DES MOINES — The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines has announced its lineup for the upcoming 2011-2012 season, which will include “La Cage aux Folles,” “Wicked” and the return of “Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles.”
The season opens in October with the national tour launch of “LaCage aux Folles,” winner of the 2010 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. This “splashy, high-kicking musical comedy” stars screen and television legend George Hamilton, who also made a surprise guest appearance at the Civic Center’s announcement.
The five-show season ticket package also includes the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical “Billy Elliot the Musical,” “Memphis” and the groundbreaking revival of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s classic “West Side Story.”
Also, “Bring It On: The Musical” catapults the fun and fast world of competitive cheerleading to the Broadway stage. And returning to the Civic Center as optional add-ons to the season ticket package are Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, “Wicked,” and crowd favorite “Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles.”
Jeff Chelesvig, Civic Center president and CEO, said it is especially exciting to present the national tour launch of “LaCage aux Folles,” as the Civic Center invested in the Broadway production through his leadership in the Independent Presenters Network.
“This is a great example of why the Civic Center invests in Broadway shows,” he said. “We’re not only presenting La Cage aux Folles in its first national tour – we’re launching the tour.”
In all, the 2011-2012 Willis Broadway Series represents 21 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Actor and Actress in a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Orchestrations.
The 2011-2012 Willis Broadway Series five-show Season Ticket package features “La Cage aux Folles,” Oct. 11 to 16; “West Side Story,” Feb. 7 to 12, 2012; “Bring It On: The Musical,” Feb. 28 to March 4, 2012; “Memphis,” April 24 to 29, 2012; and “Billy Elliot the Musical,” June 6 to 17, 2012. The 2011-2012 Willis Broadway Series also includes non-package special presentations of “Wicked,” Nov. 9 to Dec. 4, and “Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles,” May 15-16, 2012. Prices for the five-show season ticket packages for the Willis Broadway Series start at $100.
Also announced Monday, the 2011-2012 Dance Series three-show season ticket package will feature “Diavolo” on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012; “Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Moulin Rouge — The Ballet” on Saturday, March 31, 2012; and “Parsons Dance” on Thursday, April 19, 2012. The prices for the three-show dance series season ticket packages is $105.
The Civic Center also announced the upcoming Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family Series, and the four-show season ticket package will feature “John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean” on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012; “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012; “Music, Noise, Silence” on Saturday, April 21, 2012; and “Golden Dragon Acrobats” on Saturday, May 19, 2012.
The lineup also includes a non-package special presentation of “Zorro” on Saturday, May 19, 2012, in the Stone Studio Theater. The four-show Season Ticket package for the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Family series is $32. Tickets to Zorro may be added for $8.
All performances are on Saturday afternoons, and families can enhance their theater experience by attending the Discovery Parties one hour prior to curtain time. This series is most enjoyed by audiences 4 to 10 years old.
Renewals and new orders for season ticket packages will begin in mid-May and can be purchased at the Civic Center Ticket Office (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), by mail or online at CivicCenter.org.