IF/THEN, BEAUTIFUL & More Set for Broadway Philadelphia's 2015-16 Season

The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization today announced the 2015-2016 Broadway Philadelphia season, featuring a spectacular lineup of Tony Award winning Broadway hits. The upcoming season features productions with a combined 46 Tony nominations, and will introduce six brand-new national touring shows making their Philadelphia premieres. Subscribers receive priority access to all shows. Season ticket packages are on sale now.

The 2015-16 season brings the best of touring Broadway to Philadelphia with something for everyone to enjoy. Six shows will appeal to family audiences (Matilda The Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Sound of Music, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Riverdance), with several making their Philadelphia premieres over the holidays. Fans of great theatrical events will enjoy spectacular effects-including Tony Award winning scenic lighting (Matilda The Musical), and the return of beloved favorites with magical illusions (Pippin) and dazzling costumes (Disney's Beauty and the Beast)- as well as compelling new musicals (If/Then).

By popular demand, The Book of Mormon, which played a record breaking seven-week run in 2014, returns to Philadelphia for a limited engagement November 24 - December 27, 2015.

As one of the most popular and successful offerings by the Kimmel Center, Broadway Philadelphia has not only been a major draw to area theatre fans, but has also made its impact on the City of Philadelphia's economy, and helped contribute to the regional arts and culture community. The 2013-14 season generated over $100 million* in revenue for local businesses.

*according to the Broadway League calculation.

Broadway Philadelphia is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and The Shubert Organization with productions at the Academy of Music, Forrest Theatre, and Merriam Theater.

"We are thrilled to announce our exciting new 2015-16 Broadway Philadelphia season!" said Kimmel Center President and CEO Anne Ewers. "Each season we seek compelling theater productions with story lines that resonate with our diverse audiences. We are delighted to present five new family productions, part of an outstanding slate of subscription shows that will be premiering in Philadelphia. It is rewarding to know that our Broadway series continues to offer new experiences for Philadelphians and contributes greatly to the cultural and economic vitality of the city. We are extremely grateful for the support of our subscribers and the entire musical theatre community."

"We are delighted to team with the Kimmel Center to present another fantastic season of Broadway Philadelphia." said Philip J. Smith, Chairman of The Shubert Organization, Inc. We're proud of this year's terrific lineup of exciting productions, all of them representing the best of Broadway."

Broadway Philadelphia subscribers save up to 25% off single ticket prices and are offered a variety of exclusive privileges, including the first opportunity to select the best seats in the house and the option to renew their seats each year. Subscribers also enjoy a host of benefits, including free exchanges, priority ticket access, payment plan options, and more

Subscription packages range from $109 to $626 and are available online atkimmelcenter.org/bwy1516 or by calling 215-893-1955. Groups save: groups of 20 or more may call 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Visit online at kimmelcenter.org/groupsales or telecharge.com/groups. Single tickets for individual productions will go on sale at a later date.

2015/16 BROADWAY PHILADELPHIA SHOW SYNOPSIS

Bullets Over Broadway
October 27 - November 1, 2015 • Academy of Music

Written by Woody Allen, with direction and choreography by Susan Stroman and based upon the screenplay of the acclaimed film by Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath, Bullets Over Broadway is the story of a young playwright who, in desperate need of financial backing for his next show, accepts an offer he can't refuse from a mobster looking to please his showgirl girlfriend.

Matilda The Musical
November 17 - 29, 2015 • Academy of Music

TIME Magazine's #1 Show of the Year and winner of 50 international awards, including four Tony Awards, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, MATILDA continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages on Broadway and in London's West End. The Wall Street Journal says, "The makers of MATILDA have done the impossible - triumphantly! It is smart, sweet, zany and stupendous fun."

Pippin
February 23 - 28, 2016 • Academy of Music

Pippin is Broadway's high-flying, death-defying hit musical! Full of extraordinary acrobatics, wondrous magical feats and soaring songs from the composer of Wicked, Pippin will lift you up and leave you smiling. This unforgettable new production is the winner of four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival. Come experience Pippin, one young man's journey to be extraordinary.

The Sound Of Music
March 15 - 20, 2016 • Academy of Music

The Hills Are Alive! This brand new production of The Sound of Music is directed by Jack O'Brien. The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony, Grammy and Academy Award winning Best Score, including "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "Edelweiss" and the title song.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
March 22 - April 3, 2016 • Academy of Music

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical tells the Tony and Grammy Award-winning inspiring true story of King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

If/Then
June 21 - 26, 2016 • Academy of Music

If/Then is a contemporary Broadway musical about living in New York today - and all the possibilities of tomorrow. With unforgettable songs and a deeply moving story by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning creators of Next to Normal, this "fascinating, ambitious, and original new musical (New York Post)" simultaneously follows one woman's two possible life paths, painting a deeply moving portrait of the lives we lead, as well as the lives we might have led.

SEASON ADD-ON SHOWS

The Book Of Mormon
November 24 - December 27, 2015 • Forrest Theatre

Hailed by The New York Times as "the best musical of this century" and the winner of nine Tony Awards, The Book of Mormon is the blockbuster Broadway smash from "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and the Oscar-winning composer of Disney's Frozen and Avenue Q, Bobby Lopez. This outrageous musical comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. Now with standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, The Book of Mormon has truly become an international sensation. Contains explicit language.

For more information, please visit BookofMormonTheMusical.com.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:The Musical
December 15 - 20, 2015 • Merriam Theater

The beloved TV classic Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season. Come see all of your favorite characters from the special including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph, as they come to life in Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. It's an adventure that teaches us that what makes you different can be what makes you special. Don't miss this wonderful holiday tradition that speaks to the misfit in all of us.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
December 29, 2015 - January 3, 2016 • Merriam Theater

One of the most enduring shows of all time, Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the irresistible family musical about the trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel's favorite son. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler, this new production is a reimagining of the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colors. The magical musical is full of unforgettable songs, including 'Go Go Go Joseph,' 'Any Dream Will Do' and 'Close Every Door.' Book your tickets and be part of the magic!

NETworks Presents
Disney's Beauty and The Beast
February 16 - 21, 2016 • Academy of Music

Disney's Beauty And The Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Riverdance - The 20th Anniversary World Tour
June 14 - 19, 2016 • Merriam Theater

The international dance phenomenon is back by popular demand in Riverdance- The 20thAnniversary Tour. Composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan, Riverdance captures the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures with an innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song. Nothing has carried the energy, the sensuality and the spectacle of Riverdance.

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