McCallum Theatre Announces Star-Studded 2016-17 Season

The McCallum Theatre announced today its new lineup of world-class entertainment scheduled for the 2016-2017 season that includes Broadway hits Mamma Mia, The Sound Of Music and Chicago, concerts with Bernadette Peters and Kristin Chenoweth, family-friendly musicals and entertainment, holiday surprises, comedy legends and solid gold memories, all part of a very full and exciting roster. Subscriptions go on sale on Tuesday, April 5th at 8am for the Broadway Blockbuster Series, Broadway and Beyond Series, Fitz's Jazz Café at the McCallum Series, Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel Series, as well as a Create-Your-Own Series which allows patrons to mix, match, and program one performance or a full season of entertainment tailored to their own individual tastes.

"Coming off the most successful season in the Theatre's history, we tried to put together a schedule with a great mix of the new and different along with the tried and true," said McCallum President and CEO Mitch Gershenfeld. "We feel like we have another exciting lineup for Coachella Valley residents and visitors and expect many of the shows to sell out quickly, so we hope people will place their orders as soon as possible to avoid disappointment."

Among the new season's highlights are several first time visitors to the McCallum including The Queen of Mexican Music and America's first all-female mariachi ensemble, Aida Cuevas and Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles (Oct. 15); B - The Underwater Bubble Show, featuring the inhabitants of Bubblelandia, for McCallum's Fifth Annual Family Fun Day (Oct. 23); PBS sensation Celtic Thunder (Nov. 4); Deseos, stories of longing and desire told through Argentine tango and music by Tango Estampas Porteñas (Nov. 16); An Evening with George Takei (Nov. 19), an intimate conversation with the iconic Star Trek star who remains a powerful voice in popular culture.

Also new to the McCallum this season are a brand new production of The Sound of Music (Nov. 22-27); DRUMLine Live, an international tour based on the Historically Black College and University marching band tradition (Jan. 22, 2017); The Illusionistsâ„¢, the world's best-selling magic show, direct from Broadway (Jan. 28-29, 2017); the incomparable Take 6 who will join forces with The Manhattan Transfer in an unforgettable musical summit (Feb. 10, 2017); Ezralow Dance featuring the work of award-winning director/choreographer and multi-media artist Daniel Ezralow, recipient of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award at the McCallum's Choreography Festival (Feb. 13, 2017); Monty Python's living legend of comedy, John Cleese (Mar. 12, 2017); a brand new production of Neil Simon's madcap comedy, Last of the Red Hot Lovers from Walnut Street Theatre (Mar. 14, 2017); plus all six of this season's Mitch's Picks.

The 2016-2017 Broadway Blockbuster Series takes on an international flair, starting in the lively hills of Salzburg, Austria with The Sound of Music (Nov. 22-27) on the heels of the popular live television presentation and fifty-one years after the release of the most successful movie musical in history. Travel next to the picturesque Greek Isles with the Farewell Tour of the ultimate feel-good show, Mamma Mia (Dec. 2-4) with such hits as "Dancing Queen," "S.O.S.," "Super Trouper," "Take A Chance on Me" and "The Winner Takes It All."

Liverpool and The Fab Four come alive in February when Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles takes to the McCallum stage (Feb. 17-19, 2017) This live multi-media spectacular takes audiences on a musical journey through the life and times of the world's most celebrated band. Round out the series in Prohibition-era Chicago, the number one longest-running American musical in Broadway history, featuring the musical mayhem of merry murderesses Roxie and Velma, along with their slippery lawyer, Billy Flynn. Chicago tells a universal tale of fame, fortune and "all that jazz." (Mar. 17-19, 2017). Four show series packages are available from $178 - $458.

The King of Rock and Roll meets the most adorable little red-headed girl ever, mixed in with some jaw-dropping illusions and a throwback to the golden age of vaudeville in the 2016-2017 McCallum Theatre Broadway and Beyond Series.

Everyone's favorite redhead, Annie returns to the McCallum in a brand new incarnation featuring such unforgettable songs as "It's the Hard Knock Life," "Easy Street" and the eternal anthem of optimism, "Tomorrow;" (Jan. 10-11, 2017). Called "a high-tech magic extravaganza" by The New York Times, The Illusionists™ is a mind-blowing spectacular showcasing the jaw-dropping talents of seven of the most incredible illusionists on earth (Jan. 28-29, 2017); Elvis Lives is an unforgettable multi-media and live musical journey through the life of the King of Rock and Roll (Feb. 22-23, 2017); and the Second Annual Tribute to the Follies returns after its sold-out engagement, this time with John Davidson and Ann Hampton Callaway helping to pay tribute to the Folies Bergère, Ziegfeld Follies and the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies (Mar. 8-9, 2017). Four show series packages are available from $178 - $398.

