Broadway in Atlanta Offers Student Rush & A Lucky Seat Lottery for ANNIE!

 

Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta announced today that ANNIE will offer exclusive deals when it plays at the Fox Theatre from Dec. 5 – 10. Tickets are on sale now by visiting foxtheatre.org/annie.

For those feeling LUCKY, Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta is partnering with the digital ticket lottery platform Lucky Seat. On Nov. 24, participants will have a chance to win a limited number of $36 tickets for the Atlanta ANNIE engagement.

Entries for shows at the Fox Theatre opened at 12 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24 and will close on Friday, Dec. 1 at 9:30 a.m. Lucky Seat will email winners starting at 10 a.m. on Dec. 1 and will continue throughout the day, as needed. Winners will have a limited window to purchase and claim their tickets. Participants must have a Lucky Seat account to participate in the lottery or create one by visiting LuckySeat.com.

Tickets are subject to availability. Limit of two tickets per patron. In some cases, tickets may be partial view and, while every effort will be made to seat multiple seats together, there is a chance that seats may be split up. Tickets can be picked up at the Box Office at the Fox Theatre with a photo ID starting two hours before the performance time.

In addition to lottery tickets, Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta will also offer special $30 Student Rush Tickets for ANNIE’s Atlanta engagement. College students simply need to bring valid college student identification with them to the Fox Theatre Box Office two hours prior to each performance. The Student Rush Ticket price will be valid for all performances with a two-ticket limit per student ID. Student Rush Tickets are subject to availability and will be sold from best available, which may include limited view locations.

ANNIE will play at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre Dec. 5 – 10. The performance schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday – Thursday 7:30 p.m.
• Friday 8 p.m.
• Saturday 2 p.m., 8 p.m.
• Sunday 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

For more information about ANNIE at the Fox Theatre, please visit foxtheatre.org/annie.

The Lion King - Atlanta Presale Begins Today!

Starting today, if you are a Disney Visa cardholder, you can score tickets to see Disney's The Lion King in Atlanta before tickets go on sale to the public on November 12th.

Use the promo code 2HAKUNA when checking out.

The Lion King will play Atlanta's Fox Theatre January 10 - January 28.

Leapin' Lizards! It's Annie! In Atlanta!

What a fun night!

Fifth Third Bank, along with Broadway in Atlanta, rolled the classic musical Annie into town last night, and we couldn't have been happier.  (Did you know this story is now FORTY years old?)

This little show will only be in town for three days (it ends tomorrow, March 19th), and judging by the crowds and number of littles there last night, I highly suggest you don't miss it.

What a stellar performance by this cast.  Tori Bates could not be a better or more perfect pick for this edition of Annie.

We loved her throughout the evening.  She is relatively new to the touring audience, but I think she is going to go far.  She is bright and cheery and brings the character Annie to life in a whole new way.  She had us captivated from the opening scene.

Another audience favorite is the "little" character, Molly, played by our second touring newcomer Bunny Baldwin.  (This little one looks like she is having a ball touring the Country, as evidenced by her facebook page.)  Her acting (and her gymnastics) had the audience falling in love with orphan Molly throughout the evening.  I'm sure she would have easily been adopted if available!

It was such a joy watching these kids perform. I am always amazed at how talented children can be when given the right outlets to pursue their dreams.  To learn more about all the children traveling with this company, you can visit the Kids on Tour website, Annie page.

The tour this season was directed by the original Director and Lyricist, Martin Charnin.  This is his nineteenth time directing, and to keep things fresh, he has included a new twist or two in telling Annie's tale.  Nothing that takes away from the storyline mind you, but it was nice to see new parts of the story.  I think it keeps the musical alive and fresh.

Choreography for this tour is by Liza Gennaro, whose Father received a Tony award in 1977 for his version of Annie.  She has done a fantastic job.  The musical numbers all received rousing audience approval last night, including several shout outs from audience members.  (...just that good!)

Annie originally opened in 1977 and remains one of the biggest Broadway musical hits to ever hit the stage.  It's the story of young Annie Bennett, an orphan, who is searching for her parents and who, along the way, meets and is eventually adopted by billionaire tycoon "Daddy" Warbucks.

