Broadway Series

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Purchase Your Broadway Subscription at The Grand!
Purchase Your Broadway Subscription at The Grand! 851 315 Julia Morrison

DON’T MISS A MOMENT FROM LIGHTS UP TO FINAL CURTAIN

We have a new Broadway Series title sponsor to welcome and a new season of shows to announce. The 2024-25 season is going to be highly entertaining and we invite you to purchase your seats today.

First, The Piedmont Grand Opera House is excited to welcome Genesis of Macon as the Title Sponsor of this year’s Broadway Series. We look forward to creating meaningful opportunities for you to get to know Genesis of Macon this year. We hope you can take time to welcome Genesis of Macon to The Grand Family. They are great friends! The Genesis of Macon Broadway Series at The Grand are the only Broadway national tours in Central Georgia. We have tickets on sale now for a subscription to all three shows for the season. Each of these shows have two nights of performances, so you can pick a subscription for Night #1 or Night #2.

Season Ticket Prices (plus taxes and fees)

  • Area 1: $192
  • Area 2: $164
  • Area 3 and Box Seats: $153

WHY SUBSCRIBE?

Subscribers get the best seats at the best prices: By being a subscriber to all three shows, you save money off the ticket price for individual performances. Additionally, right now Broadway tickets are subscription-only – meaning you’ll get the best seats before the general public.

Saved you a seat: When you choose to subscribe, your preferred seat is retained for you for the following year when you renew. Love that aisle seat? Want to make sure you’re always front row center? Subscription is the best way to ensure that.

Keep Broadway in Macon: By subscribing, you ensure a broad base of support that helps us keep Broadway touring productions coming to The Grand for future years.

Buy online, in person at our box office or over the phone at 478-301-5470. Additionally, subscribers to the previous season have had their seats held for them. Do not use the links below if you are a previous subscriber. To renew, a previous subscriber can contact the box office and will have received an email from our ticket site, Tixr (noreply@tixr.com) with an invoice that they can use to renew.

Subscribe to Night #1 Now

Subscribe to Night #2 Now

ABOUT THE SHOWS

AIN’T TOO PROUD: FEBRUARY 4-5, 2025

Ain’t Too Proud is the electrifying new musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one. The rest is history — how they met, the groundbreaking heights they hit and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the United States fell into civil unrest. This thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal is set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and so many more. Sponsored by Macon-Bibb County Office of the Mayor, Lester Miller

NEIL BERG’S 50 YEARS OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: MARCH 19-20, 2025

With a cast consisting of both stars from Broadway’s greatest rock musicals, as well as incredible Rock & Roll singers, Neil Berg shares the often unknown stories from the fifty-year history of the music that changed the world forever! From the progenitors of Rock and Roll in the 1940s, through the glory years of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, up until MTV in the early ’80s, Neil Berg’s 50 Years of Rock ‘N’ Roll uses fascinating stories and groundbreaking music, with tributes to such important and iconic rock stars and genre such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Frankie Valli, The Beatles, Beach Boys, Motown, Aretha Franklin, The Who, Janis Joplin, Woodstock, Simon and Garfunkel, Carole King, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Aerosmith, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Disco, New Wave, Journey, and others!

PRETTY WOMAN THE MUSICAL: APRIL 22-23, 2025

Pretty Woman The Musical, based on one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time, springs to life with a powerhouse team led by Tony-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (“Hairspray,” “Kinky Boots,” “Legally Blonde”). Pretty Woman The Musical features an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ’69,” “Heaven”) and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J. F. Lawton. “Pretty Woman The Musical will lift your spirits and light up your heart. “If you love the movie, you’ll love the musical!” (BuzzFeed News). Pretty Woman The Musical delivers on all the iconic moments you remember. Get ready to experience this dazzling theatrical take on a love story for the ages. Are you ready to fall in love all over again? Sponsored by Carlyle Place

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Purchase Your Broadway Subscription at The Grand!
Purchase Your Broadway Subscription at The Grand! 864 540 Julia Morrison

The Broadway Series held at The Grand Opera House are the only Broadway national tours in Central Georgia. We have tickets on sale now for a subscription to all four shows. All Broadway shows have two nights of performances, so you can pick a subscription for Night #1 or Night #2.

