In challenging economic times, nothing satisfies the soul more than a chance to get away from it all, if only for a little while. The upcoming season presented by the Milwaukee Theatre will offer plenty of entertaining fare that will transport audiences back to the good ol' days.

The centerpiece is a trio of concerts that vividly bring to life some of the most memorable performers of the last 50 years. ABBA MANIA (Oct. 27), RAIN - A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES (March 14) and ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN (March 18) will stun audiences with their similarity to the original artists.

"These are more than tributes – they are celebrations of artists who have made an indelible impact on pop culture, and fans have cherished memories of each one," said Richard Geyer, Wisconsin Center District President and CEO. "From 'Dancing Queen' to 'We Are the Champions,' they have songs that fans love to sing note for note. It’s a guaranteed good time!"

RAIN – described by the DENVER POST as "the next best thing to seeing the Beatles" – was a hit during an appearance at the Milwaukee Theatre last season, leading to a return engagement.

The Milwaukee Theatre's lineup offers something for all tastes. In partnership with veteran tour company Magic Arts & Entertainment, additional shows will include the magical thrills of DAVID COPPERFIELD: An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion (Oct. 16); the international percussion sensation STOMP(Nov. 6-7); the heartwarming family favorite ANNIE(Dec. 18-19); the groundbreaking theatrical masterpiece JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Feb. 13) and HAIRSPRAY (March 5-6), Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture.

"Whether you're seeing them for the first time or enjoying them anew, you'll be sure to forget your cares while taking in these iconic shows," Geyer said.

Another favorite of yesteryear is funnyman George Burns, a beloved presence from vaudeville, TV and the movies. Many will recall the repartee he and his wife, Gracie Allen, shared with audiences, which often ended with the phrase 'Say Goodnight Gracie.' The play SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE, which kicks off the Milwaukee Theatre season Sept. 26, captures their magic for contemporary audiences.

"This show spans generations, from those who were there to see Burns and Allen personally, to those who are just learning about them for the first time, and enjoying the unmistakable chemistry," Geyer said. "It's truly an event for the whole family."

In a novel approach, shows will feature a brunch or dinner option exclusively for groups of 10 or more. "We're always looking to add value to the theater experience for our guests, especially today, and dinner will make these performances even more memorable, so bring your friends," Geyer said. The dinners will be provided by Levy Restaurants and be served starting two hours ahead of the evening shows, while brunch will be served before matinees.

Tickets for Say Goodnight Gracie are already available, and others will follow soon. Purchase tickets for multiple productions through the Flex Plan and earn exclusive benefits such as priority seating and special access to additional tickets. Single-show ticket purchases are also available.

For more about the shows or to order Flex Plans, click the "2009-10 Season" icon in the sidebar. Tickets can be purchased at the Milwaukee Theatre Box office at 500 W. Kilbourn Ave., at Ticketmaster retail location including Boston Stores, by phone at (800) 745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Convenience fees apply.

Milwaukee Theatre 2009-2010 Season

SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE (7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26; tickets on sale now) – SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE is the hit Broadway play that invites you to spend a hilarious, heartwarming evening in the uplifting company of the world’s favorite and funniest centenarian. George Burns, who spanned 100 years of American entertainment history, is now miraculously alive and kicking in a stunning tour de force.
In SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE, we discover George in limbo between this world and the next, unable to join his beloved wife and partner Gracie Allen until he gives the command performance of his lifetime for God. He looks back upon his impoverished, plucky youth on the lower East Side of New York... his disastrous but tenacious career in vaudeville... the momentous day when he meet a fabulously talented young Irish girl named Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen... their instant chemistry, with his flawless timing a perfect mate to her dizzy delivery... his wooing of her, their marriage and their rise to the pinnacles of vaudeville, movies, radio and television. Gracie's demise forced George to start from square one in life and in his career, eventually achieving an equal level of success as a solo raconteur and Academy Award-winning actor, portraying everything from a Sunshine Boy to, oh, God.

SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE was Broadway's third-longest running solo performance show and was nominated for a 2003 Tony Award for Best Play and won the 2003-04 National Broadway Theatre Award for Best Play. "You'll be in heaven!" says THE NEW YORK TIMES. Meanwhile, THE NEW YORKER calls SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE "hilarious!," NEWSDAY declares it "a pleasant, poignant, endearing stroll through the life and times of George Burns," and WNBC-TV's Jeffrey Lyons proclaims, "I strongly recommend it!"
Individual tickets are $50 and $38; for groups of 10 or more, $25 for ticket only or $50 for ticket and dinner.


DAVID COPPERFIELD: AN INTIMATE EVENING OF GRAND ILLUSION (6 and 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16; on sale 10 a.m. Sept. 8) – Imagine if you could win the lottery, travel to your perfect place in the blink of an eye, own your own dream car or turn back the hands of time. It all becomes a reality, every night.

True to its title, Grand Illusion is the logical and incredible evolution of this conjurer's art. Copperfield's goal in Grand Illusion is to take one's dreams (and maybe a few nightmares) and make them become reality using his state-of-the-art wizardry.

