Movie hits inspire lineup on Garden Theatre stage
The Garden Theatre is taking inspiration from the silver screen for its 2018-19 lineup of stage productions. The Winter Garden venue will present such familiar film titles as “A Christmas Story,” “Billy Elliot” and “Flashdance.”
Also on the schedule: The Central Florida premiere of “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” a gender-bending musical comedy, and “1984,” based on George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece.
“We believe these shows will elevate the Garden’s presence in the community, powerfully engaging our current patrons while opening doors to new audiences,” says executive director Nao Tsurumaki.
The Garden recently extended its current season to seven shows, including a summer production; that schedule will continue.
The Garden announces the shows today, as subscriptions go on sale to current subscribers.
Here’s a chronological look at next season:
Gypsy, Aug. 24-Sept. 16: Burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee’s memoirs sparked this classic musical about an overbearing stage mother and blossoming daughter. Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne’s memorable songs include “Let Me Entertain You” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”
The Birds, Oct. 12-28: In this thriller, three strangers become increasingly paranoid as they take refuge from relentless birds that viciously attack anyone they can find. Daphne du Maurier’s short story was most famously adapted as an Alfred Hitchcock film. A Christmas Story,
Nov. 24-Dec. 23: This comedy, laced with nostalgic Americana, follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker, who dreams of getting a BB gun for Christmas. It’s adapted from the beloved movie of the same name. The Legend of Georgia McBride, Jan. 18-Feb. 3, 2019: A 20-something Elvis impersonator working in a Florida bar finds himself caught up in the drag world to pay the bills. This musical comedy is by Matthew Lopez, who grew up in Panama City.
1984, March 1-17, 2019: In
the dark drama, a totalitarian government uses propaganda, surveillance, brainwashing and torture to control the populace. The original 1949 novel remains one of the world’s best-known works. Billy Elliot: The Musical, April 26-May 26, 2019: Featuring music by Elton John, this chipper show follows 11-year-old Billy’s dream of becoming a dancer, despite his rough-andtumble surroundings in a working-class English town hit hard by a coalmining strike. Flashdance: The Musical, July 5-28, 2019: The 1980s come to life in this tale of a woman who’s a welder by day and a dancer by night. The pop score features such hits as “Maniac,” “Gloria,” “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” and the title track.
Season tickets for new subscribers go on sale March 12, single tickets May 1. The theater is at 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. For more information, go to gardentheatre.org or call 407-877-4736.