Broadway in Chicago sets fall 2014 season
Broadway in Chicago on Monday announced a fall 2014 season that will include world premieres from Christopher Smith and Arthur Giron and Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, along with recent Broadway hits "Newsies" and "Cinderella" in their North American tours.
Fall productions begin Oct. 9 at the Bank of America Theatre, with Smith and Giron's world premiere of the musical "Amazing Grace," starring Josh Young, who played Judas Iscariot in the recent Broadway revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Young plays composer John Newton in this coming-of-age-tale about a young man torn between following in the footsteps of his slave trader father or adopting the more enlightened views of his childhood sweetheart.
Next up is "Dee Snider's Rock and Roll Christmas Tale" (Nov. 4, 2014-Jan. 4, 2015). Snider wrote and stars in this holiday show about a heavy metal band whose members are so determined to make it, they sell their souls in order to achieve their dreams of stardom.
The Broadway tour of the recent revival of "Annie," directed by lyricist Martin Charnin, who wrote the score with Thomas Meehan and Charles Strouse, returns for a brief run from Nov. 18-30. That is followed by the 2012 Tony Award-winning "Newsies" (Dec. 10, 2014-Jan. 4, 2015), the Disney Theatrical Productions show inspired by the 1992 movie chronicling the New York newsboys strike of 1899 when the young workers fought back against the news barons who exploited them. The year concludes with the Broadway tour of "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella," inspired by the fairy tale about a young girl forced into servitude by her stepmother then transformed into a princess.
Broadway in Chicago spring productions include "Buyer and Cellar" (May 6-June 14), starring Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") as a struggling L.A. actor who takes a job working in Barbra Streisand's basement. Also on tap is Emerald City Theatre's production of the children's favorite "Charlotte's Web" (July 9-Aug. 17), based on the E.B. White tale of the friendship between a spider and the piglet Wilbur.
Season subscriptions are currently available for current season subscribers. Tickets for new season subscribers go on sale Friday, March 14, with packages starting at $99. Group tickets are available by phone at (312) 977-1710. Individual tickets go on sale at a later date. See broadwayinchicago.com for more information.