Upcoming PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh season showcases powerful women
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The 2022-23 PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh Series has a strong theme of female empowerment.
“From ‘Six,’ which allows King Henry VIII’s wives to tell their stories, to the all-female creative team of ‘Hadestown,’ to iconic leading ladies like Elsa, Tina Turner and Tracy Turnblad, this season shines a light on women’s voices and talent making such a massive impact on the Broadway industry,” said Marc Fleming, vice president of marketing, communications and Broadway programming for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
New to Pittsburgh audiences will be the Broadway tours of “Frozen,” “Hadestown,” “Jagged Little Pill,” “Beetlejuice,” “Six” and “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical,” all of which — along with “Hairspray” — are included in season subscription packages.
“The last time (‘Hairspray’) played Pittsburgh, it was 2008 and the Penguins were still at the Igloo,” Fleming noted.
Optional season specials “Les Miserables” and “Dear Evan Hansen,” which also have played Pittsburgh before, can be added to the base subscription package.
“Broadway as an industry has been evolving and being much more inclusive for the artists on stage and the creative talent behind the scenes that makes the magic happen,” Fleming said. “Where many segments have been marginalized in the past, that is changing and we are seeing real evidence in this season that especially celebrates female talent and ingenuity.”
It is important to not just say the words but to deliver on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, he noted.
“As art imitates life, we believe life can and should imitate art and move us further in a direction where all voices are heard,” Fleming said.
Season subscription productions at the Benedum Center in the downtown Cultural District include:
• “Frozen,” Oct. 5-16 — “Frozen” features familiar songs from the original Academy Award-winning film, plus new numbers by the film’s songwriters. The theatrical experience includes stunning special effects, sets and costumes.
• “Hadestown,” Nov. 15-20 — The acclaimed show from singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin is the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. “Hadestown” intertwines the mythic tale of Orpheus and Eurydice with that of King Hades and his wife Persephone on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.
• “Hairspray,” Jan. 3-8 — The all-new touring production of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy finds 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad back in 1960s Baltimore trying to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. It features hit songs like “Welcome to the ’60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
• “Jagged Little Pill,” Jan. 24-29 — Based on the music of Alanis Morissette, the musical about a perfectly imperfect American family is directed by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus and also has a Tony-winning book by Diablo Cody and a Grammy-winning score.
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• “Beetlejuice,” Feb. 21-26 — It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s quirky film, the musical tells the story of teenager Lydia Deetz, whose life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and the undead “bio-exorcist” of the title. The musical is “screamingly good fun,” according to Variety.
• “Six,” March 14-19 — Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived, the six wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st-century girl power.
• “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical,” April 4-9 — The uplifting comeback story of Tina Turner, who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Featuring Turner’s greatest hits, the musical is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by Phyllida Lloyd.
These are the season specials:
• “Les Miserables,” Nov. 22-27 — The new staging of the Tony Award-winner, hailed by Huffington Post as “Les Mis for the 21st Century,” tells a story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption. With songs including “I Dreamed a Dream” and “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” the musical has been performed for more than 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries and 22 languages.
• “Dear Evan Hansen,” May 2-7 — Winner of six 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and the 2018 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, the show follows a young man with social anxiety disorder who seeks to fit in with his peers by fabricating a relationship with a deceased student. “One of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history, ” said The New York Times.
Series subscriptions range from $250 to $801 and are available now. Single tickets will go on sale throughout the year.
For season tickets, call 412-456-1390 or visit trustarts.org/Broadway. For single tickets, call 412-456-4800 or visit trustarts.org and search the show name.