVER DIES is a dazzling new production, which takes audiences on a thrilling rollercoaster ride of intrigue, obsession and romance. Be seduced by the beautiful, sometimes magical and poetic, sometimes joyful, and occasionally melancholic score in this magnificent continuation of one of the world's greatest love stories.

ON YOUR FEET! - The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, June 19-24, 2018

From their humble beginnings in Cuba, Emilio and Gloria Estefan came to America and broke through all barriers to become a crossover sensation at the very top of the pop music world. But just when they thought they had it all, they almost lost everything. From international superstardom to life-threatening tragedy, ON YOUR FEET takes you behind the music and inside the real story of this record-making and groundbreaking couple who, in the face of adversity, found a way to end up on their feet.

Ticket Information

· Current season ticket holders will receive their renewal packages in the mail by the end of March.

· If you wish to become a season ticket holder, please call The Bushnell Box Office at 860-987-5900. In early May, new season ticket orders will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis after all renewing patrons have been accommodated.

· On-sale dates for individual tickets will be announced soon.

About The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts

The Bushnell is Connecticut's premier performing arts center, hosting more than 350 events yearly, including major Broadway tours, symphony orchestras, family presentations, local arts and community events. The Bushnell is home to two theaters- the historic 2,800-seat Mortensen Hall, and the 907-seat Belding Theater, a state-of-the-art performance hall that opened in 2001. The Bushnell's nationally recognized, award-winning, arts-in-education program, PARTNERS (Partners in Arts and Education Revitalizing Schools), now in its 24th year, continues to provide quality arts-in-education programs for schools and communities across Connecticut. The Bushnell opened in January 1930 and is a not-for-profit organization that is proud to serve Connecticut and its citizens. For more information, call The Bushnell at 860-987-6000, The Bushnell box office at 860-987-5900 or visit our website at www.bushnell.org.