St. Louis' Fox Theatre Presents Spamalot, Piazza and More

Fox Associates announces its 2006-2007 U.S. Bank Broadway Series, featuring Broadway’s latest blockbuster Monty Python's Spamalot, winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical.  Plus, four new shows are making their St. Louis debuts: The Light in the Piazza, Edward Scissorhands, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  There will also be a return engagement of The Lion King.

The Fox also announces six specials for which U.S. Bank Broadway series subscribers will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets.  The Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s production of A Christmas Carol brings holiday cheer to the Fox December 15-18.  Andrew Lloyd Webber'’s musical Cats prowls into the Fox Theatre December 26-31.  Returning January 2-7 is Mamma Mia!, followed by the Dance St. Louis presentation of Stomp, February 16-18.  The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the 2005 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Doubt,, taking the stage February 20-25, and starring Cherry Jones, who won the Tony for Best Actress in this play.  Chicago also returns to razzle-dazzle audiences April 13-15, 2007.

The 2006-2007 U.S. Bank Broadway season opens October 31-November 26 with Spamalot.  Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, the show is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic "Monty Python and The Holy Grail." Directed by Tony Award-winner Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, "the musical tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail.  Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up Spamalot," state press notes.

Direct from Broadway and the winner of six Tony Awards including Best Score, The Light in the Piazza, which takes the stage January 30-February 11, is the romantic new musical that brings together the talents of Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas in an adaptation of Elizabeth Spencer'’s novella, directed by Bartlett Sher. "This lush, dreamy musical finds Margaret Johnson on vacation in the Tuscan countryside with her daughter Clara, who has an unexpected encounter with a handsome Florentine named Fabrizio.  Be swept away to Italy where true love and marriage abound in this contemporary, witty and elegant production."  The Light in the Piazza won more Tony Awards than any other show last season.

From London'’s West End, Matthew Bourne and New Adventures (Swan Lake) bring their magical new adaptation of the classic Tim Burton motion picture Edward Scissorhands to the Fox Theatre February 27-March 11, immediately prior to its New York debut.  "A treat for the whole family, this touching and witty gothic fairytale tells the story of a boy created by an eccentric inventor. With only scissors for hands, Edward must find his place in a strange new suburban world where the well-meaning community struggles to see past his appearance to the innocence and gentleness within," state press notes. The show is presented locally by Dance St. Louis.

Scheming into the Fox Theatre March 27-April 8 is the double-crossing hit Broadway show Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. This raucous new musical reunites David Yazbek (music and lyrics) with Tony Award winners Jack O'’Brien (direction) and Jerry Mitchell (choreography), the Tony-nominated team behind The Full Monty.  Based on the popular 1988 MGM film and set on the glorious, glamorous Riviera, the musical "is a delicious comedy that follows two con artists as they take on the lifestyles of the rich and shameless - and end up with a lot more than they bargain for."

In the Tony Award-winning new musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spellign Bee, playing May 8-20, "six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser."

The Lion King will make its return to the Fox Theatre for six weeks June 21-July 29. "Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals brought to life by award-winning director Julie Taymor, whose visual images audiences will remember forever. Thrill to the rhythms of the African Pridelands and an unforgettable score including Elton John and Tim Rice’s Oscar-winning songs “'Can You Feel the Love Tonight'” and “'Circle of Life.”'"

Current subscribers will receive their renewal information by the end of April with new subscriptions going on sale June 18.  On-sale dates for individual shows will be announced later.  For more information, please call the Fox Subscription office at 314/535-1700. Groups of 20 or more should call 314/535-2900 for special rates and reservations.  More information is also available on-line at www.metrotix.com or www.fabulousfox.com.  The Broadway Series at the Fox Theatre is presented by U.S. Bank.

To post a comment, you must register and login.