Encore Theatre Announces Star-Studded Fifth Season Line-Up

The Encore Musical Theatre Company will begin its fifth season February 2013.

“Our vision is for this to be a season of favorites – shows that people hold close to their hearts and love to sing along to," Dan Cooney, producing artistic director said. "We want our audiences to come out of each show with a huge smile on their face.”

Encore’s fifth season will begin with a well-loved favorite: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring country pop group SIR3N (Madison Deadman, Bryana Dorfman, and Megan Casey) as the narrators. Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Time Rice, it was the duo's first musical to be performed publicly on Broadway in 1982.

The show is filled with many favorite songs, including “Any Dream Will Do”, “Close Every Door”, and “Go, Go, Go Joseph."

The show runs Feb. 7 to March 3.

This spring, the Encore will be producing its first play: Lend Me a Tenor, by Ken Ludwig. Opening on Broadway in 1989, it won nine Tony Awards and has been translated into 16 languages performed in 25 countries.

Lend Me a Tenor is a zany comedy of mistaken identity when a renowned tenor is late for his starring role, setting off a series of plot twists, and hilarious hijinks. The show runs March 28 to April 14. 

In May and June the Encore will be rockin’ back to Rydell High with pop culture favorite, Grease!

Remembered for characters Danny Zuko, Sandy Rizzo, The T-Birds and Pink Ladies, Grease will bring back all the memories with songs such as “Greased Lightnin’”, “There Are Worse Things I Could Do”, “Summer Nights”, “You’re the One That I Want”, and “We Go Together."

The show runs May 16 to June 9.

Stephen West will return for The Encore’s summer production of the Rogers and Hammerstein classic South Pacific. West will star as Emile de Beck in this World War II summer favorite.

Rogers and Hammerstein create magic with songs such as “Some Enchanted Evening”, “I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy”, “Bali Ha’i”, “There is Nothing Like a Dame”, and “I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair."

The show runs July 11 to Aug. 11.

The Encore’s fall show will be Sondheim favorite, Company. The show centers on Bobby, (a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage), the five married couples who are his closest friends, and his three girlfriends.

Surrounding Bobby’s 35th birthday, the show is a series of short vignettes dealing with relationships. It includes some of Sondheim’s best work: “Company”, “Not Getting Married”, “Marry Me a Little”, “The Ladies Who Lunch”, and “Being Alive."

The show runs Sept. 26–Oct. 20.

Irving Berlin’s holiday favorite White Christmas will conclude the season.

Based on the 1954 holiday film of the same name, this stage musical version will keep you smiling the whole way through with favorites by Berlin.

Song include: “Sisters”, “Snow”, “The Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing”, “Blue Skies”, “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep”, “How Deep is the Ocean”, and of course “White Christmas."

The show runs Nov. 21 to Dec. 22, 2013.

Additionally, The Encore will begin a series of adult and youth master classes taught throughout the year. These classes will be taught by Dan Cooney as well as other Broadway actors and directors in the area. Look for more information as the program develops later this fall.

Tickets for Encore’s 2013 season will go on sale Nov. 1, 2012.