Musical
Theatre of Anthem Announces 2016-17 Season
Anthem, Ariz., March 16, 2017 – Musical Theatre of Anthem (MTA) is proud to announce their
2017-2018 10th Anniversary Season, bringing back some popular
favorites from over the years and introducing a new original musical.
MTA will produce ten shows offering tremendous opportunities for
performers of all ages, including no-cut productions for performers ages 6-19,
as well as the opportunity for adult performers to be cast in the productions of
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,
Decided, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and the TBA show scheduled for
September-October 2017.
"I
am so proud of all of the work by everyone involved at MTA and am more excited
than ever to head into our 10th Season, said MTA Board Member and Producing
Artistic Director, Jackie Hammond. “We have the most ambitious season yet,
with a few returning favorites and really big shows. We are looking forward to
an amazing season of shows, workshops, training, and more!"
MTA’s 2017-18
Season:
School of Rock Youth Production
No-cut production for ages 9-18
July
20th-23rd, 2017
SCHOOL OF ROCK is a
brand new musical based on the famous Paramount film written by Mike White,
which starred Jack Black. The musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock
star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at
a prestigious prep school. Completely disinterested in academic work, Dewey
decides to create his own curriculum, turning his class into a guitar-shredding,
bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. The stage musical on Broadway is produced
by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who has composed 14 new songs to create a score, which
also features all of the original songs from the movie. SCHOOL OF ROCK, with its
sensational live kids' rock band, is a loving testimony to the transforming
power of music. May the spirit of rock be with you!
Madagascar A Musical Adventure Jr.
No-cut production for ages 8-16
August
3rd-5th, 2017
Join Alex the Lion,
Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course,
those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto your stage in the musical
adventure of a lifetime. Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture,
Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin'
friends as they escape from their home in New York's Central Park Zoo and find
themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien's
Madagascar. Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction
at New York's Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends – Marty the zebra,
Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo – have spent their whole lives in
blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for
them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the
better of him and makes his escape – with the help of some prodigious penguins
– to explore the world. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore
and an upbeat score, Madagascar JR. will leave audiences with no choice but to
"Move It, Move It!"
The Jungle Book Kids
No-cut production for ages 6-11
September
21st-24th, 2017
The jungle is jumpin'
with a jazzy beat in Disney's The Jungle Book KIDS. Specially adapted from the
classic Disney animated film, Disney's The Jungle Book KIDS features a host of
colorful characters and your favorite songs from the movie. Banished by the
ferocious tiger, Shere Khan, a human boy named Mowgli and his panther friend,
Bagheera, are on the run in the deepest parts of the jungle. On their journey,
the two meet a sinister snake named Kaa, a herd of elephants and a giant bear
named Baloo, who teaches them the swingin' musical rhythms of the jungle. After
surviving a dangerous encounter with a band of monkeys led by King Louie, Mowgli
and Bagheera are forced to run for their lives. When Shere Khan returns, our
heroes must rally their fellow animals into battle and restore peace throughout
the jungle.
To Be Announced- Announcing 4/23!
Ages 11-adult (no cut for ages 10-19)
September 28th-October 8th, 2017
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Ages 11-adult (no cut for ages 11-19)
November
30th-December 3rd, 2017
Edward Tulane is a china
rabbit given to a ten-year-old girl named Abilene by her grandmother in the
1930s. He enjoys a pleasant but vain life with his young mistress, who treats
him with the utmost love and respect, until an unfortunate incident finds him
falling overboard while vacationing on the RMS Queen Mary. Edward spends 297
days on the ocean floor, until a storm frees him from the seabed and a passing
fisherman and his buddy pull him free. Edward is passed from hand to hand of a
succession of life-altering characters, such as a hobo and his dog and a girl
with pneumonia and her brother. Edward's journeys not only take him far from
home, but even farther from the selfish rabbit he once was. Edward is eventually
cruelly broken against a counter top edge and then repaired and offered for sale
in a doll store for several years, and is finally bought by the same mistress he
once knew, but now older and more mature, with a daughter of her own.
