Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma Announces its 2012 Season

Lyric, Oklahoma's leading professional theatre company, announces its 2012 Season, including XANADU (January 25- February 11); SPRING AWAKENING (March 28- April 14); BYE BYE BIRDIE (June 26-30); SWEET CHARITY (July 10-14); A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD (July 13-28), Irving Berlin's CALL ME MADAM (July 24-28); CHITA RIVERA: MY BROADWAY (August 7-11); THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP (October 10-27) and LYRIC'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL, presented by Devon Energy (November 30- December 29). Season subscriptions to this spectacular 2012 Season are now available for purchase.

Starting Lyric's exciting 2012 Season is the hilarious comedy, XANADU. This over-the-top, hysterical roller-skating musical spoofs the outrageously bad 1980s film about a beautiful muse who descends from the heavens of Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach and inspires a struggling artist to pursue his dreams. It's hilarity on wheels for anyone who has ever wanted to feel inspired.

Continuing at Lyric is the Tony Award-winning musical, SPRING AWAKENING, at Lyric's Plaza Theatre stage. This coming-of-age indie rock musical, adapted from the controversial 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind, explores the intimate journey from adolescence to adulthood with unforgettable poignancy and passion.
Then Lyric is "Celebrating Chita!" all summer long at the Civic Center Music Hall. Legendary Broadway icon Chita Rivera continues to dazzle audiences around the world with her groundbreaking musical performances. Lyric is celebrating Chita and her illustrious career all summer long with brand-new productions of three of her landmark musicals, ending with Chita live in concert on our stage!

The first production of the "Celebrating Chita!" series is BYE BYE BIRDIE at the Civic Center Music Hall. Alongside Dick Van Dyke, Rivera originated the role of Rose "Rosie" Alvarez, Albert Peterson's secretary and long suffering girlfriend, in BYE BYE BIRDIE on Broadway in April of 1960.

Conrad Birdie has "One Last Kiss" for his number-one teen fan in Sweet Apple, Ohio, before he is drafted into the Army. Get swept-up in the excitement of the Ed Sullivan Show as the hip-thrusting rock and roll star visits this small town in BYE BYE BIRDIE.

The second show on the Civic Center stage is the sexy, yet charming production of SWEET CHARITY. Rivera, after touring as Charity in 1967, was subsequently cast as Nickie in the 1969 film Sweet Charity, opposite Shirley MacLaine as Charity.

Before CHICAGO there was SWEET CHARITY. Charity works at a dance club where the motto is "Hey Big Spender." She has only seen the dark side of life through her bad relationships, but through it all she stays sweet and is hopeful that someday she will find happiness.

Third at the Civic Center is the delightful lost classic musical, Irving Berlin's CALL ME MADAM. Her very first professional gig at seventeen years of age, Rivera was cast as a principal dancer in the chorus of the national touring company of CALL ME MADAM starring Elaine Stritch in 1950.

Inspired by Oklahoma City's own international socialite and Ambassador, Perle Mesta, this musical comedy is full of Irving Berlin tunes you love, like "Hostess with the Mostes" and "You're Just in Love." This golden age treasure is directed by Lyric's Artistic Director Michael Baron, director of Lyric's 2011 production of RAGTIME.

Dancing her way to the Civic Center Music Hall to close the four summer show series is the one and only Chita Rivera herself in CHITA RIVERA: MY BROADWAY. An intimate evening of music with two-time Tony-award winner Chita Rivera performing songs from her legendary Broadway career. Accompanied by a full orchestra, Ms. Rivera will perform selections from her most celebrated musicals, including WEST SIDE STORY, CHICAGO and more.

Michael Baron, Lyric's Artistic Director, worked with Rivera when she performed in Kander and Ebb's musical THE VISIT, is very excited to bring a legend to the Civic Center Music Hall stage.

"She not only inspires every performer on stage but she continues to inspire me with her tireless work ethic, soul-stirring performances, and stage presence that only comes from working with the best," says Baron. "From Jerome Robbins and Bob Fosse to Leonard Bernstein and John Kander- no one else has inspired so many artists to create their most exciting and groundbreaking works."

In July, for the first time ever, Lyric is having a summer production at Lyric's Plaza Theatre on 16th Street. Come see the adorable show, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, with the entire family. Arnold Lobel's well-loved characters hop from the page to the stage in this delightful hour-long version of Robert Reale and Willie Reale's musical. The story follows two great friends, the cheerful Frog and the rather grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons. This show is an add-on to our 2012 Season, season tickets will not be offered to A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD.

On Lyric's Plaza Theatre stage in the fall, Lyric will perform THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, just in time for Halloween Two actors take on all the roles in Charles Ludlam's high-camp comedy with dozens of lightning-quick costume changes. This sidesplitting spoof pokes fun at all that is ridiculous in Gothic horror, Victorian melodrama and classic movies, plus it's a contender for the funniest American play of the last quarter-century.

Lyric will close its 2012 Season with the new Oklahoma holiday tradition at the Plaza Theatre, LYRIC'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL, presented by Devon Energy. Capture the magic and joy of Christmas as the ghosts of Past, Present and Future lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a powerful journey of transformation and redemption.

Season subscriptions to Lyric ‘s 2012 Season are now available for purchase to the general public. As a Lyric season subscriber, you are entitled to a multitude of benefits including, great seats, renewal priority, discounted single tickets, exchange privileges and more.

For the convenience of our new subscribers, Lyric is providing four subscription packages for the 2012 Season. The package options are "8 show package", including all eight 2012 Season shows; "7 show package", including all four Civic shows plus three Plaza shows; "6 show package", including all four Civic shows plus two Plaza shows and a "4 show package", including the four Civic shows. Season tickets range from $99-$372 depending on what package option is chosen.
During Lyric's 2012 Season, performances are on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
To purchase season subscriptions, call (405) 524-9312 or print off a New Subscriber Form at www.LyricTheatreOKC.com/lyric-at-the-plaza/season-subscriptions and fax to (405) 524-9316 or mail to Lyric's ticket office at 1727 NW 16 Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73106.

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