-Guy Fieri Road Show-

the culinary "rock star" and host of three popular Food Network shows shares an evening of live cooking and mixology demonstrations with recipes from his forthcoming cookbook at the Merriam Theater (Wed., Nov. 18, 2009) Exclusive on sale date: September 18th!

-Monsters of Folk, a new supergroup with Bright Eyes’ Mike Mogis and Conor Oberst, singer/songwriter M. Ward and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, perform works from their 2009 self-titled album at the Academy of Music (Mon., Nov. 9, 2009)

-Philly’s own jazz piano virtuoso McCoy Tyner takes the stage with legendary saxophonist Joe Lovano, in his Kimmel Center debut, replacing Ahmad Jamal in Verizon Hall (Fri., Feb. 19, 2010)

-Menopause The Musical, "the hilarious celebration of women and The Change," will make its Kimmel Center premiere as part of Off-Broadway at the Kimmel Center in Perelman Theater (Tues., Sept. 29 – Sun., Oct. 4)

-JEWTOPIA, the "outrageously funny" (Los Angeles Times) brand new multimedia extravaganza comes to Philadelphia as part of Off-Broadway at the Kimmel Center in Perelman Theater (Thurs., Dec. 24 – Sun., 27, 2009)

Visit www.kimmelcenter.org for a complete line-up of artists and events during the 2009/10 season.

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BROADWAY

Chicago with Jerry Springer
Tuesday-Sunday, September 15-20, 2009, Times vary
Academy of Music
Price: $25-$100

There’s never been a better time to experience Chicago, Broadway’s razzle-dazzle smash. This triumphant hit musical is the recipient of six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations. A sensational tale of sin, corruption and all that jazz, it’s no surprise that Chicago has wowed audiences from Mexico City to Moscow, from Sao Paulo to South Africa. And now it’s coming to Philadelphia!

Chicago has all the ingredients of a knock out Broadway musical: top notch dancing, an edge-of-your-seat story and one showstopper after another. If you loved the Academy Award®-winning film, nothing beats the live show, and if you are already intimately acquainted with the musical, experience that sizzle again, Chicago always delivers.

"Chicago still glitters hypnotically."— New York Times, Ben Brantley


The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis
Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 8pm
Academy of Music
Price: $30-$100

Get an early start on the "holiday mood" when Mannheim Steamroller brings their Christmas tour to the Academy of Music. Created by Chip Davis, Mannheim Steamroller's signature sound is where classical and modern-day rock, acoustic and electronic music meet. Celebrate the spirit of the season with the "18th century rock band" that has become one of the most popular and best-selling acts in the last 30 years.


RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles
Friday-Sunday, February 5-7, 2010, Times vary
Academy of Music
Price: $35-$85

RAIN, the acclaimed Beatles concert, returns by popular demand! They look like them and they sound just like them! "The next best thing to seeing The Beatles," raves the Denver Post. All the music and vocals are performed totally live! RAIN covers The Beatles from the earliest beginnings through the psychedelic late 60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. RAIN is a multi-media, multi-dimensional experience...a fusion of historical footage and hilarious television commercials from the 1960s lights up video screens and live cameras zoom in for close-ups. Sing along with your family and friends to such favorites as "Let It Be," "Hey Jude," "My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Come Together" and "Can’t Buy Me Love," and relive Beatlemania from Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road!

"A thrilling bit of time-warping nostalgia…Boomer Heaven!" raves the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "Uncanny! RAIN are a quartet of fine musicians in their own right…as The Beatles, they triumph!" cheers the Boston Herald. "An adoring Valentine to The Beatles," declares the Washington Post.


The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Monday-Sunday, February 8-14, 2010, Times vary
Merriam Theater
Price: $20-$80

The Washington Post raved, "Very impressive. The hits come crashing at you in an evening dedicated to crescendo and climax." Featuring a cast of six Broadway stars backed by a 30-piece onstage orchestra, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber features the best-loved songs from the scores composed by the Tony®, Grammy® and Academy Award®-winning composer including: Cats, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar, Song & Dance, Starlight Express, Aspects of Love, Whistle Down the Wind, The Beautiful Game, The Woman in White and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This special edition of the concert was devised by Andrew Lloyd Webber for this engagement.


Annie
Friday-Sunday, February 26-28, 2010, Times vary
Merriam Theater
Price: $20-$70

Leapin’ lizards! Annie is coming to Philadelphia! The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including "It’s the Hard-Knock Life," "Easy Street," "N.Y.C." and the ever-optimistic "Tomorrow," Annie is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family. Don’t miss this all-new production that Variety calls "a winner!"


GROOVALOO The Hip Hop Experience
Monday-Sunday, March 8-14, 2010, Times vary
Merriam Theater
Price: $25-$60

GROOVALOO combines the authenticity of A Chorus Line with the energy of STOMP as it embarks on a journey through the diverse world of hip hop dance. Driven by jaw-dropping displays of physical ability, a vibrant musical score and powerful spoken word poetry, the show's intertwined stories chronicle the struggles, hopes and triumphs of the 14-member cast as they discover the true meaning of family and share what it's like to be "in the circle."

