Company of “The Lion King” on Broadway performs “Circle of Life” | CREDIT: Matthew Murphy

Blumenthal’s 2023-24 season offers the best of yesterday, today and tomorrow

There’s something old, something new and something yet-to-be in the Blumenthal’s recently announced (and “monumental and abundant,” according to Blumenthal President and CEO Tom Gabbard) 2023-24 season. Tickets are on sale now.

For those who like tried-and-true, classic musicals, there’s Disney’s The Lion King, which has been wowing Broadway audiences for 25 years. Peter Pan and Jesus Christ Superstar are other classics returning to the Queen City.

People who want to catch Broadway’s newest, buzziest shows can look forward to seeing the much-discussed revival of Funny Girl as well as the flamboyant stage adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! The Musical, which won 10 Tony Awards® for the 2019-20 season, including Best Musical.

And early adopters and trendsetters may be thrilled that a pre-Broadway tour of The Wiz is Charlotte-bound in November.

Ben Joyce as Marty McFly in “Back to the Future: The Musical” | CREDIT: Sean Ebsworth Barnes

The largest Blumenthal season on record

With such a rich and abundant season, the Blumenthal is meeting the moment. Audiences in Charlotte are once again packing theater houses; there’s pent-up demand for big, lavish productions. And, the Blumenthal is aiming to satisfy that demand.

“In Charlotte, audiences are coming back in droves, and there is high demand for top- quality entertainment,” said Gabbard. 

“As a top 10 market, we are thrilled to present the largest Broadway season in the region, including several first national tours that won’t be seen anywhere else in the area for some time.”

By Gabbard’s count, the upcoming season will deliver 183 performances – nearly 23 weeks of touring Broadway.

Charlotte is the only city in the region next season to have scored many of the exclusive titles in the lineup. For instance, the Queen City is one of the first three cities in North America to welcome the 2022 Olivier Award–winning Best New Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical. The show won’t even open on Broadway until June 30.

 “This is a special opportunity for Charlotte that’s happening because Tom [Gabbard] and his management team have the right contacts in New York and invest in these shows at the earliest stages,” said Weston Andress, PNC regional president for Western Carolinas. (Gabbard is a member of the Board of Governors of the Broadway League. In 2022, the League awarded him with Lifetime Tony Award Voter status.)

For the ninth year, PNC is the presenting sponsor of the PNC Broadway Lights Series. (Gabbard is a member of the Board of Governors of the Broadway League. In 2022, the League awarded him with Lifetime Tony Award Voter status.)

Rob McClure (Daniel Hillard as Euphegenia Doubtfire) in the Original Broadway Cast of “Mrs. Doubtfire” | CREDIT: Joan Marcus

Regionally exclusive shows

Other regional exclusives include the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company (Winner of five Tony Awards®, including Best Revival of a Musical), The Wiz, Clue, Message In a Bottle and Cookin’.

A bit about two shows you may not be familiar with: Message In a Bottle is a new dance-theater show from multi-Olivier Award nominee, Kate Prince It’s inspired by and set to the iconic music of 17-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting. Hits such as Every Breath You Take, Roxanne and Walking On The Moon are all part of the backdrop to a story that explores the evolution of Mongolian culture.

Cookin’ originated in South Korea and has been called a mash-up of Stomp and Iron Chef. It’s entirely nonverbal but contains loads of percussion, slicing, dicing and chopping.

And in what promises to be more than just a “drive-by fruiting,” the beloved film-to-stage comedy Mrs. Doubtfire arrives in April.

One of the most interesting aspects of the upcoming season is that it features several shows – including Cookin’, Mrs. Doubtfire, Back to the Future and more – in which the Blumenthal Performing Arts team were early investors. 

Without fanfare, Gabbard and his team travel the globe  to see shows in development to identify productions they want to support financially. Gabbard says they do this to ensure Charlotte audiences have the best of Broadway and beyond  for years to come.

Two series … plus extras!

