Dirty Dancing, Sweeney Todd, Etc. Part of Mirvish Season

The 2007-2008 Mirvish Subscription Season has been announced.

The season will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Alexandria Theatre with six hit shows- the North American premiere of Dirty Dancing, Sweeney Todd, Twelve Angry Men, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby Part I and II, and the world premiere of The Ha'Penny Bridge - The Musical.
 
"This year, my family celebrates 44 years of producing theatre in Toronto," says David Mirvish. "It all started when my father, Ed Mirvish, purchased the Royal Alexandra Theatre and saved it from demolition. He restored and refurbished what many people have called 'the most beautiful theatre on the continent,' to its 1907 splendour and began presenting an eclectic program of plays and musicals.
 
Descriptions of the 2007-08 Time of Your Life Mirvish Subscription Season follow::

Dirty Dancing
Performances begin October 31, 2007 ~ Royal Alexandra Theatre
North American Premiere
 
Written and created by Eleanor Bergstein
Directed by James Powell
Choreography by Kate Champion

The show is" a coming of age love story involving the talented and headstrong dancer Johnny Castle and Frances 'Baby' Houseman. During her family's summer holiday at the popular Kellerman's resort, Baby, a doctor's daughter with dreams of joining the Peace Corps, meets Johnny, the guy from the wrong side of the tracks. Against all odds, they fall in love, learning life-changing lessons along the way. Dirty Dancing follows the highs and lows of their summer romance."

Sweeney Todd
November to December 2007 ~ The Princess of Wales Theatre
Canadian Premiere of John Doyle's Production
 
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Written by Hugh Wheeler
Directed by John Doyle

"Set in darkest Victorian London, this razor-sharp musical tells the infamous tale of Sweeney Todd, the legendary 19th century demon barber hell-bent on revenge, who takes up with his enterprising neighbour in a plot to slice their way through London's upper crust. Justice will be served – along with lush melody, audacious humour and bloody good thrills."

Twelve Angry Men
January to February 2008 ~ Princess of Wales Theatre
Canadian Premiere of the Roundabout Theatre Production
 
Written by Reginald Rose
Directed by Scott Ellis
Starring Richard Thomas
 
"What seems like an open-and-shut murder case becomes a twisted puzzle of prejudice and intrigue. In Twelve Angry Men, a young delinquent awaits sentencing for the manslaughter of his aggressive father. Twelve jurors are corralled in a room for their deliberations in the murder trial. As prejudices are tested and evidence weighed, the entire jury is forced to look past the show of the courtroom to unearth the shocking truth. Faced with playing the hangmen, these dozen men must first face themselves."

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby
March to April 2008 ~ Princess of Wales Theatre
North American Premiere of the Chichester Festival Production
 
Written by Charles Dickens
Adapted by David Edgar
Directed by Jonathan Church and Philip Franks

"Parts I and II of Nicholas Nickleby combine to create an experience of rare scope and scale. 27 actors play 150 roles in the gloriously sprawling tale of young Nicholas, left penniless on the death of his father, as he embarks on his spellbinding journey through 1830's England, to find happiness and love in the teeming city of London." 

This two-part production, performed in repertory, will have its North American premiere and comes to Toronto direct from London's West End. Subscribers will see each part on different dates except on Saturdays and Sundays when both parts will be performed together, in the afternoon and evening, offering a marathon day of entertainment for the ultimate theatrical experience.

Ha'Penny Bridge - The Musical
May to June 2008 ~ Princess of Wales Theatre
World Premiere
 
Written by Alastair McGuckian
Directed and Choreographed by Donna Feore

"A love torn apart in a country divided. In the vein of such stage hits as Fiddler On The Roof and Les Misérables, Ha'penny Bridge portrays a rich, moving, but troubled love story, set in Ireland against a backdrop of political unrest and divided loyalties...It is Dublin, 1922. As the English troops prepare to move out and civil war threatens to tear the city apart, the Irish capital's residents suffer the dual pressures of political violence and poverty. It is amidst this chaos that George Aitkin, a young Londoner, meets Molly Cassidy."
 
Six show subscriptions are now available and priced from $99 to $539. Subscribers save up to 60% off single ticket prices and receive a selection of other benefits, including: first choice of seats for every show; free, easy, flexible ticket exchange; an easy payment plan; parking discounts; and free exclusive subscriber events.
 
As special bonuses this year, each subscription order will receive a copy of a handsome, coffee table book commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Alexandra Theatre in words and rare photos (published by McArthur & Company). Plus, each subscriber will receive a complimentary voucher to a Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre this summer (some restrictions apply).
 
 To purchase subscriptions, call 416-593-4225 or 1-800-771-3933 or www.mirvish.com.