GROOVALOO has played to critical acclaim and sell out crowds, grabbing the attention of celebrities such as Madonna, Pink, Laurence Fishburne, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jaime Pressly and Justin Timberlake, all who have come to see productions of GROOVALOO. From fear to freedom, choreography to freestyle, and ballerinas to b-boys, GROOVALOO has inspired audiences from all walks of life to celebrate their passion and purpose and in the process reveals the heart and soul behind this incredible art form.


Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance
Friday-Sunday, May 14-16, 2010, Times vary
Merriam Theater
Price:$20-$70

Described by the New York Post as "fascinating, rewarding and above all, entertaining," and by the Los Angeles Times as "a showpiece extravaganza," Lord of the Dance is a mesmerizing blend of traditional and modern Celtic music and dance. The story is based upon mythical Irish folklore as Don Dorcha, Lord of Darkness, challenges the ethereal lord of light, the Lord of the Dance. Battle lines are drawn, passions ignite and a love story fueled by the dramatic leaps and turns of dancers’ bodies begins to build against a backdrop of Celtic rhythm. The action is played out over 21 scenes on a grand scale of precision dancing, dramatic music, colorful costumes and state-of-the-art staging and lighting.

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CLASSICAL

Mariinsky Orchestra
(formerly the Kirov Orchestra)
Valery Gergiev, principal conductor
Mariinsky Chorus
BERLIOZ: Romeo and Juliet
Monday, February 22, 2010 at 8pm
Verizon Hall
Price: $39-113

The legendary Mariinsky Orchestra (formerly the Kirov Orchestra) returns to the Kimmel Center under the esteemed leadership of principal conductor Maestro Gergiev to perform Romeo and Juliet, one of Berlioz’s greatest and most original works. Regarded as St. Petersburg’s leading symphony orchestra, the Mariinsky Orchestra has been performing since 1860 at the renowned Mariinsky Theater. The Mariinsky Orchestra remains one of the most outstanding orchestras, toting the reputable referral as "the world’s first global orchestra" after tours throughout the world in 45 countries.

"Theatrical dynamism and exquisite artistry" -USA Today

"Valery Gergiev drew thrillingly vivid playing from his orchestra and set a pace that was leisurely yet sacrificed nothing of the work’s insistent drive."—New York Times

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WORLD & POP

Video Games Live
Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 3pm and 7:30pm
Verizon Hall
Price: $35-$65

Video Games Live, the first major U.S. video game music concert tour, combines elements of a music concert, theatrical stage show and interactive video game on stage. Performed by a local professional orchestra and chorus, the concert features the best music and video clips from the most popular games, past and present, including Mario™, Zelda®, Halo®, Warcraft®, Final Fantasy®, Medal of Honor® and more. The performance will be enhanced with specially designed laser and light sequences showcasing over 50 different games in a wide variety of styles, as well as a special segment focusing on retro arcade classics.


Melody Gardot
Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 7:30pm
Perelman Theater
Price: $35

Philadelphia native Melody Gardot makes her Perelman Theater debut with an evocative blend of mellow blues, eclectic folk and jazz shadings, reminiscent of greats like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. With her debut album Worrisome Heart (2006), Gardot displayed her instinctive gift for transforming the traditions of jazz and blues with "her personal kiss of life." But even her most ardent admirers will be amazed at the giant creative leap forward she has taken with the follow-up, My One and Only Thrill (2009). Mixing Latin rhythms, finger-snapping blues and deep, smoldering torch songs, it’s an album that seems to have been shaped from several lifetimes of love, loss and longing.

Melody Gardot has a "a unique, irresistibly expressive voice delivering gently ironic blues with jazz inflections. Her songwriting is filled with soft surprise and savvy lyrics…" –San Francisco Chronicle


Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca
Friday, January 22, 2010 at 8pm
Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 2pm & 8pm
Merriam Theater
Price: $33-$43

Formed in 1993 by Martín Santangelo and his Bessie award-winning wife, Soledad Barrio, Noche Flamenca has become Spain's most successful touring company. Hailed by critics everywhere for its transcendent and deeply emotional performances, Noche Flamenca has successfully brought to the stage the essence, purity and integrity of one of the world's most complex and mysterious art forms. All aspects of flamenco – dance, song and music – are interrelated and given equal weight, creating a communal spirit within the troupe.

"Noche Flamenca star Soledad Barrio dances as if she's channeling 500 years of pain, despair, and passion…the small, muscular dancer moves with an introspective quality that is deeply personal, almost private, yet somehow universal." –Boston Globe


The Pink Floyd Experience
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 8pm
Merriam Theater
Price: $35-$45

The Pink Floyd Experience pays tribute to one of the most influential bands of all time with a celebration of the music, the themes and the innovation that one of rock & roll’s greatest icons brought to fans around the world. The Pink Floyd Experience provides fans with an up-close-and-personal encounter that reincarnates the scope and power of the band’s live performances. On stage, the six-member ensemble flawlessly recreates the legendary songs that spanned decades in their appeal, enhanced by electrifying visuals, which include a 12-foot pig blimp that flies over the audience in final homage to Pink Floyd’s most familiar image.

