Marriott Theatre’s 2009 Blockbuster Season

 
The Marriott Theatre, known for reenergizing the classics, showcasing new works, and delivering the best hits direct from Broadway, is pleased to announce its 2009 Season.
 
The record-breaking audience favorite Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat previews February 18th, opens February 25th, and runs through May 10th, 2009; the hilarious new musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, previews May 13th, opens May 20th, and runs through July 19th, 2009; the heartwarming, romantic and beautiful The Light in the Piazza previews July 22nd, opens July 29th, and runs through September 20th, 2009; the Broadway mega-hit Hairspray previews September 23rd, opens September 30th, and runs through December 6th, 2009; the timeless family classic My Fair Lady previews December 9th, opens December 16th, and runs through February 14, 2010.
 
The Marriott Theatre, the most subscribed musical theatre in the country with more than 40,000 subscribers, offers a limited number of new subscriptions available for purchase each fall. Call the box office at 847-634-0200 and ask to be put on the waiting list to become a new subscriber in 2009. After the theater's 2008 subscribers renew, the waiting list will be given priority.
 
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat previews February 18th, opens February 25th, and runs through May 10th, 2009.  Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's most playful, uproarious and joyous musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a "colorful" retelling of the Biblical life of Joseph and his amazing abilities, told in energetic fashion and spanning musical styles from calypso to cabaret, rock to country, and more.  An audience favorite for more than twenty-five years, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be re-imagined in brilliant "technicolor" on the Marriott stage to jump start the season.
 
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee previews May 13th, opens May 20th, and runs through July 19th, 2009. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a fun and endearing new Tony Award-winning musical, follows the story of six kids in the throes of puberty who are overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. A hilarious tale of overachievers' angst, the production chronicles the experience of adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. This quirky yet charming show even includes audience spellers, guaranteeing a different show every time. Hot off the Broadway stage, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will now make its premiere at the Marriott Theatre - can you spell i-r-r-e-s-i-s-t-i-b-l-e?
 
The Light in the Piazza previews July 22nd, opens July 29th, and runs through September 20th, 2009. The Light in the Piazza was nominated for 11 Tony Awards (including Best Musical), and won six, including Best Original Score. This lush and luminous story is set in Florence, Italy, where Margaret Johnson brings her daughter to revisit the site of her honeymoon, only to find that her daughter quickly falls in love with a young Italian man. As their love blossoms, Margaret tries to prevent the romance, until she realizes this may be the only chance for her daughter to find true love - for all is not as it appears with the young Clara Johnson. The Light in the Piazza breaks new ground of musical storytelling as it veers into beautiful and haunting classical structures. The Light in the Piazza is sure to capture the hearts and minds of audiences with its romantic and stunning story, accompanied by its award-winning music.
 
The Broadway mega-hit Hairspray previews September 23rd, opens September 30th, and runs through December 6th, 2009. From the tip-top of its super teased coif, to the bottom of its dynamic dancing toes, "You Can't Stop the Beat" of this Broadway musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture and won eight Tony awards, including Best Musical. Set in Baltimore in 1962, Hairspray is the story of the pleasantly plump teen, Tracy Turnblad, who will do whatever it takes to appear on the popular Corny Collins show and win the heart of Link Larkin, all without denting her 'do. Direct from Broadway where it's played for over 2,300 performances, Hairspray brings its hipness and hilarity to the Marriott stage.
 
The final show of the season is the timeless classic My Fair Lady, which previews December 9th, opens December 16th, and runs through February 14, 2010. This endearing and enchanting Lerner and Loewe family favorite follows the story of Eliza Doolittle. It's 1910 in London, and a bet has been made to see if Eliza, a cockney flower girl, can be passed off as a duchess. Along the way, Eliza falls under the spell of Professor Henry Higgins, who loses sight that love is what matters most in his endeavor to transform the lowly flower girl. Containing some of the most memorable and treasured songs in musical theater such as "I Could Have Danced All Night," On The Street Where You Live," and "The Rain in Spain," My Fair Lady is sure to charm audiences alike in this magical retelling of a classic story.
 
The performance schedule for all shows is Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $45.00, excluding tax and handling fees. A $5.00 discount for students and seniors is valid for Wednesday matinees and both Sunday performances. With the purchase of a $55 ticket on Wednesdays or Thursdays, dinner is included at the King's Wharf Restaurant or the Fairfield Inn (based on dining availability). Dinners on Friday, Saturday and Sunday range from $32 - $43 per person (includes tax).  Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets with a major credit card, call the Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or visit www.marriotttheatre.com.