With eight productions just announced, the National Theatre will have its busiest season in years, thanks to its new booking team, The National Theatre Group. Five musicals will be among the shows keeping those Pennsylvania Avenue marquee lights lit throughout the season.
The pre-Broadway world premiere of If/Then, starring Tony® Award-winner Idina Menzel, reunites Tom Kitt (music), Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics), and Michael Greif (director), the creative team behind the Pulitzer Prize and Tony® Award-winning musical Next to Normal, opens the season on November 5 and closes December 8.
“All of us on the creative team of If/Then feel a very special connection to Washington, D.C., after we were given the unique opportunity to continue developing Next to Normal here back in 2008,” explains producer David Stone. “But long before that, Washington, and in particular, the National Theatre, has proved to be a wonderful place to develop new American work, including the historic pre-Broadway productions of West Side Story, Hello, Dolly!, and Fiddler on the Roof. We are excited to resume the tradition of creating original musicals in Washington with the world premiere of If/Then this fall.”
Here for short runs (read that, get your tickets early) are:
The Broadway sensation, and Tony® Award-winner The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Diane Paulus, December 25 – 29.
The percussion spectacular STOMP performing February 4 – 9.
Another Tony® winner, the Michael Mayer directed American Idiot, (Music by Green Day; Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong; Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer) here February 18 – 23.
Mama Mia!, the smash-hit musical featuring ABBA’s greatest hits, onstage March 4 – 9.
One of America’s most beloved performers, Emmy® and Tony® Award-winner Hal Holbrook, returns with his latest version of Mark Twain Tonight! April 4 – 5.
The visually stunning performance trio, electrifying and unpredictable, Blue Man Group returns May 6 – 11.
The season ends with the Broadway revival of West Side Story, which Washington audiences saw in debut at The National six years ago. The Bernstein/Sondheim/Laurents musical is here June 3 – 8.
Subscription series tickets available now
Tickets went on sale today for Broadway at the National, the National Theatre Group created subscription series. “It was our goal to offer a Broadway series this year at the National, and we’re pleased with how this first one has turned out,” says Steve Traxler, co-principal of National Theatre Group, which oversees the programming for and management of the theater. “It’s a wonderful mix of new and classic Broadway, and paves the way for future seasons.”
Adds Bob Papke, co-principal of the National Theatre Group, “We are thrilled to bring subscription Broadway back to Pennsylvania Avenue. A lot has changed over the past few years, new restaurants, new nightlife…a whole new energy to Penn Quarter. We want our patrons to have a complete experience, savoring everything that this vibrant area now has to offer.”
“This series is an important first step in restoring the National Theatre as top choice for touring Broadway shows,” says Tom Lee, executive director of the National Theatre Corporation. “We’re excited to build an on-going relationship with our patrons and with the Washington theater community.”
The Broadway at the National subscription series offers tickets to If/Then, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, American Idiot, and West Side Story. Subscriptions start at $195 and are available at www.thenationaldc.com or by calling the subscription hotline at (855) 486-2516. Single tickets for these and the rest of the season offerings will go on sale later in 2013.