"PFX might be the closest thing to capturing the real deal!"- Toronto Sun


Max Raabe and Palast Orchester
Friday, March 5, 2010 at 7:30pm
Perelman Theater
Price: $35-$45

Max Raabe & the Palast Orchester recreate the nostalgic sounds of the Great American Songbook, Germany and beyond. Performing the music of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Allie Wrubel and Franz Lehár, this 12-piece, German-based dance band brings to life the timeless spirit and romance of the 1920’s and early 30’s. The ensemble’s repertoire includes more than 400 songs from the golden era and several cabaret-style covers of songs by Prince, Queen and Britney Spears. From Cuban rumbas to cheerful foxtrots and elegant tangos, the 80-year-old songs sound as fresh and vivid as they did at their very first performance.

"Like Fred Astaire, he can croon his way to tenorial highs or dip to playfully earthy basso lows. But there is not a trace of sentimentality in his singing, not a slice of ham, even when he is having fun. The Palast musicians…play with a stylishness, grace and vitality that do not call attention to their impressive virtuosity." –New York Times


Johnny Mathis
Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 7:30pm
Verizon Hall
Price: $40-$100

Johnny Mathis is an American cultural icon whose softly crooned romantic ballads and classic standards have transcended generations; his rich, velvety voice exploring pop, jazz and even Latin music in a career than spans more than five decades. Mathis’ numerous achievements have cemented his place in the history of American popular music. A member of the illustrious Great American Songbook, Mathis won the Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, and has had three songs, "Chances Are," "Misty" and "It’s Not For Me To Say" inducted into the Grammy® Hall of Fame.

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Kimmel Center Presents' 2009/2010 Season is sponsored by Citi. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. NBC-10 is a media partner for Kimmel Center Presents.

Free in the Plaza programming and subsidized tickets offered to the community and social service groups for $10 are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program, supported by a generous grant from the Wachovia Foundation.

The Kimmel Center is the recipient of partnership funding through the nationally recognized PNC "Grow Up Great" initiative, a ten-year, $100 million investment in preparing children for success in school and life. Funding gives support to the Kimmel Center's early childhood program "Bop and Swing," an arts program for children 1-5 years old, designed to promote an appreciation for American culture. > index of news releases

Check out the 09/10 Season!
Find your moment...

Broadway Series
This is the moment you've been waiting for, when the stars connect with you. It's a dream season for theater lovers in Philadelphia, bringing the perfect blend of Broadway's hottest hits and timeless classics to the Academy of Music and The Forrest Theatre.

The classic finger-snapping musical GREASE... Ageless tunes in this season's newest family hit, Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS... The unforgettable heartaches, breakups and triumphs of DREAMGIRLS...

New this season: Experience the most celebrated dramatic play of the year, five-time Tony Award® — and Pulitzer Prize winner AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY.

Subscribe now and you'll have the exclusive option to add any of these Broadway smash hits! WICKED, a must-see again and again; DISNEY'S THE LION KING, the timeless story beloved by audiences the world over; the uproarious Tony Award® winning AVENUE Q and the phenomenal MAMMA MIA!.
---------------------------------------------------------
Kimmel Center Presents
The sudden hush of the crowd when the Maestro lifts his baton; the curtain opening;a dancer suspended in mid-air as she leaps across the stage; a heart-stopping crescendo... These are the highly personal moments that define the performing arts—moments you’ll remember
all your life when you escape the everyday to experience live art onstage at the Kimmel Center. Inside the following pages, you’ll discover how
much there is to enjoy in a season filled with music and performances drawing from across the globe—a season designed with you in mind.
Find your favorite artist or discover new ones. Great music, masterful interpretations, riveting performances:it’s all waiting for you to find your moment.

For more info visit: kimmelcenter.org/broadway/subs0910.php

Kimmel Center, Inc. & Shubert Organization, Inc. Announce New 2008-2009 Cadillac Broadway Series

Top Broadway Musicals Will Make Philadelphia Premieres at Academy of Music and Forrest Theatre

Spring Awakening And Legally Blonde The Musical Set to Highlight Sensational New Season!

Award-Winning Lineup Will Also Feature A Chorus Line, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Happy Days - A New Musical

An award-winning combination of dazzling Broadway musicals are set to arrive in Philadelphia, marking the arrival of the new 2008-2009 Cadillac Broadway Series hosted by the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre.

The new Cadillac Broadway Series subscription season will feature: Legally Blonde the Musical (Dec. 2 – 7, 2008); Happy Days—A New Musical (Mar. 24 – 29, 2009); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Apr. 7 – 12, 2009); Spring Awakening (Jun. 23 – 28, 2009), all at the Academy of Music; and A Chorus Line (Dec. 16 – Dec. 21, 2008) at the Forrest Theatre.

Additional ’08-’09 shows will include: The Wizard of Oz (Nov. 28 – 30, 2008); Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Jan. 9 – 11, 2009); Jesus Christ Superstar (Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2009); Rent (Feb. 3 – 8, 2009); Riverdance – Farewell Tour (Mar. 31 – Apr. 5, 2009) and Movin’ Out (May 15 – 17, 2009). Two upcoming musicals arriving this summer, Mamma Mia! (July 15 – 27, 2008) and Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (Aug. 14 – 31, 2008) will also be included as ’add-ons’ to the new subscription season.

Subscription packages are on sale now by calling 215-893-1955 or online at www.kimmelcenter.org/subs0809. Single tickets will go on sale at a later date.