Elf Jr.
No-cut production for ages 6-18
December
7th-10th, 2017
Buddy, a young orphan,
mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North
Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his
enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With
Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his
birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that
his father is on the naughty list and that his half-brother doesn't even believe
in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York
remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern-day holiday classic is sure
to make every young performer embrace his or her "inner elf" with
plenty of large ensemble numbers featuring elves and (New Yorkers) of every
type.
Once On This Island Jr.
No-cut production for ages 6-18
February
22nd-25th, 2018
With its poignant story
and catchy Caribbean-flavored score, Once on This Island JR. is a highly
original theatrical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's popular fairy tale,
The Little Mermaid, and the Tony-nominated Broadway musical by the legendary
writing team, Ahrens and Flaherty. Through almost non-stop song and dance, this
full-hearted musical tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and
falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island. When
Daniel is returned to his people, the fantastical gods who rule the island guide
Ti Moune on a quest that will test the strength of her love against the powerful
forces of prejudice, hatred and even death.
Decided- A New Musical by Brian M. Kunnari
Ages 11-19 (plus 3 roles for adults)
March
1st-4th, 2018
Missed opportunities,
things not going the way she knew they would, have all knocked her off her path
and into a world of confusion where "make the right decision" doesn't
seem to always be the right one. On a fateful night, Deja has a choice. To let
these weeks destroy her and give up on everything she has set her mind to or
ignore what has happened and try to move on. Little does she know, she is about
to find out where both paths lead and more importantly, the importance of
holding onto who you are against every odd. "Decided" will be a world
premiere musical written specifically for MTA to celebrate our 10th Anniversary
Season. Composer and playwright Brian M. Kunnari has created a personal,
powerful and thoughtful new musical that gets to the heart of every teen's
struggle with decisions and reminds us all that it is never too late to find the
way back to our life's unique path.
Beauty and the Beast
Ages 10-adult (no cut for ages 10-19)
May
3rd-12th, 2018
Step into the enchanted
world of Broadway's modern classic, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, an
international sensation that has played to over 35 million people worldwide in
13 countries. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the stage
version includes all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late
Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. The original
Broadway production ran for over thirteen years and was nominated for nine Tony
Awards, including Best Musical. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman
in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under
the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the
curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is
running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household
will be doomed for all eternity.
Annie Jr.
No-cut production for ages 6-18
June
14th-17th, 2018
Based on the popular
comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, with a beloved
book and score by Tony Award-winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin
Charnin, Annie JR. features everyone's favorite little redhead in her very first
adventure.
With equal measures of
pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a
next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the
parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the
cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations,
finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal
secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.
In addition to the eight shows next season, MTA will continue
to offer audition preparation workshops, tap, ballet, vocal, and acting classes,
and a full summer program. MTA also
offers MTA Minis, six week sessions for ages 3-5 with themes such as Disney and
Broadway. For more information about MTA’s upcoming events including
auditions, workshops, and performances, please visit www.musicaltheatreofanthem.org.
All shows take place at MTA’s theatre at 42323 N. Vision Way, Anthem, AZ
85086. Reserved seating
tickets may be purchased online at www.musicaltheatreofanthem.org.
Tickets for most shows are $19
General Admission and $16 for Students, Seniors and Children 12 and under.
About MTA
Musical
Theatre of Anthem (MTA) is an award-winning, non-profit theater company located
in Anthem, Arizona. The mission of
MTA is to develop youth and adults within the field of performing arts while
enhancing their intrinsic creativity and brokering their vast talents. MTA
trains and educates youth so that they can become the artists, patrons, and
leaders of tomorrow while providing opportunities to adults that empower them
and foster their creativity. MTA’s principles include casting all who
audition in select productions, presenting high quality shows that everyone can
enjoy, and providing a positive environment where performers can practice
teamwork and communication skills while experiencing the pride of
accomplishment. Supported
in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts which receives support from the
State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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