Become a subscriber and save! Enjoy special savings for your Broadway tickets at The Grand and make the experience your own in your guaranteed seats. Don’t miss a single moment from lights up to final curtain.

Season Ticket Prices

  • Area 1: $246 (plus taxes and fees)
  • Area 2: $209 (plus taxes and fees)
  • Area 3 and Box Seats: $193 (plus taxes and fees)

Buy online, in person at our box office or over the phone at 478-301-5470. Additionally, subscribers to the previous season have had their seats held for them. Do not use the links below if you are a previous subscriber. To renew, they can contact the box office, complete and return the renewal form that will be mailed to them in the coming days, and they have received an email from our ticket site, Tixr (noreply@tixr.com) with an invoice that they can use to renew.

NEW! We have a new and improved online ticket system. If you’ve bought tickets at The Grand before, go to thegrandmacon.tixr.com and create a new account using the same email address as your previous account.

Subscribe to Night #1 Now

Subscribe to Night #2 Now

Why subscribe?

  • Subscribers get the best seats at the best prices: By being a subscriber to all four shows, you save money off the ticket price for individual performances. Additionally, during the summer Broadway tickets are subscription-only – meaning you’ll get the best seats before the general public.
  • Saved you a seat: When you choose to subscribe, your preferred seat is retained for you for the following year when you renew. Love that aisle seat? Want to make sure you’re always front row center? Subscription is the best way to ensure that. This year, we have added back the center aisles in the orchestra – so subscribe to be sure to grab those prime seats year after year!
  • Special perks for season members: Season subscribers will get special perks, like learning about the new season first or a subscriber gift during the show. Everyone will know you’re part of the club!
  • Keep Broadway in Macon: By subscribing, you’re ensuring a broad base of support that can help us keep Broadway touring productions coming to The Grand for future years.
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After Three Years, Broadway is Back at The Grand for New Subscription Season
After Three Years, Broadway is Back at The Grand for New Subscription Season 5000 3333 Julia Morrison

After a disruption in touring productions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first Broadway season will be held at The Grand Opera House with tickets on sale now for a subscription to all three shows. All Broadway shows have two nights of performances, so you can pick a subscription for Night #1 or Night #2.

Become a subscriber and save! Enjoy over 10% savings for your Broadway tickets at The Grand and make the experience your own in your guaranteed seats.

Season Ticket Prices

  • Gold Circle : $230 (plus tax)
  • Area 1: $210 (plus tax)
  • Area 2: $180 (plus tax)
  • Area 3 and Box Seats: $140 (plus tax)

Buy online, in person at our box office (10 a.m.-2 p.m. for the month of August) or over the phone at 478-301-5470. Additionally, subscribers to the 2019-2020 season have had their seats held for them. To renew, they can contact the box office or complete and return the renewal form that will be mailed to them in the coming days.

Why subscribe?

  • Subscribers get the best seats at the best prices: By being a subscriber to all three shows, you save over 10% off the ticket price for individual performances. Additionally, right now Broadway tickets are subscription-only – meaning you’ll get the best seats before the general public.
  • Save your seat – forever! When you choose to subscribe, your preferred seat is retained for you for the following year when you renew. Love that aisle seat? Want to make sure you’re always front row center? Subscription is the best way to ensure that.
  • Special perks for season members: Season subscribers will get a special perk during each performance this year, like subscriber gifts, thank you notes, a special post-show reception or a drink ticket for our signature cocktail. Everyone at the show will know you’re part of the club!
  • Keep Broadway in Macon: By subscribing, you’re ensuring a broad base of support that can help us keep Broadway touring productions coming to The Grand for future years.

Subscribe to Night #1 Now

Subscribe to Night #2 Now

  • Julia Morrison
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Picture Yourself at The Grand in 2021-2022: BRAND NEW SHOWS ANNOUNCED!
Picture Yourself at The Grand in 2021-2022: BRAND NEW SHOWS ANNOUNCED! 2550 1650 Julia Morrison

BRAND NEW SHOWS ANNOUNCED!

Picture yourself at The Grand: You belong here. Get date nights all year or grab a group with Movie Passes and Cabaret Packages for $20-30. Set up a private film screening or party in a grand atmosphere. Enjoy captivating shows of all genres with the best touring performers in the country. Give the gift of memories at The Grand Opera House.

