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Arts
Ruth Eckerd announces new Broadway season
From Whoopi Goldberg to Dame Edna, the hall has scheduled four shows that are making their bay area debuts. Five others round out the series.
By JOHN FLEMING
Published April 24, 2005
CLEARWATER - Bombay Dreams, a musical inspired by the Indian film industry, tops the 2005-06 Ruth Eckerd Hall Broadway series, announced today.
"Our new series, one of the largest ever, includes four new shows in their first-ever appearance in the Tampa Bay market," said Robert Freedman, chief executive of the hall.
Along with Bombay Dreams, the new shows are Whoopi!, a solo turn by Whoopi Goldberg for one night; the return of Dame Edna in Back With a Vengeance; and Dr. Dolittle, which opens the season.
Bombay Dreams, a lavish spectacle with music by "Bollywood" legend A.R. Rahman, was a hit in London but a disappointment on Broadway, where it ran less than a year, closing Jan. 1. Ruth Eckerd Hall, as part of the Independent Presenters Network, was an investor in the production.
Dame Edna, the Australian housewife-megastar played by Barry Humphries, had successful engagements in Clearwater in 2001 and the following year in Tampa. Her new show has been playing on Broadway since November.
Dr. Dolittle has the longest run in Ruth Eckerd Hall's upcoming Broadway season, with eight performances. Based on the Leslie Bricusse movie musical, the stage production features puppets by Michael Curry of Lion King fame.
There will be seven performances of My Fair Lady, with Marla Schaffel as Eliza Doolittle in a revival by Atlanta's Theater of the Stars, which produced this season's The King and I. Jobeth Williams and Hector Elizondo star in The Prisoner of Second Avenue by Neil Simon. Rent will be at the hall in January, shortly after the movie version is slated to come out. Rounding out the season are Oklahoma! and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Here's the lineup: Oct. 25-31, Dr. Dolittle; Nov. 5, Whoopi!; Nov. 23-27, My Fair Lady; Dec. 3, Oklahoma!; Jan. 10-11, Rent; March 8-12, Dame Edna: Back With a Vengeance; March 21, The Prisoner of Second Avenue; April 12, Thoroughly Modern Millie; April 19-23, Bombay Dreams.
Priority ordering for Ruth Eckerd Hall members begins when they receive brochures in July. Single tickets go on sale Aug. 20. The rest of the hall's season will be announced in June. For information, call (727) 791-7400.
- John Fleming can be reached at 727 893-8716 or fleming@sptimes.com
[Last modified April 21, 2005, 09:15:04]
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