West End's ANNIE Replaces MURIEL'S WEDDING in Toronto; FUN HOME Cast Announced!

David Mirvish today announced three new productions to the 2017-18 lineup, a change to one show in the main series and the casting for two locally produced shows in the Off-Mirvish series.

In total, there will be 19 shows in the 2017-18 season. There are seven shows in the main subscription series, three shows in the Off-Mirvish subscription series and nine bonus shows not on subscription.

The main series began on September 19 with an adaptation of NORTH BY NORTHWEST. It will be followed by The National Theatre of Great Britain's THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, the Old Vic's THE LORAX, the Canadian production of COME FROM AWAY, the Broadway production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS and the Lincoln Center Theater's production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING & I.

The main series was also to include the musical stage adaptation of the Australian film MURIEL'S WEDDING, which would have been coming to Toronto from the Sydney Theatre Company. Due to scheduling conflicts, MURIEL'S WEDDING will not be able to make it to Toronto this season and will be delayed to a subsequent year. (The production will still have its world premiere in Sydney this November.)

Instead, David Mirvish will present the new production of the beloved musical ANNIE, which opened to rave reviews at the Piccadilly Theatre in London this past June.

Says David Mirvish: "This is the official 40th anniversary production of ANNIE, and we couldn't be more pleased that we have found a way to get the show here after it ends its West End engagement. It is hard to believe, but we have never had ANNIE play in any of our theatres, so this will be its Mirvish premiere."

For the Off-Mirvish presentations of two important works that have received wide acclaim in New York and London but have yet to be seen here, David Mirvish is partnering with two local companies.

With Studio 180 Theatre, with whom Mirvish has had a long co-producing relationship, they will premiere Mike Bartlett's brilliant "future history" play, KING CHARLES III, which imagines what may happen when Queen Elizabeth II dies and her son Charles ascends the British throne. Director Joel Greenberg has assembled a stellar cast of superb Canadian actors, with Shaw Festival star David Schurmann leading the company in the title role. Also starring are Jeff Meadows, Shannon Taylor, Wade Bogert-O'Brien, Jessica Greenberg, Guy Bannerman, Gray Powell, Patrick Galligan, Amy Rutherford, Sam Kalilieh and Karl Ang.

With the Musical Stage Company, Mirvish will co-produce the five-time Tony Award-winning musical, FUN HOME. Director Robert McQueen's cast spans three generations of Canadian talent. The cast includes acclaimed veterans of Canadian theatre and screen, Evan Buliung and Cynthia Dale, performers who have already built an excellent body of work; Laura Condlln and Sara Farb, who are still in the early years of their careers; and young performers such as Hannah Levinson, who only at the age of 11 has already starred in Matilda The Musical and Grey Gardens.

The three newly announced bonus shows that are not on subscription are:

• The Canadian premiere of GOBSMACKED!, a new entertainment that combines breathtaking a cappella performances and mind-blowing beat boxing. Direct from sell-out runs in London, Hong Kong and Edinburgh, this all-singing, all-beatboxing, all-awesome theatrical experience features three-time undefeated UK Beatbox Champion and current World Team Champion Ball-Zee and an international cast of world-class vocalists. This show pushes vocal boundaries to deliver a slick, musically accomplished, high energy spectacular with not a single musical instrument used.

• The return of the record-breaking smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy's journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat.

• Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. This production, which retains the beloved story and thrilling score, boasts exciting new special effects, scenic and lighting designs, staging and choreography and has been hailed by critics as "bigger and better than ever before."

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THE 7-SHOW MAIN SUBSCRIPTION is priced from $239 to $719:

The North American Premiere of

NORTH BY NORTHWEST

Adapted by Carolyn Burns

Directed by Simon Phillips

September 19 - October 29, 2017 - Royal Alexandra Theatre

Every twist, every thrill, every hairbreadth escape from Alfred Hitchcock's supreme comedy of suspense is retained for this stunning new stage adaptation from director Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert).

Roger O. Thornhill is a suave and successful advertising executive, abducted by thugs who insist he is a man called George Kaplan. There's obviously been a mix up. When they don't believe him, that's infuriating. When they try to kill him, that's frightening. And when they pin a murder on him, that's time to run!

