Tuesday, August 31, 2010

9 to 5 Gets a New Director-Choreographer for National Tour


When Dolly Parton's Broadway musical 9 to 5 is launched Sept. 21 on its national tour, the work of the original director and choreographer won't be seen. Jeff Calhoun (seen above) has been enlisted to direct and choreograph.

Joe Mantello directed the Broadway staging in 2009, and Andy Blankenbuehler was Tony-nominated for the choreography.

The tour will star DEE HOTY, MAMIE PARRIS, JOSEPH MAHOWALD, KRISTINE ZBORNIK and DIANA DEGARMO. Rounding out the cast is Jane Blass, Patrick Boyd, Paul Castree, Holly Davis, Janet Dickinson Madeleine Doherty, Marjorie Failoni, Gregg Goodbrod, K.J. Hippensteel, Jesse J.P. Johnson, Michelle Marmolejo, April Nixon, Ryah Nixon, Rick Pessagno, Wayne Schroder, Micah Shepard and Travis Waldschmidt.

Need more information? 9 to 5: The Musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. This is the story of three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there's nothing they can't do -- even in a man's world. Outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic, 9 to 5: The Musical is about teaming up and taking care of business... it's about getting credit and getting even.

This new musical comedy, direct from Broadway, is based on the hit movie and features Dolly Parton's original hit title song along with her new Tony Award® and Grammy-nominated score.

9 to 5 is kicking off the Broadway Season at the Straz October 26-31 with a talkback with the artists on Wednesday, October 27.


Thursday, August 19, 2010

Chelsea Handler To Host MTV Video Music Awards


Sassy tell-it-like-it-is comedian Chelsea Handler and MTV has announced that Handler is going to host the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards — airing live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. ET — and judging from her late-night show, "Chelsea Lately", things are probably gonna get crazy.

Handler is best known for her show and her three best-selling, brutally honest (and brutally funny) books. She'll also be making a little history, becoming only the second woman to fly solo as VMA host and the first since 1994, back when Roseanne Barr hosted for the night.

Performers for the VMAs include Kanye West, Florence and the Machine, B.o.B and Justin Bieber and presenters include Ke$ha, Nicki Minaj, Ashley Greene and Ne-Yo. And more names are being added daily.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Be there!

You can also catch Chealsea Handler in her wildly successful comedy tour, "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang Tour" coming to the Straz Center Saturday, October 23, 2010 - Tickets are available for the 11 p.m. show!

For more information - CLICK

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Hamburger Mary's Bingo Night Supports the Straz!


We hope you will join us for Hamburger Mary’s Bingo Night on Aug. 25th!
Join the Straz Center's Producers Group for a fantastic evening of everybody's favorite game of chance!
Every Wednesday, Hamburger Mary’s raises money for a local non-profit organization. Next weeks Bingo Night proceeds will go to the Straz Center. The more people we invite, the more money we will raise!

Some highlights for the evening:
* Bingo players can win tickets to several of our upcoming shows
* The cast of Respect will be performing
* One of the Straz Center employees, Rick Criswell, will be dressing up as Edna from Hairspray and will help call the bingo games
* Hamburger Mary’s will have $5 Texas sized Margaritas
* Games begin at 7:30ish, get there early to get a good spot!

Check out the event on Facebook!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Save on The Sound of Music!

The Sound of Music is extending a special 50% off* discount for remaining seats to the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening shows. Simply use promo code SOCIAL when purchasing your tickets.

*Offer valid on all price levels. Limit 4 tickets. Not applicable to prior sales. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability.

Monday, August 09, 2010

Donate to Backpacks for Hope and save!

Cats and The Sound of Music are delighted to partner with Metropolitan Ministries to help with the Backpacks for Hope drive. Simply stop by the Straz Center Ticket Office during regular hours between now and Aug. 18 and donate a new backpack. When you do, you'll receive $20 off tickets to either Cats (Aug. 13-15) or The Sound of Music (Aug. 20-22) for select performances*. If you already have your tickets, you're still welcome to donate a new backpack or any other back-to-school supplies that you'd like.


*Offers are valid on the Friday and Sunday evening performances only in price levels 1 and 2. Limit 4 tickets per donation. Not applicable to prior sales. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability. Offer valid at the ticket office window only during regular hours (Mon-Sat. noon-8 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m.).

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

WONDERLAND Broadway Opening April 17

WONDERLAND: A New Alice. A New Musical Adventure will open on Broadway Sunday, April 17, 2011 and performances will begin Monday, March 21, at a Nederlander theatre to be announced. The musical will be directed by Gregory Boyd, the artistic director of the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas, with a book by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy (The Civil War –Tony nomination) and lyrics by Jack Murphy, music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde – Grammy nomination, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War – Tony nomination, Dracula, Victor/Victoria) and choreography by Marguerite Derricks (Fame, Emmy Awards for “3rd Rock From The Sun” and “Fame LA”).

WONDERLAND: A New Alice. A New Musical Adventure will play a pre-Broadway engagement at the Ferguson Hall at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts (Judy Lisi, President and CEO) in Tampa, Florida January 4 through January 16, 2011.

WONDERLAND is the first production of the Broadway Genesis Project, an initiative by the Straz Center for the Performing Arts to develop and prepare new musical theater for Broadway. From a show’s inception to final staging, the Project provides a safe and nourishing environment in a state-of-the-art complex with artistic, technical and administrative resources.

After Frank Wildhorn conceived WONDERLAND, it was optioned by the Judy Lisi, CEO of the Straz Center, and was subsequently produced as its world premiere at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, FL this past December. In association with the Alley Theatre in Houston, TX, in January of 2010, the show was transferred for further development, becoming one of the highest grossing shows in that theater’s history.

In this new musical featuring a new score, WONDERLAND is a story about a new Alice who has lost her joy in life. Estranged from her husband, alienated from her daughter and in danger of losing her career, Alice finds herself in Wonderland where she encounters strange though familiar characters that help her rediscover the wonder in her life while searching for her daughter.

WONDERLAND will be produced on Broadway by the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts (Judy Lisi, President and CEO), William Franzblau and Nederlander Presentations, Inc.

“I am at a point in my life where I want to stay in love with the things I fell in love with. The process of creating WONDERLAND with my extraordinary producers and collaborators has shown me the magic of fun is not just for the young. Being part of the Straz Center’s invaluable Broadway Genesis Project was an exciting and rewarding experience,” said composer Frank Wildhorn.

Producers Judy Lisi, President and CEO of the David A. Straz, Jr. Center and William Franzblau said “Alice’s story is one that has always resonated with us - whether reading it when we were children or now as adults. With WONDERLAND, our creative team has developed a Broadway musical that tells the story of a contemporary woman attempting to maintain her career as well as keeping her family together and not doing well with either. At her breaking point she escapes into the world of Wonderland where she finds out who she really is and what's important in life."

The cast, design team and Broadway ticket information will be announced soon.

Tampa Ticket Information:
Tickets for WONDERLAND: A New Alice. A New Musical Adventure may be purchased by calling 813.229.STAR (7827) or 800.955.1045 outside Tampa Bay, in person at the Straz Center Ticket Office or online at www.strazcenter.org

For more information about the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts and its upcoming events, please visit www.strazcenter.org

The WONDERLAND Concept CD is available through ITUNES from SONY Masterworks.

For more information, log on to www.WonderlandOnBroadway.com