LEGALLY BLONDE, JERSEY BOYS & More Come To Nederlander Detroit 2009-10 Season

It's going to be a "Season of Firsts!" Nederlander Detroit today announced its 2009-2010 Broadway in Detroit Subscription Season along with several special shows -- and nearly every production will be making its Detroit debut!

Six sensational new hit musicals are on the 2009-2010 Broadway in Detroit Subscription*. The season opens with Ethel Merman's Broadway starring Rita McKenzie, Sept. 9 - Nov. 22, 2009 at the Gem Theatre; Legally Blonde The Musical comes to the Fisher Theatre, Oct. 15 - Nov. 1, 2009; Jersey Boys**, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, will appear Dec. 17, 2009 - Jan. 23, 2010 at the Fisher Theatre; The Wizard of Oz, the spectacular new national tour, will play the Fisher Theatre, Jan. 29 - Feb. 14, 2010; Mel Brooks' new musicAl Young Frankenstein, will electrify the Detroit Opera House, Feb. 23 - Mar. 14, 2010; and, winner of eight Tony Awards® including Best Musical, Spring Awakening, appears Apr. 20 - May 9, 2010 at the Fisher Theatre.

Special shows presented by Broadway In Detroit include The Phantom of the Opera, Sept. 8-27, 2009 at the Detroit Opera House; Cirque Holidaze, Dec. 21-30, 2009 at the Detroit Opera House; Cats, Jan. 12-17, 2010 at the Detroit Opera House; and, Steppenwolf's August: Osage County, Feb. 19-21, 2010 at the Fisher Theatre.

"The 2009-2010 Broadway in Detroit season boasts a very impressive line-up of first-time Detroit engagements," said Broadway in Detroit Executive Director Alan Lichtenstein. "We're presenting some of the most sensational Broadway hits that are now out on tour, as well as legendary musicals that are perennial favorites of many metro Detroit families."

Broadway in Detroit 2009-2010 Subscription Shows

There's No Business Like Ethel Merman's Broadway! Rita McKenzie recreates her uncanny, award-winning off-Broadway portrayal of Ethel Merman, the Queen of the Broadway Musical, in the Detroit premier of this international smash hit. Relive those amazing tunes: "I Got Rhythm," "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and 20 more of Broadway's all-time greatest songs. McKenzie weaves Merman's bigger-than-life story with her signature tunes in an absolute must-see evening.

It's here, and it's "An Elle of a Show" (TIME Magazine). The hilarious MGM film is now a smash hit musical, and now Legally Blonde The Musical will make its Detroit debut. Legally Blonde follows sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn't take "no" for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style. After turning Broadway and MTV hot pink, this "Feel-Good Song and Dance Juggernaut" (New York Magazine) is "The Best New Musical Around!" (WOR).

"Too good to be true!" raves the New York Post for Jersey Boys, the 2006 Tony Award®- and Olivier Award- winning Best winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were 30! Playing Detroit for the first time ever, Jersey Boys, winner of the 2006 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album, features the hit songs "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," "Oh What a Night" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." The Jersey Boys creative team comprises two-time Tony Award®-winning director Des McAnuff, book writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, composer Bob Gaudio, lyricist Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

There truly is no place like home as the greatest family musical of all time, the wonderful Wizard of Oz, twists its way into Detroit! Travel down the Yellow Brick Road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow in the Detroit debut of this lavish production, featuring breathtaking special effects, dazzling choreography and classic songs. A spectacular celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film, Wizard of Oz blows audiences away from the moment the tornado touches down and transports theatre-goers to a dazzling art deco Oz, complete with munchkins and flying monkeys. This is chance to travel Over the Rainbow and experience this national treasure on stage.

The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE ...and it's headed to Detroit for the first time ever! Audiences will have a monstrously good time at Young Frankenstein, a spectacular new production and winner of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award and the Broadway.com Audience Award for Best Musical. The sensational cast delivers favorite moments from the classic film, plus brand-new show-stopping numbers for the stage, including "Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and "Puttin' on the Ritz." This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen) as he attempts to create a monster-but not without scary and hilarious complications. The brains behind the laughter is mad genius and three-time Tony Award® winner Mel Brooks himself - who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book - along with his record-breaking team from The Producers: five-time Tony Award®-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman and three-time Tony Award®-winning writer, Thomas Meehan.

Broadway's most talked about new musical is now the biggest Tony Award® winner in years. Making its Detroit premier, Spring Awakening is the groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality and rock & roll that has awakened Broadway like no other musical. Winner of 8 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, Spring Awakening celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, a poignancy and a passion you will never forget. "Broadway may never be the same again! Haunting and electrifying! This brave new musical has a shivery sensual allure unmatched by anything in the theatre right now" (The New York Times). This show contains mature content and brief nudity.

Additional Broadway Special Shows

In addition to the six hit musicals on the 2009-2010 Broadway In Detroit subscription season, a stellar line-up of special shows will be presented, headlined by hauntingly fabulous The Phantom of the Opera. Other special productions include family-favorite Cats, along with the Detroit premiers of Cirque Holidaze and Steppenwolf's August: Osage County, a hilarious and thrilling new Pulitzer Prize®- and Tony Award®-winning play starring Academy Award-winner Estelle Parsons about the dark side of a Midwestern American family.

Benefits for Subscribers

As always, Broadway in Detroit subscribers can save up to 15% off the individual show ticket price, have full exchange privileges and first choice of seats for extra Broadway special shows. An added benefit for subscribers is the ability to substitute one series show for one of the Broadway special shows, or they may receive additional tickets to another series show (some restrictions apply). Subscribers also receive reserved parking in adjacent lots and garages.

2009-2010 Broadway in Detroit subscription season tickets are priced as low as $219 for all six shows and are now on sale. And, back by popular demand, a weekday matinee performance is available for all shows on the subscription series. For additional information or to order season tickets, call the Fisher Theatre at (313) 872-1000, ext. 0, Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Subscription tickets may also be ordered online at www.BroadwayinDetroit.com.

Individual tickets for all shows will go on sale at a later date.

Reservations are being taken now for groups of 12+ to 20+ (minimum varies depending on show) by calling (313) 871-1132, Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., or emailing groupsales@nederlanderdetroit.com.