California Musical Theatre Announces Music Circus Lineup - HELLO, DOLLY!, NICE WORK, CABARET and More!

California Musical Theatre and BroadwayWorld bring you the 2016 lineup for Sacramento Music Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, the 66th season for the venerable institution. The season includes four shows that have never been produced at Music Circus: The smash hit musical comedy Legally Blonde, based on the hilarious film starring Reese Witherspoon; the family favorite Seussical, a journey through the witty and whimsical world of Dr. Seuss; Nice Work If You Can Get It, the song-and-dance spectacular filled with the music of George and Ira Gershwin; and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a brand new musical exploring the dark themes of the epic novel while featuring the beautiful music of the animated Disney film. The 2016 Music Circus season will also feature two shows that are all-time patron favorites, the irresistible musical theatre gem Hello, Dolly! and the Tony-winning Kander and Ebb classic Cabaret.

"One of the things we hear most from our subscribers is that they want to see new titles at Music Circus," said Richard Lewis, California Musical Theatre President & CEO. "We're very happy that the 2016 season includes four Music Circus premieres."

Following the success of the critically acclaimed production of Hair in the 2015 season, which season subscribers had the option of adding to their season, subscribers will again have the opportunity to add a sixth show, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In two schedule changes, aSunday evening performance will no longer be offered, and each show will have a Sundaymatinee-starting at 3:00-which will be available for the first time as a season subscription.

Music Circus is produced under the leadership of Artistic Director Glenn Casale and Executive Producer Scott Klier. California Musical Theatre President and CEO is Richard Lewis.

Season ticket holders will receive renewal information in the mail the week of January 11, and their seat locations will be held until the February 19 renewal deadline. The Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office will begin taking both subscriber renewal orders and paid reservations for new subscribers on January 11 at 10:00 a.m., and new subscribers will be seated following current subscribers.

Five-show season tickets (without The Hunchback of Notre Dame) range from $225 to $315, depending on performance time and seating location. Six-show season tickets (including The Hunchback of Notre Dame) range from $270 to $378. Single-show ticket prices range from $45 to $73. For Seussical only, a special price of $40 is available for children age 4 - 12. No one under age 4 is admitted to any Music Circus show. For all shows, evening performances are Tuesdaythrough Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances are Thursday and Saturday at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

In addition to saving up to $120 on a pair of season tickets (over the price of single-show tickets), Music Circus season ticket holders receive a number of valuable subscriber benefits, including the ability to get the best available seating locations, the opportunity to order additional single tickets before the general public, the ability to exchange their tickets for another performance of the same show free of charge, and guaranteed renewal privileges. Subscribers are also guaranteed access to every show in the season, including those that will sell out.

Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 11, renewals and new subscriber reservations are available at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office, 1419 H Street in Sacramento, or by phone at(916) 557-1999. Beginning February 8, reservation requests for discounts on groups of 12 or more can be made by calling the Group Sales department at (916) 557-1198 or via our website. Single-show tickets go on sale April 22.

2016 Music Circus Season
For all shows, evening performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances are Thursday and Saturday at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

Legally Blonde: June 14 - 19
Director: Michael Heitzman
Choreographer: TBD
• Synopsis: The hilarious Reese Witherspoon film is now the smash hit musical comedy that turned Broadway and MTV hot pink. Sorority star Elle Woods is an underestimated blonde who doesn't take "no" for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," she hits the books and, with her dog Bruiser, sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law School. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.
• Credits: Music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Neil Benjamin; Book by Heather Hatch; Based on 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon.
• CMT History: Music Circus premiere; Broadway Sacramento presented in 2009.
• Memorable Songs: "Omigod You Guys," "So Much Better."
• Broadway History: Opened April 29, 2007; closed October 19, 2008.
• Awards: Nominated for 7 Tony Awards.

