Book of Mormon & War Horse Coming to Portland

Friday, 17 February 2012 07:02 | Written by Byron

BROADWAY BABIES: I know where I am going to be on next New Year's Day. Smack dab in the middle of Portland's own Keller Auditorium for opening night of...wait for it...BOOK OF MORMON.

Yes. THAT B-to-the-O-to-the-M big-time Broadway hit.

Trey Parker's and Matt Stone's VERY big Broadway show that swept up all those Tony Awards last year—as well as the minds and hearts of theater crowds who have been clamoring to get their mitts on the hottest ticket on Broadway—is coming to Portland on its first national tour. How cool is that?

But wait. That's not all that's coming to Portland—not by a long shot. Fred Meyer Broadway Across America Portland has brought Award-winning Broadway musicals to Portland for 17 years. But, truth is, in all my years as a "Broadway bitch," I've never seen anything like next season. The 2012-13 is packed with so many current big Broadway hits—six that have never been in Portland—who needs a ticket to New York when all you need is to head downtown for the best and the brightest The Great White Way has to offer.

First off, not one but two of last year's big Tony winners are coming to Portland. THE BOOK OF MORMON, the winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical and is the recent winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album will be joined by the the incomparable WAR HORSE, the Tony Award winner for Best Play in 2011, which will also visit Portland on its first national tour. A heartwarming season highlight, WAR HORSE is based on the novel that inspired Steven Spielberg’s film of the same name that has garnered six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

FRED MEYER BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA PRESENTS:

MEMPHIS (September 11 – 16, 2012) will kick off the thrilling season. Inspired by actual events, MEMPHIS is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. It is the winner of four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

BOOK OF MORMON will play only a one-week (Jan. 1-6, 2013) as will the following show, WAR HORSE (Feb. 26-March 3, 2013) so snag your seats quick. These tickets will go super fast.

FLASHDANCE—The Musical (April 23-28, 2013) the live version of the hit movie, tells the story of Alex, a working-class girl from Pittsburgh striving to make her dreams of becoming a professional dancer a reality. It features a score of smash hits including the Academy Award-winning title track “Flashdance – What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “I Love Rock & Roll,” along with 10 original songs. Oh, yeah, what a feeling.

ROCK OF AGES (May 28 – June 2, 2013) The musical that actually inspired one of this coming summer's biggest movies, starring Tom Cruise and Catherine Zeta-Jones, this "adult" musical features a mix of 28 rockin’ 80’s tunes including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “We Built This City,” “The Final Countdown,” “Wanted Dead Or Alive,” “Here I Go Again,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “I Want To Know What Love Is.”

THE ADDAMS FAMILY (June 25 – 30, 2013) hasn't had much love from the critics, but that hasn't stopped it from being a big fan favorite on Broadway. This weird and wacky show will close out what is to sure to be one of the most spectacular seasons that has ever come to Portland.

Ticket Details: Subscriptions range in price from $149 - $565 for a six-show package. Subscribers can renew and purchase additional tickets to any show in the season by calling 503-241-1802; or subscribe online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com/Portland.

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