As mentioned earlier, Annie the Musical has been running almost forty years and has been performed in 28 languages.

Audience members can expect to hear (and maybe sing along, like the littles in our audience last night) such classic tunes as, "It's a Hard Knock Life," "Easy Street" (brilliantly done by Erin Fish as Miss Hannigan, Michael Santora as Rooster, and Mallory King as Lily), and (of course) "Tomorrow."

...And one last word about last night's "performances" - don't miss the show's top scene stealer - Sandy the dog!  (...and that's all I'll say on that!)  We always love seeing animals on stage.  You never quite know how they will react, and audience reaction to them is always positive and kind.  Tony Award winning animal trainer, Bill Berloni has done a great job with the two dogs playing Annie's Sandy.

To sum things up, we loved this show -- Full theatre, lots of littles in attendance, great iconic sing-a-long songs, and an amazingly talented cast.  If you don't have plans this weekend (and okay, even if you do) - pack up your family in the minivan and head to The Fox Theatre.  It will be a weekend to remember!

* * * * *

ANNIE plays Atlanta’s Fox Theatre for four more performances before it heads back out on the road:

• Saturday - 2PM, 8PM and
• Sunday - 1PM, 6:30PM

Tickets start at $33.50 and are available by visiting www.foxtheatre.org/annie, calling 1-855-285-8499, or by visiting the Fox Theatre Box Office (660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308).  (Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000.)

P.S.

Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta will offer a special $25 Student Rush Ticket price for the Atlanta engagement of ANNIE. 

Students simply need to bring valid student identification with them to the Fox Theatre Box Office two hours prior to each scheduled performance.  The Student Rush Ticket price will be valid for all performances with a two-ticket limit per student ID.  Student Rush Tickets may be purchased with cash or credit card and will apply to any open seat in the house, subject to availability.

*This blog was provided two tickets by Brave PR for the sole purpose of promoting and reviewing this musical.  All opinions are our own.

Christmas Tradition Comes to Atlanta's Fox Theatre

Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!

Last night, this blog had the delightful opportunity to start our Christmas celebrations a few days early.  We attended the opening night of Big League Productions', "A Christmas Story, The Musical."

This nostalgically charming musical stars Joshua Turchin (as Ralphie), Arick Brooks (as Randy), Chris Carsten (as Jean Shepherd/Narrator), Susannah Jones (as Mother), and Christopher Swan (as The Old Man).  Together, they make up one of America's most iconic Christmas film families -- the Parkers,  (You know, right there along with Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie.)

When our invitation first arrived, our minds started racing.  Just how was Big League Productions going to turn our beloved Christmas tradition movie into a musical?  I mean...there are no songs in the original screenplay, right?

But as the curtain lifted and the musical began, we were courted with familiar story lines, characters, and sets.  Everything was falling into place.  There was the Parker's Normal Rockwell and comfortable-looking living room along with their iconic kitchen.  There was Ralphie's school room with his ever-so-eccentric teacher and menagerie of school friends.   And, of course, let's not forget the famous Department Store and Santa slide along with the only-thing-open-on-Christmas-Day restaurant - "the Chinese place."  It all seemed perfect and in place.

As the musical ebbed and flowed through the story line, the songs each matched their respective scenes perfectly.  From fun, happy songs like "Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun" (showcasing Ralphie's desire to get one from Santa for Christmas) and "A Major Award" (The Old Man's tribute to the iconic Leg Lamp) to the emotionally wrought "Just Like That," where Mother sings about trying to cling on to her children's childhood and her warm family home life.

I noticed, right about the time that Mother was singing, "Just Like That," that my heart was beginning to soften towards this family and I felt my eyes misting up a bit.  As a Mom, the lyrics and scene hit home a little too closely.  Which one of us Moms hasn't wanted to slow the clock down for just a bit and hang on to her children a little while longer?

That's when the play shifted for me.  It went from being a Christmas TV tradition that I kept playing in the background of my living room for 24 hours on Christmas Day to a true CHRISTMAS STORY.  A story, told by our Narrator Jean Shepherd, about a close-knit and quirky family and how they spent their December Christmas holiday month during a early 1940s.

