2008 - 2009 Stanford Broadway Lights Season Announced

Charlotte, NC –The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s 2008 –09 Stanford Broadway Lights Series will feature another outstanding line-up of shows, including three of Broadway’s recent crop of hits, two international sensations making their first appearance in the Carolinas and the return of several of Charlotte’s favorite musical theater productions.
Along with another outstanding show lineup, a new “Ticket Swap” benefit will add enhanced flexibility for subscribers in 2008-09. This new benefit will allow Stanford Broadway Lights season subscribers to swap tickets for ONE of the seven shows on their season ticket for something else. That something else can be additional tickets for another of the Stanford Broadway Lights Series titles, tickets for one of the additional Broadway shows that are not included on the Stanford Broadway Lights Series or one of the more than 40 special attractions the Center will host during the year.
“We hope the flexibility of this new benefit will encourage even more theater fans to become season subscribers,” said Center President Tom Gabbard. “A season subscription really is the best deal for those who plan to see multiple shows. They’ll enjoy guaranteed seats for all the hits that come to town plus the flexibility to exchange if there’s a title on the series that’s not appealing to them or if their schedule just doesn’t work with a particular show.”
Local Broadway fans will find plenty to delight them on the 2008-09 Stanford Broadway Light Series, which will bring some of Broadway’s most mesmerizing characters Center stage. From the tough and touching Miss Celie of THE COLOR PURPLE to the sassy and perky-in-pink Elle Woods of LEGALLY BLONDE to the brooding and tormented PHANTOM, the new season brings unforgettable heroes and heroines, villains and vixens whose stories are chronicled through award-winning music, “razzle dazzle” dance numbers and Broadway caliber production values.
“After the extraordinary success of our current season, we are thrilled to offer our patrons another year of equally outstanding shows that truly represent the best of Broadway,” Gabbard said. “Next season’s lineup is a remarkable mix. It features three of Broadway’s recent smash hits that will be new to our stage
plus return engagements of several hugely popular hits, including Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. We’ll also host two very special productions that will amaze audiences with their unique look and fresh perspectives: TRACES, a show that will astound with its physical feats and theatricality, and the incredible ballroom dance sensation BURN THE FLOOR.”
Among the current crop of Broadway hits making their first appearance in Charlotte will be LEGALLY BLONDE, THE COLOR PURPLE and FROST/NIXON.
“We are proud to bring LEGALLY BLONDE and THE COLOR PURPLE to the Carolinas — two hits that the Center helped to produce on Broadway through our role in the Independent Presenters Network,” Gabbard said. “FROST/NIXON is a spectacular play that I’m certain will captivate our audiences. Its fast-paced and fascinating subject matter will intrigue even those who were not around for the Nixon presidency.”
“We also are happy to announce the return of the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA for a four-week run in June 2009,” Gabbard said. “The extraordinary success last season of Disney’s THE LION KING demonstrates the incredible power of these blockbuster titles, and we expect PHANTOM to generate that same kind of excitement and crowds.”
Two international hits also will make their Carolina debuts in 2008-09. “TRACES was a break out hit at last summer’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe and recently made its New York City debut,” said Director of Theatrical Programming Douglas Young. “We know that audiences are going to be amazed by the show’s mixture of extreme acrobatics and theatricality.” Created by the award-winning French-Canadian group The 7 Fingers, TRACES will be featured for a six-week engagement at the McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square. Direct from Australia, the smash sensation BURN THE FLOOR will bring 18 of the world’s finest ballroom dancers together on the stage of the Belk Theater to waltz, rumba, samba and tango in a breathtaking theatrical production. “They will electrify the theater,” Young said.
Perennial favorite CHICAGO rounds out the seven-show Stanford Broadway Lights Series, but is not the end of the Broadway offerings heading to Charlotte in 2008-09. In addition to the seven productions on the Stanford Broadway Lights Series, area Broadway fans will have the option of selecting additional titles from the Center’s EXTRAS lineup. This list includes a return engagement by MAMMA MIA! and the farewell tours of RENT and RIVERDANCE. These three shows will be available for purchase in conjunction with a Stanford Broadway Lights Series season subscription, giving season subscribers the first crack at the best seats for these three hits.
Along with the first shot at the best seats for both the Stanford Broadway Lights Series shows and the three EXTRAS titles, Stanford Broadway Lights Series season subscribers will enjoy many additional
benefits, including a 10% discount to most of the season productions, priority purchase opportunities for single tickets to the Center’s Broadway shows and special attractions, free ticket exchange and more.
Gabbard also anticipates the new Ticket Swap benefit will be a popular addition. “Subscribers will have great flexibility with this new benefit to customize their seven-show subscription to their personal taste and their calendar,” Gabbard said. “We’ll allow them to swap one of their season shows for tickets to anything else in the theater that year, including extra tickets for another show on the Stanford Broadway Lights Series. And they’ll be able to make the swap anytime during the year, beginning when they receive their subscriptions in the late summer.”
Subscribers who swap into a lesser priced show will be refunded the difference. If the cost is higher, the subscriber will pay the difference.
Seven-show season subscriptions are now available for purchase via phone (704.335.1010) or at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center box office in Founders Hall (Bank of America Corporate Center, 100 N. Tryon Street). Internet sales will open in mid-March. Current Stanford Broadway Lights season ticket holders will have the opportunity to renew and retain (or seek to improve) their current seats through April 13.
New subscribers also may purchase now. New subscribers will be seated based on the date of their order after current subscribers are processed, so order early for the best seating opportunities.
For complete details on Stanford Broadway Lights Series season subscriptions, call Subscriber Services at 704.335.1010 or visit BlumenthalCenter.org/Broadway.

                                                            # # #