Get ready to celebrate the new year in a big way. “Hamilton” arrives in Pittsburgh and stays for four weeks, Jan. 1-27, 2019.
The 11-time Tony Award-winning musical leads a blockbuster 2018-19 PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh lineup that includes the 2017 best musical, “Dear Evan Hansen.”
“Hamilton” is the musical sensation about America’s Founding Fathers and one unsung man’s influence on the birth of a nation. “Dear Evan Hansen” is fiction but of the moment — it’s about teenagers desperate to make meaningful connections in a world where everyone is digitally connected every second of their lives.
Both shows are still on Broadway, as are two other musicals coming to Pittsburgh next season: the lush stage adaptation of “Anastasia,” with songs by Dormont’s Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics), and “Come From Away,” the inspiring, spirited true story of a small Newfoundland town that welcomed 7,000 passengers who were grounded on 9/11.
“Come From Away” was one of the shows represented with a performance at the Benedum Center Monday night, when the season was announced to a packed crowd of Broadway Series patrons. Julie Reiber of the Broadway production was there to sing “Between Me and the Sky,” that tells of the aviation career of Beverley Bass, the first female pilot for American Airlines. Ms. Bass was there as well, telling how her story became part of a musical.
“Come From Away” is about “what happened on 9/12,” when the worst day many had ever experienced turned into the generosity and spirit of the people of Gander, who welcomed passengers from all over the world. Pittsburgh is the fifth city where the pilot and the singer who portrays her have helped to announce that “Come From Away” is on its way.
In every city, people want to share their own stories of that tragedy and its aftermath.
“But we like that. We are so happy that the show brings that out in people, that they feel comfortable talking aboutit,” Ms. Bass said after the announcement. “It brings closure for a lot of people who were so closely related to people in the Towers or Pennsylvania or D.C., and they often tell us that the show brings closure for them.”
The only revival in the seven-show lineup is “Fiddler on the Roof,” which was heralded with a fiddler on the Benedum marquee, where Emily Trifaro played Monday evening, and a rendition of “If I Were a Rich Man” by John Saunders, and Stephanie Rothenberg kicked off the entertainment with “Journey to the Past” from “Anastasia.”
Also on the way are the family-friendly “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and the toast of Broadway and London’s West End, the nonmusical farce “The Play That Goes Wrong,” which opens the series on Sept. 17.
One of “Hamilton’s” dates is a dedicated education performance, “which is a great get for us — not every city gets that,” said Pittsburgh Cultural Trust marketing and communications vice president Marc Fleming, who programmed the season. “It is limited to Title I schools [schools with high numbers of children from low-income families]. It is handled through a foundation, but we coordinate with the schools.”
One of the four season specials, the world premiere of “Cirque Eloize Hotel” in September, is part of the fourth Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts. It has been five years since the previous festival, which in 2018 will welcome 30 international companies and artists from 18 countries. The full festival schedule will be announced in May.
With the previously announced coming of “Hamilton,” the Trust has witnessed an unprecedented demand for tickets and suggests that patrons visit TrustArts.org/BroadwayFAQ for the most up-to-date ticketing information. To be assured of a ticket, season ticket holders must renew their subscriptions, and new subscribers can add themselves to an online waiting list at TrustArts.org/Broadway starting at 10 a.m. April 2.
2018-19 PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh Season
Sept. 17-23: “The Play That Goes Wrong” (Benedum Center): A small community theater is putting on a show that is bound for disaster. Welcome to opening night of “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” where things are quickly going from bad to hilarious. With an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead and actors who trip over everything (including their lines), it’s sure to bring down the house — literally.
Oct. 16-21: “Anastasia” (Benedum): Based on the animated movie, “Anastasia” features a book by Terrence McNally, a new score by Flaherty & Ahrens and a spectacular projection design that transports us from Russia to 1920s Paris as brave Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past.
Nov. 20-25: “Fiddler on the Roof” (Benedum): Director Bartlett Sher and the team behind the revivals of “South Pacific” and “The King and I” bring a fresh vision to the musical masterpiece, with movement and dance from choreographer Hofesh Shechter, based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. Featuring classic songs “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset” and more, “Fiddler” is a timeless tale of family, faith and tradition.
Jan. 1-27, 2019: “Hamilton” (Benedum Center): The story of Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man and was the new nation’s first treasury secretary, has captured the imaginations of fans on Broadway and beyond. Featuring a score that blends rap, R&B, Broadway and more, “Hamilton” is the story of America then, as told by America now.
Jan. 29-Feb. 3, 2019: “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (Benedum): The new musical inspired by the Dahl book includes songs from the original film, including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket.” With new songs by the “Hairspray” team,” the musical tells the tale of Willy Wonka and his mysterious chocolate factory and the golden ticket winners who enter Wonka’s world of wonders. Oompa-Loompas? Check. The great glass elevator? Check. And more, more, more.
April 9-14, 2019: “Come From Away” (Benedum): The uplifting true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small Canadian town that welcomed them on 9/11. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but gratitude and trust grew into enduring friendships. With spirited Irish-pop music by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and direction by Tony winner Christopher Ashley.
May 21-26, 2019: “Dear Evan Hansen” (Heinz Hall): Winner of six 2017 Tonys, including best musical, and the 2018 Grammy for musical theater album. A lie leads a teen to a life Evan Hansen never dreamed he could have — a chance to finally fit in. With music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land,” “The Greatest Showman”) and direction by Michael Greif (“Rent,” “Next to Normal”).
Season specials: Sept. 25-30: “Cirque Eloize Hotel” (Benedum); Dec. 26-30: “Elf the Musical” (Heinz Hall); Feb. 20-March 3, 2019: “The Phantom of the Opera” (Benedum); April 16-26, 2019: “The Book of Mormon” (Heinz Hall).
Sharon Eberson: seberson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1960. Twitter: @SEberson_pg.
First Published: March 27, 2018, 12:00 a.m.
