‘Pretty Woman,’ ‘Cher:’ See the Broadway Live series schedule at Lexington Opera House

The 2023-24 Broadway Live series at the Lexington Opera House features four shows making their touring debut at the downtown theatre.

The lineup is full of well-known titles and characters in pop culture and a New York Times Critics’ Pick.

The schedule of musicals and plays for the new season is:

Oct. 20-22: “Pretty Woman: The Musical” is the Broadway adaptation of the blockbuster 1990 movie follows Vivian and Edward in a theatrical take.

Jan. 26-28, 2024: “The Cher Show,” featuring the music and story of the iconic pop star, aka, Cherilyn Sarkisian La Piere Bono Allman.

Feb. 16-18: “Come From Away,” is a New York Times Critics’ Pick play based on the true story of a Newfoundland town that welcomed 7,000 stranded passengers when all flights were grounded on Sept. 11, 2001 following terror attacks utilizing airplanes in New York and Washington D.C.

Mar. 14-17: “Little Women: The Musical,” is a stage adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic Civil War story.

Broadway Live tickets

Tickets for the entire season of Broadway Live theatre plays and musicials at the Lexington Opera House in downtown Lexington start at $179. Single show tickets for “Pretty Woman” and “Cher” go on sale August 23 and Nov. 15 for “Come From Away” and “Little Women.”

For Broadway Live subscription and general ticket information visit lexingtonoperahouse.com or call 859-233-3535.

Lexington Opera House Variety Live Series

If October is a bit too long to wait, the Lexington Theatre Company, whose performances feature Broadway actors, aspiring collegiate performers and community players, gets things going next month with the Opera House’s Variety Live Series.

July 13-16: “The Sound of Music”

Aug. 3-6: “Memphis”

Nov. 16-19: “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”

Also on the Variety Live series schedule are:

Aug. 27: One Night of Queen, performed by Gary Mullen & The Works

Sept. 30: Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone

Upcoming local theater plays, musicals

Still not enough? Here are a few other theater options coming up in Lexington and Central Kentucky.

▪ The Woodford Theatre wraps up its run of “The Music Man” this weekend with shows through Sunday. Visit woodfordtheatre.com or call 859-873-0648 for tickets.

▪ ActOut Theatre presents its Pride production, “5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche” for a two-weekend run June 9, 10, and 16 to 18 at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center. Visit actoutlex.org for more information.

▪ Lexington Children’s Theatre presents its 20th Annual Summer Family Musical “Seussical the Musical” July 20 to 23 and 27 to 30. Visit lctonstage.org or call 859-254-4546 for more information.

▪ Bluegrass Community and Technical College is teaming with Antagonist Productions for a two week run of William Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor” at Equus Run Vineyards in Midway July 20 to 22 and Moondance Amphitheatre July 28 to 30. Visit Antagonist Productions on Facebook for more information.

▪ Studio Players at the Carriage House Theatre on West Bell Court presents its annual 10-minute play festival July 27-30. Visit studioplayers.org for more information.

Lexingtonian Colton Ryan on the Tony Awards

Lexington’s own Colton Ryan is up for a Tony Award Sunday night for best leading actor in a musical for his performance in “New York, New York,” which itself is up for nine Tonys, including best musical.

Ryan’s competition includes pop star Josh Groban for his acclaimed performance in the revival of “Sweeney Todd” and Ben Platt, who is nominated for his performance in “Parade.”

Ryan, a School for Creative and Performing Arts graduate and Governor’s School for the Arts alum, made his Broadway debut understudying for Platt in the title role in “Dear Evan Hansen.” Platt won the 2017 Tony for best actor in a musical for “Evan Hansen,” which also won best musical. Ryan was cast in the show before he graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, and he has since appeared in the 2022 movie version of “Evan Hansen” playing Connor Murphy to Platt’s Evan Hansen, as well as numerous TV and stage roles. “New York, New York” is Ryan’s first time originating a role in a Broadway production. Doing so, he stepped into a part played by Robert De Niro in a 1977 film featuring music of the legendary duo of John Kander and the late Fred Ebb. Lin-Manuel Miranda contributed lyrics to the Broadway production.

If you want to hear the music from the show, including a lot of Ryan, the cast recording is being released digitally on Friday, with physical versions coming later. It is also a safe bet you will see Ryan on the Tony Awards broadcast at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS and Paramount+.