Kimmel Center & Shubert Org Announce Philadelphia Broadway Season

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and The Shubert Organization Present THE BROADWAY SEASON

THE KIMMEL CENTER & The Shubert Organization
ANNOUNCE NEW 2011-2012 BROADWAY SEASON

BROADWAY'S BEST ON TOUR
SET TO MAKE PHILADELPHIA PREMIERES!

New Subscription Season Features
Broadway's Top Shows Including
ROCK OF AGES, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, MEMPHIS, HAIR, FELA!, WEST SIDE STORY

Broadway's Biggest Smash Hit In Years
Is "Workin' Its Way Back" to Philly!
JERSEY BOYS
Returns to The Forrest Theatre
Following Its Sold-Out Premiere Engagement Last Year

Additional Shows Returning By Popular Demand!...
RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles,
Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Subscription Season Ticket Packages Available March 3!

The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization are proud to announce a dazzling variety of Broadway's most popular stage musicals coming to Philadelphia for the 2011-2012 Broadway Season at the Academy of Music, Forrest Theatre and Merriam Theater. The new season marks the major milestone of presenting Broadway productions in Philadelphia by saluting the Kimmel Center's 10th Anniversary. The Broadway Season is presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization with productions at the Academy of Music, Forrest Theatre and Merriam Theater.

Dates for the new subscription season will include ROCK OF AGES (Oct. 18 - 23, 2011) at the Merriam Theater; BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL (Nov. 16 - 27, 2011*); MEMPHIS (Jan. 17 - 22, 2012); HAIR (Feb. 28 - Mar. 4, 2012); FELA! (Mar. 20 - 25, 2012) and WEST SIDE STORY (Mar. 27 - Apr. 8, 2012*), all at the Academy of Music. (*subscription dates first week only)

The new season will also welcome the return of Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award Winning Best Musical JERSEY BOYS (Dec. 6, 2011 - Jan. 15, 2012) at the Forrest Theatre.

Additional 2011 - 2012 shows will include: RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles (Jan. 31 - Feb. 5) and the premiere of a spectacular new production of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (June 5 - 10, 2012), both at the Academy of Music.

Subscription packages are on sale beginning March 3 by calling 215-893-1955 or online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway1112. Single show tickets will go on sale at a later date.

"I am thrilled to introduce another spectacular Broadway Season in the midst of celebrating the Kimmel Center's 10th Anniversary year in our great City!" said Kimmel Center, Inc. President and CEO Anne Ewers. "And what a selection of show's we have! All of the national touring productions visiting Philadelphia this year are among the most popular, successful and top-drawer shows on Broadway. The new season will offer a variety of great Broadway musicals with themes addressing social issues ranging from discrimination and equality, to revolution and triumph. Together with The Shubert Organization we welcome the continued opportunity to bring such high-quality productions to the Philadelphia metropolitan area for all of our patrons to enjoy. The regional theatre community continues to be extremely supportive of all of our events, and we are grateful for their enthusiasm and patronage."

"It is always very exciting ushering in a new Broadway Season." said Philip J. Smith, Chariman of The Shubert Organization, Inc. "We have a fabulous line-up of the best shows currently on tour, and we are proud to be offering this caliber of entertainment to the Philadelphia theater community. Our continuing efforts with the Kimmel Center allow us to keep raising the bar every year in providing only the best of Broadway for all of our audiences."

It's five-time, Tony Award® nominated smash-hit musical ROCK OF AGES (Oct. 18 - 23, 2011 at the Merriam Theater), a hilarious, feel-good love story. In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in LA's most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the 80's. ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind blowing, face-melting hits of JOURNEY, Night Ranger, STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, PAT BENATAR, TWISTED SISTER, POISON, ASIA, WHITESNAKE and many more. Don't miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on! "Impossible to resist!" - Charles Isherwood, The New York Times. "Rock and comedy in perfect proportion!" - David Cote, Time Out.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL (Nov. 16 - 27, 2011 at the Academy of Music) is a joyous celebration of one young boy's journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising passion that inspires his family and his whole community. A big musical with an even bigger heart, BILLY ELLIOT will enchant the dreamer in all of us. Based on the international smash-hit film, BILLY ELLIOT is brought to life by a phenomenal cast of 45 and the Tony Award-winning creative team - director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling and writer Lee Hall -- along with music legend Elton John, who has written what the New York Post calls "HIS BEST SCORE YET!"

