Last year, The Bushnell brought “Hamilton” to Hartford. So how, when announcing the new 2019-2020 season, could they equal that?
By announcing that “Hamilton” will return.
But hold on. The Lin-Manuel Miranda blockbuster will be back, but not until the 2020-21 season.
So what’s up in the meantime the for 2019-20 season?
How about a Broadway show that was originally developed at Hartford Stage in 2016 and just concluded its New York run March 31? Yes, “Anastasia” is coming home.
Also, there will be two recent Tony winners for best musical: “The Band’s Visit” and “Dear Evan Hansen.
The Bushnell announced its next season at a special subscriber event Monday night:
Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, 2019: The SpongeBob Musical — Director Tina Landau was prepping this unusual Broadway offering at the same time she was directing the workshop of “Deathless” at Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre in 2017. Landau conceived a “SpongeBob” stage show that has the characters looking more human than cartoon, and that uses an eclectic-pop music score featuring original songs by Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, They Might Be Giants and others.
Nov. 12 to 17, 2019: Hello, Dolly! — This 2017 Broadway revival was custom-fit for Bette Midler, but the sturdy new production has accommodated many other Dollys besides her. The Bushnell says that Betty Buckley, who has been starring in the touring version, will no longer be with the show by the time it gets to Hartford.
Jan. 14 to 19, 2020: Anastasia — The pride of Hartford Stage, which premiered this stage musical version of the hit animated film three years ago, just closed on Broadway. The tour coming here is one of many happening around the world, all directed by Hartford Stage’s Darko Tresnjnak. The family-friendly show, set during the Russian Revolution, tells the story of a woman who pretends to be a Russian princess and actually might be one.
Feb. 24 to March 1, 2020: Jesus Christ Superstar — A new national tour to mark the 50th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s landmark rock musical remains incredibly popular; there have been numerous productions at theaters in Connecticut in the past few years, plus that successful John Legend TV special.
April 21 to 26, 2020: The Band’s Visit — Based on the 2007 movie about an Egyptian police band that finds itself, and its band instruments, stuck in a tiny Israeli village. The show won 10 Tony awards, including best musical, best book and best score. The New York production is closing this week.
May 19 to 24, 2020: Dear Evan Hansen — An unorthodox musical by Benj Pasek and Connecticut native Justin Paul, about teen suicide, high school identity, family and more. It won six Tonys, including best musical, and is still playing on Broadway.
June 9 to 14, 2020: Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville — A jukebox musical based on the Floridian troubadour’s songs of drinking and sailing. The show had a short life on Broadway but Buffett fans are legion and should flock to it on tour.
Those seven musicals are all part of The Bushnell’s 2019-20 Broadway subscription package. Current subscribers are soon being invited to renew their Broadway subscriptions, and the theater says “new subscription packages will be available in early summer.” Single tickets will also be available in early summer.
Besides the subscription events, The Bushnell will be bringing in tours of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Dec.13 to 15 and Blue Man Group May 8 to 10, 2020. Numerous other events will be announced in coming months.
Although The Bushnell announced that “Hamilton” will return as part of the 2020-21 season, no other details were available. The Bushnell does say that season subscribers will have an opportunity to purchase “Hamilton” tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
The Bushnell box office is at 860-987-5900, bushnell.org.
Christopher Arnott can be reached at carnott@courant.com.
