News and Press

Erie BROADWAY Series presents

 

 

 

AMERICA’S FAVORITE FAMILY MUSICAL

 

Warner Theatre ● July 21, 2010

 

ON SALE THIS THURSDAY, JULY 1ST AT 10AM

 

The show that revolutionized musical theatre is coming to the Warner Theatre in Erie for one performance only on Wednesday, July 21 at 7:30PM.  Tickets, priced at $31.75, $41.75, and $51.75, will go on sale THIS Thursday, July 1 at the Erie Civic Center box office (M-F 10A-5P), ErieBroadwaySeries.com, and all Ticketmaster locations, or call 452-4857or 800-745-3000. The box office will be closed this Friday and Monday (July 2 and 5).

 

The national tour of CATS recently celebrated its 27^th anniversary season, holding its place as the longest continuously touring Broadway musical in history. On May 11, 1981, CATS opened at the New London Theatre in the West End. Eight years later it celebrated its first important milestone: after 3,358 performances CATS became the longest running musical in the history of British theatre. CATS played its final performance on its 21st birthday, May 11, 2002.

 

CATS opened on Broadway October 7, 1982 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and continued to live up to its motto "Now and Forever."  On June 19, 1997, CATS became the longest running musical on Broadway.  It ended its 18 year run on September 10, 2000 with 7,485 performances. That record was broken by The Phantom of the Opera on January 9, 2006 when Phantom celebrated its 7,486^th curtain.

 

Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, and with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS won seven 1983 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes.

 

In October of 1991 CATS became the longest continuously touring show in American theatre history. Five continents, 26 countries, over eight and a half million audience members and 27 years later, CATS is still America’s most loved family musical. Celebrating not only 27 years but the birth of the musical spectacular, CATS is still revolutionary and awe inspiring.

 

Now that it was been seen by millions of audience members worldwide, it is time to celebrate with the whole family the magic, the mystery, the wonder of CATS.

TWO REASONS TO CELEBRATE

 

PRODUCER OF Erie BROADWAY Series WINS TONY AWARD

 

2010 – 2011 SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE

ERIE, PA –

This is a big week for the Erie BROADWAY Series.  This past Sunday at the Tony Awards, the producer of the Erie BROADWAY Series, Albert Nocciolino, took home a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.  Albert is one of the producers of La Cage Aux Folles and was on stage at Radio City Music Hall with the show’s producing team including the Independent Presenters Network (IPN) to accept the award.

 

John "Casey" Wells, Executive Director of the Erie County Convention Center Authority (ECCCA), had this to say of Mr. Nocciolino’s award: “The ECCCA is extremely proud of the recognition and award given to Albert Nocciolino.  We consider him part of the foundation of entertainment in Erie. Albert promoted the first show in the Tullio Arena; the Beach Boys, in June, 1983 and has produced the Erie Broadway series for 30 years.  Our partnership with Albert is the key ingredient in bringing the best of Broadway to Northwestern Pennsylvania.  We congratulate him on this prestigious award.”

 

Albert is the co-founder / co-chair of the IPN (Independent Presenters Network).  Mr. Nocciolino and the IPN were also nominated this year in the same category (Best Revival of a Musical) for Ragtime.  Previously, he received Tony awards for his work on Monty Python’s Spamalot (Best Musical) in 2005 and in 2002 for Thoroughly Modern Millie (Best Musical), and two additional nominations: One in 1997 for Annie (Best Revival of a Musical) and in 1999 for Peter Pan (also Best Revival of a Musical).  Albert has also been a Tony Award voting member since 1982.

 

Mr. Nocciolino serves as President and CEO of NAC Entertainment, Ltd., a company he founded in 1976.  NAC Enterprises is a diversified entertainment and theatrical company specializing in the presentation of National Touring Broadway shows in New York State (Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, and Elmira) and the State of Pennsylvania (Scranton and Erie).

 

In addition to directing the Broadway subscription seasons in these cities, Mr. Nocciolino is also responsible for producing and co-producing Broadway shows in New York and national touring shows, and has presented shows for over 30 years.  Recently, he was appointed to serve as second vice-chairman of The Broadway League, the New York City-based national trade association for the Broadway Industry. 

La Cage aux Folles was nominated for 11 Tony Awards this year, including Best Revival of a Musical.  This Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical is the story of a gay couple who must pretend to be straight. It's a funny and touching tale of one family's struggle to stay together... stay fabulous...and above all else, stay true to themselves. Starring Kelsey Grammer as Georges and Douglas Hodge as Albin.  La Cage aux Folles took home a Tony for Best Revival of a Musical, for Best Performance by a Leading Male in a Musical (Douglas Hodge) and Best Direction of a Musical (Terry Johnson).

