Hennepin Theater Trust Announces MARY POPPINS, AVENUE Q & More For 09/10 Season

Hennepin Theatre Trust today unveiled the lineup for the 2009/10 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season featuring six Minnesota debuts including Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, the 2008 multi-Tony Award-winning In The Heights, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein and Dirty Dancing, The Classic Story On Stage.

Running from September 2009 through June 2010 at the Trust's Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis,  the season will also be comprised of the new stage production of Dreamgirls and 101 Dalmatians The Musical. Season ticket packages go on sale Thursday, April 16, 2009. Individual tickets will beavailable at a later date.

Visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org for more information.

For group tickets andreservations call 612-373-5665."Six Minnesota debuts in 09/10 further establish our historic Orpheum Theatre as the place to see thelatest groundbreaking and Tony Award-winning Broadway shows," says Hennepin Theatre TrustPresident/CEO Tom Hoch.

"I can't wait to introduce Twin Cities' audiences of every age to this fabulousarray of live entertainment."The season's Minnesota debuts begin Sept. 3-20, 2009 with Broadway's 2007 Tony Award-winning Mary Poppins landing at the Orpheum Theatre starring original cast members Ashley Brown as Mary Poppins and Gavin Lee as Bert. Produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, it combines the best of theoriginal stories by P.L. Travers with songs from the classic Walt Disney film including "Chim ChimCher-ee," "A Spoonful of Sugar" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

Playing at the Orpheum from Oct. 13-18, 2009 is101 Dalmatians The Musical, led by the creative team of Jerry Zaks (La Cage Aux Folles and "Everybody LovesRaymond"), B.T. McNicholl (Spamalot, Billy Elliot and Cabaret) and Dennis DeYoung (founding member of the rock groupStyx).

This all ages experience transports audiences to a slightly topsy-turvy and fantastic reality with song, dance andspectacle. In The Heights, winner of four 2008 Tony Awards including Best Musical, has its Minnesota debut at the  Orpheum Theater Dec. 1-6, 2009. This sensational new show about chasing your dreams and finding your true home is set in Washington Heights-a vibrant Manhattan community where the coffee is light and sweet, the windows are always openand the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music.

In The Heights is the next chapter of the classicAmerican story. The new year of 2010 kicks off with Dreamgirls, Jan. 12-17, 2010 at the Orpheum Theatre, telling therags-to-riches story of a ‘60s Motown girl group and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune.Young Frankenstein, the new stage musical based on the classic Mel Brooks movie, comes alive at the OrpheumTheatre Feb. 9-14, 2010.

Three-time Tony Award-winner Brooks (who wrote the music, lyrics and co-wrote the book),five-time Tony-winning director Susan Stroman and three-time Tony-winning writer Thomas Meehan deliver all the favoritemoments from the hilarious 1974 film plus new show-stopping stage numbers. The season concludes June 1-13, 2010with Dirty Dancing, The Classic Story On Stage at the Orpheum Theatre.

Re-imagined by the original screenwriter,experience everything you remember from the 1987 movie including 35 hit songs such as "Hungry Eyes" and "I've Hadthe Time of My Life" along with new songs and scenes that make the story resonate more deeply with fans andnewcomers alike.- more 

The season will also include two special additions as the perennially popular Mamma Mia! returns to the OrpheumTheatre March 9-14, 2010. Writer Catherine Johnson's sunny tale about a daughter's quest to discover her father'sidentity set to ABBA's timeless songs, including "Dancing Queen" and "Take a Chance on Me," has captivated over 32million people worldwide. Avenue Q, winner of 2004 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score, plays the Orpheum Theatre April 13-18, 2010.

A hilarious show full of heart and hummable tunes such as "It Sucks to Be Me" and"What Do You Do With a B.A. In English?," Avenue Q is about trying to make it in NYC with big dreams and a tiny bankaccount.SEASON TICKET INFORMATIONSix-show season ticket packages go on sale Thursday, April 16, 2009 and include Mary Poppins, 101 Dalmatians The Musical, In The Heights, Dreamgirls, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein and Dirty Dancing, The ClassicStory On Stage.

