SHOWS

This Tony Award winner for Best Musical is a big-hearted musical extravaganza featuring a joyous, Tony-winning score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper and a hilarious, uplifting book by Tony winner Harvey Fierstein. Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they realized and discover that when you change your mind, you can change your whole world.

Book by Harvey Fierstein
Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Based on the Miramax film of the same name, written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth

Beauty is in the eye of the ogre in Shrek The Musical JR., based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and fantastic Broadway musical. It’s a “big bright beautiful world” as everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek JR. is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family.

Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek. One day, Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits who have been cast off by Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror with big ambitions. When Shrek sets off with a wisecracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he’s handed a task — if he rescues feisty princess Fiona, his swamp will be righted. Shrek tries to win Fiona’s love and vanquish Lord Farquaad, but a fairytale wouldn’t be complete without a few twists and turns along the way.

With abundant opportunities for imaginative sets and costumes, and a host of over-the-top roles for an expandable cast, there’s a part for everyone in this dazzling adventure story.

The winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score, and four Drama Desk Awards, this intriguing and beautiful folk opera delivers a deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience. Following two intertwining love stories – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of immortal King Hades and lady Persephone – “Hadestown” invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Inspired by traditions of classic American folk music and vintage New Orleans jazz, Mitchell’s beguiling sung-through musical pits industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. This is Footlite’s Young Artists Production with performers aged 13 through 19.

Book, Music and Lyrics by Anais Mitchell

Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. So, when they hear that trouble is brewing around a high school prom in a small Indiana town, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue and themselves. The town’s parents want to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow. But when one student just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny. On a mission to transform lives, Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens and the result is love that brings them all together. Winner of the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, “The Prom” expertly captures all the humor and heart of a classic musical comedy with a message that resonates with audiences now more than ever.

Book and Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Book by Bob Martin
Music by Matthew Sklar

Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, “Newsies” is set in turn-of-the-century New York City, and is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged newsboys. When the titans of newspaper publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right! The musical features the songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe.” “Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience.
This production is Footlite’s holiday presentation.

Book by Harvey Fierstein
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Based on the Disney film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White

This Drama Desk Award nominated musical is the delicious dark story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: the Heathers. But before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Veronica falls in love with the dangerously sexy new kid J.D. When Heather Chandler, the Almighty, kicks her out of the group, Veronica decides to bite the bullet and kiss Heather’s aerobicized ass, but J.D. has another plan for that bullet. “Heathers”
is a hilarious, heartfelt, and homicidal new show based on one of the greatest teen comedies of all time. It is a moving love story, laugh-out-loud comedy, and unflinching look at the joys and anguish of high school.

Book, Music and Lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe
Based on the film written by Daniel Waters

Nominated for eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this musical biography of Fanny Brice, returns to the Footlite stage for the third time. In the Ziegfeld Follies, in Hollywood films, and on the radio, Fanny Brice was one of the most celebrated entertainers of her time. With humor, talent and chutzpah, young Fanny, an awkward Jewish girl who “isn’t pretty,” defies the odds and becomes one of the greatest stars of her generation. Fanny’s rise to super-stardom and her turbulent romance with gambler Nick Arnstein are explored through Bob Merrill and Jule Styne’s unforgettable score, which includes “People,” “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” “The Music That Makes Me Dance,” and “You Are Woman, I Am Man.”

Book by Isobel Lennart from an original story by Miss Lennart
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Bob Merrill
Produced for the Broadway stage by Ray Stark
New York Production supervised by Jerome Robbins
Original Production directed by Garson Kanin

The recipient of the first Tony Award for Best Musical in 1949, “Kiss Me, Kate” makes a fourth return to the Footlite stage. Passions run high as leading lady Lilli Vanessi and her ex-husband, actor/director Fred Graham, battle onstage and off in a production of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” With romance, comedy, sophistication, and behind-the-scenes high jinks, “Kiss Me, Kate” combines the irreverent humor of four brilliant writers: Sam and Bella Spewack, Cole Porter and William Shakespeare. Hoosier born Porter is at the top of his game with such great musical numbers as “So in Love,” “Wunderbar,” “Tom, Dick or Harry,” “Too Darn Hot,” “Brush Up Your Shakespeare,” “I Hate Men,” “Always True to You (In My Fashion)” and “Another Op’nin, Another Show.”

Book by Sam and Bella Spewack
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter