5th Avenue Theatre brings you War, Religion, Fairy Tales, Dating, and RENT for the 2011-2012 Season

Earlier this week, The 5th Avenue Theatre released their season lineup for the 2011-2012 fiscal year and it looks to be one fun-filled ride full of stops, starts and explosions. Here are the shows that you may or may not want to check out; there’s something for everyone, from old school shows to brand spanking new works, including a new musical from Kathie Lee Gifford!

The NY Times calls this newly staged 25th Anniversary version “excellent,” “thrilling,” “lavish,” and finally “unforgettable.”

August 9th though the 27th, 2011.

Opening the season (and right after Aladdin closes) will be Les Miserables running August 9th through the 27th. Now (in case your curiosity hit the curb) this will indeed be the touring show coming from London. “Les Miz”, as fans and theater professonals have referred to this show, has become throughout the past 25 years a show that we all want to perform in, tech in, direct, produce, or design. “Les Miz” has won theatrical awards from all around the world including Tony Awards, Grammy Awards, Drama Desk and Drama Critic Awards and the hearts of MILLIONS of devoted fans. The question is, after 25 years, is the aesthetic and intelligence of this show still shining through for audiences? We’re guessing yes…”Les Miz” fans are VERY loyal.

Before Baker, before Swaggert, before Robertson, there was Sister Aimee, the first media superstar evangelist and her much-publicized fall from grace. A new musical based on the life of Aimee Semple McPherson.

September 30th through October 30th

Following the close of Les Miserables, comes a new musical about a young evangelist named Sister Aimee. Saving Amy’s book and lyrics were written by Kathie Lee Gifford, with music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman. Okay – so this is what Kathie Lee Gifford has been doing all these years since her departure from the then ‘Regis and Kathie’ morning show. I say show your support of this new musical because Gifford is one of our national treasures and who doesn’t love a musical about an evangelist?

When the shoe fits, the unlikeliest of girls becomes a princess, and dreams really do come true. The beloved fairy tale with exquisitely romantic music receives a lavish and enchanting staging.

November 25th through New Years Eve

How touching can this next show be, especially for their holiday slot? Cinderella by Rogers & Hammerstein, which runs November 25th though New Year’s Eve. Now, Cinderella doesn’t necessarily scream ‘holiday show’ to me, but it’s a touching fairy tale that all of us home boyz and girlz have grown up with – with the sole desire to find our ‘princess’ or ‘prince charming’. Who doesn’t like to dream about finding prince charming who treats you like the ultimate princess and the only girl in the world? Plus, let’s not forget about the god-mother that is clearly a L.I.T. (Lesbian In Training).

Equal parts poignant and laugh-out-loud hilarious. How can you be yourself, when everything seems to be pulling you to be someone else, on that most important-of-all first date? A new musical comedy.

Dates are TBA

The performance dates are undetermined at this point, but The 5th Avenue brings you yet another new musical about love and dating and relationships. Does this say something about our lifestyles in this society? First Date is sure to be a surprise to all of us in its new musical debut. First dates are such a drag, wouldn’t you agree? Especially blind dates, but this musical tackles the fears, feelings, and inner monologues that we all experience when trenching the deep waters of first dates.

The musical that changed everything. A remarkable cast and an extraordinary collaboration with renowned choreographer Donald Byrd and Spectrum Dance bring this classic to vibrant life.

February 3rd through March 4th

So we all know about this musical, and if you don’t then you really need to retake your theater history class at your local college. OKLAHOMA was post-poned from the current season for Aladdin to make its way through Seattle’s stages. This is running February 3rd through March 4th. Yeeee-haw! Oklahoma! How western can you possibly get? Perhaps we’ll see some of Seattle’s finest cowboys and cowgirls at the opening of this show. Let’s just hope it doesn’t get postponed again for some new fantastical musical in the works.

The devilishly sexy Adler and Ross musical comedy. A bewitching seductress, America’s favorite pastime, and Satan himself test how far Joe will go so his team can win the pennant.

April 20th through May 20th

The classic musical, Damn Yankees, best known for the film version with Gwen Verdon, Ray Walston and Tab Hunter and with a book is by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, with music/lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross shows up in the spring of 2012. This re-telling of the classic story of Faust is promising, charming, witty and delicious. Ahhh! The theme that is quite familiar in Hollywood:

Angela: I got the part, Bob.

Bob: Congratulations!

Angela: Yeah, Thank you. I just had to sleep with the director first.

Jonathan Larson’s electrifying tale of East Village artists won everything — the Tony, the Obie, the Pulitzer. Our exuberant new staging showcases a cast of young, home-grown, musical theaters stars.

July 6th through August 5th

Do I really need to do any introduction for this closing summer show? I mean first of all it’s RENT! And it’s a fresh, new look and new re-staging production with high hopes for something amazing to come in the summer of 2012. The show runs from July 6th through August 5th. There you have it honey’s! A season full of reasons to support local musical theater. So what are your thoughts on this new season? Do you like? Do you feel intrigued? Do you feel inspired? We of course would like to know your thoughts, feelings, and opinions, whether they are positive or negative. Personally, I give my three thumbs up for Les Miserables, Cinderella and RENT. It should overall be a great season in the American Musical Theater.