Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) recently announcedbrtheir 2014/2015 season of shows at Fair Park. Heavy rainbrforecasts moved the 75-Year kickoff event from the Fair Park Band Shell wherebrDSM first performed their shows to the nearby Centennial Building.
DSM has been bringing the Best of Broadway tobrNorth Texas audiences with the finest in professional live theatrical entertainmentbrsince 1941.
“We believe in creatingbrmemories that will last a lifetime, so our 75th year will be filled withbrmusicals offering an unforgettable experience for everyone in the family," says Dallas Summer Musicals president and managing director Michael Jenkins. "We will kick off the 2015 season with abrhilarious musical straight from Broadway, A CHRISTMAS STORY, in December ofbr2014. Three of our 2015 shows are still playing on Broadway, and one has neverbrbeen seen outside of Australia.”
In addition to the 2014/2015 shows,brJenkins also announced that DSM's collaboration with Performing Arts Fort Worthbr(PAFW) would be extended to include four touring Broadway shows that will bebrpresented by DSM and PAFW at their separate venues. KINKY BOOTS, DIRTY DANCING, RODGERSbr& HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA, andbrPIPPINwill be presented by DSM at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas and by PAFWbrat Bass Hall in Fort Worth.
“This is a partnership that has workedbrwell in the past,” Jenkins said, “and we are looking forward to working closelybrwith President and CEO Dione Kennedy and our colleagues at PAFW as we plan futurebrseasons. We will also produce our ownbrversion of RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S THE KING & I, as we did with ourbr2014 production of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID."
He continues, "Our efforts to reach new audiences, and tobrbring the latest Broadway shows to North Texas, include investing in andbrproducing shows on Broadway and expanding our DSM High School Musical TheatrebrAwards, which last year brought 56 Texas schools together to compete forbrrecognition and scholarships. Our DSM Academybrof Performing Arts also provides valuable training to students of music, dancebrand acting with locations across the Metroplex.”
DSM 2014/2015 SEASON--PERFORMANCESbrAT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK
A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL, December 2-14, 2014.
A sparkling new stage musicalbradaptation based on the popular 1983 family classic film featuring RalphiebrParker. He longs to find an official RedbrRyder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle under the Christmas tree. Directbrfrom Broadway, where it won threebr2013 Tony Award® nominations for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and BestbrOriginal Score, A CHRISTMAS STORY is directed by Tony Award-winner John Randobrand choreographed by Warren Carlyle.
KINKY BOOTS, February 24-March 8, 2015.
Winner of the 2013 Tony® Award for BestbrMusical and five other Tony Awards, it's an exhilarating Broadway musical stillbrplaying to packed audiences on Broadway, that lifts spirits to new high-heeledbrheights. Inspired by a true story thatbrfollows a struggling shoe factory owner who works to turn his business aroundbrwith help from an entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, KINKYbrBOOTS features a joyous, Tony-Award winning score bybrCyndi Lauper, direction and Tony-winning choreography by Jerry Mitchell, and abrhilarious , uplifting book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Feinstein. ABC News called it “The Hottest BroadwaybrShow of the Year.”
THE KING AND I, March 20-April 5, 2015.
East versus West makes for a dramatic,brrichly textured and ultimately uplifting tale of enormous fascination. It is 1862 in Siam when an English widow,brAnna Leonowens, and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, havingbrbeen summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children andbrwives. The King is largely considered tobrbe a barbarian by those in the West, and he seeks Anna's assistance in changingbrhis image, if not his ways. With bothbrkeeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Anna and thebrKing grow to understand and eventually respect one another in a truly uniquebrlove story. Along with the dazzlingbrscore, the comparable Jerome Robbins ballet, “The Small House of Uncle Thomas”bris one of the all-time marvels of the musical stage. DSM will produce the musical.
THE ILLUSIONISTS, April 7-19, 2015.
Coming to Broadway in the fall, thebrworld's best-selling magic show showcases mind-blowing, spectacular talents ofbrseven of the most incredible illusionist on earth. Shattering box office records across thebrglobe, THE ILLUSIONISTS dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerfulbrmix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrillingbrand sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.
RODGERSbr& HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, Junebr9-21, 2015
The Tony-Award winning Broadway musicalbrfrom the creators of The Sound of Music andbrSouth Pacific, CINDERELLA is still delighting audiences on Broadway with itsbrcontemporary take on the classic tale. brThis lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-droppingbrtransformations and all the moments you love—the pumpkin, the glass slipper,brthe masked ball, and more—plus some surprising new twists. Be transported back to childhood andbrrediscover some of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, such as “In MybrOwn Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” in thisbrromantic Broadway experience for anyone who’s ever had a wish, a dream, or abrreally great pair of shoes. Associated Press said, “Pure Magic! Broadway’s new Cinderella crackles withbrsweetness and freshness.”
DIRTY DANCING, June 23-July 5, 2015.
The classic story on stage is an unprecedented livebrexperience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance, andbrsensational dancing. Seen by millionsbracross the globe, this smash hit musical tells the classic story of twobrfiercely independent young spirits from difference worlds who come together forbrthe most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Featuring the hit songs “Hungry Eyes,” “HeybrBaby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart stopping “(I've Had) The Time of MybrLife,” this record-breaking live theatre sensation offers audiences the time ofbrtheir lives.
PIPPIN, July 7-19, 2015.
The 2013 Tony Award winner forbrBest Musical Revival, PIPPIN is a magical, unforgettablebrproduction The New York Times declaredbr“Astonishing! A PIPPIN for the 21stCentury.” Direct from Broadway and back for the first time since it thrilledbraudiences 40 years ago, with a beloved score by Tony nominee Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Wicked), PIPPIN tells the story of a young prince on a death-defyingbrjourney to find meaning in his existence. brWill he choose a happy but simple life? brOr will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory? This captivating new production is directedbrby Tony winner Diane Paulua (Hair andbrThe Gershwin's Porgy and Bess). PIPPINbrfeatures sizzling choreography in the style of Bob Fosse, andbrbreathtaking acrobatics by Les 7 Doigts de la Main, the creative force behindbrthe nationwide sensation Traces.
Season tickets, priced from $140-$775, go on sale Thursday,brJune 12 at 9 p.m. online at www.dallassummermusicals.org,brand Friday, June 13 at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas. Subscribers may order by mail or in person atbrThe Box Office, by phoning 214-346-3300, by faxing 214-691-7386, or purchase onlinebrat www.dallassummermusicals.org.brFor groups of 10 or more, please call 214-426-GROUP.
Season subscribers enjoy such benefitsbras first opportunity to get the best seats available for the season, plus hugebrsavings over single ticket prices and easy payment plans, lost ticketbrreplacement, ticket exchange privileges and a 20% discount on all DSM logobrmerchandise. Plus, season subscribersbrhave first option on their seats for the following season, and can save up tobr$97 over the cost of single tickets.
As a nonprofit organization, DSMbrrelies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallasbrat affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historicbrtheater, educate young audiences and create important community programs.DSM's Seats for Kidsprogram provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of lowbrincome, at-risk and special needs children. DSM provides positive incentivesbrfor youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program.brIn addition, the Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offersbrprofessional theater arts training and scholarships to talented students inbrneed. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses,brfoundations and individuals make these programs possible.
For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, pleasebrcall 214-421-5678 or visit the website at www.dallassummermusicals.org.