Kick Off the New Hennepin Theatre Trust and Minneapolis Musical Theatre Partnership

Subscription Tickets for these Shows at New Century Theatre Are Available Now.

MINNEAPOLISHennepin Theatre Trust and Minneapolis Musical Theatre (MMT), as part of their new partnership, announced today that MMTs 2013 season will feature Reefer Madness and Sunset Boulevard and be held for the first time at the Trusts New Century Theatre. Reefer Madness, which runs February 1-24, 2013, is a raucous, musical comedy taking a tongue-in-cheek look at the perils of marijuana. Sunset Boulevard from May 31-June 23, is a Broadway hit based on the 1950 Oscar-winning movie about faded glory and unfulfilled ambition. Both productions will be directed by Steven Meerdink, MMTs artistic director. Two-show subscription packages are available now by calling 612-455-9501, online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org/MMT or in person at the New Century Theatre, 615 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. Individual tickets will go on sale at a later date.

This partnership benefits MMT by wedding the Trusts expertise in audience development and community outreach to their ongoing commitment and success in presenting new or rarely-seen musical works. The Trust benefits from MMTs years of artistic success as a respected Twin Cities arts organization and adds to its growing list of local theatre collaborators who have chosen to produce and present work at the New Century Theatre in downtown Minneapolis.

February 1-24, 2012

Reefer Madness, called A delirious romp, which at its best reaches highs of intoxicating goofiness, by USA Today, was inspired by the original 1936 film. This satirical morality tale is a depiction of clean-cut kids lured into a hysterical downward spiral by the evil weed, jazz, sex and violence. The alluring musical numbers range from big Vegas-style show stoppers like Listen to Jesus, Jimmy, complete with an angel chorus of showgirls, to swing tunes like Down at the Ol Five and Dime. Directed by Andy Flickman, with book and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and music by Dan Studney, the musical premiered in Los Angeles in 1999, ran off-Broadway in 2001 and re-emerged as a 2005 movie starring Alan Cumming, Kristen Bell, Neve Campbell and Ana Gasteyer.

May 31-June 23, 2013

Sunset Boulevard opens with Norma Desmond, the fading silent movie star abandoned by the talkies, who longs for a return to big screen glory. Enter struggling Hollywood screenwriter Joe Gillis, and their ensuing passionate and warped affair leads to a volatile conclusion. The 1950 film, directed by Billy Wilder and starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson, was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won three, including

one for Best Music. In 1997, it ranked as #12 on the American Film Institutes Best American Films of the 20th Century. The original Broadway production, directed by Trevor Nunn with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, won seven 1995 Tony Awards including Best Musical. As Time Magazine described it, The shows a hit. Lloyd Webbers most shamefully and artfully constructed score. Radiant.

TICKET INFORMATION

Subscription packages for Reefer Madness and Sunset Boulevard are available now for $44 by calling 612-455-9501, online through HennepinTheatreTrust.org/MMT or in person (no service fees) at the New Century Theatre Box Office (615 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 55403, street level of City Center). Individual tickets will go on sale at a later date. All prices include applicable facility fees. Additional service charges may apply. Discounts are available for students, groups and seniors. Groups of 10 or more should call 612.455.9501. Note: Tickets are not being sold at the State Theatre Box Office.

Reefer Madness:

Performance dates are Friday, Feb. 1 to Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 at Hennepin Theatre Trusts New Century Theatre. Performance times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. There is an additional performance on Monday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday, Feb. 24 performance will be at 2:30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

Sunset Boulevard:

Performance dates are Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 23, 2013 at Hennepin Theatre Trusts New Century Theatre. Performance times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. There is an additional performance on Monday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday, June 23 performance will be at 2:30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST, owner of the historic Orpheum, State, Pantages and New Century Theatres, is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to arts-inspired community cultural development. We achieve our mission by presenting a rich mix of live performances, creating inspiring arts education experiences and advancing a thriving Hennepin Avenue cultural district in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Trusts activities include presenting Broadway touring productions and the related Broadway Confidential series, concerts, comedy, speakers and other variety entertainment plus educational initiatives including our SpotLight Musical Theatre and SpotLight Critical Reviewer programs for high schools, Teen Ushers, the Access Program and Family Day events.

MINNEAPOLIS MUSICAL THEATRE (MMT) is dedicated to providing the community with access to high quality, affordable works of musical theatre never before, or very rarely, seen by Twin Cities audiences. Founded in 1992, MMT has produced over 45 productions, including 24 area premieres. MMT has continued to grow and evolve, having started as a touring troupe before becoming the first-ever Company in Residence at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater in 2000. In 2002, MMT moved downtown to Hennepin Stages (formerly Hey City Theater), and later to the Illusion Theater in the Hennepin Center for the Arts in 2008. A consistent theme in MMTs growth and development has been improving audience access to and enjoyment of the art of musical theater. For more information please visit aboutmmt.org.

Karen R. Nelson | Communications Director

612.455.9526 | 612.455.9502 fx

Karen.Nelson@HennepinTheatreTrust.org

615 Hennepin Avenue, Suite 140 | Minneapolis, MN | 55403

HennepinTheatreTrust.org

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