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Orlando Shakes Sets 2015-16 Season: SPAMALOT, DANCING LESSONS & More
By: Tyler Peterson Feb. 06, 2015
Previously announced in December, Monty Python's SPAMALOT will headline the upcoming season. Winner of three Tony Awards including "Best Musical", the saucy musical parody tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table on a quest for the Holy Grail. Phantom of the Opera veteran Davis Gaines returns as King Arthur, following his celebrated portrayal of Javert in 2014's LES MISERABLES.
"After the success of LES MISERABLES, we're excited to kick off our Signature Series with another show-stopping musical," said Managing Director PJ Albert. "2015 marks the 40th Anniversary of the cult-classic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail which SPAMALOT is based on, so it felt like perfect timing. It was also a highly requested production based on our audience surveys."
In conjunction with SPAMALOT, the Season Gala will take place on Sunday, September 20, 2015 at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Tickets for the annual fundraiser go on sale later this Spring.
Keeping to its roots as a classical Shakespeare festival, the Theater will offer The Tempest and Pericles during its Classic Repertory Series in Spring 2016. Audiences haven't seen the fantastical favorite The Tempest since 2002, while Pericles has never before been produced by Orlando Shakes, bringing the Theater closer to its goal of finishing William Shakespeare's canon.
Following up 2014's acclaimed production of The Best of Enemies, Orlando Shakes has teamed up once again with playwright Mark St. Germain to produce another moving new play, Dancing Lessons. Two other contemporary plays Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (2013 Tony Award for Best Play) and Bakersfield Mist (2012 Elliot Norton Award for Best New Play) are also included in the 27th Season.
Additionally, the Theater continues its commitment to new plays with PlayFest. Scheduled for November 5-8, this season's festival will once again present readings of new works by local and national playwrights. Recent projects have included plays by Israel Horovitz, Charlie Bethel, Jon Jory, Lauren Gunderson, Steve Yockey, and Mark Brown.
The 2015-2016 Children's Series includes three family-friendly productions: the updated fairy tale The Frog and the Princess, a time traveling adventure Magic Tree House: A Ghost Tale for Mr. Dickens, and the toe-tapping new musical Elephant and Piggie's: "We're in a Play!".
"We're thrilled to continue our partnership with Mary Pope Osborne and her beloved Magic Tree House series," said Director of Education Anne Hering. "Our record-breaking production of A Night in New Orleans: A Magic Tree House Adventure entertained over 15,000 guests in 2013. We can't wait to go back in time on another adventure with Jack and Annie next season."
Single tickets to The Frog and the Princess are available for purchase starting on May 5, 2015.
Single tickets to all other productions in Orlando Shakespeare Theater's 27th Season go on sale Tuesday, June 16, but subscriptions can be purchased now by calling (407) 447-1700 ext. 1 or in person at the Box Office (812 East Rollins Street). Subscriptions may not currently be purchased online. 2015-2016 titles and dates are subject to change; additional information about the season, including creative team and casting, will be announced at a later date.
Orlando Shakespeare Theater is supported by United Arts of Central Florida, host of power2give.org/centralflorida, and the collaborative Campaign for the Arts. Orlando Shakespeare Theater is also sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
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