Based on Fellini's classic film, "8 1/2", NINE is a spectacular musical that first delighted Broadway theatergoers in 1982 winning five Tony Awards - including Best Musical. A hit Broadway revival starring Antonio Banderas was awarded two additional Tony Awards in 2003. The 2009 film of the same name featured a star-studded cast and a story loosely based on the original. If you haven't seen the stage version, however, you likely have not seen this story.
NINE is the story of celebrated Italian film director, Guido Contini, who has turned 40 and faces a double crisis: he has to shoot a film for which he cannot write the script, and his wife of 20 years, the film star Luisa del Forno, may be about to leave him if he does not pay more attention to their marriage. As it turns out, it is the same crisis that is blocking his creative impulses and entangling him in a web of romantic difficulties in early-1960s Venice.
The stage version is presented with a cast of one man and 20 women with one of the most glorious Broadway scores of recent memory. TMP's production features Rafe Wadleigh (TMP's South Pacific, Guys & Dolls) as ‘Guido', and a full complement of TMP's female company led by Maria Valenzuela (Kiss Me Kate, Meet Me in St. Louis, Joseph) as ‘Luisa', Marissa Ryder (South Pacific) as ‘Claudia', and Iris Elton (TMP debut) as ‘Carla'.
NINE runs for 13 performances March 25-April 17, 2011. It plays Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, with two additional matinee (2 pm) performances scheduled for April 9th and 16th. There is no performance on Friday, April 15th. All performances take place at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, 7116 6th Avenue in Tacoma. All seating for TMP Mainstage and TCMT productions is reserved, so advance purchase is strongly recommended. Ticket prices are $27 for adults and $25 for seniors, students and military. Student Rush prices ($20) are available for all opening weekend performances and a group rate is available for groups of 10 or more.
NINE is not a show for all ages as it contains adult situations concerning sexual themes and coarse language. This production is not recommended for children under age 13. All patrons are encouraged to attend TMP's FREE preview presentation, Behind the Curtain! at TMP on Sunday, March 20 at 7 pm for learn more about this show. For tickets or more information, please visit www.tmp.org or call the TMP Box Office at 253-565-6867.
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