The Wizard of Oz

October 14 - 19, 2008
Carol Morsani Hall

There truly is no place like home as the greatest family musical of all time, the wonderful WIZARD OF OZ, twists its way into Tampa. The entire family will be captivated as they travel down the Yellow Brick Road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow in this lavish production featuring breathtaking special effects, dazzling choreography and classic songs.

A spectacular celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film starring Judy Garland, THE WIZARD OF OZ will blow you away from the moment the tornado touches down and transports you to a dazzling art deco Oz, complete with munchkins and flying monkeys. Don’t miss the chance to travel Over the Rainbow and experience this national treasure on stage.

Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

December 9 - 14, 2008
Carol Morsani Hall

Based on the MGM/United Artists Motion Picture; Music & Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

You’ll believe a car can fly! CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG is everything you could want in a musical – and more. Sensational sets, stunning special effects, an irresistible story, and an unforgettable Sherman Brothers score, including memorable classics like "Truly Scrumptious", "Hushabye Mountain," and of course, the Oscar®-nominated title song, all add up to a Broadway blockbuster the whole family will love. The enthralling adventure of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, the magical car that sails the seas and flies through the air, has been a family favorite since the original motion picture captivated the world’s imagination in 1968.

Spring Awakening

December 30, 2008 - January 4, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall

This adventurous musical tells the timeless story of adolescents coming of age and confronting their passions and emotions in a repressive society. The music and choreography are bold, contemporary and ground-breaking. It contains sexual situations, brief nudity and mature themes.

WINNER – 8 TONY® AWARDS INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL!

Broadway's most talked about new musical is now the biggest Tony Award Winner in years. SPRING AWAKENING is the groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality and rock 'n' roll that has awakened Broadway like no other musical in years. Winner of eight Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL, SPRING AWAKENING celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, a poignancy and a passion you will never forget. We agree with The New York Times – "Broadway may never be the same again!"

A Chorus Line

February 3 - 8, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall

In an empty theater, 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. Now A CHORUS LINE returns. Come meet the new generation of Broadway’s best.

Waistwatchers, The Calorie-Free Musical

February 6 - May 17, 2009
Jaeb Theater

If you've tried it all – from grapefruit diets to water calisthenics – then come try WAISTWATCHERS, the hilarious and heart-warming musical that celebrates our love/hate obsession with weight. Enter a group meeting where the scale, measurements, fats and carbs make us laugh ourselves silly and lose a few calories in the process. Enjoy songs like "Measure for Measure," "Refridgerator Tango" and "Scales of Injustice." By the show’s end you’ll see that laughter can help you tackle any challenge – such as passing up pie or joining a gym – especially when you have the right musical inspiration!

Frost/Nixon

February 17 - 22, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall

THE FACE-OFF OF THE CENTURY, LIVE ON STAGE.
Direct from Broadway.

FROST/NIXON, starring Stacy Keach as Richard Nixon, tackles the question: How did David Frost, a famous British talk-show host with a playboy reputation, elicit the apology that the rest of the world was waiting to hear from former President Richard Nixon? This fast-paced Tony® Award nominated new play by Peter Morgan, writer of The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, & HBO’s "Longford," and directed by Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage, shows the determination, conviction and cunning of two men as they square off in one of the most monumental television interviews of all time.

The Rat Pack – Live at the Sands

March 24 - 29, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall

THE RAT PACK – Live at the Sands is the hottest and coolest party in town. Following four unprecedented years on London's West End, this acclaimed production vividly recreates a legendary evening at the Sands Hotel with the most famous performers of our time: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin. It’s Las Vegas, it’s the Sands Hotel, the big band is swingin’, and those gorgeous Burelli Sisters are singin’, and of course the three wisecracking hip-cats bring their inimitable magic to the finest music ever recorded: "I’ve Got You Under My Skin;" "That’s Amore;" "Mr. Bojangles;" "The Lady Is A Tramp." You won’t find anything like it anywhere else. It’s the RAT PACK – and it’s live! Ring-a-ding-ding!

Fiddler on the Roof

April 28 - May 3, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, The Tony® Award winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal, embarks on its national tour. In what is a huge theatrical feat, audiences will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the original Tevye from the acclaimed film, Chaim Topol, perform the role that made him legendary with his award-winning portrayal in Fiddler on the Roof.

Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has been lauded by critics again and again, and won the hearts of people all around the world. Filled with a rousing, heartwarming score, which includes "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man" and "Sunrise, Sunset," FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is a timeless classic.

No other musical has so magically woven music, dance, poignancy and laughter into such an electrifying and unforgettable experience. Relive a glorious tradition of the musical theater with TOPOL in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.

The Phantom of the Opera

October 30 - November 22, 2008
Carol Morsani Hall

With some of the most lavish sets, costumes and special effects ever to have been created for the stage, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera directed by Harold Prince traces the tragic love story of a beautiful opera singer and a young composer shamed by his physical appearance into a shadowy existence beneath the majestic Paris Opera House. Adapted from Gaston Leroux’s classic novel of mystery and suspense, this award-winning musical has woven its magical spell over standing room audiences in more than 100 cities worldwide and is now longest running show in Broadway history. Phantom returns to Tampa to take your breath away. It’s a timeless story of seduction and despair and the one show The London Sunday Times called "God’s gift to the musical theatre."

Riverdance

January 20 - 25, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall

Riverdance, the thunderous celebration of Irish music, song and dance that has tapped its way onto the world stage trilling millions of people around the globe, will play eight Farewell Performances at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. "A Phenomenon of Historic Proportions!" raves The Washington Post (6/10/07). "An explosion of sight and sound that simply takes your breath away," cheers the Chicago Tribune. "A family evening unlike anything else!" exclaims The London Times. Discover why nothing in the world compares to The Original International Phenomenon! Whether it's your first time or your fifth, you won't want to miss these FAREWELL performances of Riverdance!

Spamalot

March 3 - 8, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall

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. Directed by Tony Award-winner 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. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up Spamalot.

For more information about this show, visit http://www.montypythonsspamalot.com/

Annie

June 12 - 14, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall

The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including "It’s the Hard-Knock Life," "Easy Street," "N.Y.C." and the ever-optimistic "Tomorrow," ANNIE is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family. Don’t miss this all-new production, featuring a new song "Why Should I Change a Thing?" by Martin Charnin and Charles Strouse.

STOMP

June 16 - 21, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall

STOMP is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, utterly unique and definitely a show for all ages. The eight-member percussion troupe uses everything BUT conventional percussion instruments to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms.

Prices for 2008-2009 Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay Season Tickets: