Broadway's best at Hanover 2010-2011 season kicks of with ‘Spamalot'

By Richard Duckett TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF


It might be enough to make some theatergoers shout “Mamma Mia!”

In the nicest possible way. That's because The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts “Broadway Series” for the 2010-11 season includes the Broadway touring production of the smash hit musical “Mamma Mia!” The Broadway Series, which was officially announced yesterday at the theater yesterday, will open with “Monty Python's Spamalot” (Oct. 1-3), and also includes “Grease,” “Avenue Q” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” Additionally, the 2010-11 season will include productions of “A Christmas Carol” and “Mummenshanz,” and an exclusive area appearance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater that subscribers to the Broadway Series can “add-on” at special discounts. Subscribers can also receive complimentary tickets to an upcoming July production of “Always, Patsy Cline.”

“I think it's our strongest one so far,” said Troy Siebels, the Hanover Theatre's executive director, about the new Broadway Series. “I think it's the best across-the-board lineup. ‘Mamma Mia!' and ‘Spamalot' are two of the biggest blockbusters Broadway has seen in the last 50 years. We're very proud to have them both in one season.”

The Broadway Series of touring productions has been a popular attraction at the theater since it opened in March, 2008. “We say it's the foundation of all we do, and the audiences prove that,” Siebels said.

The goal for 2010-11 is to get 3,000 subscribers for the series. The current series has 2,600 subscribers, Siebels said. This season's series concludes this weekend with a five-performance run of “Disney's Beauty and the Beast” on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Previous shows this season were “The Wizard of Oz,” “Legally Blonde — The Musical,” “A Chorus Line” and “Riverdance.”

Some productions had attendance at over 90 percent per show in the 2,300-seat Hanover Theatre. “Riverdance,” on its farewell tour, had a hugely successful five-performance run at the beginning of April that drew attendance of over 95 percent, Siebels said.

The series is produced in partnership with Professional Facilities Management, based in Providence, which has a management relationship with the Providence Performing Arts Center. The Hanover Theatre and the Providence Performing Arts Center by no means have identical seasons, but by working together The Hanover Theatre can “carry a lot of oomph” when it comes to booking shows, Siebels said.

Renewal subscriptions to the 2010-11 Broadway Series are now on sale, as are subscriptions for new subscribers (with ticket confirmations June 14). Discounts for children and students are available. Individual ticket sales will begin Aug. 2 for Hanover Theatre members and Aug. 16 for the general public. The lineup announced yesterday is as follows.

Broadway series:

“Monty Python's Spamalot” ( 8 p.m. Oct 1, 2 and 8 p.m. Oct. 2, and 1 p.m. Oct. 3) — The show bills itself as a “a new musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail.' ” The Tony Award-winner for best musical includes flying cows, killer rabbits and taunting Frenchmen.

“Mama Mia!” (8 p.m. Jan. 21, 2011, 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 22, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23) — Hits by pop super group ABBA (including “Dancing Queen,” “S.O.S.” and “Take A Chance On Me”) accompany a fetching story of romance and friendship.

“Grease” (8 p.m. Feb. 18, 2011, 2 and 8 p.m. Feb. 19, 1 p.m. Feb. 20) — The show's cast includes Worcester native Eddie Mekka (best known as Carmine from “Laverne and Shirley”) as DJ Vince Fontaine.

“Avenue Q” (8 p.m. March 25, 2011, 2 and 8 p.m. March 26, and 1 p.m. March 27) — People and puppets trying to make it in New York City in a musical that has been called both funny and “subversive.” Recommended for ages 13 and older.

“Fiddler on the Roof” (8 p.m. June 10, 2011, 2 and 8 p.m. June 11, and 1 p.m. June 12) — The new North American tour of the classic musical is based on the original direction and choreography of Jerome Robbins.

Additional shows:

“Always … Patsy Cline” (8 p.m. July 29, 8 p.m. July 30, and 2 p.m. July 31) — Siebels said the show is far more than a musical tribute to the country singer who died tragically at age 30 in a plane crash in 1963. Rather, it is a “musical play” based on a true story about Cline's friendship with a fan from Houston, Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in l961 and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death.

“Mummenschanz” (7 p.m. Oct. 26) — The Swiss troupe is world-famous for combining mime, mask and physical theater to mesmerizing effect.

“A Christmas Carol” ((Dec. 17-23) — The Hanover Theatre's own in-house production of Charles Dickens' tale adapted by Siebels returns for a third year. “We've certainly made a commitment to making it fresh every year,” Siebels said.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (7:30 p.m. May 11, 2011) — The renowned dance company comes to Worcester but not Boston this season, Siebels said.