Tickets for Bushnell Center 2011-12 Season On Sale Beginning 8/1

The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts is pleased to announce its line-up for the 2011-2012 season, sponsored by Farmington Bank, featuring some timeless Broadway classics, family entertainment, comedy, and more. Tickets to the shows listed below will go on sale Monday, August 1, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

Tickets can be purchased in-person at The Bushnell Box Office, located at 166 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, by calling The Bushnell Box Office at 860-987-5900 or online at www.bushnell.org. Group leaders may order tickets by calling 860-987-5959 or by emailing groups@bushnell.org.

Among the upcoming events for the 2011 - 12 Season are:

THE BUSHNELL BROADWAY SERIES sponsored by Travelers and Webster Bank

Traces
September 27-October 9, 2011
Belding Theater

Traces combines awe-inspiring acrobatics with infectious urban energy. With versatile artists who deliver dazzling, gravity-defying displays of skill, dance, and acrobatic brilliance. Created by 7 Fingers, an astonishingly talented company that has pioneered a whole new brand of theatrical entertainment, poetic and explosive, funny and thoughtful, Traces creates an experience that surprises and delights all ages. Traces takes the audience into an exhilarating world where creation flourishes, relationships are real, emotions are raw, and you never know what's coming next. These versatile artists don't just engage in high-risk acrobatics, they bare their souls through music, dance, drawing, and spoken word - as they attempt to leave a lasting mark: traces of who they are.

Tickets starting at: $50.00

Peter Pan
November 22-27, 2011
Mortensen Hall

Tony Award nominee Cathy Rigby takes flight in an all new production of Peter Pan! Discover the magic all over again of this two-time Emmy® Award-winning and two-time Tony Award®-nominated production. The New York Times says "Rigby still carries off the flights, fights and acrobatics that make Peter Pan audiences mesmerized." Peter Pan is filled with timeless magical moments and a captivating hook. The legend you thought you know, is now the adventure you never dreamed possible...Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan!

Tickets starting at: $17.00

Memphis
January 10-15, 2012
Mortensen Hall

TURN UP THAT DIAL...From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, Memphis is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves -- filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, Memphis, which played pre-Broadway at the La Jolla Playhouse, features a Tony®-winning book by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and a Tony®-winning original score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan. Directing is Tony® nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu), and choreography is by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys). Get ready to experience Broadway's most exciting new destination - what AP calls "The very essence of what a Broadway musical should be."

Tickets starting at: $17.00

The Addams Family
February 21-26, 2012
Mortensen Hall

The Addams Family is a smash-hit musical comedy that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys) and Olivier Award-winning director/designers Phelim McDermott & Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter) with creative consultation by four-time Tony Award®-winner Jerry Zaks. Come meet the family. We'll leave the lights off for you.

Tickets starting at: $17.00

Les Misérables
March 6-11, 2012
Mortensen Hall

DREAM THE DREAM! Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg's legendary musical, Les Misérables, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes. The New York Times calls this Les Misérables "an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish." The London Times hails the new show "a five star hit, astonishingly powerful." The Star-Ledger says "a dynamically re-imagined hit. This Les Misérables has improved with age." and NY1-TV proclaims "this new production actually exceeds the original. The storytelling is clearer, the perspective grittier and the motivations more honest. Musical theatre fans can rejoice: 'Les Miz' is born again."

Tickets starting at: $17.00

Fiddler on the Roof
April 10-15, 2012
Mortensen Hall

Fiddler on the Roof, the Tony Award®-winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal, embarks on its North American Tour. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, Fiddler on the Roof has been lauded by critics again and again, and won the hearts of people all around the world. Filled with a rousing, heartwarming score, which includes "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Sunrise, Sunset," Fiddler on the Roof is a timeless classic. No other musical has so magically woven music, dance, poignancy and laughter into such an electrifying and unforgettable experience. Relive a glorious tradition of the musical theatre with Fiddler on the Roof.

