In addition to the previously announced pre-Broadway world premiere of Shrek The Musical, the Seattle stage will also present The Drowsy Chaperone; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; Memphis; Hello, Dolly!; Sunday in the Park with George; and Grease.
The new year will include the national touring productions of The Drowsy Chaperone and Grease as well as homegrown productions. The season line-up (subject to change) follows:
World premiere of the DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions musical based on the classic William Steig book and Academy Award-winning film. Featuring book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole) and music by Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change), Jason Moore (Avenue Q) directs the new work (scheduled to open on Broadway in the fall), which centers on "Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad and a chorus of everybody's favorite fairytale creatures."
Featuring a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morisson, the musical begins "when the 'Man in Chair' – a musical theater fanatic – places his favorite original cast album on the record player and a show magically springs to life in his living room," according to a release. "The audience is instantly immersed in the glamorous, hilarious tale of a celebrity bride and her uproarious wedding day."
The 5th Avenue Theatre produces a new production of the classic musical "set in 1850s Oregon Territory and tells the story of Adam Pontipee and his backwoods brothers' unusual pursuit of brides." Based on the popular 1954 MGM movie, the show features a book by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay, music by Gene de Paul and Joel Hirschhorn with lyrics by Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn and Johnny Mercer.
The new musical "about the birth of rock 'n' roll" is penned by librettist-lyricist Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and features music by composer David Bryan (of the band Bon Jovi). Set in the early 1950s on Memphis' legendary Beale Street, the show centers on "the first white disc jockey who dared to play rhythm & blues music for his white teenage listeners."
"On the 5th Avenue stage for the first time in 27 years," the musical features a score by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart (based on Thorton Wilder's play The Matchmaker). "Matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi," press notes state, "is hired to arrange a marriage for the miserly half-millionaire Horace Vandergelder, [and] she finds him the perfect mate – herself! But first she must win the heart of her unsuspecting 'husband to be' before he gets hitched to somebody else."
The 5th Avenue continues its Stephen Sondheim series with the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical based on the painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" by artist Georges Seurat. James Lapine (Into the Woods) penned the book to Sondheim's score.
Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game) stages and choreographed the updated version of the musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey musical, which features songs from the 1978 movie including "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Grease" and "You're the One That I Want." For season tickets to The 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle, WA, call (206) 625-1900, toll-free at (888) 5TH-4TIX, or visit the box office. For more information visit www.5thavenuetheatre.org.