"We are thrilled to once again collaborate with the Shubert Organization in bringing the nation’s most popular and successful Broadway touring productions to the Philadelphia region," said Kimmel Center, Inc. President and CEO Anne Ewers. "Our selection of Broadway offerings has grown every year thanks to the overwhelmingly positive response from our subscribers and the local theater community. We plan to continue our tradition of offering the ’crème de le crème’ in Broadway musicals to the entire region."

"Our new subscription season promises to be one of the most spectacular ever and we are excited to be part of it," said Gerald Schoenfeld, Chairman of the Shubert Organization, Inc. "By working together with the Kimmel Center, we are able to offer the Philadelphia theater community a larger selection of musical productions in two of Center City’s most beautiful and historic theatres."

"It’s here, and it’s ’an elle of a show’" (Time Magazine). The hilarious MGM film is Broadway’s new smash hit musical, and now Legally Blonde - The Musical (Dec. 2 – Dec. 7, 2008) is coming to Philadelphia to usher in the new subscription season.

Legally Blonde follows sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn’t take ’no’ for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law School. Along the way Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style. After turning Broadway and MTV hot pink, this "Feel good song and dance juggernaut" (New York Magazine) is "the best new musical around" (WOR).

Winner of nine Tony Awards, including "Best Musical" and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the singular sensation A Chorus Line arrives at the Forrest Theatre (Dec. 16 – Dec. 21, 2008). In an empty theatre, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It’s the one opportunity to do what they’ve always dreamed – to have the chance to dance. This is A Chorus Line, the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all on the line. The longest-running American Broadway musical ever, A Chorus Line now returns. Come meet the new generation of Broadway’s best. "A Chorus Line is back, and it’s thrilling!" (John Lahr, The New Yorker)

Goodbye gray skies, hello blue! Happy days are here again with Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph and the unforgettable "king of cool" Arthur ’The Fonz’ Fonzarelli. Happy Days—A New Musical, based on the hit Paramount Pictures television series makes its Philadelphia premiere (Mar. 24 – 29, 2009). Happy Days– A New Musical reintroduces one of America’s best loved families, the Cunninghams, and the days of 1959 Milwaukee complete with varsity sweaters, hula hoops and jukebox sock-hoppin. The famed drive-in malt shop and number one hang-out, Arnold’s, is in danger of demolition, so the gang teams up to save it with a dance contest and TV-worthy wrestling match. This perfectly family-friendly musical will have audiences rockin’ and rollin’ all week long!

Happy Days – A New Musical has a book by the legendary Garry Marshall, with music and lyrics by Oscar winning composer Paul Williams. Directed by Gordon Greenberg. Music Arrangements and Music Supervision by John McDaniel. Choreographed by Michele Lynch.

You’ll believe a car can fly when Chitty Chitty Bang Bang soars into town (Apr. 7 – 12, 2009). The enthralling adventures of a magical car that sails the seas and flies through the air has been a family favorite since the original motion picture captivated the world’s imagination in 1968. It’s everything you could want in a musical – and more. Sensational sets, stunning special effects, an irresistible story, and an unforgettable Sherman Brothers musical score, including memorable classics like "Truly Scrumptious," "Hushabye Mountain," and of course, the Oscar-nominated title song, all add up to a Broadway blockbuster for the entire family.

Spring Awakening (Jun. 23 – 28, 2009), Broadway’s most talked about new musical and now the biggest Tony Award-winner in years will make its Philadelphia premiere at the Academy of Music. Spring Awakening is the groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality, and rock & roll that has awakened Broadway like no other musical in years. Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Spring Awakening celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, a poignancy and a passion you will never forget. We agree with The New York Times "Broadway may never be the same again. Haunting and electrifying! This brave new musical has a shivery, sensual allure unmatched by anything in the theatre right now." (Charles Isherwood, The New York Times).

Additional new shows available to subscribers will include:

There truly is no place like home, as the greatest family musical of all time, the wonderful Wizard of Oz, twists its way into Philadelphia (Nov. 28 – 30, 2008). The entire family will be captivated as they travel down the Yellow Brick Road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto, and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow in this lavish production featuring breathtaking special effects, dazzling choreography and classic songs. A spectacular celebration of the iconic MGM film, The Wizard of Oz will blow you away from the moment the tornado touches down and transports you to a sazzling art deco Oz, complete with Munckins and Flying Monkeys.

It’s been 30 years since Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Jan. 9 – 11, 2009), Broadway’s smash-hit Fats Waller musical revue won six Tony Awards including Best New Musical. Now Richard Maltby, Jr., Tony Award-winning author and director of the 1978 premiere Broadway production, will re-create his original direction for the new 30th Anniversary National Tour. Ruben Studdard, the 2003 American Idol Winner, joins a top-notch cast with a sassy all-star band live onstage. This outrageously prodigious comic and musical soul of 1930’s Harlem is a rollicking, swinging, finger-snapping production – still considered one of Broadway’s best-crafted revues of all time.

Jesus Christ Superstar (Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2009), the first masterpiece from the legendary writing team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, first exploded onto the scene in 1971, changing the world of musical theatre fovever. With a score of amazing songs – "I Don’t Know How to Love Him," "Hosanna," "Everything’s Alright," "What’s the Buzz," "Superstar," and "Heaven on Their Mind," this original groundbreaking production starring Ted Neeley in the title role and Living Colour’s Corey Glover as Judas is as relevant and timely as ever.

