Elesha Paul Moses (center) as Tina Turner with the Ikettes in ‘Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.’ Photo by Matt Crockett
Women, women and more women are the focus of the 2024-15 Broadway in Wilmington season, which will count “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical,” Mean Girls” and “The Cher Show” among the titles heading to the Playhouse on Rodney Square.
Skip Pennella, executive director of The Grand, said the season will be one of the most exciting in years, with all five making their Playhouse debuts. Among them, they’ve won 17 Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards.
Here’s a look at what’s coming:
Broadway’s ‘Tina’
Opening the season Oct. 11-13, the musical follows the life of singer Tina Turner as she breaks barrier and becomes the Queen of Rock n’ Roll, set to the soundtrack of her most beloved hits.
One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Turner won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows were seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history.
‘Mean Girls’ will be one of five Playhouse debuts during the 24-25 Broadway in Wilmington series.
‘Mean Girls’
Running Nov. 15-17, “Mean Girls” was written by Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (“Legally Blonde”) and original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (“The Book of Mormon”).
It revolves around Cady Heron, who grew up on an African savanna, but wasn’t prepared her for the vicious ways of her suburban Illinois high school, especially the trio of popular girls ruled by the ruthless Regina George.
Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, but learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.
“The entire ‘Mean Girls’ franchise is extremely popular again with the new movie released this year,” Pennella said. “Also, Tina Fey, who wrote the original movie and the book to the musical, is a Delaware Valley native, growing up in Upper Darby.”
‘The Cher Show’ is an add-on for the 2024-25 Broadway in Wilmington series.
‘The Cher Show’
The series includes a “season special” and of course it’s “The Cher Show.”
“The Playhouse has the regional premiere of ‘The Cher Show’,” Pennella said. “We are the first touring Broadway house in the greater Delaware Valley to have this Tony award winning production. We also know that our guests will know and sing along to every single song in this show.”
It runs Jan. 31-Feb. 1 and celebrates the singer whose music and love lives have dominated pop culture for six decades.
It’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star and the icon.
The show includes 35 smash hits and it tracks the woman whose won Grammys, Emmys and an Oscar.
‘Dear Evan Hanson’ will hit the Playhouse stage in the 24-25 Broadway in Wilmington series.
‘Dear Evan Hansen’
Running April 11-13, the musical was called “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by the Washington Post.
Evan Hansen is a high school student who always feels like he’s on the outside looking in. Evan finally gets what so many of us are searching for—the chance to finally fit in. What follows is a poignant, funny and powerful musical about how even though it can be hard, we can find each other—and ourselves—along the way.
The musical features an uplifting score by the Tony, Grammy and Oscar winning team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with a book by Tony Award-winner Steven Levenson.
“Dear Evan Hansen is a cult classic that has inspired thousands on Broadway, in the UK and around the country,” Pennella said. “It has some of the most memorable music written for the stage in the 21st century. Also, Benj Pasek, one of the writers of the musical, was born and raised in the Delaware Valley in Ardmore.”
‘Hadestown’ will make its Wilmington debut during the 24-25 Broadway in Wilmington season.
‘Hadestown’
Running May 2-4, “Hadestown” is a love story.
It intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back, pitting industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love.
The haunting and hopeful theatrical experience won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.
“’Hadestown’ is an incredibly popular hit which sells out all over the country,” Pennella said. “It’ll be making its Delaware debut with us, and we are so excited to have this national tour.”
What the season doesn’t have is “Hamilton,” and Pennella is well aware.
“Every year, we get lots of patron and subscriber requests for different Broadway titles to bring to the Playhouse, and, of course, ‘Hamilton’ is one of those that is high in demand,” he said. “Our team works diligently with Broadway bookers to secure our seasons, and are discussing shows, like ‘Hamilton’ for future Playhouse seasons. In short: stay tuned!”
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Season subscriptions begin at $145.00 and are available by calling 302-888-0200, or visiting the box office at The Playhouse at 1007 N. Market Street, Wilmington (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Tickets for individual performances will go on sale at a later date this summer.
For more information about the series, go to broadwayinwilmington.org
Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.
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