Here’s a lineup of all our new performances. Tickets are on sale now – go to thegrandmacon.com anytime or buy at our box office 10 AM-5 PM by calling 478-301-5470.

9/20/2021 – BROADWAY DOES PRIDE
Cabaret
$10 6:30 and 8:30 PM

Broadway Does Pride is an upbeat cabaret-style performance blending Broadway-inspired vocal stylings with the eclectic atmosphere of an intimate lounge show in downtown Macon. “I feel pretty, and witty, and gay!” And so will you with an energetic revue that will revisit musical theatre and pop classics that resonate with the LGBTQIA+ community. For the first time, the cabaret will partner with Theatre Macon and Macon Little Theatre to show that the entire local theatre community supports Pride, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Macon Pride, in a production co-directed by Jim Crisp and Julia Rubens with music direction by McKinley Starks. Kicking off Pride Week, the special Monday showing will also be designated Service Industry Night to honor service employees. Supported by the Linda Harriet Lane Fund.

 

10/15/2021 – HOCUS POCUS
Film
$5 7 PM

When a curious teenage boy accidently resurrects a trio of ancient witches, Halloween in Salem becomes a lot more interesting. A cult classic that perfectly balances spook and hilarious hijinks, Hocus Pocus kicks off our 2021-2022 film series and is a great way to celebrate the Halloween season and look back on ‘90’s nostalgia. Hosts Yutoya Avaze Leon and Christina Leon will get witchy with you.

 

10/23/2021-10/24/2021 – MACON ART EXPLOSION (MAX)
Special Event – Art and Performance Festival
$5 Adults, Kids under 12 FREE

Macon Art Explosion (MAX) wants to push the envelope in an all-day weekend extreme art festival. Maker Merchant Booths will showcase artists’ wares and offer interactive art activities. There will be Stage Shout-Out Spots where you get a peek at what’s going on with performances, creators, and classes in the region. Finally, in Guerrilla Grand Spaces you get to explore the hidden spaces of the historic Grand, where you will discover mini-concerts, gallery shows, plays, and interactive performances. Macon Art Explosion is a radically inclusive, family-friendly day of weird, wacky, and wonderful ideas by local artists. Supported by a grant from the Community Foundation of Central GA.

 

10/30/2021 – THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
Film
$5 9 PM

Come out to The Grand for a classic Halloween tradition – The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Brad and Janet, a very square engaged couple, stumble upon Dr. Frank-n-Furter’s castle full of enigmatic and loud characters engaging in sinful delights. Rocky Horror is an interactive musical experience like no other that will leave you doing the Time Warp all the way home! Wesleyan College’s Cosplay Club will join hosts Yutoya Avaze Leon and Christina Leon in dressing to impress – join them in your best getup and have the opportunity to win our costume contest!

 

11/13/2021 – BROADWAY DOES HOLIDAY
Cabaret
$10 6:30 and 8:30 PM

Broadway Does Holiday is an upbeat cabaret-style performance blending Broadway-inspired vocal stylings with the eclectic atmosphere of an intimate lounge show in downtown Macon. Come be a part of a joyful night of music, because it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and we’re not waiting until December to celebrate! You’ll feel the holiday spirit with performances of classic holiday songs, including some of your favorite Broadway numbers. The Great White Way will lead you into dreaming of a white Christmas, with jingle bells that sound a lot like showtunes. Supported by the Linda Harriet Lane Fund.

 

11/20/2021 – THE TRIBE MACON PRESENTS LUX
Special Event – Drag Show
$15 8 PM

The Tribe’s largest show yet! Join us as we showcase the epic power of these queens – with so many tricks and effects up our sleeves, you’re sure to have the time of your life. Including incredible performers and tantalizing music, LUX will surprise you. Starring Coco Iman Starr, Akasha Giselle Vidalle, Yutoya Avaze Leon, Pynk Dime, and more. Hosted by Christina Leon.

 

12/17/2021 – THE PRINCESS BRIDE
Film
$5 7 PM

Westley and Buttercup’s epic story of love and revenge hits the big screen at The Grand this December. Laugh and let out an ‘aww’ as you watch one of the greatest love stories of all time and a family classic. With kooky characters, some absurd comedy, and a great journey, it’s “inconceivable” that the combination of The Princess Bride and the Christmas light show in downtown Macon won’t make a great heartwarming holiday evening.

