Music Theatre of Wichita unveils lineup for 2012
You might suppose it's way too soon to even begin to think of next summer's Music Theatre of Wichita season, but Wayne Bryan is already up to his very discerning eyeballs in plans for 2012.
Bryan, producing artistic director, put together next summer's five-musical lineup — including snagging premieres of two shows recently on Broadway — even before "Disney's The Little Mermaid" (another premiere) could close the 40th anniversary season in August.
"We always try to be ready to make an announcement by the last show because that's the best way to get our season ticket holders excited about renewing their seats by the Oct. 31 deadline," Bryan says.
After that, season tickets go on open sale and prices go up because of increased costs. Individual show tickets won't be available until May 29, however.
The premieres are "9 to 5" (on Broadway in 2009) and "Legally Blonde" (on Broadway in 2007), both musicals based on popular movie comedies. The former received four Tony nominations and 15 Drama Desk nominations — more than any show ever in a single season. The latter was nominated for seven Tonys.
Bryan also has chosen to encore two classics. The first is 1964's "Fiddler on the Roof" (last done by MTW in 2001), about a poor Jewish peasant trying to hold onto his traditions (and marry off five daughters) in the shadow of the Russian Revolution. The other is 1985's "Singin' in the Rain" (2000) about giddy, gaudy jazz-era Hollywood just as silents were giving way to talkies.
"We always try for a mix of new and classic shows," Bryan says. "We want to please theatergoers who are eager to see things right after they are on Broadway, but we can't forget that there are always young, new audiences to groom who haven't seen the older shows. That's part of our mission. We wait at least a decade between encores so people are ready to see them again."
Rounding out the season is the kid-friendly "Honk!," a hip, contemporary take on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling."
"Music Theatre of Wichita premiered 'Honk!' in 2001 and was privileged to record the original American cast album," Bryan says. "There was a partial album done for the London production, but if you order the cast album on Amazon, the one you get is ours. We're very pleased."
Each of the five shows will run for seven performances (8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday) during a 10-week stretch from June 13 to Aug. 12 in Century II Concert Hall.
Here's what Bryan says about his choices for next season's shows:
* "Fiddler on the Roof" (June 13-17): "The beloved Broadway classic originally starred comic Zero Mostel as a poor dairyman confused by the changing traditions in his little village. The show is rich in texture, humor and emotional depth, reflected in such memorable songs as 'Matchmaker, Matchmaker,' 'To Life,' 'Do You Love Me?' and 'Sunrise, Sunset.' "
* "9 to 5" (June 27-July 1): "Dolly Parton penned the music and lyrics for this stage adaptation (of the 1980 movie which starred Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin) about three working women who take hilarious revenge on their chauvinistic boss. The title tune, written by Dolly for the original movie, gets the show off to a lively start, and the new songs are a catchy and tuneful collection of musical fun."
* "Honk!" (July 11-15): "It's a superb family show with plenty to delight both kids and adults. It combines a wonderful message about inclusiveness with a tuneful, genuinely funny score from the team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, currently represented on Broadway for their musical contributions to (the Disney stage version of) 'Mary Poppins.' "
* "Singin' in the Rain" (July 25-29): "Based on Hollywood's most acclaimed movie musical (from 1952, with Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor), this show makes a splashy return to our stage with slapstick antics, spectacular dance numbers and the chance to see it actually rain on stage. Songs include 'You Were Meant for Me,' 'Make 'em Laugh,' 'All I Do Is Dream of You' and that unforgettable title tune."
* "Legally Blonde" (Aug. 8-12): "It's a very funny and terrifically empowering musical romp," Bryan says of the show with music and lyrics by husband-and-wife Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Rich.
Based on the 2001 movie starring Reese Witherspoon, it's about a sorority fashionista who enrolls in Harvard Law School to win back a patronizing boyfriend who thinks she's an airhead.
"She rises with pink aplomb to the top of the ranks (by taking on a murder case) and learns who she really is," Bryan says.
If You Go
MUSIC THEATRE OF WICHITA'S 2012 SEASON
What: 41st summer lineup of five musicals, including two premieres, two long-time classics and first encore of a 2001 show.
Shows: "Fiddler on the Roof" (June 13-17); "9 to 5" (June 27-July 1); "Honk!" (July 11-15); "Singin' in the Rain" (July 25-29); "Legally Blonde" (Aug. 8-12)
Where: Century II Concert Hall
Tickets: Season (five shows): $90-$190 matinees and $95-$240 evenings (after Oct. 31, prices go up $5). Individual show tickets (on sale May 29): $20-$50 matinees,
$22-$58 evenings. Call 316-265-3107 or go online at www.musictheatreofwichita.org.
This story was originally published October 16, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Music Theatre of Wichita unveils lineup for 2012."