Theatre Memphis Announce New Season And Renovations

As Theatre Memphis looks toward its 100th anniversary in the 2020-21 season, it has made its play selections for an upcoming abbreviated season to run through 2019 to accommodate the expansion and upgrade plans to the facility to celebrate the century mark. The season will offer four shows and the venue will close for a period of time after the 42nd annual production of A Christmas Carol (which is not part of the season membership but members get discounts on full price adult tickets). A grand re-opening will occur in August of 2020 with larger common areas, additional service areas and more rest room facilities to address the increase in attendance over the past few years. A season-long celebration of the centennial milestone will occur during the 2020-21 season.

The 411 seat proscenium Lohrey Stage will begin the new season with the energetic juke box musical Mamma Mia! Set on a Greek island and to the music of the international pop group ABBA, a young girl plans her wedding while trying to discover who of three men may be her father ... all to the distress and ultimate joy of her mother. Cats, based on the book Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, will follow in the season line up with striking choreography and memorable tunes by Andrew Lloyd Webber. In this most-loved musical the scene is set in a large rubbish area which, after dark, becomes alive with cats of all types, shapes and sizes gathering for the Jellicle Ball, during which one cat will be allotted an extra precious life. Cats is heralded as one of the longest running shows on Broadway and includes the remarkable tune, "Memory". The family favorite, A Christmas Carol*, will be performed as a special holiday offering in December for the 42nd consecutive year at Theatre Memphis.

Little Women will return to the Next Stage in July 10 - 21, 2019 as part of the Summer Showcase. A sold out run during the 2018-19 season prompted the return of the classic which has been adapted and directed by Jason Spitzer. Though not part of the season membership, members will be afforded discounts on the adult full price ticket.

The 100 seat black box Next Stage season leads off with A Few Good Men. Set in 1986, an apathetic military lawyer is assigned to the case of two Marines charged with the murder of a fellow squadron member at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. An Internal Affairs legal ace thinks there is something amiss and pursues justice as the defendants refuse a plea bargain.

The facts come out and lead to a court martial courtroom showdown that exposes the truth. The fast-paced and funny Ruthless! The Musical comes up next satirizing old movie classics like The Bad Seed and All About Eve. The plot reveals a talented eight-year-old, Tina, who declares her show biz ambition. Enter Sylvia St. Croix, an overbearing, sleazy talent agent with a secret who encourages her to audition for the school play. Tina "accidentally" hangs her major rival to get the part ... only to be sent up the river and swept aside by her mother, Judy Denmark, who finds her own voice and soars to stardom. Once Tina is released from incarceration, she returns for her own revenge with dreams of a comeback and more murderous mayhem.

Season memberships for the new 2019 season will be available March 8, 2019, by calling 901.682.8323. A full regular membership is $145 and includes six tickets. Tickets are good to use on any performance (limit of four per musical) and can be used in combination on any show, excluding A Christmas Carol and Summer Showcases, all of which are not part of the membership package. Season members do, however, receive discounts on tickets to these events and holiday and special offerings. Regular Memberships secured prior to April 16, 2018, will receive a $15 discount off the regular membership price and a seventh ticket! A Prologue Membership is being offered to individuals 35 years old and younger. This membership involves buying a Member Card and receiving ticket discount prices on individual shows and member benefits. Call the box office for details at 901.682.8323.

All shows perform at 7:30pm on Thursdays, 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays with matinees on Sundays at 2pm, unless otherwise designated. Single ticket prices for adults are $35 for musicals and $25 for dramas/comedies, $15 for students. There is a $5 discount on full price adult tickets for military personnel and seniors 62 and older.

Visit www.theatrememphis.org.