 

12/18/2021 – A SILVER ANNIVERSARY CHRISTMAS WITH JOHN BERRY
Concert
$40 7:30 PM

Returning to The Grand for the 25th year, John’s special take on the Christmas season has become a Macon tradition, mixing such Berry classic hits as “Your Love Amazes Me” and “Standing On The Edge Of Goodbye,” and “I Think About It All The Time” with holiday favorites, including his always-standing-ovation performance of “O Holy Night.” No one moves an audience quite the way this platinum-selling vocalist does, and this December Grand appearance is sure to be the hottest holiday ticket in town.

 

1/14/2022 – FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF
Film
$5 7 PM

Slacker teen Ferris Bueller ropes his girlfriend and best friend into a day of exploring the city. The truant teens take the time to enjoy the cultural hub they live in because, as Ferris himself says, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Directed by John Hughes and starring Matthew Broderick, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a love letter to the culture and spirit of Chicago.

 

2/15/2022 – ABBA MANIA
Concert
$35-49 7:30 PM

They’re back… now let’s party! ABBA MANIA, the original tribute from London’s West End, takes you back in time by recreating one of the world’s finest pop groups in a live stage performance. This highly polished and professional production has been delighting audiences since 1999, re-creating the ABBA phenomenon for fans all over the world. “From beginning to end, ABBA MANIA keeps the party going, jumping, bouncing, twirling and dancing tirelessly” –WBSM New Bedford.

 

2/25/2022 – MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL
Film
$5 7 PM

Monty Python and the Holy Grail turns the classical legend of King Arthur’s search for the Holy Grail into a highly quotable farcical comedy, starring the British jesters that have been beloved for generations. Arthur and his knights embark on a poorly funded and incredibly silly search and encounter a multitude of truly ridiculous obstacles like terrifying rabbits and the Knights Who Say “Ni!” This classic comedy will have you leaving the theatre in stitches.

 

3/11/2022 – THE TEN TENORS
Concert
$35-45 7:30 PM

The TEN Tenors are an Australian music ensemble that has toured extensively nationally and internationally and released more than 20 albums. Since The TEN Tenors was first formed in 1995, the group has performed extensively in Australia, overseas and on television, and their signature brand of music featuring 10-part harmonies has been enjoyed by more than 90 million people. They have headlined more than 2,000 concerts around the world, sold more than 3.5 million concert tickets and become renowned for their dynamic, choreographed performances and skillful ability to seamlessly transition from operatic arias to soulful ballads through to chart-topping pop and rock songs.

 

3/18/2022 – BROADWAY DOES THE ‘80S
Cabaret
$10 6:30 and 8:30 PM

Broadway Does the 80s is an upbeat cabaret-style performance blending Broadway-inspired vocal stylings with the eclectic atmosphere of an intimate lounge show in downtown Macon. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” for a night and experience your favorite 80s songs, both Broadway and otherwise, on the big stage! From Dreamgirls and Into The Woodsto Cyndi Lauper and Wham, the energy and passion of 80s music will raise the roof. Supported by the Linda Harriet Lane Fund.

 

3/24/2022 – KENNY ENDO TAIKO ENSEMBLE
Concert
$20-25 7:30 PM

The beat of the drum thrums through your body. Soon your heart and the drummer are in synch and excitement fills your body. In celebration of the Cherry Blossom Festival, we are fortunate to welcome Kenny Endo, the first Westerner to be granted a license to perform traditional Japanese taiko drumming, as he celebrates 45 years practicing an art that is both bombastic and subtle. The evening will include traditional taiko drumming as well as contemporary works where jazz vibraphone, electric violin, Hawaiian ‘ukulele and traditional Japanese instruments are played with a rock and jazz energy.

