ANNOUNCING Near West Theatre's 2015-2016 Season! THE SNOW QUEEN Cleveland Premiere! Youth, Ages 9-15 September 18 - 27, 2015 An Exciting New Pop/Rock Musical Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen Book by Kirsten Brandt and Rick Lombardo Music by Haddon Kime, Additional Music by Rick Lombardo Lyrics by Haddon Kime, Kirsten Brandt, & Rick Lombardo THE FIRST CHILDREN'S PRODUCTION IN NEAR WEST'S NEW HOME: A FRIENDSHIP IS TESTED BY THE QUEEN OF SNOW HERSELF "Each step you'll ever take, from your first move to your worst mistake, will guide you from here to eternity." - from "Eternity" Be spirited away by this new musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fantastical coming-of-age adventure, which inspired the hit Disney movie Frozen. Join Gerda on a dangerous, magical and whimsical quest to save her best friend Kai before he is trapped forever in the Snow Queen's palace. With an original pop rock score, alluring ballads, urban steam punk flair, and the enigmatic Snow Queen, you'll soon see this is not your average bedtime story! Performances: September 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 & 27. SCROOGE! Intergenerational, Ages 7+ November 20 - December 13, 2015 Book, Music & Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse Based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol THE VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CLASSIC ON NEAR WEST'S GLORIOUS NEW STAGE "And I'll thank the world and remember when I was able to Begin Again." - from "I'll Begin Again" It's 1860, and the stingy and cranky Ebenezer Scrooge HATES Christmas. Scrooge loathes people, wishes for the decrease of the surplus of the poor population, and runs his bank exploiting his employee Bob Cratchit and clients, giving bitter treatment to his own nephew and acquaintances. However, on Christmas Eve, he is visited by the doomed ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley, who tells him that three spirits will visit him that night. This classic story of awakening and redemption features all the songs from the film, including the Oscar nominated song "Thank You Very Much." Auditions: August 18, 19 & 20 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church Rehearsals: Begin Sept. 28, 2015. Rehearses Sunday-Wednesday. Performances: Nov. 20, 21, 27, 28, 29, Dec. 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 & 13. GODSPELL Youth, Ages 9-15 February 12 - 21, 2016 Book by John Michael Tebelak Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Conceived and Originally Directed by John Michael Tebelak Based on The Gospel According to St. Matthew WINTER CHILDREN'S PRODUCTION, FULL OF LOVE, SEARCHING AND SENTIMENT "Out of the ruins and rubble, out of the smoke, out of our night of struggle, can we see a ray of hope?" - from "Beautiful City" Godspell was Near West Theatre's very first production, back in the summer of 1978, so it seems only fitting to produce this animated and captivating musical once again in the first full season at Near West Theatre's new home! This winter, a group of young actors will present this theatrical circus using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques, and a hefty dose of comedy. Based on the ancient writings of Matthew about the life and teachings of Jesus, and brought to the world stage by John Michael Tebelak in the early 1970's, these inspiring stories of love, goodwill and compassion will come vividly to life through an eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville. Come and experience Godspell's universal call to mercy and renewal, put forth by a passionate troupe of 9 to 15 year-olds. Auditions: December 7, 8, 9 at Near West Theatre Rehearsals: Begin December 27, 2015. Rehearses Sunday-Thursday. Performances: February 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 & 21. SAVE THE DATE! Near West Theatre's Annual Benefit Saturday, March 5th, 2016 SHOW BOAT Intergenerational, Ages 7+ May 6 - 22, 2016 Music by Jerome Kern Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Based on the novel Show Boat by Edna Ferber OUR INTERGENERATIONAL SPRING BLOCKBUSTER! LARGE, RACIALLY DIVERSE CAST, LAVISH SETS AND COSTUMES, AND A STEAM BOAT ON STAGE!!! "You and me, we sweat an' strain, body all achin' and racked wid pain. Tote dat barge! An lif' dat bale! Git a little drunk an' you land in jail." - from "Ol' Man River" Based on Edna Ferber's bestselling novel of the same name, the musical follows the lives of the performers, stagehands, and dock workers on the Cotton Blossom, a Mississippi River show boat, over forty years, from 1887 to 1927. Its themes include racial prejudice and tragic, enduring love, and features such classic songs as "Ol' Man River" & "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man." Auditions: February 16, 17, & 18 at Near West Theatre Rehearsals: Begin March 13, 2016. Rehearses Sunday-Wednesday. Performances: May 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 & 22. ASSASSINS Summer Youth Theater, Ages 16-21 July 15 - 31, 2016 Book by John Weidman Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Based on an idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr. ON THE EVE OF THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, NEAR WEST'S SUMMER YOUTH THEATER PRESENTS STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S EXAMINATION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, THE HAVES AND THE HAVE-NOTS, AND GUNS. "We're the other national anthem, folks, the ones that can't get in to the ball park. There's Another National Anthem, folks, for those who never win... for the ones who might have been." - from "Another National Anthem" A multiple Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de-force, Assassins combines Sondheim's signature blend of intelligently stunning lyrics and beautiful music, with a panoramic story of our nation's culture of celebrity and the violent means some will use to obtain it, embodied by America's four successful and five would-be presidential assassins. Bold, original, disturbing, and alarmingly funny, Assassins is perhaps the most unexpected musical ever written. Auditions: May 16, 17 & 18 at Near West Theatre Rehearsals: Begin May 29, 2016. Rehearses Sunday-Wednesday. Performances: July 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31