TBPAC announces new season

Musical theater fans have much to look forward at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center next season. Hightlights include the 2008 Tony Award-winning Musical "In the Heights," the musical revival of "Little House on the Prairie" and the world premiere of "Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure." "South Pacific" and the return of "Wicked" are scheduled for the season too.

Here's a glance at 2009-2010:

IN THE HEIGHTS
Oct. 27 – Nov. 1
In the Heights, winner of four 2008 Tony Awards including Best Musical, is a sensational new show about chasing your dreams and finding your true home. In the Heights is an exhilarating journey into a vibrant Manhattan community ─ a place where the coffee is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. Experience the next chapter of the classic American story with the most joyous, exciting and award-winning new musical on Broadway. Find out what it takes to make a living, what it costs to have a dream, and what it means to be home … In the Heights.

WORLD PREMIERE!
WONDERLAND
Nov. 24 – Jan. 3, 2010
Wonderland: Alice’s New Musical Adventure is set in present-day Manhattan and a timeless Wonderland. The new musical tells the story of author Alice Cornwinkle (a descendent of Lewis Carroll’s muse Alice Liddell), who is struggling with her career and her daughter, Chloe. With a chaotic Wonderland in danger of disappearing into nothingness, only Alice can restore balance and joy. Audiences will journey with her through the Looking-Glass from New York City to a strange-yet-familiar place where she must reclaim her daughter, defeat the Queen of Hearts and learn to follow her heart. From the creators of The Civil War and Jekyll & Hyde, music for Wonderland is by Frank Wildhorn with lyrics by Jack Murphy and a book by Phoebe Hwang. Wonderland is produced by the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

SOUTH PACIFIC
Jan. 12 – 17, 2010
A stunning reinvention produced by Lincoln Center Theater, South Pacific swept the 2008 Tony Awards, winning seven honors including Best Musical Revival and Best Director for Bartlett Sher. Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. The beloved score’s songs include “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” “This Nearly Was Mine” and “There Is Nothin’ Like a Dame.” USA Today cheers, “êêêê! Gorgeous! South Pacific doesn’t just float; it soars!” Based on James Michener’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan and is directed by 2008 Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher.

WICKED
Feb. 3 – 28, 2010
Back by “popular” demand. Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for "the most complete and completely satisfying new musical in a long time" (USA Today).

GODSPELL
Feb. 12 – May 6, 2010
Presented in the Jaeb Theater, this classic musical from Stephen Schwartz, the composer of Wicked, is based primarily on the Gospel According to St. Matthew. Godspell boasts a string of recognizable songs, led by the international hit, “Day By Day.” Godspell has spawned a feature film, a Broadway revival and thousands of other professional, educational and community productions.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE
March 2 – 7, 2010
Little House on the Prairie has remained one of the most popular and beloved celebrations of early Americana since the appearance of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s popular classic book series 70 years ago. Now the inspirational stories take on a brand new frontier in an uplifting new musical. Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura for 10 years in the much loved television series, continues her legacy by starring as Ma. Families will continue to fall in love with these life-affirming stories about the Ingalls’ struggles and triumphs through the celebration of the pioneering spirit and the core values on which this country was founded.

CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION
March 23 – 28, 2010
Cirque Dreams Illumination is a bustling city of incredible dreamers set in a landscape of towering buildings and infinite possibilities. Ablaze with lights and activities, objects and shapes transform into windows and stairways that lead beyond imagination. City dwellers collect objects that are balanced beyond belief, linemen delicately walk wires, daredevils leap tall buildings and flyers redefine the risks of flight. Everyday occurrences are transformed into astounding feats performed by an international cast of acrobatic urbanites, flexible fanatics, world-class athletes, musicians and more. This action-packed Cirque Dreams is enhanced with more than 100 inventive costumes and set in a fantastical cityscape of dimension and special effects.

MARY POPPINS
May 21 – June 6, 2010
Produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, the show includes such wonderful songs as “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” and, of course, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

The 2009–2010 Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay series is presented by the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Season ticket packages will be available beginning March 22. Those interested in purchasing season tickets should call the TBPAC Ticket Office at 813.229.STAR or outside the Tampa Bay area at 800.955.1045 or visit www.tbpac.org for more information on ticket packages and on-sale information. Prices begin at just $190.50 for the full eight-show Platinum season package. A five-show Silver season package is also available, starting at just $85. TBPAC members are given first priority for new season tickets. Group tickets and individual show tickets will go on sale at later dates to be announced.

Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice.