By Nancy Brozek
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
From start to finish, this year’s lineup promises to surprise, delight, and challenge audiences in the way only live theatre can. Civic Theatre’s 2018-2019 season is brimming with titles you will recognize from Broadway and your favorite books, along with one show so exciting that we are not able to reveal its name until later in the season.
Civic Theatre Executive and Artistic Director Bruce Tinker notes, “We were very fortunate to secure the rights to this show – but only if we agreed to withhold revealing the title until a later date this season. The chance to produce one of the most successful and entertaining musicals of recent history was too important to pass up.” Tinker continued, “As a community theatre, it isn’t unusual for rights to be released with strong guidelines. If a show is touring, currently on Broadway, or in production at an (equity) theatre in a geographic location deemed ‘near,’ then our rights are often restricted. One of the examples mentioned is the reason why we are keeping the title under wraps for now. We can share, this show will be produced on our stage February/March 2019 and . . .it’s a MUSICAL, it’s BIG, and it’s filled with FUN”.
There is a delicious sense of anticipation when you are waiting for the curtain to rise. For Civic Theatre, that moment is even more tantalizing with a season filled with love, mystery, sacrifice, dreams and an overall sense of WOW!!
Season Ticket Packages are on sale now, to purchase online visit www.grct.org, order by phone at 616-222-6650, or in person in Civic Theatre’s box office. Ticket Packages are $135. Single tickets will go on sale August 22.
Steel Magnolias
Playwright – Robert Harling
Sept. 7-23, 2018
From a small-town beauty parlor in Louisiana, the outspoken Truvy and her new assistant Annelle treat their clientele to shampoos, haircuts, and advice, not necessarily in the order. When the local socialite’s daughter marries a good ol’boy and decides to start a family, complications from her diabetes force all to face life’s big questions with the strength of steel and the fleeting beauty of magnolias.
Number the Stars
Playwright – Dr. Douglas W. Larche
Based on – Sean Hartley’s adaptation of Lois Lowry’s book Number the Stars
Oct. 12-21, 2018
Written from a child’s perspective, the play begins when Ella surprises her best friend Annemaire by arriving unannounced to spend the night. Not long after, Nazi soldiers appear at the door looking for Ella’s family, and Annemarie’s family claim that Ella is their own daughter. Annemairie realizes that all Jewish Danes are in danger, and their only hope is for their Christian neighbors to escort them to safety in nearby Sweden. Defying the law of the land, she steps up to help Ela’s family escape…but will they reach Sweden before it is too late.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Book – Doug Wright
Music – Alan Menken
Lyrics – Howard Ashman, Glenn Slater
Nov. 16 – Dec. 16, 2018
Always fascinated by the world above, Ariel’s longing becomes even greater when she rescues Prince Eric from drowning. Though her father warns her to stay away from humans, she eventually trades her beautiful singing voice to the sea witch Ursula, in return for a pair of human legs. When the bargain turns out to be more than it appears, Ariel needs the help of her animal friends Flounder, Scuttle, and Sebastian to overcome the witch’s evil plans and make a choice that will let her live happily ever after.
Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None
Based on Agatha Christie’s book, And Then There Were None
Jan. 11-27, 2019
As the story begins, ten strangers arrive on an island where they will meet their fate. Each one has a secret and shameful past – and each one is marked for murder. Who’s next? And whodunit? It’s impossible to say. Nevertheless, one by one, each guest meets his or her end in a way that mirrors the lines of the nursery rhyme, “until there were none”
Surprise Musical
Feb. 22- Mar. 17, 2019
Our licensing agreement prohibits us from revealing the name of this show until later this season. We look forward to lifting the curtain to reveal the title of this surprise musical. All we can say is; it’s a musical, it’s big and it’s filled with fun!
Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach
Book – Timothy Allen McDonald
Music & Lyrics – Bej Paskek and Justin Paul
Based on Roald Dahl’s book James and the Giant Peach
April 26- May 5, 2019
James finds a door in the peach and discovers a crew of fantastic creatures living inside, all transformed, by a potion, to giant size. When the peach rolls off the tree and into the ocean, the crew must work together to overcome hunger, battle sharks, and escape greedy aunts who are plotting to fumigate the peach and everyone inside. From the branches of the tree, to the Atlantic Ocean, to the skies above New York city, their daring exploits teach James’ and his new friends to work together and redefine what it means to be a family.
Disney’s Newsies
Book – Harvey Fierstein
Music – Alan Menken
Lyrics – Jack Feldman
Based on – Disney film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White
Originally Produced = by Disney Theatrical Productions
Mary 31- June 23, 2019
The strike begins when Pulitzer and Hearst raise distribution prices on their papers, forcing the newspaper boys to sell more to earn a living. Jack the paperboy steps up as leader of the Newsies, rallying underpaid newsboys across the city to stand up to the publishing titans. A friendly reporter’s interest in the story leads to a budding romance with Jack and publicity for the cause, but will the pressure be enough to make Pulitzer and Hearst bow to what’s right?
All Shook Up
Book – Joe DiPietro
Inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley
Young@Part Edition Adapted by Marc Tumminelli
Young@Part Edition originally produced at Broadway Workshop in New York City
First workshopped at Hoboken Children’s Theatre, NJ, Chase Leyner, Director.
July 26 – August 4, 2019
Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Midsummer Night’s Dream, the story takes place in 1955, when a handsome stranger stops in town to get his motorcycle fixed and catches the eye of the gas station owner’s daughter, Natalie. When he fails to take interest in her, she disguises herself as “Ed” to get close to him and earn his trust. A case of mistaken identities and mixed-up couples create a web of comedy and confusion, and it becomes anyone’s guess if Natalie will find her happily-ever-after by the last song.
Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland
Playwright – Deborah Lynn Frockt
Based on – Lewis Carroll’s book Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland
July 27-August 3, 2019
The play begins on a lazy summer day, when young Alice follows the White Rabbit down its hole and comes upon a curious world with food and drinks that make her grow or shrink most inconveniently. Alice encounters a disappearing Cheshire Cat who warns her that no one around her is sane. She observes a series of puzzling adventures at the Mad Hatters tea party. She plays a game of hedgehog croquet with the King and Queen of Hearts, and holds a philosophical conversation with a Mock Turtle. When Alice finds herself on trial, she must draw on the new skills she has learned in this Wonderland, to save her from danger.
What is bravery? How can one person make a difference? These are a few of the questions this Newbery Medal award-winning novel, “Number the Stars,” asks its readers and now its audience. For the first time on Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s stage, this powerful story of a young Christian girl’s willingness to risk her life to save her Jewish friend is told. Set in Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II, the story reflects our world’s dark history in an effort to remind us all, good and light continues to be found.
