2012-2013 BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA SEASON ANNOUNCED AT ASU GAMMAGE

Another landmark season at the nation’s top touring destination for Broadway shows – ASU Gammage – for the 2012-2013 PROGRESSIVE® Broadway Across America – Arizona season in Tempe. The seven show series includes all premieres to the Valley including Tony® Award-winning hits like WAR HORSE, ANYTHING GOES and MEMPHIS.

In its 22nd season, the PROGRESSIVE® Broadway Across America – Arizona series at ASUGammage is the largest theatrical subscription series in the state of Arizona and the most successful Broadway series in the country.

Current subscribers can renew their season tickets now! New season subscriptions go on sale Monday, May 14. It pays to be a season ticket holder as season subscribers to the Broadway Across America – Arizona season are assured priority seating, the same great seats for every show and priority ticket offers for special Broadway engagements, and exclusive subscriber discounts that save as much as 30 percent off the cost of buying individual tickets. Additional benefits include ticket exchange privileges and lost ticket insurance. Season subscriptions start at $118.

The full season includes:

ANYTHING GOES – November 13-18, 2012

ALL ABOARD for Roundabout Theatre Company’s saucy and splendid production of ANYTHING GOES, winner of three 2011 Tony® Awards including Best Musical Revival and Choreography! Peppering this Cole Porter first-class comedy are some of musical theater’s most memorable standards, including “I Get a Kick out of You,” “You’re the Top,” and of course, “Anything Goes.” Don’t miss what the AP exclaims as, “So DELIGHTFUL, So DELICIOUS, So DE-LOVELY!”

THE ADDAMS FAMILY – December 11-16, 2012

THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a smash-hit musical comedy that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys) and Olivier Award-winning director/designers Phelim McDermott & Julian Crouch (ShockheadedPeter) with production supervision by four-time Tony® Award winner Jerry Zaks. Come meet the family. We’ll leave the lights off for you.

PETER PAN – January 8-13, 2013

Tony® Award nominee Cathy Rigby takes flight in an all new production of PETER PAN! Discover the magic all over again of this two-time Emmy-award winning and two-time Tony® Award nominated production. The New York Times says “Rigby still carries off the flights, fights and acrobatics that make PETER PAN audiences mesmerized.” PETER PAN is filled with timeless magical moments and a captivating hook. The legend you thought you know, is now the adventure you never dreamed possible… Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan!

WAR HORSE – February 5-10, 2013

England, 1914. As World War One begins, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home. This powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized puppets created by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to life on the stage.

MEMPHIS – March 5-10, 2013

TURN UP THAT DIAL... From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, MEMPHIS is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves -- filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony® Awards including Best Musical, MEMPHIS features a Tony® Award-winning book by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and a Tony® Award-winning original score with music by BonJovifounding member David Bryan. Get ready to experience Broadway’s most exciting new destination - what AP calls “The very essence of what a Broadway musical should be.”

FLASHDANCE – April 30-May 5, 2013

Launching both a Broadway production and US National Tour,FLASHDANCE tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a working-class girl from Pittsburgh with a dream of becoming a professional dancer. She works by day as a steel mill welder, and a bar dancer at night while aspiring to be accepted at a prestigious ballet academy. When Alex catches the eye of her boss Nick Hurley, their romance shows her the meaning of love and drives her ambition to pursue her dream. Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, The Addams Family), this new musical features a score of smash hits including, the Academy Award-winning title track “Flashdance - What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “I Love Rock & Roll,” and16 new, original songs. Experience the magic all over again. FLASHDANCE will leave you begging for more!

SISTER ACT – June 25-30, 2013

SISTER ACT is Broadway’s acclaimed musical comedy based on the smash-hit film! When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a crime, the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look – a convent! Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, SISTER ACT is reason to REJOICE!

The 2012-2013 Broadway Across America – Arizona special engagements include:

LES MISERABLES – September 11-16, 2012

Last June more than 23,000 people experienced a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES. Now, due to overwhelming demand, LES MISÉRABLES returns to Tempe for one week only. Cameron Mackintosh presents LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST– April 9–14, 2013

Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Tempe based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, this eye-popping spectacle has won the hearts of over 35 million people worldwide. This classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the beloved title song. Experience the romance and enchantment of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at ASU Gammage!

Extraordinary Girl

GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT is coming to the ASU Gammage stage April 24-29, 2012, and in honor of the show’s song “Extraordinary Girl” we want to hear about the extraordinary girls in your life whether it is your wife, mother, sister, daughter or friend.

Enter to win by emailing a picture of your extraordinary girl with an explanation on why she is extraordinary. Email your submissions to promotions@asugammage.com. Some of the photos will be highlighted on the Splash Designs Facebook Page, ASU Gammage Facebook Page and Zynergy Salon’s Facebook Page.

All entries must be received by April 16 at 5pm. The winner will be chosen by a select team and announced on April 17. The winner will receive a pair of tickets to the April 24th performance of AMERICAN IDIOT at ASU Gammage and a a top and necklace from Splash Designs and a a conditioning treatment, haircut and style with a blow-dry lesson from Zynergy Salon.

