BACK FROM THE BIG APPLE

It’s Tony Award voting time for me, and during my recent trip to New York I saw 5 different Tony nominated productions.  KINKY BOOTS, a musical adapted from the movie released in 2005, was probably my favorite so far.  The Orpheum is an investor for this show, so naturally I hope it does well.   

 

The next show that caught my attention was PIPPIN, a musical that - until now - was never one of my favorites.  But this production is fast-paced and takes on a CIRQUE DU SOLEIL type of setting.  Though it doesn't quite match up to KINKY BOOTS, I couldn't help but enjoy this production.  



The Broadway Production of PIPPIN: Photo by Joan Marcus

MOTWN, the story of Barry Gordy, who nurtured an impressive list of MOTOWN list of superstars: such as Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five, The Supremes, The Temptations, and The Tops, was a great trip down memory lane since these were the groups I listened to back in the day.  This musical is a concert with a thin story line.

In the play category, I was greatly impressed with David Hyde Pierce in VANYA and SONIA and MASHA and SPIKE.   Pierce does a rant toward the end of the 2^nd Act that should garner him a Tony Award for best performance in a play.  Unfortunately, the name of this play might be its undoing, because - as we learned in Lysistrata Jones - if the name is too difficult to remember, it will receive "zilch" in the word of mouth campaign.  Next week, I'll head back to New York to see RETURN TO BOUNTIFUL, and I look forward to telling you about that experience.

Regarding my other favorite NYC pastime, which is trying to work my way through the 18,781 restaurants in the City, I would like to say that Bobby Flay’s new Bar Americain on West 52^nd is a fabulous stop if you happen to be in town.  

 

Pat Halloran

Orpheum President and CEO

The 4th Annual High School Musical Theatre Awards

The HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS (HSMTA) is one of the Orpheum's best productions.  We always hear about how much talent there is in our City and the surrounding areas, but HSMTA proves the point.  It all starts with 2,000 Mid-South high school students and their annual school musical productions.  Students compete with public, private, parochial, and county schools from West Tennessee, Northern Mississippi, and Eastern Arkansas for the title of BEST HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, among many other prestigious awards.

This year 24 schools are vying for 27 awards.  I can’t think of anything the Orpheum does that is more important than this program.  There will be 250 students performing on the Orpheum stage throughout the evening, and I am sure that everyone of them will remember the night they performed at the historic Orpheum Theatre.  The professional creative team for this year includes Director Teddy Eck, Choreographer Jared Johnson, and Music Director Scott Sturtervant, who will compose original music for the event.

The event is Thursday May 23rd, and I sincerely hope you will consider attending this year’s award presentation.  Call us at 901.525.3000: you will not be sorry.  

Pat Halloran
Orpheum President and CEO

The 2013-14 Season: Give Broadway to Moms, Dads, and Graduates

Our next big Broadway Season is the best line up that we have ever assembled.

When you have two Tony® Award winning shows like WAR HORSE and BOOK OF MORMON, you already have a great start to a fabulous season.  But it only gets better when you add to those the new never-before-seen on-stage musical adaptation of FLASHDANCE.  Also included this season is BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY; the classic WEST SIDE STORY; SISTER ACT: A DIVINE MUSICAL COMEDY; WICKED, which is offered as an option this year; and a new re-staging of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, featuring all the show stopping tunes from his amazing collection of Broadway hits like PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, EVITA, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and CATS. 

Season packages are now available, and the amazing thing is you can see seven shows in the downstairs orchestra section for $300 if you choose a weeknight - a mere fraction of what you would pay for these shows on Broadway.  We also provide an easy payment plan; swap-a-show for those who may not be interested in BOOK OF MORMON, for example, due to its subject matter; and or you can drop or add WICKED.

I cannot think of another series that would provide the variety or entertainment value that this season has to offer.  I encourage you to learn more by calling 901-525-3000 or visiting www.orpheum-memphis.com, and I look forward to seeing you often in the 2013-14 season!

