Broadway in Wilmington: Women, women, women, and ‘Evan Hansen’

“’Tina’ is a smash West End and Broadway hit that has electrified audiences all over the country—and we know audiences in Wilmington will love it,” Pennella said. “The book is written by Pulitzer winner Katori Hall, and the show features dozens of Tina’s most popular songs.  I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the late, great Tina Turner.”

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.”

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.

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’

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.