The Little Theatre of Manchester (LTM) announced today its 2019 season. Beginning in February, LTM will produce five popular titles: Ken Ludwig's THE GAME'S AFOOT, a murderously funny mystery; the Tony and Grammy award-winning musical sensation DREAMGIRLS; the searing Tony award-winning drama THE NORMAL HEART; and THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB, a hilarious and touching comedy about friendships. The final title is international sensation MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA.
LTM Executive Director Dwayne Harris said of the lineup, "I'm thrilled that LTM's Artistic Board has again put together an exciting and well-rounded season of high-quality entertainment. From a comedy mystery to an award-winning drama, from a classic Motown musical to a more contemporary musical offering, I think our subscribers and single ticket buyers will be very happy with these selections."
Renewing subscribers will receive their renewal packages in September, and new subscription packages and single tickets will go on sale in October. All dates and titles are subject to change.
The 2019 Season
Ken Ludwig's THE GAME'S AFOOT, February 1 - 17, 2019
It is December 1936, and Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. It is then up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears. The danger and hilarity are non-stop in this glittering whodunit.
DREAMGIRLS, April 12 - 28, 2019
Winner of six Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards A sweeping and inspirational journey through 20th-century American popular music, DREAMGIRLS chronicles one Motown group's rise from obscurity to superstardom. Through gospel, R&B, smooth pop, disco and more, this audience favorite explores themes of ambition, hope, and betrayal, all set in the glamorous and competitive world of the entertainment industry. DREAMGIRLS features unforgettable hits by Academy Award nominee Henry Krieger - including "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," "One Night Only" and "Listen."
THE NORMAL HEART, June 7 - 23, 2019
Winner of the 2011 Tony Award - Best Revival of a Play A searing drama about public and private indifference to the AIDS plague and one man's lonely fight to awaken the world to the crisis. THE NORMAL HEART follows Ned Weeks, an activist enraged at the indifference of public officials and the gay community. While trying to save the world from itself, he confronts the personal toll of AIDS when his lover dies of the disease. Hailed by critics as "riveting" (Newsday) and "a great night at the theater" (New York Times).
THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB, August 2 - 18, 2019
Five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships. Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina's Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other's lives. As their lives unfold and the years pass, these women increasingly rely on one another, through advice and raucous repartee, to get through the challenges (men, sex, marriage, parenting, divorce, aging) that life flings at them. THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB is the story of these five unforgettable women-a hilarious and touching comedy about friendships that last forever.
MAMMA MIA!, November 1 - 17, 2019
A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you'll never forget!
ABBA's hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman's search for her birth father. This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA's songs from "Dancing Queen" and "S.O.S." to "Money, Money, Money" and "Take a Chance on Me," MAMMA MIA! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found. MAMMA MIA! is one of the most successful musicals of all time, the eighth longest-running show in Broadway history and one of only five musicals to have run for more than ten years on Broadway.
The Little Theatre of Manchester (LTM) was founded in 1960 with the purpose of producing community theater. Since 1991, Cheney Hall, the state's oldest operating theater, has been the theatrical residence of LTM. Today, programming is comprised of five main-stage theatre productions, numerous concerts, special events, and a range of other cultural, business, civic, and private functions serving a growing, annual audience of approximately 10,000.
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