Tickets starting at: $17.00

Come Fly Away
May 29-June 3, 2012
Mortensen Hall

Come Fly Away is the new Broadway musical that brings together the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra and the creative vision of Tony Award-winner Twyla Tharp (Movin' Out). This one-of-a-kind experience combines the seductive vocals of "Ol' Blue Eyes" with the sizzling sound of a live on-stage big band and the visceral thrill of Tharp's choreography. As some of the world's best dancers tell the story of four couples falling in and out of love, you will experience the exhilaration of a first kiss, the excitement of a first dance, and the bittersweet moments of a first good-bye in a world of sparkling romance and astonishing beauty. Come Fly Away features a host of beloved Sinatra classics, including "Fly Me To The Moon," "My Way," "New York, New York," and "Witchcraft." http://www.comeflyaway.com (Features live musicians along with actual Frank Sinatra vocals.)

Tickets starting at: $17.00
SPECIAL EVENTS

Jack's Mannequin with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
October 6, 2011
7:30 p.m.
Mortensen Hall

Jack's Mannequin is a chart-climbing piano-rock band with a passionate following and a soaring, melodic sound. For this world-premiere concert, Jack's Mannequin has teamed up with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra to create full symphonic scores for some of their best-known hits. Learn more at www.jacksmannequin.com.

Tickets starting at: $25.00

WRCH Nite of Lite Laughter starring Dana Carvey
October 8, 2011
8:00 p.m.
Mortensen Hall

Lite 100.5 WRCH and Hartford Hospital are proud to present Dana Carvey LIVE at the 14th annual Nite of Lite Laughter on October 8th at The Bushnell. Tickets start at just $37.50 with proceeds to benefit the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center at Hartford Hospital. Don't miss this chance to laugh and celebrate life.

Tickets starting at: $37.50 (tickets currently on sale)

Anaïs Mitchell presents Hadestown
November 19, 2011
8:00 p.m.
Autorino Great Hall

Vermont folk singer Anaïs Mitchell's remarkable folk opera Hadestown is a modern retelling of the Orpheus myth, a tale of a poet's doomed quest to rescue his wife from the underworld. In Mitchell's inspired hands, the familiar saga unfolds in post-apocalyptic modern America, where poverty and hunger force people to make difficult choices in order to survive. Mitchell will be joined by the Hadestown Orchestra featuring the Chorney Sextet.

Tickets starting at: FREE (tickets required)

Drumline LIVE
December 3, 2011
8:00 p.m.
Mortensen Hall

Drumline LIVE, created by the music team behind the hit movie Drumline, brings the marching band tradition of historically black colleges to The Bushnell stage with explosive percussion, resounding brass and dazzling choreography. This versatile group of musicians and dancers is equally at home with the hottest contemporary hip hop, R&B, classic Motown tunes and the great brass tradition celebrated on college football fields across the South.

Tickets starting at: $15.00

Cesar Millan: Dog Whisperer
December 4, 2011
7:00 p.m.
Mortensen Hall

Dog lovers - this is your show! It's an evening of inspirational storytelling, helpful training tips and a special Q&A with one of the most engaging personalities in the world of animal behavior: the star of Nat Geo's Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan. Please note that no dogs will be allowed in the theatre.

Tickets starting at: $35.75

Vienna Boys Choir Holiday Concert
December 17, 2011
7:30 p.m.
Mortensen Hall

Celebrate the holiday season with the angelic voices of the Vienna Boys Choir, which has been thrilling audiences young and old for over 500 years. Their holiday repertoire features favorites like "I'll be Home for Christmas" and "Silver Bells," plus a selection of timeless French, Italian and Russian carols.

Tickets starting at: $19.50

Cirque Dreams Holidaze
December 20-24, 2011
Mortensen Hall

Renowned director Neil Goldberg, creator of the groundbreaking Broadway hit Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, re-imagines the holiday season with Cirque Dreams Holidaze. An international cast of over 30 multi-talented and brilliantly costumed artists come to life and perform astonishing feats of disbelief. Experience gingerbread men flipping in mid air, toy soldiers marching on thin wires, snowmen daringly balancing, icemen powerfully sculpting, penguins spinning, puppets dancing and reindeer soaring high above a landscape of holiday wonderment. Original music and some seasonal favorites accompany hundreds of spectacular costumes and holiday dreams in a setting of gigantic gifts, colossal candy canes and 30-foot towering soldiers. The perfect way to come in from the cold, forget the holiday stresses and rediscover the magic of the season. www.cirqueproductions.com

Tickets starting at: $30.00

Warriors Don't Cry
January 12, 2012
7:30 p.m.
Autorino Great Hall

Warriors Don't Cry is a one-woman play adapted verbatim from the Little Rock Nine memoir by Melba Pattillo Beals who integrated Central High School in 1957. The inspiring performance chronicles the arduous and violent year in which nine black students risked their lives for a good education. In the post-show Q&A, students explore themes of bullying, hate speech, and other issues of contemporary relevance.

