Beauty & The Beast, August: Osage County, Little House... and More Hit Ordway in 2009-10
By: Robert Diamond Feb. 24, 2009
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts today unveiled its 2009-10 Theater Season and planet Ordway® Target® World Music and Dance Season. The announcement, made by Ordway President and CEO Patricia Mitchell, revealed a performance calendar filled with ambitious productions reflecting the breadth of American artistry and emerging global talent.
The four productions appearing in the Ordway's Theater Season include a first-time national tour, a beloved Disney musical created just for the Ordway, last year's Tony Award® and Pulitzer Prize-winner for "Best Play," and the seven-time 2008 Tony Award®-winning musical.
"We feel privileged to offer our audiences a season of productions that span the full range of human emotion," says Mitchell. "Next year's program was chosen with our deepest values at heart: bringing joy to Ordway patrons through artistic performance. And we're convinced the shows will deliver on that promise."
The first production to reach the Ordway's Main Hall stage is "Little House on the Prairie," which launches its national tour in Saint Paul (Oct. 13 - 25, 2009). Melissa Gilbert, renowned actress who played Laura for 10 years on the famous television show, stars as Ma in this musical theater adaptation that includes new production numbers and design changes. Next, Ordway creates its own version of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," promising memorable holiday entertainment for the entire family (Dec. 15, 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010). Steppenwolf's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning "August: Osage County" comes to the Ordway in a limited engagement starring Estelle Parsons as the unsettled, pill-popping matriarch Violet (March 16 - 21, 2010). Rounding out the season is the Lincoln Center Theater's production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific," winner of seven 2008 Tony Awards® including "Best Musical Revival" (May 4 - 16, 2010).
As in previous years, Ordway will create its own new production for one of the Theater Season selections, in this case "Disney's Beauty and the Beast." "We're excited to have the opportunity to create a new production of this popular story," says James Rocco, Vice President of Programming and Producing Artistic Director at Ordway. "The timeless story, wonderful music and imaginative characters provide all the ingredients for an enchanting theater experience that appeals to all ages."
For 2009-10, the Ordway continues to explore the latest currents in world music and dance with the planet Ordway® Target® World Music and Dance Season. These dynamic artists bring their amazing talents to the Ordway stage for single-performance engagements throughout the year. The 2009-10 lineup features The Bad Boys of Dance (Oct. 30, 2009), Yasmin Levy (Nov. 1, 2009), Dance Brazil (Feb. 19, 2010), Dreaming of Duke, featuring Nnenna Freelon and Harolyn Blackwell (Feb. 21, 2010), Shidara (Feb. 24, 2010), Diavolo (Mar. 25, 2010), and dre.dance (May 20, 2010).
"The planet Ordway® Target® World Music and Dance Season is a fusion of cultural traditions as redefined by some of the most cutting-edge artists working in the world today," says Heather Spicuzza, the Ordway's Vice President of Education and Community Engagement. "We are delighted with our new season that brings these amazing artists to the Ordway." In addition to performing on the Ordway stage, these artists participate in Ordway's community engagement programs, where they interact with students and adults in workshop and master class settings.
2009-10 Ordway Theater Season
Little House on the Prairie
October 13 - 25, 2009
"Little House on the Prairie" is one of the most popular and beloved celebrations of early Americana since the appearance of Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic book series 70 years ago. Since its premiere at the Guthrie, this musical adaptation has evolved into even more of an exciting and compelling show, with a stronger focus on the Ingalls family, a slew of brand new production numbers and dynamic design changes. Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura for 10 years in the much loved television series, continues her legacy by starring as Ma. Families will continue to fall in love with these life-affirming stories about the Ingalls' struggles and triumphs through the celebration of the pioneering spirit and the core values on which this country was founded.
Beauty and the Beast
December 15, 2009 - January 3, 2010
This Disney classic tells a "tale as old as time," the tale of a hideous beast that is transformed into an enchanted prince through the power of a young woman's love. Experience the joy in an enchanted new production created just for the Ordway. See Belle and all your favorite characters come to life onstage. You will fall in love all over again with "Beauty and the Beast."
March 16 - 21, 2010
Steppenwolf's "August: Osage County" is a grand, gripping new play which tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural Oklahoma homestead when the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with matriarch Violet (played by Estelle Parsons), a pill-popping, deeply unsettled woman at the center of this storm. "August: Osage County" is a rare theatrical event - a large-scale work filled with unforgettable characters, a powerful tale told with unflinching honesty.
