DEXTER–The Encore Musical Theater Company in Dexter has announced its 2015-16 all-musical season lineup. Season tickets are now available online. Located at 3126 Broad Street in Dexter, The Encore is in its eighth season.

For its 2015-2016 season, The Encore will be producing:

Bonnie and Clyde: October 1-25, 2015;
The Wizard of Oz: November 27-December 23, 2015;
Sondheim on Sondheim: February 4-21, 2016;
Seussical Jr.: February 26-March 6, 2016;
Always Patsy Cline: April 14-May 8, 2016 and
Kiss Me Kate: July 21-August 14, 2016.

Bonnie and Clyde
Directed by Ron Baumanis; performances run October 1st – 25th, 2015
Frank Wildhorn paired up his music with Don Black’s lyrics, and a book by Ian Menchell to create the first show of The Encore’s next season. This musical centers on Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow: the pair of ill-fated lovers and outlaws whose story has been infamous since they achieved folk hero status during the Great Depression. Wildhorn describes the music as “a non-traditional score, combining rockabilly, blues and gospel music”. Encore co-founder and artistic director, Dan Cooney was a part of both of the pre-Broadway engagements at La Jolla Playhouse and also in Sarasota, Florida; as well as the Broadway run in 2011, starring Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan. Songs include “When I Drive”, “Bonnie”, “Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad”, and “This World Will Remember Us”.

The Wizard of Oz
Directed by Thalia Schramm; performances run November 27th – December 23rd, 2015
The Wizard of Oz is a musical based on the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, and the 1939 film version. Like so many girls her age, Dorothy Gale of Kansas dreams of what lies over the rainbow. One day, a twister hits her farm and carries her away over the rainbow to another world. Come join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion and Toto as they travel the universe Dorothy’s imagination. The score includes the timeless songs “Ding Dong (the Witch is Dead)”, “If I Only Had a Brain”, If I Only had a Heart”, “We’re Off to See the Wizard”, and of course “Over the Rainbow”.

Sondheim on Sondheim
Directed by Dan Cooney; performances run: February 4th – 21st, 2016
Sondheim on Sondheim is a musical revue consisting of music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim for his many shows. It was conceived and directed by James Lapine, and the revue had a limited Broadway run in 2010, starring Vanessa Williams, Barbara Cook, Tom Wopat, and Norm Lewis. A beautiful study of Sondheim’s music and lyrics, the show includes songs from West Side Story, Gypsy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, and many more.

Seussical Jr.
Directed by Thalia Schramm; performances run: February 26 – March 6th, 2016
As our inaugural “Encore Junior” production, Seussical is a musical by Ahrens and Flaherty based on the books of Dr. Seuss. The show’s story is a complex amalgamation of many of Seuss’s most famous stories: “Horton Hears a Who!,” “Horton Hatches an Egg,” and “Miss Gertrude McFuzz.” This will be an all-children show, directed by our Summer Program director, Thalia Schramm with the same Encore quality of each main stage show. Songs include: “Alone in the Universe”, “Oh, the Things You Can Think!”, “Solla Sollew” and many more.

Always, Patsy Cline
Performances run: April 14th – May 8th, 2016
Always, Patsy Cline is based on the true story of Patsy Cline’s friendship and Houston housewife, Louise Seger. In 1961 when Cline went to Houston for a show, Seger and her buddies arrived early and, by coincidence, met Cline who was traveling alone. The two women struck up a friendship that was to culminate in Cline spending the night at Seger’s house, and a friendship that lasted until Cline’s untimely death in a plane crash in 1963. The show combines humor, sadness, and reality. It offers fans who remember Cline while she was alive a chance to look back, while giving new fans an idea of what seeing her was like and what she meant to her original fans. Songs include: “Crazy”, “Anytime”, “Walkin’ After Midnight”, “She’s Got You”, and “Sweet Dreams” to name a few.

Kiss Me Kate
Performances run: July 21st – August 14th, 2016
Kiss Me Kate includes music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The story involves the production of a musical version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and the conflict on and off stage between Fred Graham, the show’s director and producer, and leading lady, his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi. A secondary romance involving Lois Lane and her gambler boyfriend, Bill and a couple gangsters make for a very exciting story when hijinks ensue! Classic Porter songs include: “Another Openin’, Another Show”, “Wunderbar”, “I Hate Men”, “Too Darn Hot”, and many others.

Schedule for shows at The Encore Theatre:
Thursdays 7 p.m.

Fridays 8 p.m.
Saturdays 3:00 p.m. and 8 p.m.

For more information, go to http://www.theencoretheatre.org, and stay tuned for audition information for the shows.

Season tickets are available online now; click here to purchase.

For more information about The Encore Theatre, email info@theencoretheatre.org

The Encore has eliminated its production of straight, non-musical productions, at least for the coming season.

The Encore Musical Theatre Company is a non-profit musical theatre located in the historic Village of Dexter. Our mission is to create quality, original theatrical productions with an emphasis on musical theatre, utilizing a unique mixture of Broadway and local talent of all levels, while engaging and entertaining a wide spectrum of the surrounding communities.

Professional arts performances in a perfectly intimate setting.

With plenty of parking, no traffic or other distractions, you can savor your evening and experience musical theatre at its best. Our intimate atmosphere allows you to fully immerse yourself, relax and embrace the Encore experience.

The Encore Musical Theatre Company is located at 3126 Broad Street, Dexter, MI 48130; (734) 268-6200

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