Prices range from $155 to $565 and include applicable season ticket discounts, Select Seating, theatrerestoration and handling fees. Information is available 24 hours a day at HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

Patrons can also call the Broadway Across America Customer Service Hotline at 1-800-859-SHOW (7469), Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.CST. By mail, contact Broadway Across America-Minneapolis, PO Box 203766, Houston TX, 77216-3766.By fax, dial 1-800-329-8587.

Current season ticket holders are urged to respond to renewal notices immediately to retain their seats for this stellarseason. The renewal deadline is Friday, May 8, 2009. Group tickets are on sale now and discounts are available formany performances.

Group minimums vary; please call 612-373-5665 for information and reservations. Single tickets forindividual productions will go on sale at a later date. Further information will be posted online as it becomes available atHennepinTheatreTrust.org and can also be received directly by signing up to receive email notification of the latestupdates.

SEASON TICKET HOLDER BENEFITS

Season ticket holders get the best guaranteed seats for the year's hottest shows and enjoy many benefits including:

•Priority PRE-SALE opportunities to buy additional tickets before public on-sale dates•EASY payment plan-pay in three installments at no additional charge

•SEASON HANDBOOK-an information guide plus a dining coupon book!•FREE TICKET EXCHANGE and replacement services

•OFFERS from Hennepin Theatre Trust restaurant partners

•ADVANCE ACCESS to tickets for Broadway series shows at the Ordway2009/10 BROADWAY SEASONMary PoppinsSept. 3-20, 2009Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Avenue, Mpls.

From Sept. 3-20, 2009, the world's most famous nanny will reside at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre. Combining the best of the original stories by P. L. Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film, the Tony Award-winningMary Poppins is everything you'd hope for in a Broadway musical-and more. Produced by Disney and CameronMackintosh, the show includes such wonderful songs as "Chim Chim Cher-ee," "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Let's Go Fly aKite" and, of course, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

The New York Daily News hails Mary Poppins as "a roof-raising,toe-tapping, high-flying extravaganza!" Let your imagination take flight at this perfectly magical musical!101 Dalmatians The Musical Oct. 13-18, 2009Orpheum Theatre 101 Dalmatians The Musical is an experience for the entire family about what it means to be a family, canineand courageous. More than a simple story about good versus bad, the family bands together to overcome every hurdleand hardship in the most difficult times.

This is sure to be a new family favorite! Led by the creative team of Jerry Zaks (LaCage Aux Folles, Smokey Joe's Cafe, "Everybody Loves Raymond"), B.T. McNicholl (Spamalot, Billy Elliot, Cabaret) and Dennis DeYoung (founding member of the rock group Styx), 101 Dalmatians The Musical will transport audiences to aslightly topsy-turvy, exciting, and altogether fantastic reality that gives grand license for song, dance and spectacle in aone-of-a-kind show featuring both human and canine cast that will leave everyone cheering.In The HeightsDec. 1-6, 2009 Orpheum TheatreIn The Heights, winner of four 2008 Tony Awards including Best Musical, is a sensational new show about chasing yourdreams and finding your true home.

With an amazing cast, incredible Tony Award-winning dancing and a thrilling TonyAward-winning score, In The Heights is an exhilarating journey into Washington Heights, a vibrant Manhattan community,where the coffee is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generationsof music. Experience the next chapter of the classic American story at the most joyous, exciting and award-winning newmusical on Broadway. Find out what it takes to make a living, what it costs to have a dream, and what it means to be home...In The Heights.

Dreamgirls Jan. 12-17, 2010 Orpheum Theatre Catch the Dream! Direct from the world famous Apollo Theatre in New York City, a sensational new stage production ofDreamgirls comes to Minneapolis! Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, Dreamgirls tells the rags-to-riches story of a1960s Motown girl group and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. With music by AcademyAward nominee Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tony and Grammy-winning Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls features theunforgettable hits "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," "One Night Only" and "Listen."

