Fox Cities Performing Arts Center's 2023-24 season includes Wisconsin premieres of 'Beetlejuice' and 'TINA'
APPLETON – Two touring Broadway musicals will make their Wisconsin premieres when they come to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center during the upcoming 2023-24 season.
It will be the first time Wisconsin audiences get to see "Beetlejuice," coming Dec. 5 to 10, and "TINA — The Tina Turner Musical," coming April 16 to 21, 2024. Other shows making their way to Appleton in the coming season include "Les Misérables," "Pretty Woman: the Musical," "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" and "Clue."
The full 2023-24 PAC season lineup was announced at an in-person event Monday evening. Each year, the PAC's season includes three series: the Kimberly-Clark Broadway Across America — Fox Cities Series, which features touring Broadway shows; the Boldt Arts Alive! Series, which focuses on diverse communities and "a variety of performances that provide a window to the world," according to the PAC's website; and the Spotlight Series, which holds performances in the PAC's smaller, more intimate Kimberly-Clark Theater.
Maria Van Laanen, president and CEO of the PAC, said the arts center focuses on a theme for its performances each season. The upcoming season's theme is identity.
"For the 2023-24 season, all of the performances that make up the Boldt Arts Alive! series, The Spotlight Series, as well as the Kimberly Clark Broadway Across America series, provide an opportunity for us to get glimpses at different parts of the world, different cultures (and) storytelling that all come together to give us an opportunity to really explore the many facets that make up how we define identity," Van Laanen said.
The upcoming season will feature performances from groups audience-goers may already be familiar with, like the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, as well as new performances the PAC has never seen before, like The Hip Hop Nutcracker, she said.
In addition, the PAC's Community First Community Engagement Discussions "will build off of the performances happening on stage" through interactive activities and workshops, Van Laanen said. These discussions are aimed at people of all ages, abilities and interests, according to a PAC news release.
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The current 2022-23 season was the PAC's first season since the pandemic that attendees were not impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. She said the Fox Valley community has been supportive throughout the pandemic and its recovery. In fact, two engagements to come during the current season, "SIX" and "To Kill a Mockingbird," were entirely sold out.
"We have seen such a great return from our audiences and we are thrilled to be able to welcome audiences of all sizes," Van Lannen said. "Our area is so supportive of the arts. And you see that at all levels, from how strong the arts programs are in our school, our community arts organizations and what happens here at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. It's a real testament to that community, and how they live their values through supporting a wide variety of organizations to help us all thrive."
Tickets to this season's Boldt Arts Alive! Series and Spotlight Series go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Tickets for individual shows part of the 2023-24 Kimberly Clark Broadway Across America — Fox Cities Series are not yet available, but season tickets can be purchased now online at the PAC's website or by phone at 800-216-7469 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Broadway season ticket packages start at $230 for the five-show package and $275 for the six-show package, which adds "Les Misérables."
Starting with the 2023-24 season, season ticket holders will have their ticket packages automatically renewed. Season ticket packages will be renewed March 15, according to the news release.
The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center's 2023-24 season lineup
Kimberly-Clark Broadway Across America — Fox Cities Series
Oct. 24-29, 2023: "Pretty Woman: The Musical"
Dec. 5-10, 2023: "Beetlejuice"
Feb. 20-24, 2024: "Les Misérables"
March 19-24, 2024: "Clue"
April 16-21, 2024: "TINA – The Tina Turner Musical"
June 11-23, 2024: "Moulin Rouge! The Musical"
Boldt Arts Alive! Series
Sept. 23, 2023: The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass and the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra
Oct. 3, 2023: Step Afrika!
Nov. 25, 2023: The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Feb. 17, 2024: Jessica Vosk
March 14, 2024: San Jose Taiko
April 9, 2024: "MOMIX - ALICE"
April 13, 2024: Mariachi Herencia de México
Spotlight Series
Oct. 20, 2023: Jackie Venson
Feb. 10, 2024: "The Magic of Kevin Spencer"
Feb. 27, 2024: “Makin' Cake” with Dasha Kelly Hamilton
March 8, 2024: Adam Jacobs – "Right Where I Belong: Songs of Alan Menken"
Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: 'Beetlejuice,' 'TINA' to make Wisconsin premieres at Fox Cities PAC
