Media Theatre Announces 2017-18 Broadway Season
A season of Broadway blockbusters, plus a regional premiere and two Disney family favorites, are on tap at The Media Theatre (104 East State Street, Media, PA), a professional regional theatre company located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, approximately 15 miles outside of Philadelphia.
The season begins with an innovative new production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Carousel (September 20-October 22, 2017).This iconic American classic features some of the most powerful music ever written for the stage, including “If I Loved You”, “Mister Snow”, “June is Bustin Out All Over” and the iconic “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Voted the best musical of the 20th century by Time Magazine, Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Carousel is the classic American musical, spanning heaven and earth in its exploration of human frailty, resilience, and the power of forgiveness.
Be Our Guest! The Academy Award-winning film comes to life in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (November 15, 2017-January 14, 2019).This romantic and beloved take on the classic fairytale comes to The Media Theatre just in time for the holidays. The stage version includes all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. The original Broadway production ran for over thirteen years and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Broadway and Philadelphia star Krissy Fraelich takes the stage for two unforgettable performances in the season. She’ll star in Next to Normal (January 31-February 25, 2018), the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness. Winner of three 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Score and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, Next to Normal was also chosen as “one of the year’s ten best shows” by critics around the country, including The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and The New York Times.
Fraelich will then take on the regional premiere of the musical If/Then (March 14-April 1, 2018). By the creators of Next to Normal, If/Then follows two distinct storylines in the life of Elizabeth, a city planner who moves back to New York to restart her life in the city of infinite possibilities. When her carefully designed plans collide with the whims of fate, Elizabeth’s life splits into two parallel paths. If/Then follows both stories simultaneously as this modern woman faces the intersection of choice and chance.
The season closes with the smash Broadway hit Disney’s Newsies (April 18-June 10, 2018). Set in New York City at the turn of the century, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged “newsies,” who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. But when publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies newsies from across the city to strike for what’s right. While on Broadway, Newsies received 23 major theatrical nominations – including eight Tony Award nods – and won Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Score and Choreography.
Season subscriptions and single tickets are now on-sale by calling 610-891-0100 or by visiting tickets.mediatheatre.org. The Media Theatre offers both a “Traditional Subscription” series, where audience members can commit to any 3, 4, or 5 shows and save, and an “Ultimate Flex Subscription,” where patrons can purchase 3, 4, or 5 show Flex Passes that can be used for any show at any time. Details and more information can be found at mediatheatre.org.
Interviews with Artistic Director Jesse Cline are available. Press review tickets for all five shows can be arranged by contacting Bryan Buttler at bryanbuttler@gmail.com. When requesting, please indicate which publication and an approximate date of when your piece will run. Also, please send any online links wen published. Thank you!
DETAILS:
The Media Theatre 2017-18 Season
104 East State Street, Media, PA
Carousel, September 20-October 22, 2017, Wednesdays 2 & 7:30PM, Thursdays at 7:30PM, Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2 & 8PM, Sundays at 3PM, $25-$53
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, November 15, 2017-January 14, 2018, see tickets.mediatheatre.org for performance times, $30-$58
Next to Normal, January 31-February 25, 2018, select Tuesdays at 7:30PM, select Wednesdays at 2 & 7:30PM, Thursdays at 7:30PM, Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2 & 8PM, Sundays at 3PM, $25-$53
If/Then, March 14-April 1, 2018, Wednesdays 2 & 7:30PM, Thursdays at 7:30PM, Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2 & 8PM, Sundays at 3PM, $25-$53
Disney’s Newsies, April 18-June 10, 2018, see tickets.mediatheatre.org for performance times, $30-$58
Subscriptions
Preview Price Saver ($78-$130)
Ultimate Flex ($114-$175)
Traditional ($90-$150)
VIP Opening Night ($212-$265)
