Broadway in Boston announces 2019-20 season

Boston, MA –Broadway In Boston, Boston’s mainstage for Broadway, has unveiled the upcoming 2019-2020 Lexus Broadway Season during its annual announcement event at the Citizens Bank Opera House. Ten theatrical productions will take center stage at the Citizens Bank Opera House and the Emerson Colonial Theatre, an Ambassador Theatre Group venue, in the upcoming Season. Approximately 1000 people from around the city gathered for the annual celebration including Broadway In Boston’s Season Ticket holders, group leaders, arts and business leaders, city officials, partners, sponsors and the Boston media. Highlights from the day included live performances from cast members of THE BAND’S VISIT, MEAN GIRLS, ANASTASIA and SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical.

Broadway In Boston is proud to be Boston’s leading theatrical presenter and producer of Broadway since 1984 and celebrates the more than six million theatergoers who have experienced over 300 Broadway In Boston productions in many of the city’s historic theatres including the Citizens Bank Opera House, Emerson Colonial Theatre and The Wilbur Theatre.  Over on Warrenton Street, at the Charles Playhouse, a Broadway In Boston venue, Blue Man Group and Shear Madness continue their impressive, long-standing Boston residencies.

“Our commitment to present programming that excites and entertains continues in the 2019/2020 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season as 10 of the most highly anticipated Broadway productions come to our historic stages,” said Tivon Marcus, Vice President of Broadway In Boston. “This year we will see productions straight from Broadway, Best Musical Tony Award® winners, blockbusters and other titles that hit close to home. We can’t wait for New England audiences to experience another Broadway Season as we celebrate our 35^th anniversary.”

The Citizens Bank Opera House will play host to seven of Broadway’s biggest productions, direct from Broadway, in the upcoming Season, which will mark the 15^th Anniversary of the restoration and reopening of the theatre. Fittingly so, Disney’s THE LION KING, the inaugural production that welcomed New England audiences back to the Citizens Bank Opera House in 2004, will kick off the 2019-2020 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season. Coming to Boston this fall, COME FROM AWAY will take you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them.
Kicking off the New Year is CATS, the record-breaking musical spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages and is now on tour across North America. It tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. We’re making fetch happen in 2020! In MEAN GIRLS, Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Direct from Broadway, MEAN GIRLS is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (“30 Rock“), composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and director Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). Spend an evening in the company of unforgettable strangers at THE BAND’S VISIT—now one of the most celebrated musicals ever. It rejoices in the way music brings us to life, brings us to laughter, brings us to tears, and ultimately, brings us together. Inspired by the beloved films, ANASTASIA is the dazzling show that transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family. Closing out the 2019-2020 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season is SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical, the story of Boston’s own, Donna Summer. She was a girl from Boston with a voice from heaven, who shot through the stars from gospel choir to dance floor diva. But what the world didn’t know was how Donna Summer risked it all to break through barriers, becoming the icon of an era and the inspiration for every music diva who followed.

L’Chaim! Over on Boylston Street, Broadway In Boston’s long and storied history at the Emerson Colonial Theatre continues with the new production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter, introducing a new generation to the uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life! JERSEY BOYS is making its way back to Boston. It’s the behind-the-music story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story – a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. CHICAGO, now in its 23^rd year, is set amidst the razzle dazzle decadence of the 1920s. It’s the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who maliciously murders her on the side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.

The 2019-2020 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season (in date order):

Disney’s THE LION KING

Citizens Bank Opera House

October 3 – 27, 2019

Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. This is Disney’s THE LION KING, making its triumphant return to the Citizens Bank Opera House! More than 95 million people around the world have experienced the awe-inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular – one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage. Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, THE LION KING brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award®-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. THE LION KING also features the extraordinary work of Tony Award®-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award®-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. There is simply nothing else like THE LION KING.

COME FROM AWAY

Citizens Bank Opera House

November 5 – 17, 2019

Broadway’s COME FROM AWAY is a Best Musical winner all across North America! This New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. Don’t miss this breathtaking new musical written by Tony Award® nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and helmed by this year’s Tony Award®-winning Best Director, Christopher Ashley. Newsweek cheers, “It takes you to a place you never want to leave!” On 9/11, the world stopped. On 9/12, their stories moved us all.