Rent (Feb. 3 – 8, 2009) returns to the Academy of Music by popular demand! Rent is more than a show, it’s a phenomenon – a theatrical experience that transformed how a generation feels about musicals, changed Broadway forever, and inspired a major motion picture. Whether it’s your first time or your 100th, it’s time you checked out Rent!

Riverdance (Mar. 31 – Apr. 5, 2009), the thunderous celebration of Irish music, song and dance that has tapped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe, will play eight farewell performances at the Academy of Music. "A phenomenon of historic proportions!" raves The Washington Post. "An explosion of sight and sound that simply takes your breath away," cheers The Chicago Tribune. "A family evening unlike anthing else!" exclaims The London Times. Discover why nothing in the world compares to the original international phenomenon! Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, you won’t want to miss these farewell performances of Riverdance.

Five-time Grammy® winner Billy Joel and legendary director/choreographer Twyla Tharp have joined forces to create the spectacular Broadway musical Movin’ Out (May 15 – 17, 2008). Time Magazine declares it "the number one show of the year." The New York Times calls it "a shimmering portrait of an American generation. These tornado driven dancers and rock musicians propel the audience into delirious ovations." Movin’ Out brings 24 Billy Joel classics to electrifying new life as it tells the story of five life-long friends over two turbulent decades. It all adds up to one unforgettable Broadway musical.

Subscription ticket prices for the 2008-2009 Cadillac Broadway Series season range from $78.50 to $500. To order tickets or for more information on subscription packages call 215-893-1955 or visit www.kimmelcenter.org/subs0809. Groups of 15 or more call 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Visit online at www.kimmelcenter.org/groupsales or www.telecharge.com/groups. Single tickets will go on sale at a later date.

Cadillac Broadway Series subscribers are offered a variety of exclusive privileges including the first opportunity to select the best seats in the house and the option to renew these seats every year. Subscribers are also entitled to discounts of up to 33% on additional Cadillac Broadway Series shows and Kimmel Center Presents performances, in addition to up to 50% savings for both senior citizens and students. A special 50/50 payment plan, along with restaurant and retail discounts, is also available to subscribers. A convenient flexible ticket exchange program allows subscribers to exchange tickets for another performance of the same show.

All performances of 2008-2009 Cadillac Broadway Series are supported by Cadillac, CITI, Target, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Cadillac Broadway Series.

March "Free at the Kimmel" Events Offer Something for Everyone

 

Kimmel Center Presents 2007/08 Season Sponsored by Citi

 

Sixth Anniversary Season Marked with 50 Free in the Plaza Performances,

20 Artist Chats, and Seven Organ Postludes as well as Themed Tours Throughout the Week

 

Kimmel Center Presents' Free at the Kimmel events continue in March during the 6th anniversary 2007/08 season with more than 75 free events and performances to take place throughout the Center's spaces this year. Free at the Kimmel includes: Free in the Plaza with local artists performing classical, jazz, pop, country, world, dance and family fun on the Commonwealth Plaza stage; as well as Artist Chats with Kimmel Center Presents performers; Education Events in the Merck Arts Education Center; and Organ Postludes on The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ in Verizon Hall. Free themed tours, including Building & Theater Tours and Art & Architecture Tours, are conducted throughout the week by experienced volunteer guides. Updates and complete schedules are available at www.kimmelcenter.org. All artists and programs are subject to change.

 

FREE AT THE KIMMEL events are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program supported by a generous grant from Wachovia Foundation.

 

Below is a full schedule of the Free at the Kimmel performances for the month of March.

 

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 | 6:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
American Composer Forum
Please join us in the Plaza prior to the ticketed Pink Martini performance in Verizon Hall as the ACF Philadelphia presents work by local composers Daniel Dorff and Matt Davis.

 

DORFF: 9 Walks Down 7th Avenue (Philadelphia premiere)
Lois Herbine, flute
Clipper Erickson, piano
DORFF: Three Romances (Philadelphia premiere)
Lois Herbine, flute
Arne Running, clarinet
DORFF: The Year of the Rabbit
Lois Herbine, flute
Kimberly Trolier, flute
Julie Martyn-Baker, flute
Christine Moulton, alto flute
DAVIS: Parliament in the Poplar Trees
DAVIS: Winter Flight

 

Aerial Photograph
June Bender, violin
Meg Kajino, violin
Maura Gilboy, cello
George Burto, viola
Bryann Rogers, saxophone
John Thompson, soprano saxophone
Brent White, trombone
Bart Miltonberger, flugelhorn
Aino Soderheim, clarinet
Justin Leigh, drums
Jason Fraticelli, bass

 

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 | 9:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
Justin Leigh Trio
Three vibrant and innovative local jazz musicians take the stage to bring you improvised arrangements of classic jazz standards and contemporary selections following the ticketed Pink Martini performance in Verizon Hall.

 

Friday, March 14, 2008 | Post-show
Perelman Theater Stage
Artist Chat with Ainadamar
An Artist Chat will take place with members of the cast of Ainadamar, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Curtis Opera Theatre and Kimmel Center Director of Programming Tom Warner on Perelman Theater Stage following the ticketed performance.