Broadway director and choreographer Robert Longbottom, co-choreographer Shane Sparks (TV's "So You Think You Can Dance") and some ofBroadway's top designers re-envision this Tony and Academy Award winning musical so it sparkles like never before. Recommended for ages 13 and up. The New Mel Brooks Musical Young FrankensteinFeb. 9-14, 2010Orpheum TheatreThe classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE...and it's headed here! You'll have a monstrously good time at this spectacularnew production, winner of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award and the Broadway.com Audience Award for Best Musical.

Don't miss the cast delivering all your favorite moments from the classic film, plus show-stopping numbers for the stage including "Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and "Puttin' on the Ritz." This wickedly inspired re-imagining of theFrankenstein legend follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen) as he attempts to create a monster-butnot without hilarious complications. The brains behind the laughter is mad genius and three-time Tony Award-winner MelBrooks-who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book-and his record-breaking team from The Producers: five-time Tony-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman and three-time Tony-winning writer, Thomas Meehan.

Recommended for ages 13 and up. Mamma Mia! (Special Addition to the Season)March 9-14, 2010Orpheum Theatre Mamma Mia! is the ultimate feel-good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill. Now it'syour turn to experience this smash-hit musical that combines ABBA's greatest hits, including "Dancing Queen," "S.O.S.,""Super Trouper," "Take A Chance on Me" and "The Winner Takes It All," with an enchanting tale of love, laughter andfriendship. Whether it's your first visit or your fourteenth, see the show that has the whole world coming back for more,because every time feels like the first time at Mamma Mia!

Avenue Q (Special Addition to the Season)April 13-18, 2010

Orpheum Theatre Avenue Q is Broadway's smash-hit Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. A hilarious show fullof heart and hummable tunes including "It Sucks to Be Me" and "What Do You Do With a B.A. in English?," Avenue Q isabout trying to make it in New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. Called "one of the funniest shows you'reever likely to see" by Entertainment Weekly, Avenue Q features a cast of people and puppets who tell the story in a smart,risqué and downright entertaining way.

The New Yorker calls it "subversive and uproarious!" Recommended for ages 13 andup. Avenue Q has not been authorized or approved by the Jim Henson Company or Sesame Workshop, which have no responsibilityfor its content. Dirty Dancing, The Classic Story On StageJune 1-13, 2010Orpheum Theatre The movie is a legendary entertainment phenomenon. The soundtrack is simply unforgettable. And now you canexperience Dirty Dancing as never before. Re-imagined for the stage by the original screenwriter, Dirty Dancing, TheClassic Story On Stage, is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, breathtaking emotionand sensationally sexy dancing. Step inside the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spiritsfrom different worlds, who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.

It is told by a tremendous cast of 39 and features 35 hit songs, including "Hungry Eyes," "Hey Baby," "Do You Love Me?" andthe heart-stopping "I've Had The Time Of My Life." Everything you remember from the 1987 movie comes to life, withbrand-new songs and scenes that make the story resonate more deeply with fans and newcomers alike. Don't miss yourchance to see this truly spectacular musical theater event. You'll have the time of your life. HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST, owner of the historic State, Orpheum and Pantages Theatres, is a non-profit organization devoted toenriching the vibrant cultural atmosphere of the Twin Cities. The Trust's programs include Broadway touring productions, the LiteraryLegends Writer's Series, the SpotLight Musical Theatre Program for high schools, Critical View student reviewer program, TeenUshers, the Access Program and Kids' Night. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

Broadway Across America Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industryveteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, familyproductions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to thedevelopment and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world.Broadway Across America most recently produced Irving Berlin's White Christmas on Broadway, while current and upcomingproductions include West Side Story, Blithe Spirit, Minsky's and the DeafWest production of Pippin. Broadway tours include Dora theExplorer, Frost/Nixon, Spamalot, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Fiddler on the Roof. For more information or to purchase tickets throughan authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

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