Curiocity: Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Broadway Season
It's another great season to be a Broadway fan in Minneapolis.
The Hennepin Theatre Trust has announced its starting line-up for the upcoming 2011-12 Broadway Season, which includes a couple classics and a few hot new productions, making Minneapolis debuts.
La Cage Aux Folles -- Oct. 18-23, 2011 | State Theatre
After making quite an impact on the 2010 Broadway season, not to mention wrangling in three Tony Awards (including Best Musical Revival), La Cage heads to Minneapolis in October, to tell the hilarious tale of love, family and most important -- being true to one's self. The show is a quirky tale of the classic storyline boy meets girl, boy asks girl to marry him, girl's family gets ready to meet the in-laws. Except this one has a small catch -- boy's parents are the glitzy owners of a drag revue and girl's parents are more than a tad conservative. The show offers plenty of laughs as the characters manipulate outward appearances and work to find inner beauty. Tickets are $35-$80.
Les Misérables -- Dec. 6-18, 2011 | Orpheum Theatre
The classic tale of dreaming big and never giving up hope celebrates its 25th anniversary with a brand new production of Boublil and Schönberg's legendary musical, Les Misérables. New staging, including Victor Hugo-inspired paintings, create a new backdrop for this cast of misfits. Even if you've seen it before, critics say this new production gives the show a new breath of life. Set in the early 19th century, during France's political upheaval, the story follows the struggles and redemption of ex-con Jean Valjean -- and the extraordinary people he meets along the way. Tickets are $42-$87.
Disney's The Lion King -- Jan. 11-Feb. 12, 2012 | Orpheum Theatre
The lovable Disney tale comes to life on stage in a show that left audiences and critics in pure amazement. The Lion King is a show unlike any other. From the leaping gazelles to the magnificent giraffes, the stage production captures audiences with its incredible visual appeal and stunning vocals of the story's memorable musical score. A giant cast re-creates the animal kingdom in a way that stretches the imagination and leaves the audience breathless in this classic tale of a young prince cub's journey to become king. Tickets are $34-$97.
American Idiot -- Feb. 21-26, 2012 | Orpheum Theatre
Making its Minneapolis debut -- and hot off Broadway -- American Idiot tells the story of a group of friends forced to choose between following their dreams or staying in the comforts of modern suburbia. Set to the Grammy Award-winning Green Day album of the same name, the show is packed with energy and full of emotion. Personally, I've been dying to see this musical after its rave reviews from a highly successful Broadway run that even Green Day frontman Billy Joe Armstrong couldn't stay away from. Hits like "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" are said to move the audience in a new and emotional way. Tickets are $29-$80.
Million Dollar Quartet -- March 27-April 1, 2012 | State Theatre
The true story of the famed recording session that forever changed music will make its Minneapolis introduction next spring. Million Dollar Quartet tells the true tale of rock icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins and their historic jam session on Dec. 4, 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis. Set during that one legendary night, the story unfolds the secrets, betrayals and behind-the-scenes stories of these four rock gods as they set on a trail to make music magic. Tickets are $35-$80.
Mamma Mia! -- April 24-29, 2012 | Orpheum Theatre
Calling all Dancing Queens -- ABBA's smash-hit musical, Mamma Mia! is back. The story of a young woman's journey to find her father, right before her wedding day blends ABBA's best with plenty of dancing and spandex. With three possible suitors, this young-and-free beauty discovers life lessons on love, family and a different side of the woman who raised her. Tickets are $42-$87.
Blue Man Group -- June 15-24, 2012 | Orpheum Theatre
Take three all blue men, a few tubes, some intricate lighting and a whole lot of character and what you're left with is pure entertainment at its finest. The Blue Man Group has been entertaining crowds of all ages for years, combining a stage show with a concert plus a little comedy and technology -- all without saying a word of dialogue. Tickets are $35-$80.
For more information about these shows or to buy tickets and find out about season tickets to the Broadway Season, visit Hennepin Theatre Trust's website.