TURN UP THAT DIAL...From underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events MEMPHIS (Jan. 17 - 22, 2012 at the Academy of Music) is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is readly for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves - filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock ‘n' roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, MEMPHIS, which played pre-Broadway at the La Jolla Playhouse, features a Tony®-winning book by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and a Tony®-winning original score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan. Directing is by Tony® nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu), and choreography is by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys). Get ready to experience Broadway's most exciting new destination~ what AP calls "The very essence of what a Broadway musical should be." www.MemphistheMusical.com

"THE MOST EXCITING SHOW IN TOWN! HAIR FEELS UTTERLY OF THE MOMENT IN ITS POWER TO MOVE US. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT." - Bloomberg News... WINNER! BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL 2009 TONY AWARD! The Public Theater's new Tony-winning production of HAIR (Feb. 28 - Mar. 4, 2012 at the Academy of Music) is an electric celebration on stage! This exuberant musical about a group of young Americans searching for peace and love in a turbulent time has struck a resonant chord with audiences young and old. HAIR features an extraordinary cast and unforgettable songs, including "Aquarius," "Let the Sun Shine In," "Good Morning, Starshine" and "Easy To Be Hard." Its relevance is UNDENIABLE. Its energy is UNBRIDLED. Its truth is UNWAVERING. It's HAIR, and IT'S TIME.

FELA! (March 20 - 25, 2012 at the Academy of Music), the most critically acclaimed musical of the season, received three 2010 Tony Awards®: Best Choreography, Best Costume Design for a Musical and Best Sound Design of a Musical! His story inspired a nation. His music inspires the world. FELA! tells the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation. Motivated by his mother, a civil rights champion, he defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity. FELA! is a triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, featuring Fela Kuti's captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones.

More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back, and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY (Mar. 27 - Apr. 8, 2012 at the Academy of Music) soars as the greatest love story of all time. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction is recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. WEST SIDE STORY remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of WEST SIDE STORY won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere." "So exciting IT MAKES YOU ACHE WITH PLEASURE" - John Lahr, The New Yorker

"Workin' Its Way Back" to Philadelphia, the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS (Dec. 6, 2011 - Jan. 15, 2012 at the Forrest Theatre), returns having electrified nearly 160,000 theatergoers during its premiere Philadelphia engagement in 2010. JERSEY BOYS, which now holds the record for the top nine box offices grosses at the Forrest Theatre, broke the Forrest box office record that was previously held by The Phantom of the Opera and went on to break its own record seven more times! The story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, JERSEY BOYS is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were thirty. JERSEY BOYS has been seen by over 12 million people across the world and grossed over $1 billion worldwide. "MY HAND TO GOD YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD TIME! My lips should fall from my face if I'm tellling you wrong!" - Toby Zinman (Philadelphia Inquirer).

Additional shows for the 2011-2012 season will include:

Direct from their phenomenally successful Broadway engagement, the internationally acclaimed Beatles concert, RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles (Jan. 31 - Feb. 5, 2012 at the Academy of Music) returns to Philadelphia. As "the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!" (Associated Press), RAIN performs the full range of Beatles discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that's as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics (I Want To Hold Your Hand, Hard Day's Night, Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Let It Be, Come Together, Hey Jude and more), this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends!

NETworks Presents
Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (June 5 - 10, 2012 at the Academy of Music) The smash hit Broadway musical is coming to Philadelphia! Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, this eye-popping spectacle has won the hearts of over 35 million people worldwide. This classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including "Be Our Guest" and the beloved title song. Experience the romance and enchantment of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at the Academy of Music! www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com

Subscription ticket prices for the 2011-2012 Broadway Season season range from $104.75 to $557. To order tickets or for more information on subscription packages call 215-893-1955 or visit kimmelcenter.org/broadway1112. Groups of 20 or more call 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Visit online at kimmelcenter.org/groupsales or telecharge.com/groups.

Broadway Season subscribers will receive up to 40% off regular single ticket purchases and are offered a variety of exclusive privileges including the first opportunity to select the best seats in the house and the option to renew these seats every year. Subscribers are also entitled to Student and Senior discounts and priority access to additional Broadway Season shows and Kimmel Center Presents performances. A special payment plan option, along with restaurant and retail discounts is also available to subscribers. A convenient flexible ticket exchange program allows subscribers to exchange tickets for another performance of the same show.

The 2011-2012 Broadway Season is presented by the Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization.

KIMMEL CENTER, INC., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the University of the Arts Merriam Theater. Our mission is to operate a world class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience which includes providing arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity of programming. The 2011/2012 season is sponsored by Citi. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.

The Shubert Organization is responsible for the ownership and/or operation of 21 theatres in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, DC and continues its involvement in the presentation of distinguished theatrical productions. They include Cats, Sunday in the Park with George, Dreamgirls, Little Shop of Horrors, The Heidi Chronicles, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Lettice & Lovage, Dancin', Amadeus, The Gin Game, Passion and Indiscretions. The Shubert Organization's activities include the revitalization of the American theatre, participation in civic and community affairs, the introduction of phone and charge ticket sales and a computerized ticketing system. This wide range of operation has proven highly effective in New York and throughout the country.

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