 

Saturday, March 15, 2008 | 11am
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
PNC Grow Up Great: Move & Groove: Irish Fun and Dance!
Ring in St. Patty's day with a morning of all Irish favorites. Lads and lassies will learn how to perform jigs, steps and the beautiful Irish ribbon dance.

 

Saturday, March 15, 2008 | 1:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
John Brennan and Friends!
Just at The Chieftains are a St. Patty's Day tradition at the Kimmel Center, so is John Brennan! Our favorite Irish fiddler and singer returns to the Plaza stage with friends in tow for a fun afternoon filled with your favorite reels and jigs.

 

Saturday, March 15, 2008 | 4:30pm
Innovation Studio
Artist Chat with Ainadamar
An Artist Chat will take place with members of the cast of Ainadamar, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Curtis Opera Theatre and Kimmel Center Director of Programming Tom Warner following the ticketed performance.

 

Sunday, March 16, 2008 | Post-show
Perelman Theater Stage
Artist Chat with Ainadamar
An Artist Chat will take place with members of the cast of Ainadamar, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Curtis Opera Theatre and Kimmel Center Director of Programming Tom Warner on Perelman Theater Stage following the ticketed performance.

 

Sunday, March 16, 2008 | 6pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
The Nelly Berman School of Music Student Quartet
Join us as the Nelly Berman School of Music presents its first concert on the Free in the Plaza stage. These young talents will perform classical selections prior to the ticketed Lang Lang recital in Verizon Hall.

 

Friday, March 28, 2008 | 6:30pm & 10:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
Temple University Alumni and Student Jazz Band
Alumni and student jazz musicians of Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music salute Temple Adjunct Professor prior to and following the ticketed performance by the Wayne Shorter Quartet and the Terell Stafford Quartet in Verizon Hall.

 

Tuesdays-Sundays | 1pm
Commonwealth Plaza Information Desk
Building & Theater Tour
Join us for a themed tour which includes a history of the Kimmel Center; architectural and construction highlights; and visits to Commonwealth Plaza, Perelman Theater, Verizon Hall, Merck Arts Education Center and the Dorrance H. Hamilton Garden. This tour is approximately one hour in duration. Please note: Building & Theater Tours will not be offered March 9 and 15, 2008.

 

Saturdays | 10:30am
Commonwealth Plaza Information Desk
Art & Architecture Tour
Join us for a themed tour which includes an in-depth look at the Kimmel Center's architecture, a walk along the Avenue of the Arts to view the Center in the context of the cityscape, and a tour of artworks on display throughout the Kimmel Center, including the Moore Galleries and the recently installed Percent for Art collection. Tours are led by experienced volunteer guides and are free of charge. This tour is approximately 90 minutes in duration.

 

Eddie Izzard Brings Surreal Humor to Philadelphia at Academy of Music, May 5-7
 

Tickets on sale March 16!

Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard, adored by fans and critics alike for his lightening quick wit and surreal humor, starts the largest comedy tour of his career with a stop in Philadelphia at the Academy of Music May 5-7, 2008.

Tickets go on sale beginning Sunday, March 16, 2008 and are priced at $45-$65. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10am to 6pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (during performances only).

Performances include: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings (May 5-7) at 8 pm.

Eddie Izzard’s new one man show, fittingly titled Stripped, will hit North America this spring with performances in 34 cities. Critics have described Izzard as everything from the "funniest man in pretty much all of the known universe," to "a human search engine," to "a surrealist maestro of historical and scientific trivia," and "a one-man Monty Python crew."

Izzard won acclaim in the U.S. with his first one man show, Dress to Kill, which debuted on HBO and won two Emmy Awards. His last record breaking tour, Sexie, sold out in 15 cities, including a week at New York’s City Center and a week at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. Between tours, Izzard has earned rave reviews for his acting talent, as seen on television in the hit FX series "The Riches"; on the big screen in Steven Soderbergh’s "Oceans 13"; and on Broadway, where he starred in the acclaimed revival of A Day In the Death of Joe Egg, for which he received a Tony® nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his performance.

"Eddie Izzard is undoubtedly seductive, but his brand of seduction aims directly at the head, not below the belt….And unlike most comedians Izzard attacks neither the audience nor himself, instead he creates the illusion that he is letting you eavesdrop on an infinite internal dialogue, and when the show ends, you can’t quite accept that the conversation is over. He is miraculous, deliriously, dizzyingly, exhaustingly, catch your breath funny!" –New York Times

The 2007-08 Cadillac Broadway Series marks the first full season of cooperation between Kimmel Center, Inc. and Shubert Organization, Inc., where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre.

In addition to Eddie Izzard, the 2007-08 season includes: Annie (March 21-23); Hairspray (May 2-4); Gypsy (May 9-11); David Copperfield: An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion (May 16-17); Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple (June 17-July 13); Mamma Mia! (July 15-27); and Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (August 14-31).

All performances of the Cadillac Broadway Series are supported by Cadillac, CITI, Target, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Cadillac Broadway Series.

