THEATER: Shea's new Broadway season; a closer look

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"Jersey Boys" highlights the new Broadway series at Shea's. Contributed Photo

March 19, 2009

Anonymous The Tonawanda News Thu Mar 19, 2009, 10:16 AM EDT

By Phil Dzikiy

It was a night for Shea’s season ticket holders March 12, as the theater announced its 2009-10 M&T; Bank Broadway Series schedule.

Night & Day was on hand for the big announcement last week, as Shea’s is following up a very successful season that featured “Legally Blonde” and “Mamma Mia,” among other shows.

“The Nutcracker” (Nov. 27-28) and “Riverdance” (March 5-7, 2010) were also announced as special engagements for the upcoming year.

A closer look at the Broadway Series plays:

‘Chicago’ (Sept. 22-27)

Originally debuting in 1975, the musical “Chicago” has seen renewed interest after the success of 2002’s film version of the musical, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

The “Chicago” musical was based on a 1926 play (which was not a musical). The plot is based on the true story of Beulah May Annan, a Kentucky woman who was suspected of murdering a man with whom she was having an affair.

‘Fiddler on the Roof' (Nov. 17-22)

Another classic musical, “Fiddler on the Roof” premiered in 1964. Based on the Yiddish story “Tevye and his Daughters” by Sholem Aleichem, the original Broadway production of “Fiddler” won the Tony Award for Best Musical.

This tour is the last chance to see Chaim Topol in “Fiddler.” Topol played Tevye in the 1971 film version of “Fiddler.”

‘Cirque Dreams Holidaze’ (Dec. 15-20)

Not to be confused with any Cirque du Soleil productions, “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” brings a Christmas-themed circus act — complete with acrobats and dancers — to Shea’s before Christmas, much like the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” last year.

‘In the Heights’ (Jan. 26-31, 2010)

Despite netting 13 Tony Award nominations and winning one for Best Musical last year, it was evident that “In the Heights” was the least recognizable title among the season ticket holders last week.

The Shea’s brass obviously realized this. In a shrewd move, after the standard video clips of the musical were revealed, Olga Merediz (Abuela Claudia in the play) appeared on stage and belted out “Paciencia Y Fe.”

The musical’s plot follows the lives of Washington Heights residents (Washington Heights being a Dominican-American neighborhood in New York City) over the course of three days.

‘Grease’ (March 23-28, 2010)

One of the longest-running Broadway musicals of all time, the crowd at Shea’s had no problems recognizing “Grease.”

The 2007 Broadway revival featured songs that previously hadn’t been performed in the stage version of “Grease,” including “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and “You’re the One That I Want.”

‘Jersey Boys’ (April 21-May 9, 2010)

The biggest crowd reaction of the night came with the announcement of “Jersey Boys.”

“Jersey Boys” is the highly acclaimed story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, which is told in a documentary-style and interspersed with hits from both the Four Seasons and a few other popular acts from the 1950s and early 1960s.

Graham Fenton, who plays Valli in the national tour of “Jersey Boys,” answered a few questions in a brief stage interview at Shea’s.

“This is a very guy-friendly show,” Fenton said of “Jersey Boys.”

The production will run for three weeks at Shea’s.

SEASON RUNDOWN

Shea’s 2009-10 M&T; Bank Broadway Series:

• “Chicago” — Sept. 22-27

• “Fiddler on the Roof” — Nov. 17-22

• “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” — Dec. 15-20

• “In the Heights” — Jan. 26-31, 2010

• “Grease” — March 23-28, 2010

• “Jersey Boys” — April 21-May 9, 2010

Remaining shows in the 2008-09 M&T; Bank Broadway Series:

• “The Wizard of Oz” — through Sunday

• “A Chorus Line” — May 5-10

• “The Color Purple” — June 2-7

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