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newport news — Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson Center for the Arts is bringing Broadway back to campus this fall.
Announced today, the Townebank Broadway at the Ferguson Center 2021-22 performance season includes five classic tales and family favorites, starting with “Waitress” on Nov. 1.
“Waitress” takes its story from the beloved 2007 film starring Kerri Russell and Nathan Fillion. It centers on Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, who dreams about getting out of her small town. A baking contest and the town’s new doctor may offer her a fresh start but Jenna must summon the strength to rebuild her life.
Turn into the Grinch last year with the absence of holiday performances? That won’t happen this Christmas.
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“Mannheim Steamroller Christmas” by Chip Davis kicks off on Nov. 30, celebrating 35 years with their annual tour. For the first time, audiences can hear the entire album that inspired the show all those years ago.
If you haven’t seen the touring version of “Rent,” don’t miss out when it starts on Feb. 1, 2022. It’s the show’s 25th anniversary and “Farewell Season of Love,” meaning it’s your last chance to catch the touring production. “Rent” is the Tony-award and Pulitzer Prize-winning phenomenon that follows a year in the lives of a diverse group of artists and friends struggling to follow their dreams without selling out. It’s also the reason why most of us know exactly how many minutes are in a year (525,600 minutes), thanks to writer and composer Jonathan Larson’s wildly popular “Seasons of Love.”
Weekend Scoop
Another show with some of Broadway’s most memorable tunes, “Fiddler on the Roof,” starts on March 14, 2022. Cue up “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “Sunrise, Sunset.”
Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher brings his fresh take on the beloved masterpiece with a North American tour direct from Broadway. An ebullient cast and lavish orchestra tell Fiddler’s heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives and the timeless traditions that define faith and family.
Starting May 12, 2022, it’s off to the islands with “South Pacific.” Love transcends the harsh realities of war and prejudice in this sweeping Pulitzer Prize-winning tale centered around two unlikely love affairs. Set on a tropical island during World War II, this timeless Rodgers and Hammerstein classic features rich music — including “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” and “There is Nothin’ Like a Dame” — woven into an inspiring story beloved by fans.
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” rounds out the season starting May 17, 2022. The musical tells the true story of King’s rise to stardom, from writing songs with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationships writers and friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in pop music.
Season tickets start at $180 and can be purchased by calling the Ferguson Center Ticket Office at 757-594-8752. Tickets can also be purchased at the box office, located at 1 Avenue of the Arts in Newport News. The box office is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information, visit BroadwayAtTheFergusonCenter.com or email tickets@cnu.edu.
Amy Poulter, 757-446-2704, amy.poulter@pilotonline.com