From New York to North Dakota, Thornhill is chased by spies, Feds, crop-dusting planes, and the inevitable cool blonde. Years before the James Bond films there was NORTH BY NORTHWEST-a lightning-paced thriller that mixes glamour with espionage for a truly irresistible cocktail. This is an unmissable theatrical spectacle, where the magic of film and theatre collide live on stage.

The National Theatre's acclaimed production of

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

A New Play by Simon Stephens

Adapted from the novel by Mark Haddon

Directed by Marianne Elliott

October 10 - November 19, 2017 - Princess of Wales Theatre

The National Theatre's Olivier and Tony Award-winning production of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME makes its Canadian debut at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

Tony Award winner Marianne Elliott (War Horse) directs this "triumphant" (Sunday Telegraph) adaptation by two--time Olivier Award--winning playwright Simon Stephens, who brings Mark Haddon's internationally best-selling novel to thrilling life on stage.

Fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone has an extraordinary brain, exceptional at math while ill--equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers.

When Christopher falls under suspicion for killing his neighbour's dog, his detective work to identify the true culprit takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

The North American Premiere of

The Old Vic production of

Dr. Seuss'S THE LORAX

Adapted by David Greig

Music & Lyrics by Charlie Fink

Directed by Max Webster

December 10, 2017 - January 21, 2018 - Royal Alexandra Theatre

Long before "going green" was mainstream, the character the Lorax spoke for the trees and warned of the dangers of disrespecting the environment. The powerful message of THE LORAX has enlightened generations about the importance of seeing the beauty in the world around us and our responsibility to protect it.

This classic story has been brilliantly adapted for the stage by David Greig, with music and lyrics by Charlie Fink, and directed by Max Webster, in a dazzling new show direct from London's acclaimed Old Vic theatre. This funny, moving, and inspiring production that The Independent calls "terrifically inventive", is a riot of eye-popping colour, gorgeous puppetry, and infectious original music. You won't want to miss it!

COME FROM AWAY

Book, Music & Lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein

Directed by Christopher Ashley

Begins February 13, 2018 - Royal Alexandra Theatre

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

After a sold-out, standing-room-only Toronto engagement before heading to Broadway, COME FROM AWAY will return in a Canadian production.

Starring Saccha Dennis, Steffi DiDomenicantonio, Barbara Fulton, Lisa Horner, James Kall, George Masswohl, Ali Momen, Jack Noseworthy, Cory O'Brien, Kristen Peace, Eliza-Jane Scott, Kevin Vidal, Susan Dunstan, Kate Etienne, Amir Haidar, Jeff Madden, David Silvestri and Cailin Stadnyk.

It's been called the "edge of the world." The weather is wild, but the locals never lack for warmth. And it's here, in Newfoundland, where a remote town became the epicenter of a remarkable true story filled with unusual characters, unexpected camaraderie and uncommon generosity.

COME FROM AWAY is the breathtaking new musical that Toronto embraced with open arms and had audiences leaving the theatre night after night claiming they were "proud to be Canadian!"

Mirvish Subscribers are invited back to "The Rock" once again to feel the excitement of this "big-hearted, thoroughly enjoyable new musical!" (Toronto Star).

David Mirvish & Aubrey Dan present

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

Music & Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

Book by Craig Lucas

Directed and Choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon

March 27 - April 29, 2018 - Princess of Wales Theatre

CANADIAN PREMIERE!

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS is the new Tony Award-winning musical about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl, and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war.

Acclaimed director/choreographer and 2015 Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon (National Ballet of Canada's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Winter's Tale) brings the magic and romance of Paris into perfect harmony with unforgettable songs from George and Ira Gershwin in the show that earned more awards than any other musical in the 2015 season!

McGee Maddox, a former Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada since 2014 and known for his roles in Onegin and Swan Lake, will join the AN AMERICAN IN PARIS cast this April and will be in the production when it visits Toronto in 2018. Maddox will star as Jerry Mulligan, the role made famous by Gene Kelly in the 1951 American musical film. Don't miss this stunning Broadway hit when it arrives in Toronto!

The Toronto engagement of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS will be presented by two Toronto theatrical impresarios, David Mirvish and Aubrey Dan.