Long Beach theater company releases season lineup

LONG BEACH - Single tickets will go on sale Sept. 16 for all shows in Musical Theatre West's 2009-10 season, which opens Oct. 30 with "Meet Me in St. Louis."All Musical Theatre West productions are held in the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. "Meet Me in St. Louis" is based on the classic MGM film starring Judy Garland. Set against the backdrop of the historic World's Fair, "Meet Me in St. Louis" tells the story of the Smith family as they move from their beloved Victorian home to St. Louis in 1904. The score includes "The Boy Next Door," "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." "Sweeney Todd" is the second production and opens Jan. 29. The Tony Award-winning musical tells the infamous tale of Benjamin Barket, aka Sweeney Todd, who takes up with his enterprising neighbor in a plot to slice their way through England's upper crust. For its third production, Musical Theatre West will present Roger Bean's "The Marvelous Wonderettes," opening April 16. A cotton-candy colored, non-stop pop musical, "The Marvelous Wonderettes" transports you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom, where we meet four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts. The musical features the songs "Lollipop," "Dream Lover," "Lipstick on Your Collar," "Secret Love," "Mr. Sandman" and more. The season will close the historic and patriotic musical "1776," opening July 9. A Tony winner for Best Musical, "1776" will introduce you to the Founding Fathers; sometimes comic, usually noble and always human. Tickets may be purchased online at www.musical.org, at the box office, or by calling (562) 856-1999, ext. 4.

********** Published: September 4, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 20