5th Avenue Theatre Announces 2011/12 Season, Includes Les Miz Tour

The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle's premiere musical theatre, is thrilled to announce its line-up for the 2011/12 season. The new season opens with the critically acclaimed 25th Anniversary production of Les Misérables, direct from London. Following Les Misérables, The 5th continues its tradition of bringing fresh new work to the musical theatre stage with the Northwest premiere of Saving Aimee. This new musical, with book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman, explores the spectacular rise and fall of evangelist Sister Aimee Semple McPherson.

For the holidays, Cinderella, Rodgers and Hammerstein's enchanting take on the beloved fairy tale, will delight audiences young and old alike. In the new year Oklahoma!, another Rodgers and Hammerstein masterpiece, makes its much-anticipated appearance on the 5th Avenue stage.

The 5th Avenue will also partner with ACT-A Contemporary Theatre to produce the world premiere of First Date, a comic look at modern love (book by Austin Winsberg and music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner). In the spring (and just in time for baseball season), The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the wickedly funny Adler and Ross comedy Damn Yankees. The season comes to a spectacular finish with an all-new staging of Jonathan Larson's Rent, featuring a talented cast of young, local performers.

Les Misérables August 9 - 27, 2011
25th Anniversary Tour
Author/Dramatist Alain Boublil
Book and Music Claude-Michel Schonberg
Lyricist Herbert Kretzmer
Director Laurence Connor and James Powell

The NY Times calls this newly staged 25th Anniversary version "excellent," "thrilling," "lavish," and finally "unforgettable." Subscribe early or you'll miss this limited run direct from London.

Saving Aimee September 30 - October 30, 2011
Northwest Premiere
Book and Lyrics Kathie Lee Gifford
Music David Pomeranz and David Friedman
Additional music by Kathie Lee Gifford
Director David Armstrong

Tangled with scandalous love affairs and a tabloid-frenzied trial, this powerful new musical tells the real-life story of Aimee Semple McPherson -the charismatic leader of a theatrical super church in 1920s L.A. who was equally passionate about saving souls and making headlines.

Cinderella November 25 - December 31, 2011
Music Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics Oscar Hammerstein II
Director TBA

When the shoe fits, the unlikeliest of girls becomes a princess, and dreams really do come true. The beloved fairy tale with exquisitely romantic music receives a lavish and enchanting staging.

First Date Dates TBA
World Premiere
Book Austin Winsberg
Music and Lyrics Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner

Equal parts poignant and laugh-out-loud hilarious. How can you be yourself, when everything seems to be pulling you to be someone else, on that most important first date? A world premiere co-production with ACT-A Contemporary Theatre.

Oklahoma! February 9-March 4, 2012
Music Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics Oscar Hammerstein II

The musical that changed everything. A remarkable cast and an extraordinary collaboration with renowned choreographer Donald Byrd and Spectrum Dance Theatre bring this classic to vibrant life.

Damn Yankees April 26-May 20, 2012
Music and Lyrics Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Book George Abbott and Douglas Wallop
(Adapted from Wallop's 1954 novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant)
Director Mark Hoebee

The devilishly sexy Adler and Ross musical comedy about America's favorite pastime. A bewitching seductress and Satan himself test how far Joe will go so his team can win the pennant.

Rent July 12-August, 5, 2012
Music and Lyrics Jonathan Larson
Director Bill Berry

Jonathan Larson's electrifying tale of East Village artists won everything - the Tony, the Obie, the Pulitzer. The 5th Avenue's exuberant new staging showcases a cast of young, home-grown, musical theaters stars.

For more information or to schedule individual interviews, please contact Gretchen Douma, Director of Marketing, at (206) 260-2142 or gdouma@5thavenue.org<mailto:orgdouma@5thavenue.org>.

More about The 5th Avenue Theatre

The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle's premier musical theater, is known worldwide for the high caliber of its productions and it is fast becoming one of the most sought-after theatres for bringing new musicals to the stage. In the last ten years, The 5th Avenue Theatre has produced ten new musicals. Two-Hairspray and Memphis-went on to earn Tony Awards for Best Musical in their Broadway runs. A third-Catch Me If You Can-will open on Broadway in the spring of 2011.

Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, this exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. In 1980, the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater. Today, under the leadership of Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong, Managing Director Bernadine Griffin, and Producing Director BillBerry, The 5th Avenue Theatre attracts an annual attendance of more than 287,000 and ranks among the nation's largest and most respected musical theater companies.

In addition to its main stage productions, The 5th Avenue Theatre is also committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its extensive Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical TheatreAwards, the Student Matinee Program, and Spotlight Nights. For more information about the Theatre, its season and its programs, please visit www.5thavenue.org <http://www.5thavenue.org/>.

 

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