BrightSide Theatre bring Broadway to downtown Naperville

BrightSide Theatre, Naperville's only professional theater company performing downtown, is filling its sixth season with shows from "Classic Broadway."

The season features a classic Disney musical, a classic comedy and a classic American musical.

Shows begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays in the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth Ave., Naperville, on the campus of North Central College.

Subscription tickets start at $48, with single-show tickets priced at $27 for adults, $24 for students and seniors, and $20 for groups of 10 or more. For tickets, visit brightsidetheatre.com or call (630) 447-8497.

Here's a look at BrightSide Theatre's "Classic Broadway" season:

'Beauty and the Beast'

The classic Disney hit Broadway musical "Beauty and the Beast," based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film and dating back to a late 18th-century French fairy tale, tells the story of Belle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who feels out of place in her provincial French village.

When her father is imprisoned in a mysterious castle, Belle's attempt to rescue him leads to her capture by The Beast. The only way for The Beast to become human once again is if he learns to love and be loved in return.

The Beast's enchanted household - populated by such characters as Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, Cogsworth and Chip - watches anxiously as Belle and The Beast grow to understand and befriend one another. Their feelings grow ever deeper as the petals of the enchanted rose continue to fall - will they confess their love for one another before it is too late?

The show is directed by Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass. Music is by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton.

Performances are Nov. 11 to 27.

'Moon Over Buffalo'

From the mind of Ken Ludwig, who wrote "Lend Me a Tenor," comes the classic Broadway comedy "Moon Over Buffalo," about the husband and wife acting team of George and Charlotte Hay - two fading stars of the 1950s.

In an attempt to keep their careers afloat, the couple is producing two plays simultaneously: Noel Coward's "Private Lives" and "Cyrano de Bergerac."

Suddenly, George receives word that Hollywood director Frank Capra may be coming to see a matinee performance, giving them one last chance at fame. That is, of course, if they can remember what play they are doing. In short, everything that could go wrong does in this backstage farce full of romance, swordplay, prosthetic noses and plenty of doors.

The play is directed by Aaron Henrickson. Performances are March 10 to 26.

'Guys and Dolls'

The American classic has been called "the perfect musical comedy" and ranks among the greatest works in theater history.

Set in Damon Runyon's comic book world of 1940s Times Square, Nathan Detroit runs the oldest established permanent floating craps game in New York. There are well-heeled shooters everywhere, but it's no dice unless they have a place to gamble - and that takes dough.

Nathan's got a bet that high roller Sky Masterson can't land a date with a straight-laced Salvation Army doll. Love is never a sure thing as Nathan learns that his fiancee, Miss Adelaide, will walk out if she doesn't walk down the aisle soon. What's a poor guy to do?

With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and the book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, "Guys and Dolls" is directed by Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass. Performances are June 9 to 25.