Back to Spring A&E Guide 2015 Index…
‘Kinky Boots’
March 17-22
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
“Kinky Boots” is the exhilarating Broadway musical that will lift your spirits to new high-heeled heights! Winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, this inspirational story follows a struggling shoe factory owner who works to turn his business around with help from Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. Together, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible…proving that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world. Inspired by a true story, “Kinky Boots” features a joyous, Tony-winning score by Cyndi Lauper, direction and Tony-winning choreography by Jerry Mitchell and a hilarious, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein.
blumenthalarts.org
‘The Normal Heart’
March 20-April 4
Theatre Charlotte
Presented by Different Roads Home, Theatre Charlotte mounts Larry Kramer’s iconic “The Normal Heart.” The story of a city in denial, “The Normal Heart” unfolds like a real-life political thriller — as a tight-knit group of friends refuses to let doctors, politicians and the press bury the truth of an unspoken epidemic behind a wall of silence. A quarter-century after it was written, this outrageous, unflinching, and totally unforgettable look at the sexual politics of New York during the AIDS crisis remains one of the theatre’s most powerful evenings ever. It won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play.
theatrecharlotte.org
‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
May 15-31
Theatre Charlotte
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” comes to life in Charlotte. First created as a concept album at the end of the turbulent 1960s, “Jesus Christ Superstar” was Broadway’s first rock opera. At its center is Jesus, a social and political rebel, whose rapid rise in fame and following provides a parallel to today’s celebrity worship. As Jesus’ teachings are embraced by more and more people, Judas begins to question the motives of this new prophet, resulting in betrayal. The final days of Jesus are dramatized with intensity and theatricality by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice in their first Broadway effort.
threatrecharlotte.org
Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy
‘Dirty Dancing’
June 16-21
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
“Dirty Dancing — The Classic Story on Stage” is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance, and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Featuring the hit songs, “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do you Love Me?” and the heart stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”
blumenthalarts.org
‘Mamma Mia!’
June 30-July 5
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
“Mamma Mia!” is the ultimate feel-good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill. Now it’s your turn to have the time of your life at this smash-hit musical that combines ABBA’s greatest hits, including “Dancing Queen,” “S.O.S.,” “Super Trouper,” “Take A Chance on Me” and “The Winner Takes It All,” with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. Whether it’s your first visit or your 14th, see the show that has the whole world coming back for more, because every time feels like the first time at “Mamma Mia!.”
blumenthalarts.org
— compiled from theatre event listings and marketing materials