YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, BONNIE AND CLYDE, MAME and More Highlight Runaway Stage's 2014 Season; Gala Set for 9/15

The Runaway Stage Productions 2014 Broadway Stage season will include Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein and The Producers, the Sacramento regional premiere of Frank Wildhorn's Bonnie and Clyde, a West Sacrament Community Center Black Box Theatre production of Nunsense A-Men, and productions of Seussical The Musical and Jerry Herman's Mame.

A talented cast of Sacramento favorites will perform highlights from the new season at RSP's 2014 Season Gala on September 15 at 7 PM, located at downtown Sacramento's 24th Street Theatre. Tickets are $25 and include access to the 6 PM reception, featuring food, wine, raffle prizes and a silent auction to benefit RSP. Raffle prizes include tickets to each of the 2014 season shows, as well as two full season passes in the silent auction grand prize basket. Purchase tickets or learn more at www.runawaystage.com or by calling 916-207-1226.

Season tickets will go on sale to the public the night of the event with a substantial discount available to those in attendance at the preview show.

"RSP is raising the bar on musical theatre," RSP Producing Director Bob Baxter said. "Audiences can look forward to new shows, hilarious comedies, family favorites and classic shows. This season has something for everyone."

Opening the 2014 season, Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein will play January 3 - 26 in its 24th Street Theatre premiere. Based on the wickedly inspired film re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend, this new monster of a musical follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen) as he attempts to complete his grandfather's masterwork and bring a corpse to life. With such memorable tunes as "The Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and "Puttin' On The Ritz," The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein is scientifically-proven, monstrously good entertainment... and the only place you'll witness a singing and dancing laboratory experiment in the largest tuxedo ever made. Suitable for theatergoers 13 and older.

Seussical, the Musical will play February 28 - March 23. Based on the incredible Dr. Seuss books, Seussical follows the Cat in the Hat as he tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos. Horton's attention to the speck of dust and his "loitering" care of Mayzie LaBird's egg has elicited taunting and accusations from the rest of the animal kingdom, except for Gertrude McFuzz, who longs for his attention, and JoJo, whose "thinks" save them all in the end. Suitable for theatregoers of all ages.

May 30 - April 21, RSP will present another Mel Brooks' classic, The Producers. This 24th Street Theatre premiere won a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards. You'll be rolling in the aisles with laughter at the hilarious Broadway hit as down-on-his-luck Broadway producer Max Bialystock and accountant Leo Bloom sing and dance their way through the biggest show-biz scam in history. Based on the Mel Brooks 1968 feature film by the same name, The Producers is set in New York with the latest Broadway musical by Max Bialystock closing as a box office failure. After finding an accounting error in the musical flop that benefits Max, he and his accountant Leo Bloom hatch a plan to get rich quick by producing the worst Broadway show ever. They set off to find the worst musical ever written, hire the worst director and actors, open the destined-to-flop musical, and then run off with the investors' money. Suitable for theatregoers 17 and older.

RSP follows 2013's Avenue Q with Nunsense A-men, partnering once again with Sacramento Community Center Black Box Theatre. The musical plays July 11 - August 16. With all of the characters being portrayed by male musical comedy performers, think of it as "Mrs. Doubtfire enters the Convent." The hilarity begins when the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show, so they take over the school auditorium. Here we meet Reverend Mother Regina (a former circus performer), Sister Mary Hubert (the Mistress of Novices), a streetwise nun from Brooklyn named Sister Robert Anne, Sister Mary Leo (a novice who is a wannabe ballerina), and the delightfully wacky Sister Mary Amnesia, the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head. Featuring star turns, tap and ballet dancing, audience participation, and comic surprises, this show has become an international phenomenon. With more than 5000 productions worldwide, it has been translated into 21 languages. Suitable for theatre goers 12 and older.

The new Broadway musical Bonnie & Clyde gets its Sacramento regional premiere September 12-28. At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went from two small-town nobodies in West Texas to America's most renowned folk heroes and the Texas law enforcement's worst nightmares. Fearless, shameless, and alluring, their electrifying story of love, adventure and crime captured the excited attention of an entire country. Now, the most notorious couple of the twentieth century takes on a whole new adventure: the stage. When Bonnie & Clyde meet, their mutual cravings for excitement and fame immediately set them on a mission to chase their dreams. Their bold and reckless behavior turns the young lovers' thrilling adventure into a downward spiral, putting themselves and their loved ones in trouble with the law. Forced to stay on the run from every southern state's police force, the lovers resort to robbery and murder to survive. As the infamous duo's fame grows bigger, their inevitable end draws nearer. Bonnie & Clyde is a thrilling and sexy musical with a non-traditional score, combining blues, gospel and rockabilly music. Suitable for audience members 16 and older.

"Two years ago, I had the opportunity to see this show during its Broadway engagement, and I am thrilled to bring this edgy, sexy new musical to Sacramento audiences," Baxter said.

Jerry Herman's Mame will close the 2014 season, playing October 24 - November 16. Journey back in time to the height of the fabulous 1920's and watch as the eccentric Mame Dennis must drastically adjust her lifestyle when she becomes the guardian of her 10-year old nephew, Patrick. Patrick's life is turned upside down, things change and people change as Mame and Patrick cope with the Depression in a series of adventures. Throughout all, Mame teaches us to enjoy living life to the fullest, following her famous motto, "Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death." Featuring classic Jerry Herman tunes such as "We Need A Little Christmas," "It's Today," "Bosom Buddies," "My Best Girl," and the exciting and memorable title song, this Tony award-winning show will be a fun adventure for audiences of all ages.

All shows titles are subject to change based on performance rights availability. The cast of the 2014 Season Gala includes Caitland Martin, Gideon Setters, Haylie Roberts, Jennifer Zimny, Jenny Plassy, Jessica Larrick, Kourtney Smith, Melissa Solley, Samantha Smith, Wendy Carey, Brent Null, Darryl Strohl, David Holmes, David Moorman and Ray Fisher. For more information, visit www.runawaystage.com or call 916-207-1226.

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