See this lineup of Broadway tours coming soon to Charlotte. ‘There’s a lot to cheer about.’
Whether you think the lineup of Broadway tours just announced for Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s 2022-23 season rates as the best ever assembled for Charlotte audiences is a matter of opinion.
This, however, is not: It is set to be the Blumenthal’s largest season lineup of all-time.
From this October through October of 2023 — barring any COVID-related hiccups — the organization will present a slate of 17 shows that offers a hearty mix of new hits and old favorites, a generous helping of hotly anticipated jukebox musicals, a rare opportunity to see a Tony Award nominee on tour and even a little controversy.
Why such a jam-packed upcoming season? It’s simple, says Blumenthal president and CEO Tom Gabbard.
“I think we see it every night, when there are undoubtedly people that are coming back for the first time,” he explains, “and that’ll continue to be the case for awhile. So when I see with some of these folks, the tears well up, sitting down in the seat for the first time — you know how much they’ve missed it, and how this has reminded them that it’s an important part of their life. That’s part of why we beefed up and are offering so many titles.”
And, Gabbard adds, “there is a lot of uplift in these titles, which is another reason for us to be aggressive in what we bring here, is that people need that uplift right now. They need that encouragement. They need that reminder of our humanity...
“There’s a lot to cheer about, I think, in what we’re announcing.”
So, without further ado, here’s the list. And stick around after for details about buying tickets, plus some COVID-related thoughts.
PNC Broadway Lights Series
What it is: Generally, it’s where shows that are having their first engagement in Charlotte will be found.
“Jagged Little Pill,” Nov. 29-Dec. 4 at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.: The family-focused musical — which explores individuality and the search for self-acceptance — was built around songs by pop-rock star Alanis Morissette and won both a Tony Award (for Best Book of a Musical) and a Grammy Award (Best Musical Theater Album) before its Broadway run ended in December, largely due to COVID. “We’ve been supporters of that show from the very beginning, are investors in the show,” Gabbard says, “and we know that Alanis Morissette’s songs are incredibly beloved.”
“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,” Dec. 27-Jan. 1 at Belk Theater: Whereas “Jagged Little Pill” is pure fiction, “Tina” is a fact-based jukebox musical that uses the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s songs to help show audiences how she beat the odds to become one of the best-selling recording artists ever. “People know her music,” Gabbard says. “But many people don’t know the backstory, of what she overcame in a very troubled marriage that had domestic violence.” In addition to the tour, “Tina” is also still running on Broadway, starring Nkeki Obi-Melekwe (who grew up in Waxhaw) as Turner.
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“A Soldier’s Play,” Jan. 10-22, 2023 at Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.: It’s the only non-musical in the Broadway Lights Series, and it’s a riveting one — a revival of Charles Fuller’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning mystery about the murder of a Black Army sergeant in the Jim Crow South near the end of World War II. Though COVID halted its Broadway run last September, it won Best Revival of a Play at the Tonys. “It’s rare for us to get stars to go out on tour with these shows,” Gabbard says, “particularly in plays, which are really hard to get out on tour at all. And in this case, we have Norm Lewis starring. He’s an incredible actor that people in the Broadway community love.” His critically acclaimed credits include the 2011 adaptation of “Porgy and Bess” on Broadway; 2018’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” on NBC; and a key supporting turn in Spike Lee’s film “Da 5 Bloods” in 2020.
“Beetlejuice,” March 28-April 2, 2023 at Belk Theater: Based on the 1988 movie comedy that turned director Tim Burton and actor Michael Keaton into box-office stars, the stage version leans into the madcap, macabre story — about a teenage girl who sees dead people and a demon in stripes — and adds musical numbers. “That ended up being a monster hit on Broadway,” Gabbard says. “They actually announced it was gonna close (in March 2020), and then the fans kind of rose up and said, ‘Nooooo!... So now post-pandemic, it’s coming back in a different theater (this April). It really demonstrated how beloved not just the movie was, but how beloved this musical version is.”
“9 to 5: The Musical,” April 18-23, 2023 at Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd.: Another musical-comedy based on a popular ’80s movie. This one features music and lyrics by Dolly Parton — who starred in that movie, as one of three women conspiring to depose their unscrupulous boss. “This is a brand-new version that was playing in London before the pandemic,” Gabbard says. “It’s a lot of fun, and in the midst of times where people are looking for some relief, it’ll be just lots of really good laughs and great Dolly Parton music.”
“1776,” June 6-11, 2023 at Belk Theater: The revival/reinvention of this venerable show is one Charlotte will have waited quite awhile to see, as it was first postponed, then later canceled here in 2021 due to the pandemic. It was a popular American-history musical long before “Hamilton,” but it has added a fresh, “Hamilton”-esque twist to its casting of the founding fathers. “This is a brand-new version directed by Diane Paulus,” Gabbard says. “Other shows that people have seen from Diane are (the revival of) ‘Pippin,’ (the revival of) ‘Porgy and Bess,’ ‘Finding Neverland’ and ‘Jagged Little Pill.’ What’s unique about this is, this is an entirely female cast. And the themes about the search for establishing democracy, and citizen rule and all of that, boy, is that timely.”
