‘Hamilton’ highlights local theater seasons
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. » On Monday night, before an estimated crowd of 2,800 at Proctors in Schenectady, subscribers and supporters learned what they’ve already known for a year. Broadway’s smash hit, “Hamilton,” is included in the 2018-19 season for both Proctors and Albany’s Capital Repertory Theatre.
What the audience did learn is the dates of “Hamilton”, Aug. 13-25, 2019. It is a year and a half away, which technically makes the two week engagement part of the 2019-20 season. Nonetheless, there is little doubt the run will sell out and be a boon to help sell subscriptions to Capital Rep’s season as well.
“Hamilton” may be the frosting on the Proctors season, but there are other delights as well. The Key Private Bank Broadway Subscription Series will include “Anastasia,” (Oct. 9-14) “A Bronx Tale,” (Oct. 23-28), “School of Rock,” (Feb. 5-10, 2019) “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” (Feb 26-Mar. 3, 2019) and “Waitress” (June 11-16, 2019).
Musicals also playing the theater, but not included in the subscription series are “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical,” (Dec. 5-9) and return visits of “The Phantom of the Opera” (April 24-May 5, 2019) and “The Book of Mormon” (May 14-19, 2019). “Anastasia” will tech at the theater before starting its national tour. Proctors subscribers also get a ticket to a production of their choice at Capital Rep.
Capital Repertory Theatre subscribers get four plays and a musical at the Albany venue and a ticket to “Hamilton” at Proctors. Subscribers also have access to “Next Act: a New Play Summit”, which has been moved from its traditional early-November time slot to June 2-4.
The Capital Rep season starts July 6- Aug. 12, with a production of “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash.” It is followed by “The Royale,” (Sept. 21-Oct. 14). The holiday show is the Jane Austin story “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Nov. 23-Dec. 23).
2019 starts with “Red Maple,” (Jan. 25-Feb. 17, 2019). “Red Maple” is a comedy by David Bunce, a local playwright and former actor at the New York State Theatre Institute. He is on the faculty of Russell Sage College in Troy, NY. It was the hit of this year’s New Play Summit.
The Cap Rep season closes with a stage adaptation of the popular film “Shakespeare in Love” (April 5-May 12, 2019).
Proctors CEO Philip Morris pointed to the Proctors slate and made mention of the fact that all shows on the 2018-2019 season are currently in-demand shows still running on Broadway. “We’ve never had this happen before,” he said.
However, the scheduling logistics for in-demand titles presents the theater with odd cluster scheduling. Of the six shows on the subscription series two of the shows – “Anastasia” and “The Bronx Tale” play in October. “School of Rock” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are both in February, 2019. The two of the most popular titles “Waitress” and “Hamilton” are not at the theater until June, 2019. Even two repeat shows “Phantom” and “Book of Mormon” play within two weeks of each other in May, 2019.
With the exception of access to “Hamilton” at Proctors, Capital Rep is absent of an in-demand title. Because it has two shows and Hamilton during June-August of 2018, it will only offer four productions between Sept. 21, 2018 and May 12, 2019. The theater will be dark from February 17 to April 5, 2019.
However, for those who don’t want to wait until 2019 to experience “Hamilton”, Proctors is holding the Hamilton Flyaway Sweepstakes which in May 2018, will take the winner and a guest to Chicago for three days and two nights to see “Hamilton.”
For information go to w w w.proctors.org/key f lyaway.