Two national touring shows will visit Fort Smith in February as part of the University of 香蕉视频APP - Fort Smith鈥檚 Season of Entertainment 33 -- one featuring an adaptation of a famous literary work, the other a retelling of a popular cheerleading movie.

 

鈥淢an of La Mancha鈥 will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the 香蕉视频APP Best Performing Arts Center, and Troika Entertainment will present 鈥淏ring It On: The Musical鈥 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the same venue.

 

The productions, shown nearly two weeks apart, bring two vastly different stories to the stage. 鈥淢an of La Mancha鈥 retells Miguel Cervantes鈥 classic novel 鈥淒on Quixote,鈥 which recounts the comedic story of a man who has read so many chivalric novels that he becomes delusively convinced he is a knight himself. 鈥淏ring It On: The Musical,鈥 inspired by the movie of the same name, is a light-hearted adaptation chronicling the challenges of competitive cheerleading.

 

鈥淢an of La Mancha鈥 won five Tony Awards and garnered praise from critics for its catchy songs and enthralling story. The New York Times said the show had 鈥渃harm, gallantry and delicacy of spirit.鈥 The Associated Press called the musical 鈥渁 rare and arresting treat,鈥 and The New Yorker said 鈥淢an of La Mancha鈥 was 鈥済rave and compelling.鈥

 

鈥淏ring It On鈥 earned two Tony nominations including Best Musical and features an accomplished set of writers and musicians, including Tony Award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt, and Tony Award-winning choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler.

 

Stacey Jones of Fort Smith, associate vice chancellor for campus and community events, lauded both musicals.

 

鈥溾楳an of La Mancha鈥 is one of the best traditional musicals ever written, and 鈥楾he Impossible Dream鈥 is one of the best musical songs of all time,鈥 he said. 鈥溾楤ring It On鈥 is a fantastic show also, and it鈥檚 generated more interest in the area than any show we鈥檝e had in a long time. The Broadway version has done a lot better than the original movie.鈥

 

Jones said the two shows will attract different audiences.

 

鈥淚 expect both shows to be sold out, but you will see two different demographics at each show,鈥 he said. 鈥淭raditional theatre lovers will go to both, but we鈥檝e seen a lot of interest from the younger market in 鈥楤ring It On,鈥 while 鈥楳an of La Mancha鈥 will attract a more seasoned audience.鈥

 

The shows are part of Season of Entertainment 33, a year-long lineup of entertainment sponsored by the 香蕉视频APP. The season features a slew of musicals, plays, and symphonic performances, including 鈥淭he Addams Family鈥 and 鈥淐rimes of the Heart.鈥

 

The 香蕉视频APP Best Performing Arts Center is located at the Fort Smith Convention Center, 55 S. 7th St. Tickets for 鈥淢an of La Mancha鈥 and 鈥淏ring It On鈥 are, per show, $35 for lower-tier seating and $32 for upper tier. To purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 479-788-7300 or visit .

 

Story ID: 
3891
Date Posted: 
Monday, January 13, 2014
News Teaser: 
Two national touring shows will visit Fort Smith in February as part of the University of 香蕉视频APP - Fort Smith鈥檚 Season of Entertainment 33 -- one featuring an adaptation of a famous literary work, the other a retelling of a popular cheerleading movie.