Half of the Broadway shows in the upcoming season at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center will be making their Wisconsin premiere.
Five are coming to downtown Appleton for the first time.
“Frozen” is making its Wisconsin premiere over two weeks in February and March. PAC President Maria Van Laanen says the musical version of the movie is something people have been asking to see in Appleton.
She says “Frozen” features 12 new songs from the writers of the originals in the movie. She says the favorites from the film are in the musical.
Van Laanen says another one of the premieres is a new version of the play “To Kill a Mockingbird.” It will be there in December. She says Aaron Sorkin wrote it, from a different character’s perspective. She believes it’s amazing how moving the show is, and how poignant it still is today.
The Wisconsin premiere of “Tootsie” will be in June of next year. It’s based on the 1982 movie, but instead of auditioning for a soap opera, Van Laanen says a struggling actor wins a role in a musical. She thinks that leads to some fun “musical in a musical” moments.
“Mean Girls” kicks off the season in October. Tina Fey developed the musical after writing the 2004 movie. Van Laanen says it tells the story of the importance of being yourself, and standing up for yourself, while also allowing others to find their own true selves.
“Aida” is set for May of next year. The musical features music from Elton John and Tim Rice. Van Laanen calls it an incredibly powerful story between two star-crossed lovers who are torn between their love for country, and a love to last the ages.
“Cats” is returning in April of next year. Van Laanen says the choreographer for “Hamilton” worked on a new version, completely changing the choreography and sound design.
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center 2020-21 season schedule
Broadway Series
Mean Girls
October 13-18, 2020
To Kill A Mockingbird
December 8-13, 2020
Disney’s Frozen
February 24 – March 7, 2021
Cats
April 6-11, 2021
Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida
May 4-9, 2021
Tootsie
June 15-20, 2021
Arts Alive! Series
L.A. Theatreworks presents Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Sitcom by Gregg Oppenheimer
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live!
Friday, October 30, 2020
Georgia On My Mind: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences On Tour’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!
Friday, November 13, 2020
A relaxed performance
Makaroff Youth Ballet’s The Nutcracker featuring the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra and Lawrence Academy Girl Choir
Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20, 2020
it gets better
Saturday, February 13, 2021
VocalEssence The Times They Are A-Changin’: The Words & Music of Bob Dylan
Friday, March 12, 2021
Cirque de la Symphonie featuring the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, April 17, 2021
Small Island Big Song
Sunday, April 18, 2021
Black Violin
Thursday, April 29, 2021
Spotlight Series
Live in Central Park Revisited: Simon and Garfunkel
Thursday, November 5, 2020
One-Man Star Wars Trilogy
Saturday, November 14, 2020
One-Man Avengers A Parody
Saturday, November 14, 2020
Encore Cabaret featuring Cornerstone Jazz Orchestra and Center Stage Vocalists
Friday, January 8 and Saturday, January 9, 2021
Church Basement Ladies: You Smell Barn
Tuesday – Thursday, March 23-25, 2021
