Louisville audiences will get the chance to see several brand-new shows next year that are still playing on Broadway stages, in the 2016-17 season announced today by PNC Broadway in Louisville.
The regular season includes four musicals and a glitzy magic show, "The Illusionists - Live from Broadway," which was roundly panned by The New York Times but played to huge audiences nonetheless. Two additional crowd-pleasers -- "The Book of Mormon" and "Riverdance" -- are available as add-on selections.
When NBC aired "The Sound of Music Live," in December 2013, over 44 million people watched. Producers took note, apparently, and now a new production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic is touring the U.S. It'll kick off the regular season in January 2017.
Disney musicals are pretty much always juggernauts, and "The Little Mermaid" is no exception. The Broadway production didn't run as long as some of Disney's major hits, like "The Lion King," but it's having a long life in touring and international productions. The tale of Ariel the mermaid swims into Louisville in February 2017.
Two of the more adventurous and exciting selections come to Louisville in May and June: "Beautiful - The Carole King Musical," and "Kinky Boots," written by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper.
"Beautiful" was nominated for seven Tony Awards in 2014, and won the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in 2015. It's full of familiar tunes like "A Natural Woman," "You've Got a Friend," and "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow."
"Kinky Boots" is the story of the partnership between a shoe factory owner in England and the drag queen who helps to save his business. The show won six Tony Awards in 2013, including Best Musical and Best Score. Expect drag queens a-plenty.
Season packages are currently on sale, and single tickets are usually available 4-6 weeks prior to the opening of each show. More information on scheduling and tickets is available here.