'Beetlejuice', 'Moulin Rouge!', 'Cats' headline 2023 Broadway shows coming to Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Alicia Vitarelli and Rick Williams give you an in-depth preview of the Broadway shows coming to Philadelphia in 2023.
Philly Premieres
You can ring in the New Year with "Jagged Little Pill", based on Alanis Morissette's groundbreaking '90s album.
It was nominated for 15 Tony Awards and took home a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. Jagged Little Pill - Kimmel Cultural Campus
Jan 3-15, 2023
Broadway is known for musicals, but "A Soldier's Play" takes the stage in late January.
The story is set in segregated Black barracks in the South in World War ll, and it's a murder-mystery.
Philadelphia-born playwright Charles Fuller won a Pulitzer for the work, and if you don't already know the story, the ending may surprise you.
Jan 24-Feb 5, 2025
If you loved the musical, "Hamilton", you'll want to see "1776" too.
It's an all-female and gender-neutral, multicultural cast telling the story of the Founding Fathers.
Feb 14-26, 2023
"The Six wives of Henry VIII" take center stage for women's history month.
It hit Broadway last year, and it's blown up on social media and on stage.
So we headed to the nation's capital for a behind-the-scenes look at The National Theater, where it's currently playing and where the Tony Award-winning costumes are on full glorious display.
The show is a mash-up of a Broadway musical and a pop concert with each Queen taking the stage with a solo singing HER story, elevating the wives to more than the powerful man they married and the saying they've become known for-divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.
Mar 21 - Apr 9, 2023
Into the Woods is a surprise addition to the spring lineup.
The musical mashup of your favorite fairytale characters was supposed to be just a short concert last spring.
But it's been such a runaway success, it quickly landed on Broadway and is now headed on tour, with a full Broadway cast.
Into the Woods - Miller Theater
April 4-9
"Beetlejuice" introduces Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic movie to a whole new generation, combining horror with outrageous comedy.
It follows the story of Lydia, who is obsessed with death and the afterlife, and Beetlejuice, a character from the nether world who's obsessed with the idea of living.
There's a brand new score along with beloved old songs.
"Beetlejuice - Kimmel Cultural Campus"
May 30-Jun 11, 2023
We headed to Hollywood to be transported to the Moulin Rouge in turn-of-the-20th century Paris. The musical is a revival of the 2001 movie and 10 years in the making; that's how long it took to get the rights to the 75 pop songs in the score, covering 160 years of music.
The costumes and set are decadent and lush, the story a mashup of other Broadway musicals with both hidden and forbidden love.
The artist, Toulouse-Lautrec is a club regular, and there's the wealthy Duke playing the villain who threatens to destroy it all.
"Moulin Rouge! The Musical" - Kimmel Cultural Campus
July 5-30, 2023
Shows back by popular demand
Since The Lion King debuted on Broadway in 1997, more than 112 million people have seen the show across 100 cities and 21 countries around the world.
The show has won more than 70 global theatrical awards.
The current touring cast includes 54 performers, several from South Africa.
The Lion King is the final show of the Broadway series with an extended 4-week run.
The Lion King
August 16-September 10, 2023
"Come From Away" is coming back to Philadelphia in February.
It's one of the all-time Philadelphia audience favorites, a true story that unfolded in the days after the 9/11 attacks when 38 planes and thousands of passengers were stranded in Gander, Newfoundland.
And the people in that tiny town opened their homes and hearts to strangers.
"Come From Away" - Kimmel Cultural Campus
Feb 7-12, 2023
"CATS" is another Philadelphia favorite, selling out almost every performance.
The Broadway classic puts performers in full feline form, from the intricate design of the makeup to the mesmerizing cat-like moves and the famous Andrew Lloyd Weber score.
"CATS" - Kimmel Cultural Campus
Mar 13-19, 2023
The rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" returns during the Easter season.
It's the classic score by Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, telling the story of Jesus' last days through song.
It was a game-changer when it first hit the stage a half-century ago.
This revival of the classic was created in London and brought to America to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original, delayed a few years by the pandemic.