CATS

Citizens Bank Opera House

January 7 – 19, 2020

CATS, the record-breaking musical spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is now on tour across North America! Audiences and critics alike are rediscovering this beloved musical with breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater—”Memory.” Winner of 7 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, CATS tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. The original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, Sunset Boulevard), original scenic and costume design by John Napier (Les Misérables), all-new lighting design by Natasha Katz (Aladdin), all-new sound design by Mick Potter, new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne (Phantom) and direction by Trevor Nunn (Les Misérables) make this production a new CATS for a new generation!

MEAN GIRLS

Citizens Bank Opera House

January 28 – February 9, 2020

Direct from Broadway, MEAN GIRLS is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer TINA FEY (“30 Rock”), composer JEFF RICHMOND (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist NELL BENJAMIN (Legally Blonde) and director CASEY NICHOLAW (The Book of Mormon). Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. New York Magazine cheers, “MEAN GIRLS delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” USA Today says, “We’ll let you in on a little secret, because we’re such good friends: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!”

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Emerson Colonial Theatre

February 25 – March 8, 2020

Audiences across North America are toasting a new production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF! Rich with musical hits you know and love, including “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset;’ “If I Were A Rich Man;’ “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “To Life (L’Chaim!),” FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter. Tony Award®-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind South Pacific, The King and I and 2017 Tony Award®-winning Best Play Oslo, bring a fresh and authentic vision to this beloved theatrical masterpiece from Tony Award® winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. Featuring a talented cast, lavish orchestra and stunning movement and dance from Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will introduce a new generation to the uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life!

JERSEY BOYS

Emerson Colonial Theatre

March 18 – 22, 2020

JERSEY BOYS is the behind-the-music story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story –a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. The show features all their hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What A Night,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Working My Way Back To You.”

THE BAND’S VISIT

Citizens Bank Opera House

March 24 – April 5, 2020

WINNER OF 10 TONY AWARDS® INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL

GRAMMY WINNER FOR BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM

Spend an evening in the company of unforgettable strangers at THE BAND’S VISIT —now one of the most celebrated musicals ever. It rejoices in the way music brings us to life, brings us to laughter, brings us to tears, and ultimately, brings us together. In an Israeli desert town where every day feels the same, something different is suddenly in the air. Dina, the local café owner, had long resigned her desires for romance to daydreaming about exotic films and music from her youth. When a band of Egyptian musicians shows up lost at her café, she and her fellow locals take them in for the night. Under the spell of the night sky, their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, and this once sleepy town begins to wake up. THE BAND’S VISIT features music and lyrics by Tony Award® and Drama Desk Award winner David Yazbek, and a book by Tony Award®, NY Drama Critics Circle, Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Awards winner Itamar Moses. It is based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin, and is directed by Tony Award®, Drama Desk, Lortel and Obie Award winner David Cromer.

CHICAGO

Emerson Colonial Theatre

May 5 – 10, 2020

CHICAGO, which opened to rave reviews on November 14, 1996 and, now in its 23^rd year on Broadway, is the longest running AMERICAN musical and shows no sign of ever slowing down! CHICAGO is the winner of six 1997 Tony Award® including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording. Set amidst the razzle dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who maliciously murders her on the side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the “celebrity criminal.” CHICAGO is produced by the Tony Award® Producing Team Barry and Fran Weissler and legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.

ANASTASIA

Citizens Bank Opera House

July 7 – 19, 2020

Inspired by the beloved films, the romantic and adventure filled new musical ANASTASIA is on a journey to Boston! From the Tony Award®-winning creators of the Broadway classic Ragtime, this dazzling show transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family. ANASTASIA features a book by celebrated playwright Terrence McNally, a lush new score by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) with direction by Tony Award® winner Darko Tresnjak.

SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical

Citizens Bank Opera House

August 4 – 16, 2020

She was a girl from Boston with a voice from heaven, who shot through the stars from gospel choir to dance floor diva. But what the world didn’t know was how Donna Summer risked it all to break through barriers, becoming the icon of an era and the inspiration for every music diva who followed. With a score featuring more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits including “Love to Love You Baby,” “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff,” this electric experience is a moving tribute to the voice of a generation.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:

Subscriptions are currently on sale for the series package that includes: Come From Away, Cats, Mean Girls, Fiddler on the Roof, The Band’s Visit, Anastasia and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Tickets for Season Options: Disney’s The Lion King, Jersey Boys and Chicago are also currently available for Broadway In Boston subscribers only. For more information call 866-523-7469 or visit www.BroadwayInBoston.com.

GROUP SALES INFORMATION: For more information on Group Sales please visit http://www.BroadwayInBoston.com/Groups, email Groups@BroadwayInBoston.com or call 617-482-8616. 

Public on-sales to be announced at a later date.