Horse puppets, leg warmers and nuns' habits are a few of the visuals present in the upcoming Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta season.
The five-show schedule, running from Sept. 25 to May 5, 2013, includes several Tony winners, such as the ingenious puppetry and emotional wallop of “War Horse” and the rock ‘n’ roll history lesson in “Million Dollar Quartet.”
Russ Belin, vice-president of Broadway in Atlanta, said efforts were made to attract a diverse mixture of shows, from the aforementioned Tony winners to family classic “Beauty and the Beast” to newcomer “Flashdance – The Musical.”
“We went with what we felt Atlanta would respond to. Keeping the lineup fresh and giving audiences this type of access to shows so they don’t have to travel 1,300 miles to Broadway to see them is the best thing we can do,” Belin said, adding that he views the inclusion of "War Horse" as "a landmark event."
Season tickets are on sale now for $145-$429. New subscriptions can be ordered by calling 1-800-278-4447 or online at www.broadwayinatlanta.com. Subscribers can also purchase additional tickets before they go on sale to the public. Single-show tickets usually become available eight-to-12 weeks prior to opening night.
Here’s an overview of the 2012-2013 season. All shows will be presented at the Fox Theatre.
“War Horse” (Sept. 25-30): The story of Joey, the brave horse enlisted to fight for the English in World War I, has prompted tears – in a good way – among Broadway and movie theater audiences. The show earned five Tony Awards in 2011 and embarks on its first national tour in June. But the real draw of the live production is the innovative puppetry that brings Joey and his equestrian comrades to life.
“Beauty and the Beast” (Nov. 27-Dec. 2): The prime family attraction, with its classic tale of Belle, the “beauty,” and her princely “beast", played Atlanta in January 2011. But thanks to a constantly regenerating demographic, the Disney production will always be new to someone.
“Flashdance the Musical” (Feb. 19-24, 2013): The movie that launched the off-the-shoulder ripped sweatshirt look is now in live form. “Flashdance the Musical” played the United Kingdom in 2009 and recently parked in London’s West End. The show is expected to tour and head to Broadway simultaneously in the fall, giving plenty of people the opportunity to sing along with “Maniac” and “Flashdance – What a Feeling.”
“Million Dollar Quartet” (March 12-17, 2013): The Tony-winning musical is inspired by a true story regarding rock ‘n’ roll icons Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley. Sam Phillips, the “father of rock ‘n’ roll” behind each of the famous names, brought them together at the legendary Sun Records in Memphis for the first and only time. How fortunate that audiences can now listen in on that legendary jam session.
“Sister Act” (April 30-May 5, 2013): It’s a familiar title to Atlantans, since The Alliance Theatre co-produced the show’s premiere with the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007. Since then, the Tony-nominated musical – adapted from the 1992 Whoopi Goldberg hit movie and featuring music from Alan Menken -- enjoyed a stint in the West End and opened on Broadway last year, where it is still playing.