Jesus Christ Superstar - Kimmel Cultural Campus
May 2-7, 2023
Kimmel Cultural Campus Resident Companies - Spring Lineups
This is the first full season with the Philadelphia Orchestra partnering with The Kimmel Center to lead the Kimmel Cultural Campus.
"Now, we're one organization together, transformed across three glorious buildings, seven venues, one award-winning orchestra," says Matias Tarnopolsky, President & CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc.
The new organization has a renewed commitment to promoting inclusivity, diversity, and access to the performing arts.
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The Philadelphia Orchestra is elevating underrepresented voices and creating dialogue with the "HearTOGETHER" podcast and "Our City, Your Orchestra" concert series.
In February, the Philadelphia Orchestra is bringing back to the stage "Negro Folk Symphony" by composer William Dawson. The piece was premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1934.
In late March, the orchestra will stage the world premiere of composer John Luther Adams' "Vespers of the Blessed Earth." It will be led by Music Director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Philadelphia Orchestra | Facebook | Instagram
Yannick Leads Schumann and Dawson, Verizon Hall, February 2-3 | Show Info
Blessed Earth, Verizon Hall, March 30, April 1, 2, 2023 | Show Info
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Opera Philadelphia's spring season starts in February with "Carmina Burana + Credo."
It will be a big-scale production with more than 100 performers on stage, including the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia Chorus.
At the end of April, the opera will stage "La Boheme". They will perform the iconic piece backward, starting with act four.
"Traditionally, you begin with young love and hope, and you end with tragedy. And so, by flipping the order, you really find a way to discover an opera you thought you know in a new way" says Frank Luzi, Vice President of Marketing Communications for Opera Philadelphia.
Opera Philadelphia | Facebook | Instagram
2022-23 Season | Show lineup
Carmina Burana + Credo, Academy of Music, February 3, 5, 2023 | Show Info
La Boheme, Academy of Music, April 28, 30, May 5, 7, 2023 | Show Info
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The Philadelphia Ballet has a diverse slate of shows in 2023.
"New Works: Forward Motion" is an intimate performance of three brand-new ballets that the company commissioned for its dancers.
For March, Philadelphia Ballet's Artistic Director, Angel Corella choreographed a condensed version of the beloved classic, "Sleeping Beauty."
The company then taps into its roots with three ballets from George Balanchine set to the music of George Gershwin, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky.
The season wraps up in May with the family-friendly "Coppélia", also choreographed by Corella.
Philadelphia Ballet | Facebook | Instagram
2022-23 Season | Show lineup
New Works: Forward Motion, Perelman Theater, February 3-11, 2023 | Show Info
Sleeping Beauty, Academy of Music, March 2-12, 2023 | Show Info
Balanchine: Dancing with Gershwin, Academy of Music, March 16-19, 2023 | Show Info
Coppélia, Academy of Music, May 11-14, 2023 | Show Info
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PHILADANCO's spring show is called "Moving... Beyond Forward." It's a program of new works from three of the company's longtime choreographers.
Tommie Waheed-Evans' work explores being Black and queer. He'll be joined by Broadway's Ray Mercer and world-renowned choreographer Milton Myers, who's been collaborating with PHILADANCO for decades.
PHILADANCO! | Facebook | Instagram
Moving... Beyond Forward, Perelman Theater, April 21-23, 2023 | Show Info
Dinner with your show: Food from Philly favorite Chef Jose Garces
Volver Restaurant and Garces Trading Company at Kimmel on the ground floor of the Kimmel Center offers a taste of Chef Jose Garces' travels around the world.
The restaurant closed with the theaters at the start of the pandemic and when the curtains rose again last fall, the former Iron Chef introduced new chef-in-residency programming.
The inaugural residency featured six emerging chefs, with a focus on diversity. The chefs get exposure plus mentorship from Chef Garces.
Diners can order Chef Garces' food or the resident chef's food.
The chef-in-residency program has wrapped its first season but will launch with a new class of emerging chefs in September.
In addition to Volver, there is catering, concessions at each show and a brand new café opening at the Kimmel Center this fall.
And when the Broadway series kicks off this fall, look for specially-themed cocktails that are available during the run of the show at Volver and concession.
Garces Trading Company at Kimmel | Volver Restaurant | Facebook | Instagram
300 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-670-2302