 

4/8/2022-4/9/2022 – HEALING A HAUNTED HOUSE
Special Event – Interactive Play
$10, $5 Mercer ID 7:30 PM

The echo inside faded walls. There are nearly 4,000 blighted structures in Bibb County that are no longer occupied by a soul (Source: The Telegraph). But what if they still had a voice? This multimedia community-wide exploration process worked directly with citizens of Macon-Bibb County to gather five stories of homes that were once vibrant in Pleasant Hill, presenting them as examples to ask what our civic body can do to restore and heal. A co-creation of lead artists Nancy Cleveland, Julia Rubens, and DSTO Moore along with a host of ensemble voices, partnering The Grand with Historic Macon Foundation and Mercer Players. Supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly and with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

4/16/2022 – THE BRAT PACK DOUBLE FEATURE (Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo’s Fire)
Film
$5 7 PM

April will bring you back to the ‘80s at The Grand with the double feature of two classic Brat Pack films, St. Elmo’s Fire and Pretty in Pink. These both tells the story of struggling to find who you are and who you want to be – in a world that can change between life, love, and death in an instant. In these two heartfelt films, first feel for high schooler Andie (Molly Ringwald) as she attempts to balance the unstable nature of social cliques and following your heart, then follow an ensemble of recent college graduates (led by Rob Lowe) trying to navigate their wild twentysomething paths while staying friends.

 

4/22/2022 – MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL
Broadway
$45-60 Adult, $30 Kids under 12 7:30 PM

Great for families! Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound out of the zoo and onto the stage in this musical spectacular. Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar The Musical follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Sponsored by Atrium Health Navicent.

 

5/6/2022 – BROADWAY DOES SOUL
Cabaret
$10 6:30 and 8:30 PM

Broadway Does Soul is an upbeat cabaret-style performance blending Broadway-inspired vocal stylings with the eclectic atmosphere of an intimate lounge show in downtown Macon. Connect with the deep emotions and truths of soul music from local Macon music heritage, classic songs from shows such as Memphis and The Wiz, and the sounds of Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye in this night of soulful tunes. Supported by the Linda Harriet Lane Fund.

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He “got rhythm” in only 38 years. Who could ask for anything more?
He “got rhythm” in only 38 years. Who could ask for anything more? 3856 3024 Julia Morrison

Gershwin’s tragedy was not that he failed to cross the tracks, but rather that he did, and once there in his new habitat, was deprived of the chance to plunge his roots firmly into the new soil. -Leonard Bernstein

In honor of our first Broadway show, I wanted to give a nod to its composer – the legendary George Gershwin. When spanning important 20th century American music – jazz, showtunes, and the rise of popular music delivered on film – the name Gershwin is ubiquitous.

The odds are, you know a few Gershwin songs without even knowing that you know them.

His story starts straight out of the opening of a musical itself, on the streets of turn-of-the-century lower Manhattan. Born to Russian Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, George, along with brother Ira (later his lyricist) and other siblings, grew up around the Yiddish theatre in the East Village. His father was a factory man, and as he was hired and fired, Ira said the family lived in 28 apartments during their childhood.

By no means was George destined to be a composer.

In fact, famously, he first discovered the beauty of music as a 10-year-old attending a neighbor girl’s violin recital. When his parents bought a secondhand piano, it was due to Ira’s interest, not George. And it was their sister, Frances, who first supported their family with talent on the stage, singing for $40 a week and even appearing on Broadway. Yet Frances married and retired. And soon George would begin to wear out the family’s piano, not Ira.

George Gershwin

A teen prodigy, he dropped out of school at 15 to focus on piano full time with his teacher noting, “I have a new pupil who will make his mark if anybody will. The boy is a genius.” As in any rags-to-riches tale, George worked hard, first as a “song plugger” in Tin Pan Alley playing new sheet music as a marketing gimmick for publishers, and later working as a rehearsal pianist on Broadway.

An accidental genius, when George started composing, he was prolific. Though his first composition earned him only 50 cents, George simply arranged, wrote, and recorded hundreds of songs in his late teens. What makes Gershwin different is that he had one foot in the classical world and one in the world of popular music, creating hybrids that have been described as “distinctly American.” But this American sound was propelled by others.

Writing “Swanee” around the time he turned 20, the hit propelled Gershwin to stardom and millions of copies sold, having been covered by everyone from Judy Garland to the Muppets. This also begins the Gershwin brothers’ complicated history with racially musical traditions, as “Swanee,” like many vaudeville numbers at the time, cannot be disassociated from the abhorrent practice of minstrelsy, and was in fact first popularized by blackface performer Al Jolson.