ASU GAMMAGE DIRECTOR RECEIVES GOVENOR’S ARTS AWARD

On Tuesday, March 27 nearly 500 arts supporters, advocates, business leaders and elected officials attended the 31st Annual Governor's Arts Awards at the Herberger Theater Center hosted by the Arizona Citizen's for the Arts, Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Office of the Governor. More than 80 individuals, artists, businesses, arts education programs and community programs from more than 24 Arizona cities were nominated for this year’s awards. Colleen Jennings-Roggensack the executive director of ASU Gammage received the Governor's Arts Award in the Individual category and shared the honor with Museum of Northern Arizona Director Robert Breunig.

The Governor’s Arts Awards is a chance to honor the innumerable benefits the arts offer the residents of Arizona including both cultural and economic impact as well as honors those organizations and individuals that have helped advance the arts in Arizona.

Colleen Jennings-Roggensack will celebrate 20 years as Executive Director for ASU Gammage in July 2012. Jennings-Roggensack has the artistic, fiscal and administrative responsibility for ASU Gammage, ASU Kerr Cultural Center, with additional responsibility for non-athletic activities at Sun Devil Stadium and Wells Fargo Arena. During the past 20 years, Jennings-Roggensack distinguished herself as one of the most influential leaders in the arts locally, nationally and internationally.

Here are some of her major accomplishments:

Jennings-Roggensack has turned ASU Gammage into one of the top touring markets in the United States.The PROGRESSIVE® Broadway Across America – Arizona series is a leading economic engine for the Valley. Even during difficult economic times, the series brought in nearly a billion dollars in economic impact to the Valley in the past 20 years and $43 million in the last year. Jennings-Roggensack established ASU Gammage's organizational mission as "Connecting Communities" which allows Gammage to go beyond its doors to change lives for the better and make a difference in our community through the shared experience of the arts. In the last 20 years, Jennings-Roggensack has commissioned 22 works to premiere at ASU Gammage, which is more than any other presenter in the Southwest. Since 1995, Jennings-Roggensack has been Arizona’s only Tony Awards® voter which is one of the most distinguished achievements in the industry.

Honorees received specially created awards reflecting Arizona’s beauty and diversity — by Arizona artists Joe Ray of Scottsdale, Fausto Fernandez of Phoenix, George Gaines-Averbeck of Flagstaff, Gennaro Garcia of Ahwatukee, Judith Walsh of Oracle, Catherine Nash of Tucson, Emily Costello of Superior and Julius Forzano of Scottsdale. Other awards presented include:

· Artist of the Year : Ed Mell, recently designed the Arizona Centennial Postage Stamp

· Arts in Education-Individual Award: Beth Lessard, Tempe, former chair of the Arizona State University Department of Dance

· Arts in Education-Organization Award: Arizona School for the Arts

· Community Award: Arizona Cowboy Poet Gathering, Prescott

· Business Award: JP Morgan Chase

· 2012 Shelley Award: Arts advocate and leader Darryl Dobras of Tucson

Win Tickets to the ASU Gammage Season Annouce Event!

How would you like to be one of the first to discover the line up for ASU Gammage’s 2012/2013 Progressive Broadway Across America- Arizona Season?

Here’s your chance! We are giving away a few sets of tickets to our Season Announce Event at ASU Gammage on Monday, April 2 at 7:30pm. At this event guests will be treated to a preview of the upcoming season along with special guest appearances that can only be seen at this event!

To enter:Write a quick paragraph about why you love ASU Gammage, and email it to press@asugammage.com by Friday, March 30 at 1pm.

Winners will receive a pair of tickets to event. All winner will be notified by Friday, March 30.

WICKED BRINGS MORE THAN $28 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT DURING ITS RECORD-BREAKING RUN AT ASU GAMMAGE

The blockbuster hit WICKED just closed its four week run at ASU Gammage in Tempe, from February 15 through March 11 which resulted in more than $28 million in economic impact.

Each week of the four-week run broke Box Office records at ASU Gammage. More than 91,000 patrons came through the theater to see the show. The majority of theater-goers were Valley residents but also included ticket buyers from all over the state including Flagstaff, Tucson and Yuma as well as out-of-state patrons from New Mexico, California, Nevada and even Mexico.

“The success of this third run of WICKED in Tempe was extraordinary. Patrons were once again thrilled with the talent and have raved about the quality of WICKED. I am thrilled that ASU Gammage’s run of WICKED meant big business for our local businesses. In a struggling economy, this amount of economic impact is remarkable,” says Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, executive director of ASU Gammage.

“ASU Gammage has done it again. Exceptional productions, such as WICKED, attract theater lovers from our local area and from out of state. Tempe businesses, especially restaurants and hotels, benefit immensely from such strong arts and cultural events,” says Stephanie Nowack, President/CEO of the Tempe Tourism Office.