“Company,” Rosalie Craig (Bobbie) and company from the 2018 London Cast } CREDIT: Brinkhoff Mogenburg

With the PNC Broadway Lights Series – Blumenthal’s premier offering – subscribers can choose between a seven- or eight-show package. PNC Broadway Lights Series tickets range from $220 to $951.  

Seven-show package: 

• Funny Girl, Oct. 17–22, 2023
• The Wiz, Nov.  7–12, 2023
• Company, Nov.  21–26, 2023
• Moulin Rouge! The Musical, March 19–31, 2024
• Mrs. Doubtfire, April 30–May 5, 2024
• Back to the Future: The Musical, July 9–21, 2024
• To Be Announced, Oct. 22–27, 2024 (“Trust us; you’re going to love it,” say Blumenthal leaders. And we do trust.)

The eight-show package is the same as above with the addition of Message In A Bottle (April 2–7, 2024).

Isabella Esler (Lydia) in “Beetlejuice” | CREDIT: Matthew Murphy

The Equitable Bravo Series offers a series subscription package of six shows ranging in price from $185 to $692.  

• Beetlejuice, Dec. 26–31, 2023
• Peter Pan, March 5–10, 2024
• Hadestown, May 7–12, 2024
• MAMMA MIA!, June 18–23, 2024
• Disney’s The Lion King, August 8–Sept.  1, 2024
• Clue, Oct.  8–13, 2024

The company of “Cookin'” | CREDIT: PMC Productions Co.

As if those two series weren’t enough, Blumenthal will present more shows during the year. Currently slated Broadway Extras include: 

• Jesus Christ Superstar, Oct. 13–15, 2023
• Cookin’, Nov. 3–5, 2023
• Mean Girls, Feb. 13–18, 2024

“All of us at PNC believe engagement in the arts builds stronger communities,” said PNC’s Andress. “We recognize the important role of the arts in driving economic growth and cultural vitality within our region.”

Andress is especially excited to see Mrs. Doubtfire next season. “I love the humor in it,” he said. “But there’s also a real story there. It starts with a broken family and ends up with hope and some solutions to a challenging situation.”

Jarian Kerekes, head of social impact and community engagement at Equitable, said, “Charlotte educators play a vital role in supporting students, particularly those in underserved communities. Our support of Blumenthal’s Bravo Series enables us to give back to these hard-working educators and complements our sponsorship of Blumenthal’s Arts Educator Network, which provides professional development and networking opportunities for arts educators in Charlotte.”

“Personally, The Lion King tugs at my heart,” said Kerekes. “I have a 7- and a 5-year-old, and it will be really exciting to share this experience with them.”

Nathan Lee Graham & company in the “Hadestown” 2022 North American Tour | T. Charles Erickson

Subscriber perks

Subscribers to the PNC Broadway Lights Series and Equitable Bravo Series may swap some of their season tickets for Broadway Extras or any other special attractions added during the year. The ability to swap shows is a benefit for season ticket holders, who enjoy guaranteed seats for all of the shows in their season package.

PNC Broadway Lights Series tickets are renewable annually, guaranteeing season ticket holders the best seats – at the best prices – each year. PNC Broadway Lights Series season ticket holders may also swap up to four PNC Broadway Lights season shows for anything coming the following season, and they have the option of a 12-month extended payment plan. 

Equitable Bravo Series seats are not renewable, but subscribers get first priority to purchase individual tickets to PNC Broadway Lights Series shows next season. Equitable Bravo buyers may also swap up to two season shows for anything else coming to Blumenthal theaters, including PNC Broadway Lights Series shows, and have the option of a six-month payment plan. 

Experience the abundance.

Season subscriptions are now on sale. Visit blumenthalarts.org to learn more about the 2023-24 season and to purchase a subscription.

This story was sponsored by Blumenthal Performing Arts. A portion of this sponsorship will help fund a H.U.G. Micro-Grant awarded to a creative based in Mecklenburg County.