Providence Performing Arts Center 2012-2013 Season to Include CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, ELF, JERSEY BOYS

J.L. "Lynn" Singleton, President of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), is pleased to announce PPAC's 35th Anniversary Broadway Season and welcomes Taco/The White Family Foundation as the NEW Broadway Series sponsor. The seven-show 2012/2013 Taco/The White Family Foundation Broadway Series includes the launch of the national tours of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and ELF, along with MEMPHIS, JEKYLL & HYDE, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, SISTER ACT, and War Horse.

The 2012/2013 Contemporary Classics Series features a return three-week engagement of JERSEY BOYS and five performances each for the returns of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and Cathy Rigby in PETER PAN.

Singleton said, "Our 35th Broadway Season features the 'hottest hits' on Broadway. We are very pleased to be kicking off two National Tours this season and to have JERSEY BOYS 'make its way back' to PPAC for a three-week engagement. We are also grateful to Taco/The White Family Foundation for sponsoring the Broadway Series. They have been a phenomenal sponsor of the Contemporary Classics Series over the past two seasons and we are looking forward to working with them in greater depth this season. New subscribers can reserve their seats with just a $99 deposit. Renewal packets will soon be mailed; our renewal deadline for current subscribers is Monday, May 7."

John Hazen White, Jr., President of Taco, Inc., said, "PPAC has a fantastic line-up for next season. Taco and The White Family Foundation are proud to be supporting the shows in PPAC's Broadway Series and we are looking forward to next season!"

The 2012/2013 Taco/The White Family Foundation Broadway Series commences with the National Tour opening of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Sunday, October 7 – Sunday, October 14, 2012. Based on the DreamWorks film, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN captures the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a world-class con artist who posed as a doctor, a lawyer, and a jet pilot-all before the age of 21. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN features a Tony® Award -winning creative team, with a book by Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), a score by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (Hairspray), choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and direction by Jack O'Brien (Hairspray, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). 

The National Tour of ELF also launches at PPAC Sunday, November 4 – Saturday, November 10, 2012. Based on the DreamWorks film, ELF is an original musical that brings to life the heartwarming and hilarious tale of Buddy, an orphan who mistakenly believes he's really one of Santa's elves. ELF features an all-star creative team led by three time Tony®-nominated director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Drowsy Chaperone, Spamalot), Tony®-winning book writers Thomas Meehan (The Producers) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) and the Tony®-nominated songwriting team of Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer).

MEMPHIS visits the PPAC stage Tuesday, December 4 – Sunday, December 9, 2012. From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes a new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs, and a tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, MEMPHIS is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, MEMPHIS, which played pre-Broadway at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA, 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. MEMPHIS is directed by Tony® nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys). 

American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis and R&B star Deborah Cox star in JEKYLL & HYDE at PPAC Tuesday, January 1 – Sunday, January 6, 2013. After four years on Broadway and multiple world-wide tours, this dark and dangerous love story from Tony® and Grammy® Award nominee Frank Wildhorn returns in a stunning new pre-Broadway production that includes all the classic songs ("This is the Moment," "A New Life," "Someone Like You") that first grabbed audiences by the throat and transformed JEKYLL & HYDE into a theatrical phenomenon.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, performing at PPAC Tuesday, January 15 – Sunday, January 20, 2013, is the Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical, inspired by the true story of the famed recording session where Sam Phillips, the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll" brought together icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions of all time. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET brings that legendary night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal, and celebrations featuring timeless hits including "Blue Suede Shoes," "Sixteen Tons," "Great Balls of Fire," "I Walk the Line," "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," and more. 

SISTER ACT will have audiences rejoicing Tuesday, April 9 – Sunday, April 14, 2013. Directed by four-time Tony® Award winner Jerry Zaks,SISTER ACT features a new score by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken that combines Philadelphia Sound (a mixture of funk and soul) and Broadway. SISTER ACT tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look-a convent! Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. The Daily Newssays, "SISTER ACT is a feel-good crowd-pleaser worth celebrating."

The Taco/The White Family Foundation Broadway Series concludes with the five-time Tony® Award-winning play War Horse Wednesday, June 5 – Sunday, June 9, 2013. War Horse is filled with life-sized puppets created by South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company, that bring to life breathing, galloping, charging horses strong enough for men to ride. As World War One begins, Joey, young Albert's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry. Joey is soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man's land. Albert embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

The 2012/2013Contemporary Classics Serieslaunches with the highly-anticipated return of JERSEY BOYS Wednesday, August 15 – Sunday, September 2, 2012. The Chicago Tribune says JERSEY BOYS is "the most exciting musical in years." JERSEY BOYS is the Tony®, Grammy® and Olivier Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds, and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were 30! JERSEY BOYS features their hit songs "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," "Oh What a Night," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You."

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, performing at PPAC Friday, November 23 – Sunday, November 25, 2012, has captivated audiences worldwide with its humor, warmth, and honesty. The universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality, and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy, and sadness. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is filled with a rousing, heartwarming score, including "Tradition;" "Matchmaker, Matchmaker;" "If I Were A Rich Man;" and "Sunrise, Sunset." No other musical has so magically woven music, dance, poignancy, and laughter into such an electrifying and unforgettable experience. Relive the tradition!

The Contemporary Classics Series concludes with PETER PAN, starring Tony Award nominee Cathy Rigby, Friday, April 26 – Sunday, April 28, 2013. Discover the magic all over again of this two-time Emmy Award winning and two-time Tony award nominated production.

AMERICAN IDIOT and Blue Man Group will also come to PPAC as Broadway Specials.

Direct from Broadway, AMERICAN IDIOT, performing at PPAC Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10, 2013, tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Based on Green Day's Grammy® Award-winning multi-platinum album and featuring the hits "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "21 Guns," "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Holiday" and the blockbuster title track, AMERICAN IDIOT boldly takes the American musical where it's never gone before. With direction by Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), choreography by Steven Hoggett (Black Watch), and orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt (Next to Normal).

Blue Man Group returns to PPAC Friday, March 1 – Sunday, March 3, 2013. Blue Man Group is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine comedy, music, and technology to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. Although it is impossible to describe, people of all ages agree that Blue Man Group is an intensely exciting and wildly outrageous show that leaves the entire audience in a blissful, euphoric state. With no spoken language, Blue Man Group is perfect for people of all ages, languages, and cultures. This unique experience is a form of entertainment like nothing else; guaranteed to be an outing you will never forget.

WPRI 12 is the media sponsor of the 2012/2013 Taco/The White Family Foundation Broadway Series and Cox is the media sponsor of the 2012/2013 Contemporary Classics Series.

New Subscribers can reserve a subscription with just a $99 deposit NOW. Subscribers receive first choice in seating, advance order options, and a host of other subscription benefits. For more information on how to subscribe to the 2012/2013 Taco/The White Family Foundation Broadway Series and the 2012/2013 Contemporary Classics Series, please contact the PPAC Box Office at (401) 421-ARTS (2787) or Sharon Corcoran in Direct Response at (401) 574-3136.

Direct Response Hours are Monday through Friday, 10A to 5P. Regular Box Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 10A to 5P; Saturday, 10A to 2P; and through curtain time(s) on performance days.

Visit http://www.ppacri.org/ for more information.

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