Pat Halloran

Orpheum President and CEO

MEMPHIS Shines Bright with Orpheum Stars

Pat Halloran, Joe DiPietro, David Bryan,
Lexi Bryan, and Kevin Kane on the
Orpheum "Sidewalk of Stars"

This past weekend the Orpheum welcomed back the Tony® Award winning hit, MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL, and it was a week we will not soon forget!  

This was the musical's final stint at the Orpheum before the national tour comes to a close, which meant a lot to me personally.   As a producer, investor, and huge fan of the show about my adopted home town, there is simply no way to describe the feeling of seeing our city portrayed on the Orpheum stage.  But this particular run of MEMPHIS was made particularly  special by two very special visitors: the Tony® Award winning writing duo David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, who both received stars on the Orpheum's "Sidewalk of Stars" for their contributions to MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL and to our city.

Having my friends David Bryan, who most may know as keyboardist and founding member of Bon Jovi, in town for the weekend with his co-creator Joe DiPietro was nothing short of a thrill.  On Saturday, April 27, David and Joe were honored with a star unveiling in front of the theatre as well as a special on-stage presentation following the Saturday evening performance of MEMPHIS.  Then, an already perfect day was made better when David Bryan sang the new anthem  of our city, Memphis Lives in Me on the Orpheum stage.  In the short time that David was here, he even took a moment to entertain over 16,000 Grizzlies fans during the halftime show at Saturday's Playoff game (where, I might add, the Grizzlies trounced the Clippers).   What a weekend to highlight such a fabulous show about our City!

Pat Halloran

Orpheum President and CEO

Pat Halloran on NYC's JEKYLL & HYDE Revival

I just returned from the Big Apple where I attended Opening Night of recently re-vamped Jekyll & Hyde at the Marquis Theatre in Times Square.  You know the story: mad scientist Dr. Henry Jekyll plays both the researcher and the test subject as he works tirelessly to discover the next chemical breakthrough.  Of course, what he actually finds is a dark and dangerous alter-ego.  

The musical originally opened in New York over 15 years ago, but even if you experienced the show on Broadway or at the Orpheum in 1999, this revival is a must-see if you happen to be in town.  Why?  Aside from the fact that the show will only run for a short 13-week engagement, Jekyll & Hyde features American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis.  

Constantine had a strong fan following during his American Idol tenure, and it's not difficult to see why.  He was phenomenal.  He was an amazing actor, and, as you might expect, his voice was incredible.  Constantine's performance makes this production even more impressive than the show's original staging.  With any luck, this revival will make it's way back on the road and back to the Orpheum stage, but in the meantime, I hope you get the chance to see this artistic marvel on Broadway while you still can!

Of course, if you have a craving for Broadway and can't make it to New York this weekend, don't forget that the Tony® Award winning hit MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL is playing at the Orpheum through Sunday, April 28.  Great seats are still available, so please visit www.orpheum-memphis.com or call 901.525.3000 to get your tickets.  

I hope to see you there!

Pat Halloran

Orpheum President and CEO

MEMPHIS the musical and Dewey Phillips

The inspiration for the 2010 "Best Musical" Tony award-winner MEMPHIS is local Memphis, Tennessee DJ and rock 'n' roll pioneer, Dewey Phillips.  This video  tells his story and offers a sneak peek at scenes from MEMPHIS, the musical, performed by the original Broadway cast.

Experience MEMPHIS at The Orpheum Theatre April 23-28, 2013.

Visit www.orpheum-memphis.com for tickets and more information.

A Look Inside Million Dollar Quartet - The Broadway Musical

Million Dollar Quartet celebrates the legendary music of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. During the nearly two hour concert Sun Studio owner Sam Phillips tells the story of how he was able to orchestrate the greatest rock 'n' roll jam session of all-time on December 4, 1956. This is one of the last stops before the Million Dollar Quartet tour ends so join us as we relive this magical night of Memphis music history one last time March 26-30, 2013. Tickets start at just $20! Call 901-525-3000 or purchase your tickets online from Ticketmaster today. Visit this page for special offers and ideas on how to turn your trip downtown into an exciting all-day event.