'Lion King' tops Broadway in Boston's upcoming shows
Disney's "The Lion King" rules Broadway in Boston/Clear Channel Entertainment's 2004-05 season.
The Tony Award-winning musical, which inaugurates the newly restored Opera House on July 16, reigns over a lineup of 14 shows that includes the pre-Broadway engagement of "Sweet Charity" and a brand new Disney musical made up of great songs from the studio's movies, at the Colonial Theatre. The Wilbur Theatre will host an eclectic mix that includes the Abbey Theatre's "The Playboy of the Western World" and two one-person shows: "Elaine Stritch . . . at Liberty," and "Nobody Don't Like Yogi," with Ben Gazzara playing Yankee great Yogi Berra.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" will return to Boston next spring, this time to haunt the Opera House, Broadway in Boston president Tony McLean announced yesterday at a press conference touting the upcoming season.
Local favorites "The Producers" and "Mamma Mia!" are booked for return engagements at Broadway in Boston's downtown theaters next year. But many of the company's productions will be new to the Boston boards, McLean said. The current Broadway hit "Wonderful Town" will come to the Colonial in February, and "Little Shop of Horrors" is booked there next May.
In between, "Sweet Charity," starring Christina Applegate, revs up for Broadway in March at the Colonial, followed by Disney's "On the Record," a song and dance musical featuring the hit songs of Disney movies, including "The Little Mermaid," "Dumbo," "Aladdin," and "Lady and the Tramp."
A new national touring production of "Evita" kicks off at the Colonial Nov. 2 and runs through the 15th, when Boston Ballet will move in to the Boylston Street playhouse to stage "The Nutcracker" this holiday season.
Stritch's Tony award-winning one-woman show, a stage sensation during its New York run, launches Broadway in Boston's Wilbur Theatre lineup in October. The production of "Playboy of the Western World," marking the 100th anniversary of Ireland's legendary Abbey Theatre, will be in residence at the Wilbur for most of November. The Abbey Theatre visit is copresented by Broadway in Boston and the Huntington Theatre Company.
"It isn't often that you get a legendary performer and a legendary theater company back to back," McLean noted.
For those theatergoers looking for something utterly new and different, he added, Broadway in Boston will bring "Barrage," a touring dance and fiddle show that melds elements of "Riverdance," "Blast," and Stomp," to the Wilbur for a five-day engagement in mid-December.
McLean served as master of ceremonies at the press announcement, which featured musical entertainment from "Little Shop of Horrors," a cellphone call interruption from Joan Rivers reminding audiences of her appearance this weekend at the Wilbur, a video about the restoration of the Opera House, and awards.
He presented certificates of recognition to the producers and players of "Shear Madness," the long-running show that celebrates its 25th anniversary at the Charles Playhouse this season, and to Arts Boston, the discount ticketing, marketing, and audience development organization that has sold $3.2 million in tickets to Boston performances since it was founded in 1975.
Season ticket subscription packages are available by phone (617-880-2400), fax (617-880-2455), and mail (Broadway in Boston, 100 Boylston St., Suite 950, Boston MA 02116).
Maureen Dezell can be reached at dezell@globe.com
