Theatre By The Sea's Summer 2015 Season to Feature MY FAIR LADY, THE LITTLE MERMAID & More

Bill Hanney has announced the full lineup for the 2015 Summer Season at the historic Theatre By The Sea (TBTS). The four show subscription season will feature SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, MY FAIR LADY starring Charles Shaughnessy, Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, and the Mel Brooks musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. The 2015 Children's Festival features 5 shows presented on Friday mornings for the youngest of arts lovers, and Camp Theatre By The Sea will perform LEGALLY BLONDE, JR.

Tickets are on sale April 20 by phone (401-782-8587) and online (www.theatrebythesea.com). The Box Office window will open Sunday, May 3 at 10am for in person sales at 364 Cards Pond Road in Matunuck, RI. Patrons who visit the box office in person on May 3 are encouraged to bring their family to enjoy complimentary light snacks and explore the beautiful seaside grounds and gardens.

"Choosing a season to follow the record-breaking summer of 2014 at Theatre By The Sea was not the easiest job. However, I am extremely happy to announce the 2015 season looks to be just as exciting, and will include something for everyone," said TBTS owner and producer Bill Hanney. " The season includes the nostalgic hit music of the '50s and '60s in Smokey Joe's Cafe, a magical family production of Disney's The Little Mermaid, the outrageous comedy of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, and Lerner and Lowe's classic musical masterpiece, My Fair Lady, starring Charles Shaughnessy, the Emmy Award-winning star of The Nanny."

2015 MUSICAL SCHEDULE:

SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE June 3 - June 21

MY FAIR LADY June 24 - July 18

Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID July 22 - August 15

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN August 19 - September 6

2015 Children's Festival

CINDERELLA July 10

THE FROG PRINCE July 17

LEGALLY BLONDE, JR. July 31

THE AIRBORN COMEDIANS August 7

Keith Michael Johnson's BUBBLEOLOGY August 14

CAMP THEATRE BY THE SEA July 20 - 31

The longest-running musical revue in Broadway history, Smokey Joe's CafE, will open the 2015 season at TBTS. In the 50's and 60's, the songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller helped to bridge the gap between black and white audiences and remain some of the most iconic music of that era. This electrifying evening of entertainment will feature 41 toe-tapping classics such as "Hound Dog," "Stand By Me," "On Broadway," "Fools Fall in Love," "Love Potion #9," "Poison Ivy," "Jailhouse Rock," "Yakety Yak," and so many more. Smokey Joe's CafE plays from June 3 thru June 21.

Hailed as one of the greatest musicals of all time, My Fair Lady plays from June 24 thru July 18. This classic musical is the timeless story of Professor Henry Higgins (played by Charles Shaughnessy), the crotchety, middle-aged bachelor and phoneticist, and Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower girl, who becomes part of his experiment in order to transform herself into a "lady." The story, based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, features a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The score includes "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Get Me to the Church on Time," "Wouldn't it Be Loverly," "The Rain in Spain" and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face."

Despite and extensive stage and screen career in England before moving to the US in 1983, Emmy© Award-winning actor, Charles Shaughnessy is best known for his six years as Maxwell Sheffield on CBS's "The Nanny" and eight years as Shane Donovan on "Days of Our Lives." He has enjoyed a long and varied career including an Emmy for his voice work on the Disney series, "Stanley," and a memorable arc as St. John Powell on AMC's "Mad Men." In his spare time he is passionate about giving every opportunity possible to young people who might otherwise be denied a place at the table, and volunteers with the Family Crisis Center, "1736", in the South Bay and the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation in Boston.

Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, the under the sea musical spectacular, hits the Theatre stage from July 22 to August 15. In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on the classic Disney animated feature, Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID is a splashy extravaganza. Prepare to be swept away by the classic songs you remember, and delighted by new ones written by Oscar-winning Disney tunesmith Alan Menken. The show is spectacular fun for the whole family!

From the creators of the record-breaking Broadway sensation The Producers comes this monster new musical comedy Young Frankenstein, playing August 19 thru September 6. This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend is based on Mel Brooks' classic comedy masterpiece. The story follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein as he attempts to complete his grandfather's masterwork and bring a corpse to life. With such memorable tunes as "The Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and "Puttin' On The Ritz," YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is a scientifically proven, monstrously good entertainment.

Musicals run Tuesdays through Sundays. Check Website for exact dates and show times. Tickets are $45, $55, & $65. Tickets are on sale April 20 by calling (401) 782-8587, online at theatrebythesea.com, or in person (starting May 3) at 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. 4 Show discount subscriptions are on sale now, call the Box Office for pricing and information. The 2015 Season is sponsored by WJAR - NBC 10.

Theatre By The Sea will also continue its popular Children's Festival in 2014. Shows will include Cinderella (July 10), The Frog Prince (July 17), Legally Blonde, Jr. (July 31), The Airborne Comedians (August 7), and Keith Michael Johnson's Bubbleology (August 14). All shows at 10am & 12 Noon and all tickets are $12.

There will also be a summer camp for kids (ages 10 - 16) who love musical theatre. Parents can register children for Camp Theatre By The Sea, two fun-filled weeks of Theatre Arts education culminating in a full production of LEGALLY BLONDE, JR.. This summer's camp will run July 20 through July 31 and will be taught by RI's own Tom Gleadow.