BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL Makes Houston Premiere January 24

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) has announced the cast and special events for its presentation of Bring It On: The Musical, which runs January 24 - February 5, 2012 atHobby Center for the Performing Arts.  

“Assembling this extraordinary company has been an incredibly exciting – and thorough – endeavor,” said the musical’s Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler. “We found an amazing group that sings, dances, stunts and cheers.  They are a talented group of newcomers, led by two dynamic leading ladies. I can't wait for audiences to see them.”

Leading the cast are Taylor Louderman and Adrienne Warren.  Louderman, playing the role of Campbell, is a 20 year-old newcomer from the University of Michigan. Warren, previously seen in the National Tour of Dreamgirls, portrays Danielle, a role she originated in Bring It On: The Musical’s developmental production at the ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta earlier this year.

Ryann Redmond, a 2011 graduate of NYU, recreates the role of Bridget that she originated in the ALLIANCE THEATRE Production.  Elle McLemore (Disney’s “Suite Life on Deck”) plays Eva and Jason Gotay (Broadway’s Rising Stars and Rent) stars as Randall.

Also starring are Ariana DeBose (Hairspray, “So You Think You Can Dance”) as Nautica, Gregory Haney (Memphis) as La Cienega, Neil Haskell (“So You Think You Can Dance”) as Steven, Janet Krupin as Kylar, Kate Rockwell (Legally Blonde) as Skylar and Nick Womack as Twig.

Additional cast members include Calli Alden, Nikki Bohne, Dexter Carr, Shonica Gooden, Haley Hannah, Rod Harrelson, Casey Jamerson, Dominique Johnson, Michael Mindlin, Adrianna Parson and Bettis Richardson.

The ensemble also features some of the nation’s most skilled competitive cheerleaders. Their combined achievements include over 25 national and 50 team titles in gymnastics and choreography.  They were selected in collaboration with Varsity, the global leader in competitive cheerleading. Those members include Antwan Bethea, Danielle Carlacci, Michael Naone-Carter,Courtney Corbeille, Dahlston Delgado, Brooklyn Freitag, Melody Mills, David Ranck, Billie Sue Roe, ShelDon Tucker and Lauren Whitt.

Bring It On: The Musical is the explosive new musical comedy that raises the stakes on over-the-top high school rivalries.  Set against the world of competitive cheerleading, this powerhouse new show hilariously proves that winning isn’t everything when it means losing something - or someone - you really care about.  Bring It On: The Musical combines an exciting fresh sound, gravity-defying choreography, and a thrilling story to create a total theatrical event worth cheering for.

Bring It On: The Musical unites some of the freshest and funniest creative minds on Broadway with libretto by Tony Award-winner Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights), music by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), lyrics by Broadway lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity) and music supervision by Tony and Grammy Award-winner Alex Lacamoire (In The Heights).  The production is directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler (In the Heights).

Bring It On: The Musical is produced by Universal Pictures Stage Productions/Glenn Ross;Beacon Communications/Armyan Bernstein and Charlie Lyons; and Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson, Executive Producers. 

Members of the artistic design team that help bring this production to life are David Korins, Set Designer; Andrea Lauer, Costume Designer; Jason Lyons, Lighting Designer; Brian Ronan, Sound Designer; Charles G. LaPointe, Hair Designer; and Jeff Sugg, Video Designer.

In celebration of Bring It On: The Musical, Theatre Under The Stars will offer a number of special events and opportunities:

• Bring It On Pep Rally:  Sunday, January 8, 2012 from 2-4 p.m.
  
  • Join TUTS along with the Houston Rockets Power Dancers and mascot Clutch at Hard Rock Café for an afternoon of free dance performances, games, free food and more in celebration of Bring It On: The Musical!
    
    
• Bring It On Film Screening at Sundance Cinemas:  Monday, January 16, 2012 at 7 p.m.
  
  • Join TUTS for a free screening of the film at Sundance Cinemas, the newly opened movie theater in downtown Houston’s Bayou Place.
    
    
• Culture + Cuisine 
  
  • Make it the perfect night with a delicious dinner from McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant or Damian’s leading up to the show.  Enjoy special pricing on a set 3 course meal followed by an orchestra level seat.  A shuttle is available on request to travel between the restaurants and Hobby Center.  These dinner packages are available in conjunction with all evening performances.  For more information or to purchase a dinner package, visit TUTS.com/CultureCuisine or call the box office at 713-558-8887.
    
    
• Teen Night at TUTS: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 
  
  • TUTS spreads the love of musical theatre to the next generation with Teen Night at TUTS!  Any adult who purchases a full price ticket can bring a child under 18 for freeand enjoy pre-show activities in the Grand Lobby.  Visit TUTS.com/Events to purchase tickets.
    
    
• OUT@TUTS:  Thursday, January 26, 2012
  
  • A post-show, cabaret-style event at Artista Restaurant for TUTS’ GLBT friends.  VisitTUTS.com/OUT for more information.
    
    
• Workshop for Students Ages 7 -12:   Friday, January 27, 2012 from 5 – 7 p.m.
  
  • Get ready to learn the art of blending cheerleading with musical theatre choreography.  Visit TUTS.com/Events to take advantage of this offer.
    

When the musical comedy premiered in its developmental production at the ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta earlier this year, Wendell Brock of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called Bring It On: The Musical “one high-energy drink with fiercely funny writing, catchy hip-hop tunes and an explosively original mix of singing, acting, dancing and cheer.” Audrey S. Belle of AOL.com raved that Bring It On: The Musical “is guaranteed to be everything you wished for, nothing like you expected, but exactly what you will love!”

Tickets (starting at only $24) are available on-line at TUTS.com, by phone at (713) 558-TUTS (8887), outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882, or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, located at 800 Bagby at Walker, Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturday - Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.  An audio described performance is available Sunday, February 5 at 2 p.m.; open captioning is available Sunday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m. The Hobby Center is wheelchair accessible.  Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more and may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888 or via email at groupsales@tuts.com.

TUTS’ presentation of Bring It On: The Musical is made possible by the generosity of Fluor.

Theatre Under The Stars’ 2011-2012 Seeing Is Believing season is generously sponsored by St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System. For all of TUTS’ shows, air transportation is provided by United Airlines, the official airline of Theatre Under The Stars.  Media sponsors include ABC-13 andHouston Chronicle.  Season support is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Theater District Association and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Founded in 1968, Theatre Under The Stars is Houston’s acclaimed non-profit musical theatre company under the direction of President and CEO John C. Breckenridge.  TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public in 1968 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and is the only Houston arts organization that has performed there free to the public every year since the building opened.  Since its founding by Frank M. Young, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres such as Kopit and Yeston’s Phantom,  Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jekyll & Hyde, and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas as well as critically acclaimed re-inventions of classics Cabaret and Les Miserables.  Through its membership in the Independent Presenters Network, TUTS has helped bring Bombay Dreams, 9 to 5, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Spamalot, Legally Blonde, Ragtime, Curtains and The Color Purple to Broadway. 

In support of TUTS’ mission, our Education programs provide instruction and stage experience for more than 21,000 students annually, allowing them to flourish in a year-round schedule of classes.  The Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) offers technique-driven classes for all ability levels and ages, ranging from four-years-old to adulthood.  With a common goal - to expand arts access to children of all physical and situational abilities - The River Performing and Visual Arts Center (The River) merged with Theatre Under The Stars in 2010, creating a unique, barrier free, arts education model for non-profit musical theatre performing arts organizations. TUTS Education provides extended on-site programming as well as off-site programming for children in schools, hospitals and other community-based sites. Housed in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston's high school musical theatre programs.

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