BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) -- Shea's Performing Arts announced their line up of Broadway shows for the upcoming 2010-2011 season Thursday night.
Organizers entertained more than 800 guests at Thursday's announcement where officials revealed what shows are coming to Buffalo this season.
Shea’s Performing Arts Center and Albert Nocciolino
Present the 2010-11 M & T Bank Broadway Series
Buffalo, NY – Shea’s Performing Arts Center and Broadway Partner/Producer Albert Nocciolino proudly present the 2010-11 M & T Bank Broadway Series. This is the 23nd year of presenting world-class Broadway productions featuring fabulous award-winning shows with the best in music, choreography, staging, costumes and sets as they grace the state-of-the art facilities and Shea’s National Historic Theatre.
President of Shea’s Anthony Conte said, “We’re excited to present another great Broadway Season and think our patrons will enjoy the variety of programming with new touring productions such as Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s MARY POPPINS which opens our season and SHREK THE MUSICAL.” Last season was a record year for us with over 12,000 season tickets sold, the most in the history of Shea’s, and we thank the community for their support. We think the excitement will continue with our 2010-11 Season.”
Broadway Partner and Producer for 23 years, Albert Nocciolino expressed the significance of a Broadway season like this and the reputation that Shea’s has in the touring Broadway community. “We are very thankful for the support of our subscribers in the Buffalo-Niagara Region in helping us achieve record-setting sales for all our shows this past season. This certainly will continue to give us the national recognition that will ensure Shea’s getting the touring Broadway shows so early in their tours,” he said.
The 2010-2011 M & T Bank Broadway Series:
MARY POPPINS October 14 – 31, 2010
Kicking off the Shea’s Broadway Season beginning October, 2010, the world’s most famous nanny will arrive at Shea’s! Combining the best of the original stories by P. L. Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film, the Tony® Award-winning MARY POPPINS is everything you’d hope for in a Broadway musical—and more. Produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, the show includes such wonderful songs as Chim Chim Cher-ee, A Spoonful of Sugar, Let’s Go Fly a Kite and, of course, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The NY Daily News hails MARY POPPINS as “a roof-raising, toe-tapping, high-flying extravaganza!” Let your imagination take flight at this perfectly magical musical! www.marypoppins.com
DREAMGIRLS December 14 – 19, 2010
CATCH THE DREAM! Direct from Harlem’s world famous Apollo Theater in New York City, a sensational new stage production of DREAMGIRLS comes to Buffalo! Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, DREAMGIRLS tells the story of an up-and-coming, 1960s singing girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. With music by Academy® Award nominee Henry Krieger and book and lyrics by Tony® and Grammy®-Award winner Tom Eyen, DREAMGIRLS features the unforgettable hits: "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," "One Night Only" and "Listen." Broadway director and choreographer Robert Longbottom along with some of Broadway's top designers, re-envision this Tony® and Academy® Award winning musical so it sparkles like never before! www.dreamgirlsonstage.com
SHREK THE MUSICAL February 22 – 27, 2011
Based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life the stage. In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre – not a handsome prince – shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won’t shut up, a bad guy with a SHORT temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek. Featuring a terrific score of 19 all-new songs, big laughs, great dancing and breathtaking scenery, USA Today proclaims SHREK THE MUSICAL, “ALTOGETHER IRRESISTIBLE. A BIG FAT HIT!” SHREK THE MUSICAL is part romance, part twisted fairy tale and all irreverent fun for everyone! www.ShrekTheMusical.com
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN March 22 – 27, 2011
The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE...and it's headed here! You'll have a monstrously good time at this spectacular new production, winner of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award and the Broadway.com Audience Award for BEST MUSICAL! This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen) as heattempts to create a monster--but not without scary and hilarious complications. The brains behind the laughter is mad genius and three-time Tony® winner Mel Brooks himself--who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book- along with his record-breaking team from The Producers: five-time Tony-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman and three-time Tony-winning writer, Thomas Meehan. www.YoungFrankensteinTheMusical.com