Returning for a third season, Mitch's Picks, showcases artists with whom Valley audiences many not yet be familiar, but come with the personal recommendation of McCallum President and CEO Mitch Gershenfeld. All six shows are first-time visitors to the McCallum. Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro kicks off the Mitch's Picks series on November 29, followed by Daniel Belle, a former member of The TEN Tenors who will make his American concert debut on January 20, 2017. COLE is a one-man tribute to the legendary Cole Porter, brought to life by Australian cabaret sensation Michael Griffiths (Feb. 3, 2017); Simply Three brings the combination of violin, cello and double bass to new heights playing covers of classic rock and contemporary hits (Feb. 15, 2017); Mnozil Brass, both incredible musicians and hilarious fun, make the Canadian Brass look downright stodgy (Mar. 23, 2017); and Max Raabe & Palast Orchester bring the sophisticated look and sound of Berlin's Golden Age of the 1920s to the McCallum, paying homage to The Comedian Harmonists, as well as Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Fred Astaire (Mar. 30, 2017).

Celebrating its 18th Anniversary and co-sponsored by the McCallum Theatre, CV 104.3's morning personality Jim "Fitz" Fitzgerald brings another exciting roster of exceptional performers to the desert in 2016-17 for his wildly popular Fitz's Jazz Café at the McCallum series. The lineup includes return engagements by favorites Herb Alpert and Lani Hall (Nov. 5), Vanessa Williams (Jan. 14, 2017), Steve Tyrell (Mar. 25, 2017) and Chris Botti (Apr. 8, 2017). A big highlight of the series is The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6, combining forces for the first time two of the most acclaimed, award-winning vocal groups in pop music history (Feb. 10, 2017). Tickets for the five show series range from $249 - $449.

The indomitable Jeffrey Siegel brings his acclaimed Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel back to the McCallum for its 15th Anniversary Season of making classical music accessible, interesting and fun. His popular and intimate evenings of piano and commentary return to the McCallum in the 2016-2017 season with four programs: Fiesta! The Glorious Music of Spain and Argentina (Nov. 28); The Miracle of Mozart (Jan. 23, 2017), featuring two of Mozart's most beloved concertos. Siegel will play, speak and conduct the McCallum Theatre Chamber Orchestra with 36 of the best Los Angeles-based musicians; The Genius of Chopin (Feb. 27, 2017); and an Audience Choice concert(Apr. 3, 2017) for which details on how to submit favorites for consideration will be released at a later date. These performances are presented through the generosity of Donna MacMillan. Tickets for all four concerts range from $88 - $168.

The 2016-2017 season kicks off with the McCallum's Fifth Annual Family Fun Day (Oct. 23). Proceeds from this great family-friendly afternoon at the Theatre support the education and outreach programs of the McCallum Theatre. This season's Family Fun Day will feature B - The Underwater Bubble Show (or The Unexpected Journey of Mr. B in the Colorful Underwater World of Bubblelandia) which just celebrated five successful years of touring between Italy, Switzerland, Russia, China, Qatar, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Turkey and its homeland of Latvia. Inspired by "Cirque du Soleil," the show is rich in various stage effects using the latest laser technologies, snow cannons, soap bubble tornadoes, theatrical fog, magic, gigantic smoke rings, smoke-filled soap bubble machines, optical illusions and many other surprises.

International dance is represented at the McCallum in a major way in 2016-2017. In addition to performances by Tango Estampas Porteñas and Ezralow Dance, the lineup includes McCallum Theatre's 19th annual Choreography Festival, which features exciting original dances in a number of styles performed by companies from across the nation (Nov. 12-13); the triumphant return of BalletBoyz®, from Great Britain who caused a sensation at the McCallum in 2014 (Jan. 30 & 31, 2017); the percussive dance phenomenon, Rhythmic Circus in Feet Don't Fail Me Now (Feb. 7, 2017); Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, the pioneering jewel of a dance company from the American West (Mar. 7, 2017); and Malandain Ballet Biarritz (McCallum debut) with a brilliant new production of Beauty and the Beast (Mar. 20, 2017).

