Curtain up! Popular Broadway, Classic Albums shows return to the King Center
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It wouldn’t be the King Center we love without Classic Albums Live and the American Theatre Guild’s Broadway season to delight and entertain us. Fortunately, both will be back this year, better than ever.
“We are pleased to be celebrating the King Center’s 35th anniversary at the same time Classic Albums Live is celebrating its 20th anniversary season on the Space Coast,” said Bob Papke, King Center general manager and vice president of theatres for ASM Global.
“They will be kicking off their six-show season with Tom Petty’s 'Damn the Torpedoes' Saturday, May 20.“
Musician Craig Martin, who had epic inspiration when he created Classic Albums two decades ago, is reverential about Petty’s album.
“The sound of that album reminds me of the 70s,” he wrote. “It was a time when punk, disco and new waver were all exploding, but ol’ Tom stayed the course and wrote a perfect rock album. We’re going to pay this album the respect it deserves, note for note, cut for cut.”
The beauty of the series is that it is simply music as pure as the originals, without any cheesy costumes or effects.
“We don’t dress up or wear any sort of costume,” said Martin. “All of our energy is put into the music. We want the performance to sound exactly like the album.”
In addition to “Damn the Torpedoes,” this year’s Classic Albums lineup include The Beatles’ “Let It Be” on June 17, Supertramp’s Breakfast in America” July 15, “Physical Graffiti,” the Led Zeppelin 16-plus platinum album Aug. 26, Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” Sept. 16 and The Police’s “Synchronicity” wrapping up the series Oct. 21.
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Advance purchase of season tickets save more than 20 percent over individual tickets.
And now on to Broadway. Jesus, mean girls, Cher and Simon and Garfunkel star in the 23-24 Broadway Season from The American Theatre Guild.
“We are also fortunate to have national touring Broadway shows here in Brevard County,” Papke said.
“These shows are the real thing: the same top quality you’d expect on Broadway are right here at the King Center for the Performing Arts. This will be our third season with our partners at American Theatre Guild, offering a broad selection of timeless classics like 'Jesus Christ Superstar' to newer modern takes on Broadway with 'Mean Girls.'"
"This series promises to have something for everyone," he said. "Season renewals are just getting under way and new packages will be available later this summer, all through the King Center.”
Direct from Broadway, hilarious “Mean Girls” launches the season on Dec. 11 and 12. The show is the glorious product of a feverishly creative team that includes Tina Fey. “'Mean Girls'” delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery,” cheered “New York” magazine.
Following the girls is The Eternal Girl herself, Cher. “The Cher Show,” slated for Jan 16 and 17, is 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy, Oscar, Emmy and enough Bob Mackie gowns to cause sequin shortage. The show is packed with so much Cher it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star and the icon.
“The Cher Show” represents a trend in jukebox musicals to capture the larger-than-life artists.
“Cher” not only takes the audience on a musical journey throughout her prolific career, it also gives the audience a look into her life and her story,” said Craig Aikman, director of programming for The American Theatre Guild.
As a Valentine’s Day gift to the audience, the King Center presents “The Simon & Garfunkel Story” Feb. 13 and 14.
Using huge projection photos and original film footage, plus a full live band, the show chronicles the journey of the legendary folk-rock duo, culminating with the famous “Concert in Central Park” reunion in 1981, an event that drew more than half a million fans.
“The Simon & Garfunkel Story” is unique in that the performers aren’t playing Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, they are telling their story with music and some wonderful anecdotes about their careers separately and together,” added Aikman.
The Broadway season at the King Center concludes March 11 and 12 with the 50th anniversary production of the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber mega-hit, “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Originally staged by London’s Regent Park Open Air Theatre, the production won the 2017 Oliver Award for Best Musical Revival.
Appealing to both theater audiences and concert music fans, the show creates a modern, theatrical backdrop of the final weeks of the life of Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas.
For more information about upcoming shows at the King Center, visit kingcenter.com or call 321-242-2219.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Broadway tours and Classic Albums take center stage at the King Center