This musical will tug at your heart strings.  It will make you laugh at all the things you've laughed at for years, but it will also leave you with feeling so much more than the movie ever gave you.  Reminding you what December is all about - fun, fast, frantic times; extreme weather conditions; and the love we have for each other within our own homes.

I am so glad I went to see this musical.  It really pulled off what I thought it might not be able to, and it did it brilliantly at that.  Do yourself a favor and buy tickets to see this holiday presentation.  It's a great addition to the season this year at The Fox Theatre.  Really makes you ready for the holidays, the decorations, the food, and the fun.

P.S.  I always like to tuck this little bit into my reviews -- this play is almost verbatim to the movie.  It is appropriate for all ages, and at our performance, there were several children in attendance.  There is no language or violence to worry about.  And keep your eyes open, you might even spot the Parker's neighbor's dogs in attendance!  Certainly a fun outing for the entire family.

A Christmas Story, The Musical runs through December 4th at Atlanta's Fox Theatre.  To purchase tickets, visit the Fox Theater website.


*This website was provided with tickets to Opening Night in exchange for fair and honest promotion and review of the musical.  Our review is strictly unbiased and our own account(s) and opinion(s).

A Christmas Story! - Opens TONIGHT!

Well, Christmas is coming early to Atlanta.

Tonight, A Christmas Story opens at The Fox Theatre.  I've tried not to peek online or anywhere else to sneak peeks of this, so I am extremely curious as to how they will make this traditional holiday cult favorite movie into a musical.

I am excited and ready to welcome the holidays.  This will be a treat for me as I normally only frequent The Fox Theatre only once during the month of December - for their annual Mighty Mo & More event.  (For more information and tickets to that, you can visit The Fox Theatre's website.)

To help whet your appetite for this week's musical, here are a few snapshots from production.  Enjoy!

The Phantom of the Opera Returns to Atlana!