WICKED April 27 – May 22, 2011
Back by “Popular” demand! Entertainment Weekly calls WICKED "the best musical of the decade,” and when it first played at Shea’s in 2008, it broke box office records! Winner of 26 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, WICKED is Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, a cultural phenomenon and was just named “the defining musical of the decade" by The New York Times. Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for "the most complete and completely satisfying new musical in a long time" (USA Today). www.wickedthemusical.com
WEST SIDE STORY June 7 – 12, 2011
More than 50 years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it’s back on Broadway mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by Tony Award®-winner Arthur Laurents, WEST SIDE STORY remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. Winner of the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
“So exciting IT MAKES YOU ACHE WITH PLEASURE.” –John Lahr, The New Yorker www.broadwaywestsidestory.com
2010-2011 Special Engagements include:
DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY Oct. 26 – Nov. 14, 2010 Shea’s Smith Theatre
Dixie's Tupperware Party is the hilarious show which turned Off-Broadway into a Tupperware mania celebration and garnered the prestigious 2008 Drama Desk Award Nomination. The show stars Dixie Longate, as the fast-talking Tupperware Lady, who has packed up her catalogues, and left her children in an Alabama trailer park to journey across America. Critics and audiences have howled with laughter as Dixie throws a good ol' fashioned Tupperware Party filled with outrageously funny tales, heartfelt accounts, FREE giveaways, audience participation and a fabulous assortment of Tupperware ever sold on a theater stage! ADULT COMEDY FOR AUDIENCES 16+. www.dixiestupperwareparty.com
THE NUTCRACKER November 27 & 28, 2010
Shea’s, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Neglia Ballet Artists collaborate for a second consecutive year to present Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday ballet The Nutcracker. This traditional production of the work will be conceived, choreographed and produced by Neglia Ballet Artists Artistic Director Sergio Neglia and Executive Director Heidi Halt Neglia with live accompaniment by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE December 10 - 12, 2010
Due to popular demand, Cirque Dreams will return for five performances! The spirit of Christmas wrapped up in the imagination of “Cirque Dreams” creates the perfect holiday gift for the entire family.
www.cirqueproductions.com
Michael Flatley’s LORD OF THE DANCE March 18, 2011
Described by the New York Post as "fascinating, rewarding and above all, entertaining," Lord of the Dance is a mesmerizing blend of traditional and modern Celtic music and dance. The story is based upon mythical Irish folklore as Don Dorcha, Lord of Darkness, challenges the ethereal lord of light, the Lord of the Dance. Battle lines are drawn, passions ignite and a love story fueled by the dramatic leaps and turns of dancers’ bodies begins to build against a backdrop of Celtic rhythm. The action is played out over 21 scenes on a grand scale of precision dancing, dramatic music, colorful costumes and state-of-the-art staging and lighting. www.lordofthedance.com
Additional Special Engagements will be announced.
SEASON TICKETS TO THE 2010-11 M & T Bank BROADWAY SERIES ARE ON SALE NOW.
To order, call (716) 847-0850, go to www.sheas.org or to the Shea’s Ticket Office, 650 Main Streeet. There are great season ticket holder benefits including priority seating, exchange privileges, convenient payment plans, parking plan (first-come, first-serve basis) and first opportunity to purchase tickets to the Broadway Series shows and Special Engagements.
To book a group (15+) now, call 716-829-1153 or 716-829-1154.
Upcoming single ticket on sale dates will be posted to www.sheas.org when that information becomes available.
Shea’s Broadway Series sponsors are M & T Bank, The Buffalo News, BlueCrossBlueShield of Western New York and WKBW-TV.
Shows, dates, times, prices, & artists subject to change.
SHEA’S MISSION STATEMENT
To restore and maintain Shea’s Buffalo Theatre for present and future generations to enjoy as a working historic theatre providing a wide variety of live performing arts experiences for our patrons and innovative and effective educational experiences fostering an appreciation of live theatre by area youth.
Channel 7 is the official television sponsor of Shea's Performing Arts, and will have complete coverage and the full line-up of shows when they are released.
For more, go to the Shea's Buffalo website by clicking "news links" at the top of the page.
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