May 4 - 16, 2010
Winner of seven 2008 Tony Awards® including "Best Musical Revival," Lincoln Center Theater, in association with Bob Boyett and NETworks Productions, presents a new production of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein's prize-winning musical classic "South Pacific," directed by Bartlett Sher. Considered by many the finest musical ever written, the "South Pacific" score includes such musical theater classics as "Some Enchanted Evening," "Younger Than Springtime," "Bali Ha'i," "There is Nothin' Like A Dame" and "A Wonderful Guy."
2009-10 planet Ordway® Target® World Music and Dance Series
The Bad Boys of Dance
October 30, 2009
Led by international ballet star Rasta Thomas, this company redefines classical ballet by fusing classic strength and form with hip hop, jazz dance, rock music and gymnastics. It is an evening of dance so beautiful and dangerous, you are almost afraid to look - but you just can't take your eyes off of these incredible dancers.
Yasmin Levy
November 1, 2009
Yasmin is of a new generation of musicians who are preserving and reimagining the most beautiful songs from Ladino/Judeo-Spanish heritage, and mixing it with Andalucian Flamenco. Hers is a deep, spiritual and moving style of singing and we are proud to open her U.S. tour next season.
Dance Brazil
February 19, 2010
For over 30 years this company has celebrated the traditional Afro-Brazilian Dance and Capoeira movement in choreography that blends contemporary dance and sound in stunning performances that echo the traditional movement, spirit and color of Brazil's rich multicultural influences.
Dreaming the Duke
February 21, 2010
Jazz meets classical in this one of-a-kind celebration of the music of Edward "Duke" Ellington. Award-winning jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon and opera superstar Harolyn Blackwell blend and shape their respective genres to celebrate the legacy and influences of America's jazz legend.
Shidara
February 24, 2010
Shidara is an "extreme" Taiko company from the forests and mountains of Japan. Taiko, the unmatched percussive form that is a centuries-old tradition, showcases a rigor and discipline of drumming. With extraordinary strength and training, these artists train for years to bring precision, incomparable ensemble work and incredible passion to their work.
Diavolo
March 25, 2010
Diavolo takes the stage with their exciting fusion of dance, gymnastics and acting, performed with character, beauty, athleticism and humor.
dre.dance
May 20, 2010
Ordway is pleased to present the Midwest premiere of dre.dance, a quickly rising New York-based group that uses contemporary dance as their base for exploring topics in contemporary society. The performance that they will share with us is called "Beyond Worlds," and was created following intensive study through workshops, residency, and interviews of the autistic community.
Community Partnership Event
As part of its ongoing series of community partnerships, the Ordway will join with VocalEssence to present the 20th annual WITNESS concert on February 14, 2010. The event will feature the Grammy Award®-winning African American female vocal group Sweet Honey In The Rock, alongside the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers, conducted by Philip Brunelle. Each group will perform separately before combining forces for a unique set of music inspired by the African American experience.
Season Subscriptions On Sale Now
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts offers subscription packages with exciting benefits for season ticket holders. These include discounted pricing, priority seating, flexible ticket exchanges, opportunities to purchase additional single tickets before they go on sale to the public, advance purchase of reserved parking, and Ordway Concierge Service. Subscribers who renew by March 31, 2009 will receive a complimentary voucher to a planet Ordway® show or a drink voucher for each of their performances. Theater Season subscriptions range from $226.30 to $287.50. A 10 percent discount is available when ordering tickets for three or more planet Ordway® performances during the season. For subscription information please call 651.224.4222. For group sales, call 651.282.3111.
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
The Ordway is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading not-for-profit performing arts centers and Saint Paul's most elegant and inviting performance space. The Ordway's Main Hall and McKnight Theatre stages attract diverse audiences with an array of productions encompassing the finest in American musical theater, world music, dance, jazz, and vocal performance. In addition, each year Ordway presents its Flint Hills International Children's Festival and serves over 50,000 children and adults through its Ordway Center Education programs. The Ordway is part of a unique Arts Partnership with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and the Schubert Club, hosting their renowned productions each season. The Ordway is also proud to sponsor the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, a professionally guided academic and artistic environment that trains aspiring pre-professional performing artists in the areas of instrumental and vocal music, theater and dance.
Comments
Videos