 

Much of the foundation of modern musical theatre comes from these shameful traditions. However, George was fascinated by African-American music and wanted the ability to tell genuine stories with black performers on stage. Porgy and Bess was the first opera (and Broadway performance) that featured a story and a cast of and about black Americans. George did travel down to Charleston, South Carolina to try to accurately capture the music of African-American spirituals in the work. And he was known to go visit all-black performances in New York, breaking segregated lines. But still, though George’s attitudes were sometimes daring in crossing the color barrier, the cultural appropriation that pervades his legacy and that of others of his time is difficult to grapple with in a modern context.

At the height of his career, George switched seamlessly between writing classical music, jazz, and truly defining the concept of “showtunes” on Broadway and in film. Yes, you’ve heard Gershwin music, even if you can’t identify it.

Consider the ubiquitous clarinet opening of the orchestral Rhapsody in Blue and the light Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers film Shall We Dance:

Aren’t those tunes familiar?

George’s prolific output during his lifetime alone included at least five full orchestral pieces, two operas, 15 Broadway musicals, five films, and countless piano numbers and popular sheet music. All of this output was before George passed from a brain tumor early at the age of 38. And putting this rough count together does not counting the many, many hundreds of rearrangements of his pieces in musicals and films posthumously, which is most likely how you and I first heard Gershwin.

“Gershwin’s melodic gift was phenomenal. His songs contain the essence of New York in the 1920s and have deservedly become classics of their kind, part of the 20th-century folk-song tradition in the sense that they are popular music which has been spread by oral tradition (for many must have sung a Gershwin song without having any idea who wrote it).” -Michael Kennedy

And what about An American in Paris?

The legacy of this musical, playing March 17 and 18 at The Grand, is so unusual and twists through multiple decades and even centuries. It is often cited by contemporaries as one of the best movie musicals of all time, though it lacks the name recognition of films like Singin’ in the Rain and Chicago.

One hundred years ago, George was enamored by French Impressionist composer Maurice Ravel and booked a trip to Paris to learn from him. Amazingly, Ravel turned him down, saying, “Why be a second-rate Ravel when you can be a first-rate Gershwin?”

Yet during his time in Paris, George began tinkering with a small fragment inspired by the Parisian spirit that he called a “rhapsodic ballet.” This basis began An American in Paris, a jazzy orchestral piece completed in 1928, which has often been performed with ballet dance. George noted, “My purpose here is to portray the impressions of an American visitor in Paris as he strolls about the city, listens to the various street noises, and absorbs the French atmosphere.”

The composition itself, fascinatingly, splits between French styles while the character is “walking” the city and the native American Blues of the homesick visitor. In that way, it was made for drama.

Gene Kelly vamps it up in the film version

And the score sure found it. In the late 1940’s, a movie producer named Arthur Freed was fascinated by Gershwin music and pushed Ira to sell some of George’s catalog. His vision? Use the iconic American composer and the French-sounding score to cash in on the patriotic (yet internationally-curious) post-war spirit coasting through America.

The film was a success, with the star power of Gene Kelly at the helm in 1951. It was lush, risqué, and featured stunning sets and long musical numbers that were expensive to produce – the finale alone was filmed over four weeks. The fantastical, rhapsodic ballet atmosphere Gershwin attempted to produce decades earlier burst into Technicolor life under Vincente Minelli (father of pop culture icon Liza).

And after clinching Best Picture at the Academy Awards, the golden era of musical movies burst forth in rapid succession. Without An American in Paris, movie musicals would have been stuck in vaudeville stereotypes of sequins and plunking away at a piano. When one considers the conceptual boldness of something like The Sound of Music, for example, with its extravagant tracking shot of Julie Andrews in the Austrian mountains, know that would not have been possible without the filmmakers who paved the way for the success of the genre.

Stunning dance work pervades the Broadway show

It is no surprise, then, that the stage adaptation for Broadway was directed by Christopher Wheeldon – less of a typical theatre director and more a visionary ballet choreographer, at home in the largest ballet companies in America. Wheeldon ups the stakes of the original movie, placing the plot closer to the door of World War II and emphasizing the war-torn nature of 1940’s Paris. The rhapsodic ballet of Gershwin survives well into the 21st century, nominated for 11 Tony Awards and winning four, including Best Choreography. NPR called it “a perfect mélange of Franco-British-American artistic traditions of dance and theater.”

