Hennepin Theatre Trust Announces Their 2010-11 Broadway Season

Today, Hennepin Theatre Trust announced a stellar 2010/11 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season showcasing a six-show slate of some of the nation's best new touring musicals combined with returning favorites, all scheduled to play the Trust's Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. Programming highlights include the 2009 multiple Tony Award winning Billy Elliot The Musical, as well as an exuberant tribute to the 60s with HAIR and a celebration of the 80s with Rock of Ages. In other season standouts, Shrek The Musical comes to life, Jersey Boys returns by popular demand to recapture the Twin Cities and star-crossed lovers fight the odds in West Side Story, direct from the current Broadway revival. A summer special to the season, Wicked is back for six weeks starting in August. Season ticket packages go on sale Tuesday, April 13, 2010. Individual tickets will be available at a later date.

Visit www.HennepinTheatreTrust.org for more information. For group tickets and reservations call 612.373.5665.

"We are thrilled to further enrich the vibrant cultural atmosphere of our community by bringing these outstanding Broadway touring productions to Minnesota audiences," says Tom Hoch, President/CEO of Hennepin Theatre Trust. "These shows will create unforgettable opportunities for patrons of all ages to engage with family and friends, escape to other worlds and be uplifted by the stories that unfold on stage. We invite you to experience the unforgettable!"

Wicked returns by popular demand for a six week run August 11-Sept. 19, 2010. A special to the season, Broadway's biggest blockbuster was called "the best musical of the decade" by Entertainment Weekly and broke box office records during sold out 2006 and 2008 Minneapolis engagements. Rock of Ages, set for Oct. 19-24, brings 80s music nostalgia back to the Orpheum with a classic rock love story-small town girl falls for Sunset Strip rocker-propelled by hits from Journey, Styx and REO Speedwagon. "Impossible to resist! As guilty as pleasures get," says the New York Times.

The new year leaps forward with the Minnesota debut of Billy Elliot The Musical, winner of 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, running Dec. 16, 2010-Jan. 9, 2011. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, Billy Elliot is the joyous celebration of one boy's journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising passion that inspires his family and his whole community. Shrek The Musical, set for Feb. 1-6, 2011, is an unconventional fairy tale based on the 2001 film about the swamp-dwelling ogre who teams with a wise-cracking donkey to rescue a feisty princess and discovers true love and friendship along the way.

HAIR, winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, comes to the Orpheum Theatre March 1-6, 2011. This exuberant production about young people searching for peace and love in the dawning of an American new age still stirs hearts with some of the greatest songs ever written for the stage-"Aquarius," "Let the Sun Shine In" and "Good Morning, Starshine."

Jersey Boys, the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit featuring the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, returns to the Orpheum Theatre April 21-May 8, 2011 following a popular, sold-out premiere 2008 engagement. This is the story about how a group of blue collar boys became one of America's biggest pop music sensations with chart toppers including "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Oh What a Night." The season culminates July 12-17, 2011 with the groundbreaking classic West Side Story. Featuring music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this musical's score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere." Directed by its two-time Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents, West Side Story features the original Jerome Robbins choreography restaged by Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely.

SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
Six-show season ticket packages go on sale Tuesday, April 13, 2010 and include Rock of Ages, Billy Elliot the Musical, Shrek The Musical, HAIR, Jersey Boys and West Side Story. Prices range from $139 to $542 and include applicable season ticket discounts, Select Seating, theatre restoration and handling fees. Information is available 24 hours a day at HennepinTheatreTrust.org. Patrons can also call the Broadway Across America Season Ticket Hotline at 1.800.859.SHOW (7469), Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. CST. By fax, dial 1.800.329.8587.

Current Season Ticket Holders are urged to respond to renewal notices immediately to retain their seats for this stellar season. The renewal deadline is Monday, May 17. Group tickets are on sale now and discounts are available for many performances. Group minimums vary; please call 612.373.5665 for information and reservations. Single tickets for individual productions will go on sale at a later date. Further information will be posted online as it becomes available at HennepinTheatreTrust.org and can also be received directly by signing up to receive email notification of the latest updates.

SEASON TICKET HOLDER BENEFITS
Season Ticket Holders get the best access to guaranteed seats for the year's hottest shows and enjoy many benefits including:
· Priority PRE-SALE opportunities to buy additional tickets before public on-sale dates
· EASY payment plan-pay in two installments at no additional charge
· SEASON HANDBOOK-an information guide plus a dining coupon book!
· FREE TICKET EXCHANGE and replacement services
· OFFERS from Hennepin Theatre Trust restaurant and hotel partners
· ADVANCE ACCESS to tickets for Broadway series shows at the Ordway

FLEX TICKET INFORMATION
Starting Monday, May 3, 2010 flex packages will also be available, allowing patrons to customize their own season by choosing three or more shows from any of the seven productions. Seating for each show is based upon availability after renewing Season Subscribers have been seated. Ticket buyers must select at least three shows, but can purchase tickets to as many shows as they want. They may also choose any performance and purchase up to eight tickets to each show at any desired price level. This offer is subject to ticket and location availability and additional fees may apply at the point of purchase.

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