Theatre By The Sea Announces Spectacular 2017 Season

Bill Hanney is pleased to announce the full lineup for the 2017 Season at the historic Theatre By The Sea (TBTS). The four-show subscription season will include BEEHIVE The '60s Musical, THE MUSIC MAN, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and THE PRODUCERS. Tickets are on sale May 6 online at theatrebythesea.com, and May 7 by phone (401-782-8587), and at the Box Office Window (364 Cards Pond Road in Wakefield, RI) which opens at noon for in person sales. Patrons who visit the box office in person on May 7 are encouraged to bring their family to enjoy complimentary light snacks and to explore the beautiful seaside grounds and gardens.

"Each summer I grow more and more excited to produce these shows for the amazing audiences at Theatre By The Sea. This year we will bring you rockin' women in Beehive The '60's Musical, a march down main street America in The Music Man, a magical show for the whole family with Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and a million laughs for the adults in The Producers," said TBTS owner and producer Bill Hanney. "I am confident that this summer's lineup has what it takes to top last summer's record-breaking, sold out audiences."

2017 MUSICAL SCHEDULE:

BEEHIVE The '60s Musical May 31 - June 18

THE MUSIC MAN June 21 - July 15

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST July 19 - August 12

THE PRODUCERS August 16 - September 10

2017 Children's Festival

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK July 7

LI LIU July 14

SEUSSICAL JR. July 28

RAPUNZEL August 4

Keith Michael Johnson's BUBBLEOLOGY August 11

Theatre By The Sea's 2017 Musical Season opens with a heavy dose of girl power in BEEHIVE The 60's Musical (May 31 - June 18). This wild toe-tapping, head shakin' is musical tribute to the rockin' women who made the music of the era so special - everyone from Lesley Gore to Janis Joplin, from the Shirelles to The Supremes, Aretha Franklin to Tina Turner, and every woman in between! The show takes you on a journey through song, documenting the dramatic changes that America underwent during the '60s. BEEHIVE The 60's Musical will have audiences dancing in their seats to dozens of mega-hits like "Proud Mary", "My Boyfriend's Back," "River Deep," "Make Your Own Kind of Music," "The Name Game," and It's My Party" all brought to life by 6 amazing women directed and choreographed by Russell Garrett.

Then strike up the band and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Americ'a favorite musical, THE MUSIC MAN (June 21 - July 15). The timeless story of the fast-talking salesman, Harold Hill, who cons the good folks of River City, Iowa, into believing that he can teach their children to play in a marching band. Before the fraudulent teacher can skip town with the loot, Harold's got trouble when he falls for the quick-witted, not to mention beautiful, small town librarian, Marian. This delicious slice of Americana will be directed and choreographed by Richard Sabellico, who helmed the recent hit productions of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, and Annie.

The Summer continues with one of the most popular family musicals of all time, a brand new production of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (July 19 - August 12) live on stage. This magical family musical is based on the 1991 Academy Award-winning animated film which tells the tale of a young woman trapped in a cursed castle occupied by a monstrous beast and a host of enchanted objects trying to break a witch's spell. The classic story about finding love in the most unexpected places is an eye-popping spectacle that is filled with unforgettable characters, imaginative sets and costumes, and breath-taking production numbers. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will be directed by Bob Richard and choreographed by Diane Laurenson, the same team behind last summer's breathtaking production of West Side Story.

The spectacular summer season will end with and extended run of Mel Brooks' smash hit, THE PRODUCERS (August 16 - September 10), winner of more Tony© Awards than any other show in Broadway history. Based on the 1968 film masterpiece, this is the laugh-out-loud story of a washed-up Broadway producer and his timid accountant who hatch a scheme to get rich quick by producing a sure-fire flop. It is a comic tour de force that spoofs the big, old-fashioned Broadway musical while paying tribute to it at the same time. THE PRODUCERS will be directed and choreographed by original Broadway cast member, Brad Musgrove.

Musicals run Tuesdays through Sundays. Check Website for exact dates and show times. Tickets are $49, $59, & $69. Tickets are on sale May 7 by calling (401) 782-8587, online at theatrebythesea.com, or in person at 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. 4 Show discount subscriptions are on sale now, call the Box Office for pricing and information. The 2017 Season is sponsored by WJAR - NBC 10.

Theatre By The Sea will also continue its popular Children's Festival in 2017. Shows will include Jack and the Beanstalk (July 7), Li Liu (July 14), Seussical Jr. (July 28), Rapunzel (August 4), and Keith Michael Johnson's Bubbleology (August 11). All shows at 10am & 12 Noon and all tickets are $12.

Theatre By The Sea has had many incarnations since opening in 1933. Tommy Brent saved the theater from demolition in 1967 and ran it successfully until FourQuest Entertainment took over the lease in 1988. Following extensive renovations that fall and winter, FourQuest reopened the theater in the spring of 1989 and continued producing Summer Theater at the seaside playhouse until the fall of 2003. Bill Hanney purchased the property in 2007 and successfully mounted a production of 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,' just six weeks later, reopening the historic theatre on August 8, 2007. Since then, Theatre By The Sea has continued to annually produce a successful four-musical subscription season as well as a children's theatre festival, and a summer theatre camp program.

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