“Six,” July 4-16, 2023 at Belk Theater: One of the newest, hottest, buzziest shows currently on Broadway, the comic musical centers around the six wives of King Henry VIII and a reality-TV-style pop-singing competition to determine who will be lead singer of their girl group. “We first saw it in a tent at the Edinburgh Fringe (Festival) and fell in love with it,” Gabbard says of the show, which bowed in London’s West End in 2019 and was set to open in New York City in March 2020, when COVID shut down the theater district on “Six’s” opening night. It finally debuted this past October. “These characters, each of the wives has a chance to make their case as to why they’re the lead wife, and they do it musically and through some dialogue. It’s just got great style. It’s a real uplift.”
“MJ: The Musical,” Sept. 27-Oct. 8, 2023 at Belk Theater: This is easily the trickiest of the titles to sell. On the surface, the new musical — which opened at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway just last month — is a celebration of the former King of Pop’s success, an ode to his singing and dancing. Many reviews have been positive. At the same time, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the show ignores the high-profile allegations that Jackson sexually assaulted children. But Gabbard is betting affection for the singer’s music will prevail.
“I think that was of concern to a lot of us,” he says of the controversy, “and I actually — pre-pandemic — went to a workshop of it and sat with Spike Lee to watch in a rehearsal room their work on it. And I think they have found a good place for this show. It doesn’t set out to be a historic documentary, unlike say, ‘Tina,’ where they really are following her life story. (‘MJ’) fabricates a situation of (Jackson) rehearsing for a big show. It really is about the music, it is about the dance and they certainly are iconic, beloved pieces.”
Equitable Bravo Series
What it is: A “secondary” series, named “Bravo” because these are all shows that have already been to Charlotte at least once, sometimes multiple times.
“Dear Evan Hansen,” Oct. 25-30 at Belk Theater: A complicated, tear-jerking musical — the best one of 2017, according to the Tonys — about a lonely, anxious high school boy who tells a lie that spirals out of control.
“Les Misérables,” Jan. 31-Feb. 5, 2023 at Belk Theater: Though this Broadway-favorite epic is set in the 19th century, it’s easy to take the themes of sacrifice and courage from 1987’s Best Musical and draw parallels to what’s happening in the world today.
“Come From Away,” March 7-12, 2023 at Belk Theater: Also a tear-jerker, but ultimately much more uplifting than “Evan Hansen,” it’s based on the true story of 7,000 airline passengers who were grounded in a small town in Newfoundland on Sept. 11, 2001.
“The Book of Mormon,” Aug. 8-13, 2023 at Belk Theater: The Best Musical of 2011 is just as profane as ever — though perhaps a little more racially sensitive; its portrayal of Africans having been revised in the wake of George Floyd’s 2020 murder.
“Chicago,” Sept. 12-17, 2023 at Belk Theater: Bob Fosse’s quintessentially Broadway musical (and “All That Jazz”) will make its first pass through Charlotte in nearly 11 years when it hits the stage late next year.
Broadway Extras
What it is: The third tier of shows coming to Charlotte.
“Riverdance,” Feb. 14-19, 2023 at Belk Theater: Mesmerizing and (very) long-running exhibition of Irish and international dance.
“Aladdin,” April 4-9, 2023 at Belk Theater: Musical adaptation of one of Disney’s most popular movies.
“Annie,” May 30-June 4, 2023 at Belk Theater: Surefire way to get “Hard Knock Life” and “Tomorrow” stuck in your head for days.
“Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations,” July 25-30, 2023 at Belk Theater: Jukebox musical about the beloved Motown group.
How the series subscriptions work
For more information or to purchase season tickets, visit BlumenthalArts.org/Broadway or call 704-335-1010.
Season subscriptions are on sale now, with details about sales for tickets to individual shows to be announced at a later date. Broadway Lights Series packages range from $300-$984, and Bravo Series packages range from $192-$648, not including taxes and fees in either case.
Broadway Lights Series and Bravo Series subscribers are guaranteed seats for all shows in their season package; but they also are allowed to swap some season tickets for “Broadway Extras” shows — or for non-Broadway shows.
Explains Gabbard: “Season ticket holders can take up to four shows in that PNC Broadway Lights Season, and they can trade them out for anything else in our building. It doesn’t even have to be a theatrical.”
A few words on COVID
For Blumenthal, “the new normal” continues: Employees and volunteers have been required to be fully vaccinated and staff has had access to free rapid tests.
All of the venues have long since been fitted with bipolar ionization and hundreds of portable HEPA air filter units. Contactless transactions for parking, tickets and concessions are now permanent fixtures. Though the mask mandate is over, Gabbard says venues will continue to encourage masking.
“Hopefully some of those things become less-important in the future,” he adds. “But the fact is we’ve learned how to do that, and we’ve learned that if things change, and there’s an uptick or an outbreak of some kind, we’ve got all the tools necessary to stay going, to stay active.
“We’re at a time when I think people are coming to the theater now with a renewed appreciation for how precious that experience is. They missed it, they’re glad to be back, they’re savoring it even more, and so we think now is the time to actually increase the offerings that are available — because people value it even more than they ever did.”
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This story was originally published March 20, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "See this lineup of Broadway tours coming soon to Charlotte. ‘There’s a lot to cheer about.’."