NOTE: This show uses strong, historically accurate language, including the use of derogatory terms.

Tickets starting at: $33.00

Intergalactic Nemesis: A Live-Action Graphic Novel
January 21, 2012
8:00 p.m.
Belding Theater

The year is 1933. Pulitzer-winning reporter Molly Sloan, her intrepid assistant Timmy Mendez, and a mysterious librarian named Ben Wilcott face the most serious threat Earth has ever known: an impending invasion of sludge monsters from the planet Zygon. This period-sci-fi-horror-suspense-comedy-romance is presented in a whole new format: while three actors, one Foley artist, and one keyboardist perform all the voices, sound effects and music, more than 1,000 hand-drawn comic-book images blast from the screen, all performed live. This show is appropriate for all ages.

Tickets starting at: $28.00

Chris Botti in Concert
February 4, 2012
2:00 p.m.
Belding Theater

Since the release of his 2004 critically acclaimed CD When I Fall In Love, Chris Botti has become America's largest selling American jazz instrumentalist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop music and his ongoing association with PBS has led to four #1 Jazz Albums, as well as multiple Gold, Platinum and Grammy Awards. Proceeds to benefit Hartford Hospital's Comprehensive Women's Health Services.

Tickets starting at: $32.50

100 Years of Broadway Song and Dance
With a special appearance by a team of local student dancers voted into the show by you, the audience!
February 19, 2012
2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Belding Theater

Award-winning composer Neil Berg and a multi-talented cast of veteran Broadway singers, dancers and musicians return to The Bushnell to celebrate Broadway's best-loved song-and-dance numbers from shows like Chicago, A Chorus Line and 42nd Street. The afternoon showcase will feature some of Greater Hartford's most talented student dancers, all vying for YOUR vote to be featured in the evening performance's grand finale.

Tickets starting at: $15.00

ROBINSON & COLE FAMILY SERIES

Gazillion Bubble Show
October 9, 2011
2:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Mortensen Hall

The Gazillion Bubble Show will amaze your whole family with mind-blowing bubble magic. Step into an interactive bubble world and be dazzled by spellbinding lasers, spectacular lightning effects and jaw-dropping masterpieces of bubble artistry. It will make you smile, laugh and feel like a kid all over again! The Gazillion Bubble Show has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, Live with Regis and Kelly and The Ellen Degeneres Show.

Tickets starting at: $16.50

For a complete list of events, please visit: www.bushnell.org

TICKET INFORMATION

* Single tickets for all of the above performances go on sale to the public on Monday, August 1, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets may be purchased by visiting The Bushnell Box Office, located at 166 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, or by calling 860-987-5900. Tickets will also be available online at www.bushnell.org.
* Subscriptions to The Bushnell Broadway Series sponsored by Travelers and Webster Bank are available now. The 2011-2012 series includes Traces, Peter Pan, Memphis, The Addams Family, Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof, and Come Fly Away.
* For information on group sales, please call 860-987-5959 or email groups@bushnell.org.
* Ticket prices do not include applicable fees.

ABOUT THE BUSHNELL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Celebrating 80 years, The Bushnell is Connecticut's premier performing arts center, hosting more than 350 events yearly, including major Broadway tours, symphony orchestras, family presentations, local arts and community events. The Bushnell is home to two theaters- the historic 2,800-seat Mortensen Hall, and the 907-seat Belding Theater, a state-of-the-art performance hall that opened in 2001. The Bushnell's nationally recognized, award-winning, arts-in-education program, PARTNERS® (Partners in Arts and Education Revitalizing Schools), now in its 18th year, continues to provide quality arts-in-education programs for schools and communities across Connecticut. The Bushnell opened in January 1930 and is a not-for-profit organization that is proud to serve Connecticut and its citizens. For more information, call The Bushnell at (860) 987-6000, The Bushnell Box Office at (860) 987-5900 or visit our website at www.bushnell.org.