2017-2018 PNC Broadway Pittsburgh
Season Line Up of Musicals
The PNC
Foundation joined the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on
Monday, March 20, 2017 at the Byham Theatre to introduce its 2017-2018 season
lineup of Broadway musicals that will be performed at various theatres throughout
the Pittsburgh Cultural District. The
theme, “Your Wish is Granted” couldn’t be further from the truth, because you
just had to be there to witness the roar of the crowd as the following musicals
were announced:
School of Rock – NY Times Critics’ Pick and an
“inspiring jolt of energy, joy and mad skillz!” (Entertainment Weekly). Based on the hit film, this musical follows
the adventures of Dewey Finn a wannabe
rock star posing as a substitute teacher who turns a class of straight-A
students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. The musical includes 14 new songs from Andrew
Lloyd Webber and includes all the original songs from the movie and musical
theatre’s first-ever kids rock band playing their instruments live on
stage. – Playing October 17-22, 2017 at
Benedum Center.
The Color of Purple – Winner of
2016 Tony Awards and Best Musical Revival.
Hailed as “direct hit to the heart” (The Hollywood Reporter), this
American classic is directed by Tony winner John Doyle as a soul-raising score
of jazz, gospel, ragtime and blues, and is a Pulitzer Prize-winning story about
a young woman’s journey to love and triumph in the American South. Martina Sykes belted out an amazing solo
performance of theme song “I’m Here.” – Playing November 14-19, 2017 at Benedum
Center.
Love Never Dies – If you loved Phantom of the Opera,
then you won’t want to miss this musical!
Cited by Chris Boyd in The Australian as “the best thing Lloyd Webber
has written in the quarter century since Phantom of the Opera,” this musical
takes the audience on a roller-coaster ride of intrigue, obsession, and romance
back to 1907, just 10 years after the Phantom disappeared from the Paris Opera
House to live among the screaming joyrides and freak shows of Coney Island,
NY. In this new electrically charged
world he finds a place for his music to soar but never stops yearning for his
one true love and musical protégée, Christine Daae. Jazmine Gorzline gave a stunning solo
performance of the theme song, “Love Never Dies.” – Playing January 4-7, 2018
at Benedum Center.
The Bodyguard –
Based on the smash-hit film, this musical stars Grammy Award-nominee and
R&B superstar Deborah Cox plays Rachel Marron of “Rachel Marron and
Company.” Former secret service agent
Frank Farmer is hired as a bodyguard to protect Rachel from an unknown
stalker. Each expects to be in charge
but they don’t expect to fall in love.
The musical boasts irresistible classic hits including Queen of the
Night; So Emotional; One Moment in Time; Saving All My Love; Run to You; I Have
Nothing; I Wanna Dance with Somebody; and I Will Always Love You. If only Whitney Houston could grace us with
her presence today by singing solo for this musical; sure to be a smash hit! – Playing
February 27-March 4, 2018 at Benedum Center.
Waitress – This winner
of 4 Tony Awards hit musical features original music and lyrics by 6-time
Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles (“Brave,” “Love Song”), a book by acclaimed
screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and directed by Tony Award winner Diane
Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland).
Inspired by Adrienne Shelly’s beloved film, Waitress portrays the story
of Jenna, a waitress and pie maker who dreams of a way out of her small town
and loveless marriage. Will Jenna be
able to muster the strength and courage to rebuild her own life? Let the audience be the judge! Charity Dossen gave a joyous solo performance
of the hit song, “I Didn’t Plan It.” – Playing March 6-11, 2018 at Benedum
Center.
Rent – This 1996 original rock musical, a
Pulitzer Prize & Tony Award-winning masterpiece first opened on Broadway by
a little-known composer, Jonathan Larson, and will be coming to Pittsburgh next
year during its 20th anniversary touring production. Rent is bound to attract audiences across
generations and around the world, as it forever changed the landscape of
American theatre. A re-imagining of
Puccini’s La Boheme, Rent tells the story, over a one-year period, in the lives
of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out. Rent will deliver an inspiring message of joy
and hope in the face of fear, celebrating friendship and creativity that
reminds us to measure our lives with the only thing that matters most: Love. –
Playing March 27-April 1, 2018 at Heinz Hall.
Aladdin – Hailed by USA Today as “Pure
Genie-Us,” this hit Broadway musical features all your favorite songs from the
film and includes new music written by Tony and Academy Award winner Alan
Menken (Newsies) with lyrics by the legendary Howard Ashman (Beauty & the
Beast), Tony Award winner Tim Rice (The Lion King, Aida), and book writer Chad
Beguelin (The Wedding Singer). Directed
and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon,
Something Rotten!), this musical also boasts behind-the-scenes expertise from
Tony Award winners Bob Crowley (Mary Poppins), Gregg Barnes (Kinky Boots), and
Natasha Katz (An American in Paris). Jacob Dickey gave a heart-rendering solo
performance of the hit song, “Proud of Your Boy.” – Playing August 21-September 9, 2018 at
Benedum Center.
Season Specials
Season ticket
holders can secure the best seats at the best price to the following added
attractions before they go on sale to the general public by swapping out of one
season show or purchasing the shows separately.
Season ticket holders are permitted to swap tickets from one season show
to another, or to one of the specials below:
(NOTE:
Season specials are not part of the season ticket package.)
Motown - The Musical (The Songs.
The Sound. The Story.) – Playing November 21-26, 2017 at Benedum Center.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole
Christmas! – The Musical – Playing December 19-24, 2017 at Heinz Hall.
Wicked – The Musical (Returns to Pittsburgh, with a
special show for the Autism Audience) – Playing January 24-February 11, 2018 at
the Benedum Center.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
“Cinderella” –
Playing May 22-27, 2018; Heinz Hall.
Coming in the 2018-2019 Season
Just when
the audience thought this was the end of announcements for the upcoming season
of musical Broadway entertainment to be embellished, the PNC Foundation and
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced a preview of what’s ahead in 2018-2019:
Hamilton – An American Musical – Season ticket holders from the
2017-2018 season will have first access to Hamilton when they renew their
subscription for 2018-2019. Playing at
Benedum Center; Dates to be Announced.
Clearly, Pittsburgh
is the prime destination for Broadway entertainment, and the PNC Foundation and
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust are delighted to offer multiple venues for these
musicals in the upcoming season. If the
roar of the crowd at this preview was any indicator, then what’s in store can
only be described as a fulfillment of wishes for the best that Broadway has to
offer without even traveling to New York City!
For more
information, contact the Pittsburgh Trust for Cultural Resources, Benedum
Center, 719 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; www.trustarts.org/broadway.
Submitted by
Randi Koenig, Roving Pittsburgher Reporter; March 21, 2017
Randi Koenig is the PPLMag Events Calendar Co-ordinator and a Roving Pittsbugher Reporter. You can check out her very extensive coverage for local events and what's happening in Pittsburgh at: PPLMag Calendar. She is an independent marketing and sales professional who specializes in working with non-profits and is an excellent net worker and promoter of http://www.positivelypittsburghlivemagazine.com . She is also an excellent marketing and promotional writer as you can see from this Roving Pittsburgher Report