Hello, Dolly!: June 28 - July 3
Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Randy Slovacek
• Synopsis: This ebullient and irresistible musical theatre classic glitters with happy songs, high-energy choreography and elaborate costumes. The indomitable matchmaker Dolly Levi rediscovers love for herself as she introduces romance into the lives of wealthy shopkeeper Horace Vandergelder, his niece and two sheltered clerks.
• Credits: Book by Michael Stewart; Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman.
• CMT History: 8th production by Music Circus; first was in 1971 and most recent in 2007. Broadway Sacramento presentation in 1997.
• Memorable Songs: "It Only Takes A Moment," "Put On Your Sunday Clothes," "Hello, Dolly."
• Broadway History: Original Broadway production ran Jan. 16, 1964 to Dec. 27, 1970, for a total of 2,844 performances. There were 3 revivals, the most recent in 1995.
• Awards: Original Broadway production won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actress (Carol Channing).

Seussical: July 12 - 17
Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Bob Richard
• Synopsis: Explore the witty, wild and whimsical world of Dr. Seuss as you've never seen it before. Travel back to your childhood to the land of the Whos and the Jungle of Nool, and rediscover the delightfully zany characters imagined by one of the most beloved storytellers of all time. Created by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once On This Island), this is one visit to the doctor that neither kids nor parents will mind, a delightful musical where anything's possible.
• Credits: Book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty; Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.
• CMT History: Music Circus premiere. Broadway Sacramento presentation in 2002.
• Memorable Songs: "Horton Hears A Who," "Monkey Around," "How Lucky You Are"
• Broadway History: Nov. 30, 2000 to May 20, 2001

Cabaret: July 26 - 31
Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Bob Richard
• Synopsis: Welcome to Berlin's infamous Kit Kat Klub, where the Emcee, Sally Bowles and a raucous ensemble take the stage nightly to tantalize the crowd into leaving their troubles outside. But as life in pre-WWII Germany grows more and more troubled, how long can the show and the decadence surrounding it go on? This Tony-winning Kander and Ebb classic has some of the most memorable songs in theatre history.
• Credits: Book by Joe Masteroff; Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb
• CMT History: 6th production at Music Circus; first was in 1970, and most recently in 2005. Presented by Broadway Sacramento in 2000.
• Memorable Songs: "Cabaret," "Willkommen."
• Broadway History: Original Broadway production opened on Nov. 20, 1966 and closed on Sept. 6, 1969. First revival ran from Oct. 22, 1987 to June 4, 1988. Two other revivals were produced by Roundabout Theatre Company: March 19, 1998 to Jan. 4, 2004 and April 24, 2014 to March 29, 2015.
• Awards: Original Broadway production won 8 Tony awards, including Best Musical, Best Composer and Lyricist (John Kander and Fred Ebb), Best Featured Actor (Joel Grey), Best Featured Actress (Peg Murray) and Best Director (Harold Prince). 1998 Roundabout revival won 4 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actor (Alan Cumming) and best Actress (Natasha Richardson).

Nice Work If You Can Get It: August 9 - 14
Director: Charles Repole
Choreographer: Michael Lichtefeld
• Synopsis: A smash hit on Broadway in 2012, the song-and-dance spectacular features the music of George and Ira Gershwin in a sparkling, spirited, high-stepping musical comedy. To a songbook of the greatest American standards ever sung, a cast of bootleggers, chorus girls, playboys and politicians creates hilarity in a glorious Long Island mansion in the rip-roaring 1920s.
• Credits: Book by Joe DiPietro; Music by George Gershwin; Lyrics by Ira Gershwin.
• CMT History: Music Circus premiere.
• Memorable Songs: "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "I've Got a Crush on You" and "Someone to Watch Over Me."
• Broadway History: Broadway production ran from April 24, 2012 to June 15, 2013.
• Awards: Original Broadway production, starring Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara, and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, won 2 Tony Awards, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role (Michael McGrath) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role (Judy Kaye).

The Hunchback of Notre Dame: August 23 - 28
OPTION TO THE SEASON FOR SUBSCRIBERS
Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Dana Solimando
• Synopsis: This brand new musical is the only stage collaboration from two masters of American musical theatre, Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin). With a lush, emotionally rich score and beautiful choral arrangements, it's a dramatic retelling of the epic but tragic Victor Hugo novel. Darker than the 1996 Disney film, closer in plot to the novel, the musical showcases the film's Oscar®-nominated score and introduces stunning new songs.
• Credits: Book by James Lapine; Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.
• CMT History: Music Circus premiere.