MNfusion: Ordway Announces 2016 – 2017 Season

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts has announced its 2016-2017 theatrical season on Tuesday, March 15.

After a successful 30th celebration, the St. Paul theater is bringing a collection of classical and modern shows for the following year.

The season begins with the 1950 Lerner & Loewe musical, "Paint Your Wagon." The show tells the story of the rush to California for gold and a better life.

In December, Irving Berlin's classic "White Christmas" returns. Just in time for the holiday season, audiences can hear Phil, Judy, Bob and Betty sing about snow, buttermilk and liverwurst.

The first show of 2017 is the 2014 Tony Award winner for best revival of a musical, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." The musical tells the story about the lead singer in a rock band who goes through a gender transition. The show first appeared Off-Broadway in 1998 and won several Tony awards when it returned in 2014.

After a the somewhat untraditional musical, the beloved "West Side Story" takes the stage. This particular performance will feature a collaboration of several diverse artists throughout the Twin Cities.

Finally, the season ends with Gershwin's "An American In Paris." While the musical only premiered in 2015, it is based off of a 1950's film of the same name. The story is that of an American soldier looking to start his life anew at the end of World War II. Left in Paris at the end of the war, he meets a mysterious woman. Between his desire to learn more about her and his passion for painting, he decides to stay.

The Ordway's Broadway Songbook and World Music & Dance programs are also bringing back a number of performances.

For the 2016-2017 season, there will be two Broadway Songbooks. The first, in fall, is "Rebels on Broadway." James A. Rocco highlights a number of rambunctious characters found throughout Broadway's history.

Then, in spring, Rocco looks at Hollywood's influence on theater in "Hollywood and Broadway."

Additionally, the Ordway welcomes performances by "Stomp," NPR and a return performance of "The Hip Hop Nutcracker."

The full 2016-2017 season is as follows:

Ordway Theater Season
"Lerner & Loewe's Paint Your Wagon" – Aug. 9 – 21, 2016
"Broadway Songbook: Rebels On Broadway" – Sept. 23 – 25, 2016
"Irving Berlin's White Christmas" – Dec. 8 – Dec. 31, 2016
"Hedwig and the Angry Inch" – Feb. 14 – 19, 2017
"West Side Story" – April 4 – 16, 2017
"Broadway Songbook: Hollywood and Broadway" – May 14 – 21, 2017
"An American in Paris" – June 13 – 18, 2017

Special Events
"Stomp" – Oct. 18 – 23, 2016
"Sphinx Virtuosi with Catalyst Quartet" – Oct. 20, 2017
NPR's "From The Top" with Host Christopher O'Riley – Nov. 13, 2016
"The Hip Hop Nutcracker" – Nov. 22 – 23, 2016
The Steeles: "The Color of Gershwin" – April 21, 2017
"Circus 1903 – The Golden Age Of Circus" – June 27 – July 2, 2017

World Music & Dance Season

Martha Redbone – "Bone Hill: The Concert" – Oct. 8, 2016

• Martha Redbone offers a blend of R&B, soul and traditional Native American music.

"Step Afrika!" – Oct. 29, 2016

• The company, started in 1994, is dedicated to the art of African stepping. They will perform their show "The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence" that was co-commissioned by the Ordway.

"The Lagos Music Salon by Somi" – Jan. 27, 2017

• Somi combines pop, soul and African jazz in each performance.

"Oyate Okodakiciyapi: An Evening of Native Contemporary Dance" – March 4, 2017

• This show will feature a number of innovative choreographers and dance companies that highlight Native American traditions.

"Las Cafeteras" – March 23, 2017

• Las Cafeteras is an Afro-Mexican storytelling group that blends song and story.

Indigenous – April 21, 2017

• Indigenous is a blues-rock group that showcases guitar solos and riffs.

"TU Dance" – April 29, 2017

• This St. Paul dance company creates what they call "physical poetry" in each of their unique performances.