Marni Nixon Book Signing!
Thursday, March 13 | Noon
Barnes & Noble, 1805 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
Marni Nixon, currently starring as Mrs. Higgins in the national tour of MY FAIR LADY, will be signing her memoir I Could Have Sung All Night - My Story during the show's tour stop in Philadelphia.

Click here for more information

The 2008/2009 season's for Kimmel Center Presents and the Cadillac Broadway series have just been announced. Visit our digital brochure to see the artists and hear audio and see video samples of their work. You can subscribe to KCP series here or to Broadway's series here.

Read more about the KCP Season
Read more about the Cadillac Broadway Series

The Chieftains Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Their Annual Brew of Irish Music at the Kimmel Center March 15
March 7, 2008


Photo: Barry McCall

Kimmel Center Presents 2007/08 Season Sponsored by Citi

"Ireland's most influential folk ensemble" —New York Times

The Chieftains evoke the spirit of St. Patrick's Day with a celebration of Celtic music at the Kimmel Center on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 3pm. The six-time Grammy® award winners have entertained audiences with their distinctive blend of music, humor and step dancing for more than four decades, and continue to inspire interest in Celtic music worldwide in collaborations with legendary performers such as Van Morrison, Sting and The Rolling Stones. Joining the quartet on stage, renowned Scottish vocalist Alyth McCormack, keyboardist Brian McAlpine, guitarist Jonny Hardie and special guests will perform "Red is the Rose," "O'Sullivan's March" and other classics with authentic Irish instruments including the bodhrán, uillean pipes, fiddle, tin whistle and flute.

"The uniquely gifted [ensemble]…successfully wedded the best of the folk and classical traditions. Beneath their virtuosic musicianship and symbiotic interplay were instantly hummable tunes that spoke directly to the heart and soul."—Los Angeles Times

This concert is the twenty-first concert in the World & Pop Series scheduled for the Kimmel Center Presents 2007/2008 season. The next concert in the series will be Asha Bhosle, Bollywood Legend on Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 7:30pm.

Tickets for The Chieftains are $39, $49, $59, $69 and $79 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply.) For group sales call 215-790-5883.

A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning 2.5 hours prior to curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per person.

"The Chieftains are virtuosos and historians…moving through jigs loaded with optimism and delight along with more stately, melancholic pieces. [They] mixed a clear melodic beauty with dance rhythms that had members of the audience stomping their feet in time to the music."—New York Times

Ambassadors of Celtic music and Irish traditions, The Chieftains have produced 40 albums throughout their prodigious career. The group of Dublin musicians came together in 1962 under the leadership of founder and frontman Paddy Moloney, and quickly captured a wide audience with their range of musical talent. In 1988, the group joined forces with fellow countryman Van Morrison on Irish Heartbeat, which began a historic series of collaborations including recordings with James Galway, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Tom Jones, Sinead O'Connor, Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, Ry Cooder and others. Their music has appeared on soundtracks in notable films such as "Treasure Island," "Tristan and Isolde," "The Grey Fox," and "Far and Away." Their spirited performances have solidified historic events such as: the first Western group to perform on the Great Wall of China; their collaboration with Roger Waters' "The Wall" performance in Berlin in 1990; and a memorial service in New York for the victims of September 11, 2001. This year, The Chieftains can also be heard on the soundtrack for the family film "The Water Horse: Legends of the Deep" by composer James Newton Howard.

Kimmel Center Presents 2007/2008 season is sponsored by Citi. Support for the Mellon Jazz Series comes from The Bank of New York Mellon. The Great Orchestra Series is supported by ARC Wheeler. Additional support is provided by the University of Pennsylvania Health System and American Express. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Mellon Jazz, Mellon Jazz Up Close and World & Pop.

The Kimmel Center also receives support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The William Penn Foundation, The Wachovia Foundation, Verizon Foundation, PNC Foundation, The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and the Philadelphia Music Project and Dance Advance, Initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trust administered by The University of the Arts. In-kind support is generously provided by Deloitte. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents, and additional media sponsors include WDAS, WRTI, WJJZ, Afro-Pop, WXPN and WXPN's Kids Corner 20th Anniversary.

Free in the Plaza programming and subsidized tickets offered to the community and social service groups for $10 are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program, supported by a generous grant from Wachovia Foundation.

KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS SPONSORED BY CITI

Saturday, March 15, 2008 | 3pm
Verizon Hall
World & Pop

The Chieftains

Kevin Conneff, bodhrán
Seán Keane, fiddle
Matt Molloy, flute
Paddy Moloney, uillean pipes and tin whistle

With special guests
Alyth McCormack, vocals
Carmel Conway, vocals

Also featuring
Triona Marshall, harp
Jon Pilatzke, fiddle and step dancing
Maureen Fahy, fiddle
Nathan Pilatzke, step dancing
Cara Butler, traditional Irish dancing and step dancing
Brian McAlpine, keyboard, vocals and box
Jonny Hardie, guitar, fiddle and vocals

Saturday, March 15, 2008 | Post-show
Cadence Restaurant
An Irish Buffet with The Chieftains
SOLD OUT!
Come meet The Chieftains and enjoy a beer tasting and a great Irish menu in Cadence Restaurant immediately following The Chieftains performance in Verizon Hall.

