Van Wezel Announces Broadway Season

The 2012-2013 Broadway Season includes nine Broadway shows, and seven Broadway “Specials.”

2012-2013 Broadway Series

Based on the hit film that starred Leonardo DiCaprio and the incredible true story that inspired it, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is the high-flying, splashy new Broadway musical that tells the story of Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., a teenager who runs away from home in search of the glamorous life. With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer — living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams. 

(Sarasota Premiere, December 6 & 7, 2012)

More than 50 years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time and remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest.

(December 10 & 11, 2012)

TRACES combines awe-inspiring acrobatics with infectious urban energy. This thrilling modern brand of circus is infused with the energy of street performance.  The artists of TRACES employ every trick in the book—from music, dance, and illustration to skateboarding, basketball, and high-risk acrobatics—to make a lasting impression. TRACES is spectacularly anti-spectacle, relying instead on the fantastic abilities of the performers, individuals who appear to be nothing more than a group of friends until they unleash 90 minutes of heart-stopping acrobatics and unbridled energy.

(Sarasota Premiere, February 6, 2013)

Championed by the Gershwin Estate, THE GERSHWIN CONCERT EXPERIENCE: HERE TO STAY is the multimedia concert event celebrating the greatest team of collaborators in the history of American music.  HERE TO STAY provides unique and entertaining insight into the legendary Gershwin duo, and offers rare audio and video footage of the Gershwins.  Family photos, rare video clips, and elegant, state-of-the-art visuals provide a distinctive and unique experience and an unforgettable offering of the Gershwin brothers’ best. This special event features Kevin Cole, the leading Gershwin interpreter, Grammy award-winning soprano Sylvia McNair, and tap dancing sensation Ryan VanDenBoom.

(Sarasota Premiere, February 10, 2013)

Tony Award nominee Cathy Rigby takes flight in an all new production of PETER PAN!  Discover the magic all over again of this two time Emmy Award-winning and two time Tony Award nominated production. PETER PAN is filled with timeless magical moments and a captivating hook.

(February 19 & 20, 2013)

Dream the Dream. Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25^th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes. 

(March 5-March 10, 2013) 

Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, the Public Theater’s new production of HAIR is an electric celebration on stage! This exuberant musical about a group of young Americans searching for peace and love in a turbulent time has struck a resonant chord with audiences young and old. HAIR features an extraordinary cast and unforgettable songs, including “Aquarius,” “Let the Sun Shine In,” "Good Morning, Starshine" and “Easy To Be Hard.”

*For Mature Audiences.  While many find this show suitable for young adults (13 and older), parental discretion is advised. There is a dimly lit 20-second scene with nudity that is non-sexual in nature.

(April 2, 2013)

Come on, babe- experience it live and in person…the one, the only CHICAGO the Musical! This razzle-dazzle tale of sin and celebrity is the recipient of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy and thousands of standing ovations. CHICAGO is the sensation that just keeps getting bigger and bigger. With everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping-song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen.

(April 9 & 10)

THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a smash-hit musical comedy that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys) and Olivier Award-winning director/designers Phelim McDermott & Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter) with production supervision by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks.

(Sarasota Premiere April 22, 2013)

2012-2013 Broadway Specials

THE MIDTOWN MEN is the special concert tour that reunites four stars from the Original Cast of Broadway's Jersey Boys. Tony-Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony-Award nominee J. Robert Spencer, star in this one-of-a-kind concert experience celebrating the music that defined the 1960s! During their time in the mega-hit musical Jersey Boys, these four talented artists shared the stage for over a thousand performances. Now these four Broadway Stars are taking their own unique sound and chemistry on the road, singing the hits of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Jackson Five, The Mamas and The Papas, the Four Seasons and more!

(Sarasota Premiere, December 28, 2012)

STOMP is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, utterly unique and appeals to audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered an armful of awards and rave reviews, and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms.

(January 3, 2013) 

Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Based on the Tony Award winning direction of Mike Nichols, with a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, SPAMALOT tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail.

(January 27, 2013) 

HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD takes the audience on a nostalgic journey through the most popular musicals of the last 50 years— celebrating the very best Hollywood films of all time! Featuring a cast of 14 wonderful singers and dancers, a six-piece band, and over 300 costume changes, HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD sings and dances its way through over 30 songs including “Staying Alive,” “All That Jazz,” “Dancing Queen,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and many more!  

(Sarasota Premiere, February 16, 2013)

In an empty theatre, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It's what they've worked for - with every drop of sweat, every hour of training, every day of their lives. It's the one opportunity to do what they've always dreamed -- to have the chance to dance.  This is A CHORUS LINE, the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all on the line.  Winner of nine Tony Awards, including “Best Musical” and the Pulitzer Prize for drama, this singular sensation is the longest-running American Broadway musical ever.

(February 25, 2013)

The PIRATES OF PENZANCE set sail with a classic comedy that boasts one of the most famous patter songs in musical theatre history. On the coast of Cornwall, a band of tenderhearted pirates celebrates the coming of age of Frederic, who was mistakenly apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday. Now, Frederic has vowed to devote his life to the extermination of piracy…until a ludicrous leap year snag threatens to keep him apprenticed to the pirates for life!

(March 13, 2013)

Direct from Broadway! RAIN Returns! RAIN, the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, returns by popular demand!RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles' discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. 

(April 26, 2013) 

This season the Van Wezel is offering 4 great subscription packages for as low as $350 for all 9 shows! If you would like to CREATE YOUR OWN Van Wezel has a package for you as well. Mix and match four or more of any of the Broadway shows and/or Broadway Specials and get up to a 10% discount! Subscribers get up to a 10% discount on any Broadway Special. 

For more info, call 941-953-3368, Toll Free at 1-800-826-9303. After April 23 the Box Office hours will be: Monday-Friday 10 AM-3 PM; Closed on Saturday and Sunday. Subscriptions are NOT currently available online.