‘BEAUTIFUL,’ ‘CATS’ HIGHLIGHT FERGUSON BROADWAY LINEUP
Bruce Bronstein remembers the first time he saw “Cats” on stage — a young aspiring performer enthralled with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score and fantasizing about one day playing one of those feline roles on stage.
He never got to portray Mr. Mestoffelees, but he has had several opportunities to present the legendary musical, and he will do so again when the national revival tour comes to the Ferguson Center on Jan. 27 as one of the centerpieces to the venue’s 201920 Broadway season, which was announced on Sunday.
Bronstein, executive director of the Ferguson Center, was serving as the venue’s communications director when “Cats” first played there in 2007. He said he is thrilled at the opportunity to bring it back to Newport News.
“This musical has really been a transformative experience in my life,” Bronstein said. “I’ve seen it as a teen, and then as a parent wanting to share it with my kids, and I’ve been able to present it five or six times — that sense of pride in being able to bring it to a community.”
The season begins with “A Magical Cirque Christmas” (Nov. 30) and then features “Cats” and three other musicals in 2020 — “An American in Paris” (March 22), “The Color Purple” (May 14), and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” (June 3).
Season ticket packages go on sale Monday through the box office (757-594-8752) or through fergusoncenter.org. Brochures are available online and at the Ferguson Center box office. Tickets for the four musicals range from $200-$280. Packages for the four musicals and the Cirque holiday show range from $245-$345. Tickets will be delivered to buyers at least two weeks before the first performance. Tickets for individual performances will go on