 

 

30^th Anniversary Season Announced

2010 – 2011 SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE

 

We invite you to experience the power of Live Theatre and enjoy the Best of National Touring Broadway by becoming a season subscriber!

 

DID YOU KNOW THAT SEASON TICKETS ARE A GREAT WAY TO:

• Guarantee yourself nights out with loved ones or friends

• Relax, unwind, have fun and be entertained

• Use for business purposes

• Use for gifts

 

Season tickets range from $160 to $260 and are available by calling the Erie Civic Center Box Office at 452-4857 or online at http://eriebroadwayseries.com/season-tickets.asp.

 

Season ticket holder benefits include saving money over buying shows individually, having the same great seat for each show, never missing a sold out show, the opportunity to purchase additional tickets to the Erie BROADWAY Series’ shows and specials before they go on sale to the general public, lost ticket insurance, and the right to renew your seat for the following season.

 

The Erie BROADWAY Series 2010-2011 Season includes the following five shows:

 

SPAMALOT ● Oct. 20, 2010 (7:30PM)

Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Monty Python's SPAMALOT is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic "Monty Python and The Holy Grail." With a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, SPAMALOT tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up SPAMALOT.

 

WIZARD OF OZ ● Nov. 23-24, 2010 (7PM each night)

There truly is no place like home as the greatest family musical of all time, the wonderful WIZARD OF OZ, twists its way across the country! The entire family will be captivated as they travel down the Yellow Brick Road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow in this lavish production, featuring breathtaking special effects, dazzling choreography and classic songs.  A spectacular celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film, THE WIZARD OF OZ will blow you away from the moment the tornado touches down and transports you to a dazzling art deco Oz, complete with munchkins and flying monkeys. Don’t miss the chance to travel Over the Rainbow and experience this national treasure on stage.

A CHORUS LINE ● Mar. 11, 2011 (7:30PM)

In an empty theatre, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It's the one opportunity to do what they've always dreamed -- to have the chance to dance. Winner of nine Tony Awards, including "Best Musical" and the Pulitzer Prize for drama, this singular sensation is the longest-running American Broadway musical ever. Come meet the new generation of Broadway's best.

THE COLOR PURPLE ● Apr. 4, 2011 (7:30PM)

THE COLOR PURPLE is a soul-stirring musical based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg.  It is the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who finds her unique voice in the world. Nominated for eleven Tony^® Awards, THE COLOR PURPLE is a landmark theatrical event, a celebration of love, and a Broadway phenomenon.  With a joyous GRAMMY^®-nominated score featuring jazz, gospel and blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is capturing the hearts of young and old, and uniting audiences in a community of joy. 

"A SOARING, EPIC TALE. It made a JOYFUL noise in my heart."  --Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

LEGALLY BLONDE ● May 4, 2011 (7:30PM)

It's here, and it's "AN ELLE OF A SHOW" (TIME Magazine).  The hilarious MGM film is Broadway's new smash hit musical, and now LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL is coming to you.  LEGALLY BLONDE follows sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn't take "no" for an answer.  When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.  After turning Broadway and MTV hot pink, this “Feel-Good Song and Dance Juggernaut” (New York Magazine) is “The Best New Musical Around!” (WOR).

  www.ErieBroadwaySeries.com

 

 

 

 

 

For a list of all Tony Award winners visit www.tonyawards.com

After a decade of research, the story of the last original Warner Bros. theater has been published.  Erie’s Warner Theatre, first opened on April 10, 1931, has been a center for the region’s cultural life throughout its 78 year history.  Originally designed as a picture palace and vaudeville house, it provided a venue for escape from troubles during the Depression.  For decades it was at the center of Erie’s social life, but as television took hold, it lost much of its audience and was in danger of closure in the 1970s.  Only with the intervention of Erie’s Mayor Lou Tullio did it survive the wrecking ball.  This story is among the many tales that “A Picture Palace Transformed: How Erie’s Warner Theatre Survived a Changing World” presents.

Author Barbara J. Hauck has brought together the building’s history with stories of the people who managed the theatre and who enjoyed movies, performances, and special events within its walls.  Based on the works of Edinboro University professor Dr. John Marsh (deceased), she brings the reader to the present day and the Warner’s central place as Erie’s performing arts center.  Combining research and interviews conducted by Brian Sheridan, she adds personal stories throughout the book.  Photos of Erie’s past are coupled with stunning photographs by Erie photographer Art Becker, making this book a beautiful and rewarding look at one of Erie’s historical and cultural centerpieces.

Books are available at Border’s Bookstore, the Erie Bookstore, and at the Warner Theatre before all performances. All proceeds from the sale of this book will be used for the restoration, expansion, and maintenance of the Warner Theatre. Cost $29.95.