California Musical Theatre announced a varied lineup of musicals for the 2015 season of Sacramento Music Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, the 65th season for what has become a Northern California summer tradition. The summer lineup will include two classics that are Music Circus audience favorites, Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady and Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim's West Side Story, as well as the Mississippi adventure Big River, the musical comedy Bye Bye Birdie, the magical journey Peter Pan, and a sixth show that will be offered as an option for season subscribers, the generation-defining Hair. It will be the first time in the Wells Fargo Pavilion for four of the shows, Big River, Bye Bye Birdie, Peter Pan, which was last at Music Circus in 1986, and Hair, which hasn't been at Music Circus since 1976.
Two changes implemented last year in response to patron feedback will continue: To allow patrons to get home earlier from shows that can last up to 3 hours, all evening performances will again begin at 7:30 p.m. And five of the six shows will have a Sunday 2:00 p.m. matinee performance, with Hair being the exception.
"To best serve out patrons, we continue to evolve," said
Richard Lewis,
California Musical Theatre President & CEO. "We had a very positive response last year to the earlier evening performance start times and the Sunday matinees. This year we're very excited to be able to offer a sixth show, Hair, and give our subscribers the choice of whether or not they want to include that show in their season."
Lewis also noted that a special children's price will be offered for one of the shows: Tickets for Peter Pan will be $40 in any section for children 12 and under.
Music Circus is produced under the leadership of Artistic Director
Glenn Casale and Executive Producer
Scott Klier.
Season ticket holders will receive renewal information in the mail the week of January 12, and their seat locations will be held until the February 20 renewal deadline. The Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office will begin taking both subscriber renewal orders and paid reservations for new subscribers on January 12 at 10:00 a.m., and new subscribers will be seated following the renewal deadline for current subscribers. Five-show season tickets (without Hair) range from $200 to $294, depending on performance time and seating location. Six-show season tickets (including Hair) range from $240 to $352.80. Single-show ticket prices range from $40 to $68.
In addition to saving up to $110 on a pair of season tickets (over the price of single-show tickets), Music Circus season ticket holders receive a number of valuable subscriber benefits, including the ability to get the best available seating locations, the opportunity to order additional single tickets before the general public, the ability to exchange their tickets for another performance free of charge, and guaranteed renewal privileges.
Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12, renewals and new subscriber reservations are available at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office, 1419 H Street in Sacramento, or by phone at
(916) 557-1999. Beginning February 2, reservations for discounts for groups of 12 or more can be made by calling the Group Sales department at
(916) 557-1198. Single-show tickets go on sale April 25. For more information go to
SacramentoMusicCircus.com.
"Over the years Music Circus has developed an outstanding reputation throughout the theatre world that has attracted some of the top veteran Broadway actors and creative professionals in the industry to come to Sacramento and create on-stage magic for you each summer," Lewis said. "And moving from a tent into the state-of-the-art Wells Fargo Pavilion in 2003 has enabled us to continually enhance the quality of our productions."
2015 Music Circus Season
For all shows, evening performances are Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances are Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m., with the exception of Hair, which has no Sunday matinee performance.
My Fair Lady
June 9 - 14
Lerner and Loewe transform George
Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion into this musical theatre classic. When aristocratic professor Henry Higgins takes in Cockney pupil Eliza Doolittle on a bet, he gets far more than he wagered. Featuring "I Could Have Danced All Night," "On the Street Where You Live," "The Rain In Spain."
Big River
June 23 - 28
Mark Twain's masterwork The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is brought to toe-tapping musical life by "King of the Road"
Roger Miller. Huck and Jim take to the mighty Mississippi on a journey of adventure, hope and self-discovery. First time at Music Circus in 20 years. With "Muddy Water," "Waitin' for the Light to Shine." Wells Fargo Pavilion premiere-last at Music Circus in 1994.
Bye Bye Birdie
July 7 - 12
The Broadway smash that introduced the world to
Dick Van Dyke and won 4 Tony Awards. Musical comedy chaos ensues when pop star Conrad Birdie (think
Elvis Presley) arrives in Sweet Apple, Ohio to publicize his Army draft departure by sharing "One Last Kiss" with a small town fan. With "Put On A Happy Face," "A Lot of Livin' to Do." Wells Fargo Pavilion premiere-last at Music Circus in 1999.
Peter Pan
July 21 - 26
This beloved musical about the boy who wouldn't grow up has enchanted audiences of all ages for decades. Peter, Tinker Bell and the Darling children take to the skies on a magical journey to Neverland. Wells Fargo Pavilion premiere-first time at Music Circus since 1986. Featuring "I'm Flying," "I Won't Grow Up," "Never Never Land." For this show only, tickets are available for $40 in any section for children 4 - 12 years old.
West Side Story
August 4 - 9
Leonard Bernstein,
Stephen Sondheim,
Arthur Laurents,
Jerome Robbins-among the greatest artists of their day-came together to create this 20th Century Romeo and Juliet and make musical theatre history. Against all odds, Tony and Maria find love in a turbulent world. With "Somewhere," "Tonight," "Maria."
Hair
August 18 - 23
Option to Season for Subscribers
The musical that helped define a generation and introduced rock 'n' roll to Broadway. Set against a backdrop of the Vietnam era, a group of late 1960s youth join a social revolution and "Let the Sun Shine In." Also featuring "Aquarius," "Good Morning Starshine." Wells Fargo Pavilion premiere and first time at Music Circus since 1976.