And soon, An American in Paris dances to our very doorstep. Who could ask for anything more?

The musical will play March 17 and 17 and tickets are available for purchase here and at 478-301-5470. To complement your Parisian evening, a multi-course preshow meal package from Lazy Susan Tapas called Midnight in Paris is available as an add-on at checkout.

-Julia Rubens is the Director of Arts Marketing for The Grand Opera House

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Don’t miss a single note. Subscribe to Broadway in Macon
Don’t miss a single note. Subscribe to Broadway in Macon 3840 2160 Julia Morrison

There’s always been something special about the American-born art form of the Broadway musical.

It takes place at a moment where your emotions swell to the point that words just won’t do. It’s the coordination of dozens of performers with moving set pieces, sparkling costumes, and the timing of a live orchestra. A Broadway story is just grander than daily life… or as an expression I’ve often heard, “Drama is not about doing the dishes!”

So why not see it in the grandest place in Macon?

As spring comes upon us, Broadway will visit Macon once again. This year, each musical brings the audience back in time to mid-20th century, wrestling with what it means to be an American in times of upheaval. Yet each story has its own distinct personality, from the breathless romance of An American in Paris, to the high-octane big band brass and dance of Bandstand, to the soulful empowerment of The Color Purple.

Bandstand comes from three-time Tony® winner and Hamilton choreographer, Andy Blankenbuehler.

And there’s one way to get a front row seat and experience every moment. Becoming a subscriber is about more than just savings – it’s about never missing a beat from the first overture to the final bow. You also become part of the engine that powers The Grand to continue telling these stories.

It’s a community that doesn’t stop when the lights come up. Subscribers get special perks and events, like subscriber-only receptions, season preview party, and advanced access to tickets before they go on sale to the general public. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, for example, which sold out in 2019, went to subscribers first for 2020 tickets. There’s opportunities to get the best seats for other performances, too, even for some shows that aren’t presented by The Grand.

The Color Purple was based on Alice Walker’s experiences growing up in Middle Georgia

Subscribers get superior service, from sitting in their preferred seats for every show to being recognized by our staff and volunteers. Some folks have become friends with their seatmates for years at a time.

And yes, subscriptions offer the steepest discount on Broadway in Macon. Subscriptions start at less than $50 per Broadway ticket, a major savings over buying for each individual performance.

With so many reasons to subscribe, why take the chance on missing a daring stage feat, a singer bringing down the house, or a story that stirs the soul?

Subscribe to Broadway now – or contact us with any questions, thoughts, or concerns.

An American in Paris features Gershwin classics like “I Got Rhythm”

Bandstand dancers
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2019-2020 Season Subscriptions
2019-2020 Season Subscriptions 6720 4480 Joe Patti

Become a subscriber and save! Enjoy a lower rate for your Broadway tickets at The Grand and make the experience your own in your guaranteed seats.

Season Ticket Prices

Area 1 : $166.50 (plus tax)

Area 2: $147.00 (plus tax)

Buy online, in person or over the phone at 478.301.5470.

An American In Paris March 27-28

(Note: Trailer from the Broadway production. We will update when video of current production becomes available)

Bandstand April 27-28

The Color Purple May 6-7

Read More about these amazing shows by visiting the event pages below:

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  • Sarah Webster
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2018-2019 Broadway Series
2018-2019 Broadway Series 1600 1200 Sarah Webster

Become a subscriber and save! Enjoy a lower rate for your Broadway tickets at The Grand and make the experience your own in your guaranteed seats. Season tickets are on sale now. Buy them today!

Season Ticket Prices

Area 1 : $166.50 (plus tax)

Area 2: $147.00 (plus tax)

Buy online, in person or over the phone at 478.301.5470.

Spamalot: November 14-15

Finding Neverland: Feb 12-13

Chicago The Musical: Mar 21-22

Read More about these amazing shows by visiting the event pages below:

No event found!

Note: Because we are undergoing renovation, The Grand box office is temporarily relocated to the Mercer University Center Box Office on the Macon Campus.

 

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