08/07/2013
The Palace Theatre Announces the 2013-2014 Season of the Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series
Special Preview Performance of RENT to Kick off Season on September 12
MANCHESTER, N.H. (August 7, 2013) – The Palace Theatre announces its 2013 - 2014 Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series with a season packed with Broadway favorites, an encore of an original Palace Theatre Production, Christmas favorites, and a debut original musical production. The season kicks off September 12th with a special preview performance of RENT and runs through June 21, 2014.
"The Palace Theatre is thrilled to announce the upcoming season of our successful and popular Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series, which has enabled us to bring award-winning performances to our stage for the entire community to enjoy," said Peter Ramsey, president of The Palace Theatre. "I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Citizens Bank for its generous support of the theatre. Citizens Bank's willingness to support the Palace Theatre more than a decade ago not only has ensured the long-term financial stability of the historic Palace Theatre, but it also vastly extends our ability to promote the performing and cultural arts in New Hampshire."
Citizens Bank's sponsorship includes direct funding by Citizens Bank to the Palace Theatre, as well as in-kind and support services. Citizens Bank's sponsorship of the Performing Arts Series includes all of the Professional productions which are produced entirely by the Palace Theatre staff and are the theatre's signature events.
"Citizens Bank is pleased to celebrate our partnership with the Palace Theatre and to help support its mission to enrich the region's cultural life," said Joe Carelli, President of Citizens Bank New Hampshire. "The Palace Theatre is not only a beautiful historic theatre, it also drives economic activity in the city, attracting more than 100,000 people each year. Today, we continue our commitment and enjoy the spectacular achievements of this community resource for the performing arts."
Citizens Bank customers can purchase discounted tickets to performances in the 2013 - 2014 Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series. Contact the Palace Theatre box office for details.
The shows in the Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series scheduled for the 2013-2014 season are:
RENT (September 13 – October 5) – In Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical, a group of bohemian artists, many of whom live with AIDS, struggle to maintain their friendships and their non-conformist ideals. A re-imagining of Puccini's opera, La Bohème, RENT follows a year in the lives of seven friends living in New York's East Village who learn to follow their dreams without selling out.
Monty Python's SPAMALOT (November 1 – 16) –This musical comedy based on the classic film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, features the Knights Who Say Ni, killer rabbits, accused witches and other Python touches. Spamalot adds swipes at Vegas glitz and Broadway conventions to the film's anarchic spirit. This tuner has just about everything lovers of lighthearted musicals hope for-- a fun and tuneful score, hilarious dialog, and a splendid production design brimming with color and imagination.
Nutcracker (November 29 – December 1) – Don't miss this magical holiday tradition with the Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater accompanied by a live orchestra led by Grammy Award winning conductor John McLughlin William. Set in 19th century Germany, this classic ballet opens at a charming Christmas Party where the mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer gives his niece Clara a magical toy that takes her on an unforgettable journey.
A Christmas Carol (December 5 – 22) – The Annual Palace Theatre tradition continues with Charles Dickens' classic story of Scrooge and Tiny Tim, filled with lively song and dance featuring over fifty actors. Scrooge, known for his penny pinching ways, is visited by three ghosts on a snowy Christmas Eve. These ghostly visits reveal Scrooge's past, present and future to him and fill him with new found hope and joy in the Christmas season! Voted "Best Live Theatrical Production" and "Best Theatre Event of the Year in Manchester" by the Hippo Press readers, this show has become an audience favorite at the Palace.
XANADU (January 10 – 25) – Based on the 1980 Universal Pictures cult classic film, this musical comedy is pure fun and total genius. The story of the musical focuses on a Greek muse, Clio, who descends from Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest creation of his life – a roller disco. But when Clio, disguised as an Australian roller girl named Kira, falls into forbidden love with the mortal Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation, and Clio risks eternal banishment to the underworld.
DIVAS Through the Decades (February 14 – March 1) – Back by popular demand! An original musical production conceived by Artistic Director Carl Rajotte, Divas Through the Decades celebrates the divas of our time featuring wildly talented singers and dancers straight from New York City! The Palace Theatre will transform the audience to another place and time period with every song through lavish costumes, stunning lights, show stopping vocals and jaw dropping visual effects.
The Producers (March 21 – April 5) – Mel Brooks' adaptation of his 1968 film features fading producer Max Bialystock, who convinces accountant Leo Bloom to partner with him in producing Springtime for Hitler, a guaranteed flop, and then running off with the money they've raised from wealthy widows. Follow these scoundrels as their ill intentions turn into a raging success leading them to even more drastic actions and undesired outcomes.
A Chorus Line (April 25 – May 17) – This Broadway musical favorite is a stunning production packed with singing and dancing. Auditions are underway for a new Broadway musical. For everyone present, it's the chance of a lifetime and the one opportunity to do what they've always dreamed of – to have the chance to dance. Broadway gypsies bare their souls and put their lives "on the line" through captivating song, riveting drama and stunning choreography, the dancers describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers.
My Mixtape: The Sounds of the 80's (June 6 – June 21) – An original musical production by Artistic Director Carl Rajotte, My Mixtape pays tribute to the music and sounds of the 80's! Get your tape deck ready. My Mixtape will explore the music from the 1980's from Big Hair Bands to Bubble Gum Pop Songs featuring professional singers and dancers from New York City. Dress in your best parachute pants and relive your favorite 80's music memories.
For more information contact the Palace Theatre box office at 1-603-668-5588. Tickets and subscription forms can be found at www.palacetheatre.org or by visiting the Palace Theatre in downtown Manchester.
The 890-seat Palace Theatre was originally constructed in 1915 and, at the time, was one of 22 performing arts venues in the Queen City. Today it is the only remaining live historic theatre in Manchester and is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. The Palace Theatre was named the 2012 Outstanding Historic Theatre in America by the League of Historic American Theatres. The Outstanding Historic Theatre Award recognizes that the Palace Theatre has demonstrated excellence through its significant community impact, quality of programs and services, and quality of the restoration and rehabilitation of its historic structure.
The Palace Theatre hosts more than 240 production nights annually, attracting more than 150,000 patrons last year alone. It has a 22-member Board of Trustees and serves as a not-for-profit cultural and educational institution. The Palace Theatre is home to the NH Philharmonic and Southern NH Ballet Company and has one of the largest and fastest growing youth theatre programs in New Hampshire.
About The Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre is a non-profit performing arts center that hosts its own professional company, youth and teen program and presenting acts. The Theatre is committed to achieving our mission through preserving the historic facilities of the theatre, responding creatively to the cultural and entertainment needs of the community and governing in a fiscally responsible and strategic manner. For information about pricing, visit The Palace Theatre web site at www.palacetheatre.org.