Casting has been announced for Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA for the triumphant return Atlanta engagement at the Fox Theatre February 22 – March 5 as a Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2016/2017 season special. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. Tickets go on sale Sunday, December 18.  Tickets start at $33.50 and are available by visiting www.FoxTheatre.org/phantom, calling 1-855-285-8499, or visiting the Fox Theatre Box Office (660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308).  Group orders of ten (10) or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000.  Performance schedule, prices, and cast are subject to change without notice.  For more information, please visit www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com/ustour or www.BroadwayInAtlanta.com. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will play at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre February 22 – March 5. The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 p.m.  Thursday, 1 p.m.  Friday, 8 p.m.  Saturday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.  Sunday, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. For more information on the production and a video sneak peek, please visit www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com/ustour/ Derrick Davis will portray the man behind the mask, ‘The Phantom,’ with Katie Travis as ‘Christine Daaé, Jordan Craig as ‘Raoul,’ Trista Moldovan as ‘Carlotta Giudicelli,’ David Benoit as ‘Monsieur Firmin,’ Price Waldman as ‘Monsieur André,’ Anne Kanengeiser as ‘Madame Giry,’ Phumzile Sojola as ‘Ubaldo Piangi,’ and Emily Ramirez as ‘Meg Giry.’ Derrick Davis has been seen on Broadway as ‘Mufasa’ and ‘Scar’ in The Lion King as well as on national tour.  His regional and opera credits include Dreamgirls, Show Boat, Amahl, and the Night Visitors and Die Fledermaus.  As a recording artist, his two albums A Christmas Journey and Life Music are available online.  Katie Travis continues in the role of ‘Christine Daaé’ after two years with the Spectacular New Production.  She has performed principal roles at The MUNY (Les Misérables, Cosette), Fireside Theater, Liederkranz Opera Theater, and was a 2014 winner of the Lys Symonette Award (Lotte Lenya Competition).  Jordan Craig has performed at the Houston Grand Opera (Billy Bud, Tosca, Carmen) as well as the Alliance Theater, Geva Theatre Centre, Actor’s Express, and Atlantic Lyric Theatre. Trista Moldovan played the role of ‘Christine Daaé’ in the Brilliant Original Production’s historic 10,000th performance on Broadway.  She has also been seen on national tour in White Christmas, Bridges of Madison County, and The Phantom of the Opera.  David Benoit’s Broadway and National Tour credits include Jekyll & Hyde, Avenue Q, Les Misérables, Dance of the Vampires, Young Frankenstein, and All Shook Up.  Price Waldman joins the Phantom tour after two and a half years on Broadway in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.  Additional Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, Grinch, and The Lion King.  Anne Kanengeiser has been seen on Broadway in the original companies of Little Women, Ragtime, as well as the 3rd National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera.  Phumzile Sojola has been seen on Broadway in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Lord Pinkleton – original cast) and The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Peter).  Emily Ramirez has performed with BalletMet and the Charlotte Ballet.  She has been seen regionally in The Addams Family, Cabaret, Stage Kiss, and Rock of Ages. The Ensemble includes Steve Czarnecki, Kaitlyn Davis, Tynan Davis, Dan Debenport, Mark Emerson, Jordan Ensign, Jim Hogan, Robert Anthony Jones, Edward Juvier, Ted Keener, Jay Lusteck, Laura Mann, Adryan Moorefield, Sarah Mossman, Shane Ohmer, Quinto Ott, Rebecca Robbins, Eric Ruiz, Ally Taylor Sacks, Travis Taylor, Victor Wallace, Marguerite Willbanks.  The Corps de Ballet includes McKenna Birmingham, Sarah DeBiase, Julie Eicher, Daniela Filippone, Abigail Mentzer, Lily Rose Peck, Ally Taylor Sacks, and Tara Sweeney. Andrew Lloyd Webber said, “Having received great critical acclaim in the U.K. and North America, I am really pleased that Laurence Connor’s new production of PHANTOM will continue to tour the U.S. playing in tandem with the Broadway production which soon celebrates 30 years.” Cameron Mackintosh said, “With PHANTOM still the reigning champion as the longest-running production on Broadway after 28 phenomenal years, with no end in sight, I’m delighted that this spectacular new production of PHANTOM has been as well-received in the U.S. as the brilliant original and has already been seen by over 2.5 million people across North America since it opened in November 2013.  With an exciting new design and staging, retaining Maria Björnson’s amazing costumes, the new PHANTOM is thrilling audiences and critics alike all over again.  With the production continuing to be such a success, we are delighted to welcome our exciting new stars to keep the music of the night soaring for many years to come.” PHANTOM IS AN ENORMOUS HIT ALL OVER AGAIN! “Powerful, gorgeous…and better than ever.” -The Philadelphia Inquirer “Extraordinarily opulent.  This PHANTOM’S storytelling and relationships have an electrifying tension.” -Chicago Sun-Times “An intense and spectacular new production with a stunning new design, fresh drama, and added momentum.” -Sunday Express (U.K.) “Take a deep breath and prepare to be dazzled; this kind of gorgeous escapism is exactly what audiences need.” -The Scotsman (U.K.) “This PHANTOM is for a new generation.” -Roy Leonard, Chicago Now Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is presented by Cameron Mackintosh, The Really Useful Group, and NETworks Presentations.  Directed by Laurence Connor (who co-directed the new production of Les Misérables that just finished a hugely successful two and a half year revival on Broadway and will start a North American tour in the fall of 2017, directed the award-winning new production of Miss Saigon coming to Broadway in 2017 and national tour in 2018, and also directed the stage version of the movie School of Rock now playing at Broadway’s Winter Garden and opening in London’s West End at the New London Theatre this November), with choreography by Scott Ambler, set design by Paul Brown, Tony Award®-winning original costume design by Maria Björnson, lighting design by Tony Award®-winner Paule Constable, sound design by Mick Potter, and musical supervision by John Rigby.  The production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh.  THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; lyrics by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe); book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber; orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de L’Opéra by Gaston Leroux, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it.  He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command. Cameron Mackintosh’s brilliant original production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA continues performances at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London and in its recording-breaking run at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway and many other cities around the world. BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA is part of The John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, under the supervision of John Gore (Owner & CEO).   Current and past productions include On Your Feet!, Fiddler on the Roof, Shuffle Along, Beautiful, Finding Neverland, and Million Dollar Quartet. BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com; Broadway.com Official show site: www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ThePhantomOfTheOpera Twitter: www.Twitter.com/PhantomOnTour Instagram www.Instagram.com/PhantomTour