Stages St. Louis to Present THE SOUND OF MUSIC, ALADDIN & More in 2012 Season

STAGES ST. LOUIS today announced its 26th season! The season is a journey into the luminous sounds of the American composer. The season begins with the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Ain't Misbehavin', The Fats Waller Musical, which explores the ground-breaking time of the Harlem cultural renaissance in the 1930s and 1940s. The journey continues with another Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, The Sound of Music, composed by the crowned kings of musical theatre, Rodgers and Hammerstein. The grand finale of the season is the tap-dancing spectacular My One and Only featuring a remarkable score by George and Ira Gershwin. The musical journey begins June 1 and runs through October 7, 2012. In addition, the 2012 season Theatre for Young Audiences production will feature the St. Louis professional premiere of Disney's Aladdin, beginning June 20 at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade through a new partnership between STAGES ST. LOUIS and Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis.

Ain't Misbehavin'
June 1 - July 1

Harken back to the days of the Harlem Renaissance when Manhattan nightclubs, like the Cotton Club and The Savoy Ballroom, were filled with the effervescent and energetic sound of swing. Ain't Misbehavin' captures this dazzling spirit of the 1930s with the playful "Keepin' Out of Mischief," the sultry "Honeysuckle Rose," the sinuous "Vipers Drag", and the salty "‘T Ain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do." Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, Ain't Misbehavin' is a gorgeous, joyous celebration of the music, life, and times of the late great Thomas "Fats" Waller. "The Joint is Jumpin'" with all the rhythm you need to get you stompin', struttin' and high-hattin' to this lively and uproarious musical revue! Conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz; Created and Originally Directed by Richard Maltby Jr.; Musical Adaptations, Orchestrations and Arrangements by Luther Henderson; Vocal and Musical Concepts by Jeffrey Gutcheon; Musical Arrangements by Jeffrey Gutcheon and William Elliott.

The Sound of Music
July 20 - August 19

The hills are alive at STAGES ST. LOUIS as Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved musical masterpiece The Sound of Music returns to vibrant life. The magical and heartwarming true-life story of Maria, a spirited young woman who leaves the convent to become governess to the seven children of Captain von Trapp has become one of the most popular family entertainments of all time. The internationally acclaimed Rodgers and Hammerstein score includes such sing-along favorites as "Do-Re-Mi," "Climb "Ev'ry Mountain," "Edelweiss," and the immortal title tune. Join STAGES for one of Broadway's "favorite things," the Tony Award-winning musical, The Sound of Music. Truly the perfect entertainment for the entire family! Music by Richard Rodgers; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Book by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse.

My One and Only
September 7 - October 7

From the brilliant team of George and Ira Gershwin comes the tap dancing extravaganza My One and Only. It is love at first sight for famed flying ace Billy Buck Chandler as he falls head over heels for ex-Channel swimmer Edith Herbert! Putting his dream aside of being the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, Billy must first rescue Edith from the evil clutches of Russian Prince Nikki. Adventure and romance abound as a series of light-hearted musical escapades lead the couple down the bumpy road to true love. Including such show-stopping Gershwin tunes as "‘S Wonderful," "Funny Face," and "Strike Up The Band." My One and Only is a fast-paced, high-energy dance sensation that will set your feet tappin' and your heart soaring! Music and Lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin; book by Peter Stone and Timothy S. Mayer.

Disney's Aladdin
June 20 - July 1

Your spirits will soar as STAGES invites your entire family to take a magic carpet ride into the thrilling and enchanted world of Disney's Aladdin! The beautiful Princess Jasmine escapes the confines of the palace and discovers "A Whole New World" of excitement with street urchin, Aladdin and his friend, the hilarious and larger than life Genie! Only three wishes away from all their dreams coming true, the trio must first out-smart the evil Jafar and his wicked henchman, Iago. Will trickery, friendship, and true love be enough to insure a happy ending? You'll just have to wait and see! A joyous musical adventure for the entire family and boasting an Academy award-winning score from the creators of Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and The Little Shop Of Horrors, Aladdin will have you floating on air!

STAGES ST. LOUIS opened in 1987 with a staff of 8 part-time employees, a season of 24 performances, a budget of $50,000, and an audience of 3,000. Today STAGES can boast of 25 full-time staff members (with a seasonal company of 175), 124 performances each season, a budget of $3.7 million, and a loyal audience of over 47,000. In its 26-year history, STAGES has entertained over 800,000 patrons with 86 productions and over 2,700 performances. The recipient of twenty-three Kevin Kline Awards over the past six years, including three awards for Outstanding Production of a Musical, STAGES has become the leading company for musical theatre performance and education in the Midwest.

Subscriptions to the 26th Season begin at just $99 go on sale November 28, 2011. Single tickets go on sale April 2, 2012. Single ticket prices range from $15 - $55. STAGES performs in the intimate, 384-seat Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Civic Center, 111 South Geyer Road in St. Louis, MO. For more information or to purchase tickets call 314-821-2407 or visit www.stagesstlouis.org.

Each mainstage production will run for a total of five weeks with matinee and evening performances Tuesdays through Sundays. The Theatre for Young Audiences will run at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade and performs Wednesday through Sunday for two weeks.

 

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