An expanded Holiday Season of shows fills December at the McCallum and includes: celebrate Christmas in Vienna with Vienna Boys Choir (Dec. 5); The Irish Tenors Christmas (Dec. 6) featuring Ronan Tynan, Anthony Kearns and Finbar Wright; the popular Colors of Christmas (Dec. 9) starring Oleta Adams, Melissa Manchester, Jon Secada and Ruben Studdard; Christmas with The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, returning to the McCallum after their successful appearance as part of the Mitch's Picks series two seasons ago (Dec. 11); Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker (Dec. 13); and A Johnny Mathis Christmas (Dec. 16 & 17) showcasing the legendary vocalist with his quartet and a 31-piece orchestra.

It's a year of legendary ladies of song starting with the Palm Desert debut of Jane Lynch (Oct. 29), best known as the iconic Sue Sylvester on Glee, followed by Pink Martini's Storm Large, along with her band Le Bonheur (Jan. 25 & 26, 2017); three-time Tony® Award-winner Bernadette Peters (Feb. 4, 2017); young phenom and America's Got Talent finalist Jackie Evancho (Feb. 11, 2017); Valley favorite Lorna Luft performing "The Judy Garland Songbook" (Feb. 14, 2017) and Broadway's sweetheart Kristin Chenoweth of Wicked and Glee fame (Mar. 24, 2017), as well as the aforementioned Vanessa Williams.

Not to be left out, male vocals will be well-represented as The TEN Tenors, the most popular group in the history of the McCallum Theatre, return for eight performances (Feb. 28 - Mar.-5, 2017), as well as a tribute to the life and music of Mel Tormé, Tormé Sings Tormé, starring the legendary jazz singer's first-born son, Steve March Tormé (Feb. 6, 2017); and the Great American Songbook's best friend, Michael Feinstein (Feb. 25, 2017).

The solid gold sounds from your AM/FM radio take to the McCallum stage in 2016-2017 including: Foreigner playing hits like "Feels Like the First Time," "Urgent," "Hot Blooded," "Cold As Ice," "Waiting for a Girl Like You" and "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Nov. 2); those ageless surfer dudes, The Beach Boys (Nov. 20); and classic hitmaker Art Garfunkel (Mar. 31, 2017).

And comedy is king as the McCallum presents late night champ Jay Leno (Jan. 21, 2017); Lake Wobegon's favorite son, Garrison Keillor (Jan. 27, 2017); an ALL NEW version of the 1991 Broadway hit, Catskills on Broadway (Feb. 24, 2017) starring Freddie Roman, Sarge and Elayne Boosler; the aforementioned John Cleese (Mar. 12, 2017); and favorite funny lady Rita Rudner (Apr. 7, 2017).

Two of classical music's most indelible artists make a return stop to the McCallum in the new season: violin legend Itzhak Perlman, accompanied by Rohan de Silva on piano (Jan. 19, 2017) and violinist Joshua Bell, one of the most prominent American artists of his generation (Feb. 1, 2017). And the Waring International Piano Competition returns with two shows: Three Pianos - Six Hands - One Performance (Nov. 17) and Concerto Finals with Orchestra & Award Presentation (Apr. 2, 2017).

And nostalgia, tributes, spectacle and thoughtful theater make up the balance of the 2016-2017 with performances including: folk masters New Christy Minstrels (Nov. 6); The Highwaymen - A Musical Tribute to perhaps the greatest super group in country music history (Jan. 13, 2017); a third rendition of Palm Springs Legends featuring the top tribute artists honoring the iconic stars of the Desert (Jan. 15, 2017); the breathtaking spectacle of Golden Dragon Acrobats (Feb. 122017); a grand night of music with the Salute to Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall (Mar. 6, 2017) reliving the legendary concert that made Goodman the most celebrated jazz bandleader of his day; additional opportunities to see the deeply emotional drama, The Pianist of Willesden Lane, a McCallum sell-out show in 2015 (Mar. 21 & 22, 2017); a fifth outing for the McCallum Theatre Concert Band (Mar. 26, 2017) with McCallum President & CEO Mitch Gershenfeld, conductor; and a Tribute to Glenn Miller and the Vocal Groups Featuring The Tex Beneke Orchestra (Mar. 28, 2017) with special guests The Four Aces, The Four Lads, String of Pearls and Paul Boland.

Performances are subject to change.

Series tickets are available beginning Tuesday, April 5th at 8:00am at the Theatre's box office or web site at www.mccallumtheatre.com.

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