FREE AT THE KIMMEL:

Saturday, March 15, 2008 | 11am
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
PNC Grow Up Great: Move & Groove: Irish Fun and Dance!
Ring in St. Patty's day with a morning of all Irish favorites. Lads and lassies will learn how to perform jigs, steps and the beautiful Irish ribbon dance.

Saturday, March 15, 2008 | 1:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
John Brennan and Friends!
Just as The Chieftains are a St. Patty's Day tradition at the Kimmel Center, so is John Brennan! Our favorite Irish fiddler and singer returns to the Plaza stage with friends in tow for a fun afternoon filled with your favorite reels and jigs.

Piano Virtuoso Lang Lang Performs at the Kimmel Center March 16
March 7, 2008



Kimmel Center Presents 2007/08 Season Sponsored by Citi

"There is some really fine music making going on here, offering evidence of both a big technique and a big heart behind the flashing finger work"—Classics Today

The "hottest artist on the classical music planet" (New York Times), piano virtuoso Lang Lang performs at the Kimmel Center on Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 7:30pm in Verizon Hall. Lang Lang’s most recent release, The Magic of Lang Lang, encompasses a compilation of works previously performed, ranging from traditional Chinese folk melodies to classical works and a collaboration with famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. A Curtis Institute graduate, Lang Lang studied with Gary Graffman, and since then has performed sold-out, highly energized performances at top music venues throughout the world. Lang Lang was recently recognized at the 2008 Grammy® Awards with a nomination for Best Classical Instrumental Performance and a special live performance with jazz legend Herbie Hancock. His program will include Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 20 in A, D. 959; Bartok’s Piano Sonata Sz. 80; Debussy’s Selections of Preludes, Books 1 & 2; and Polonaise Op.53 in A flat Major, "Heroic" by Chopin.

"In an age of cookie-cutter performers, Lang Lang stands out for his willingness to take chances, to produce a prism of tone colors (well beyond what Beethoven could have imagined with the instruments of his time), to stretch a tempo just a tad or even all out of proportion... What he did last night was often magical."—Baltimore Sun

This concert is the third concert in the Master Musicians Series scheduled for the Kimmel Center Presents 2007/2008 season. The next concert in the series will be Christoph Eschenbach & Friends on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 3pm.

Tickets for Lang Lang are $34, $40, $45, $52, $60 and $69 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply.) For group sales call 215-790-5883.

A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning 2.5 hours prior to curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per person.

At 25 years of age, Lang Lang is an accomplished artist and the first Chinese pianist to play with the Berlin Philharmonic as well as with all of America’s "Big Five" orchestras. Within China, Lang Lang’s native country, he has achieved celebrity status, recently performing at the Beijing’s Great Hall of the People to 6000 children. Steinway recently recognized his musical prowess and ability to ignite passion in classical music with younger generations by launching a mass-produced Lang Lang piano, inscribed with his signature. Performance highlights in 2008 include the New Year’s Eve opening of the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing with Seiji Ozawa; a concert with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Euro Cup in front of Schönbrunn Palace; as well as performing as a special guest in the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Asia tour.

Lang Lang began his official study of the piano at the age of three with Professor Zhu Ya-Fen at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music. He studied in Beijing with Professor Zhao Ping-Guo, and later arrived at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute. The youngest Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, Lang Lang has received musical distinctions as the recipient of the first-ever Gold Medallion on the occasion of Steinway’s 150th anniversary, the first recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival in 2002 and the winner of 2004 Pennsylvania Governor’s Artist of the Year Award. In 2007, at the invitation of Prince Charles, Lang Lang performed a piano concerto commissioned in the memory of the Queen Mother, and recently appeared as part of Great Britain’s Royal Variety Show that was attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and broadcast to 13 million people.

Kimmel Center Presents 2007/2008 season is sponsored by Citi. Support for the Mellon Jazz Series comes from The Bank of New York Mellon. The Great Orchestra Series is supported by ARC Wheeler. Additional support is provided by the University of Pennsylvania Health System and American Express. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Mellon Jazz, Mellon Jazz Up Close and World & Pop.

The Kimmel Center also receives support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The William Penn Foundation, The Wachovia Foundation, Verizon Foundation, PNC Foundation, The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and the Philadelphia Music Project and Dance Advance, Initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trust administered by The University of the Arts. In-kind support is generously provided by Deloitte. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents, and additional media sponsors include WDAS, WRTI, WJJZ, Afro-Pop, WXPN and WXPN’s Kids Corner 20th Anniversary.

Free in the Plaza programming and subsidized tickets offered to the community and social service groups for $10 are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program, supported by a generous grant from Wachovia Foundation.

KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS SPONSORED BY CITI

Sunday, March 16, 2008 | 7:30pm
Verizon Hall
Master Musicians

Lang Lang, piano

SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata No. 20 in A, D. 959
BARTOK: Piano Sonata Sz. 80
DEBUSSY: Selections of Preludes, Books 1 & 2
CHOPIN: Polonaise Op.53 in A flat Major, "Heroic"

FREE AT THE KIMMEL:

Sunday, March 16, 2008 | 6pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
The Nelly Berman School of Music Student Quartet
Join us as The Nelly Berman School of Music presents its first concert on the Free in the Plaza stage. These young talents will perform classical selections prior to the ticketed Lang Lang recital in Verizon Hall.