Copperfield says: "Grand Illusion was partly inspired by an unfilled wish of my grandfather’s that a lot of people share: winning the lottery and finally owning that one special thing you always dreamed of. We call it an 'intimate' evening of grand illusion partly because it's interactive. In one of the pieces, for example, the audience discovers how to predict lottery numbers that will come up that night. They get to participate in illusions that blur the line between magic and reality."

Copperfield delights audiences when he magically brings a necktie to life, only to find out the tie has a mind of its own! The show will also feature the spectacular and death-defying feat of Copperfield attempting to walk through rotating blades of a giant industrial fan – and live to tell the tale – grand illusion on a massive scale.

The BOSTON GLOBE proclaims, "Each illusion, no matter how lengthy the set-up, is entirely satisfying." Meanwhile, the ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS states, "David Copperfield – magician, showman, artist – definitely is one-of-a-kind."

Individual tickets are $60.50, $55.50, $45.50 and $35.50; for groups of 10 or more $60.50, $50.25, $41.25, $32.25 for tickets only, and including dinner, $85.50, $75.25, $66.25, $57.25. Dinner is only available prior to the 6 p.m. show.

ABBA MANIA (7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27; on sale 10 a.m. Sept. 14) – ABBA MANIA has been delighting audiences of all ages since its formation in 1999, selling out British theaters nationally.

Since then, ABBA MANIA has conquered other parts of the world, with concerts in Demark, Sweden, Russia, France, Luxembourg and South America. Featuring a special concert presentation, which celebrates the music and style of ABBA in a respectful and enjoyable way, ABBA Mania revives special memories of when ABBA ruled the airwaves. Their songs are timeless and will last forever.

Join in and enjoy all of your favorites including "Mamma Mia," "Voulez Vous," "Dancing Queen," "Winner Takes It All," "Super Trouper" and many more.

As SKY NEWS exclaims, "Close your eyes and it could have been ABBA!" And WHATSONSTAGE.COM proclaims the show is "mindblowingly accurate! A remarkable show which is a true credit to the performers/musicians involved."

Individual tickets ARE $45, $35 and $25; for groups of 10 or more, $40, $30 and $20 for ticket only or $65, $55 and $45 for ticket and dinner.

STOMP (8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7; on sale Sept. 14) – This update of the percussive hit brings some new surprises, with some sections of the show now updated and restructured and the addition of two new full-scale routines, utilizing props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans.

Every reworking of STOMP has involved losing some pieces and gaining new ones, but has always stayed true to the original premise of the show: to create rhythmic music with instantly recognizable objects, and do it with an eccentric sense of character and humor.

From its beginnings as a street performance in the UK, STOMP has grown into an international sensation over the past 14 years, having performed in over 350 cities in 36 countries worldwide. STOMP continues its phenomenal run with the ongoing sell-out Off-Broadway production at New York’s Orpheum Theatre, a North American tour and two productions overseas – a London company and a European tour.

STOMP is the winner of an Olivier Award for Best Choreography (London's Tony Award), a New York Obie Award, a Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatre Experience and a Special Citation from Best Plays.

Critics and audiences have raved: "STOMP is as crisp and exuberant as if it had opened yesterday," says THE NEW YORK TIMES. The SSAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE declares "STOMP has a beat that just won't quit!" The LOS ANGELES TIMES exclaims: "Electrifying! Triumphs in the infinite variety of the human experience." "A phenomenal show! Bashing, crashing, smashing, swishing, banging and kicking – a joyous invention!" says the CHICAGO TRIBUNE.

Individual tickets are $52.50, $45, $37.50 and $25; for groups of 10 or more, $52.50, $41, $34.25 and $23, and including brunch/dinner, $77.50, $66, $59.25 and $48.

ANNIE (8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19; on sale Oct. 16) – Leapin' Lizards! America’s most beloved musical, ANNIE, is giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is "one of the best musicals ever," says the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. The CHICAGO SUN-TIMS says, "Ageless Annie is as engaging as ever."

The original Broadway production of Annie won seven 1977 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book and Score. It ran for 2,377 performances, and has subsequently been produced all over the world. The original production is one of the top 20 longest running shows in Broadway history, and Annie continues to be one of the most successful musicals ever.

Boasting one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including "It's the Hard-Knock Life," "Easy Street," "N.Y.C." and the ever-optimistic "Tomorrow," you can bet your bottom dollar that Annie will bring a smile to your face.

Individual tickets are $63.50, $58.50, $48.50 and $38.50; for groups of 10 or more, $63.50, $53, $44 and $35, and including brunch/dinner, $88.50, $78, $69 and $60.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; on sale Dec. 18) – JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, the groundbreaking theatrical masterpiece by the legendary writing team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, is back and better than ever.

The first collaboration between Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber to be performed on the professional stage, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is one of the most popular and enduring works ever created for the musical theater. It debuted on Broadway in 1971, and featuring such notable songs as "Superstar," "Everything's Alright" and "I Don't Know How to Love Him," JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR earned five Tony nominations.

Set in two acts, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR tells the story of the final seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Superstar dramatizes Jesus's entry in Jerusalem, the unrest caused by his preaching and popularity, his betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pontius Pilate, and his ultimate crucifixion.

Internationally beloved star Ted Neeley, best known for his Golden Globe-nominated role as Jesus in the Norman Jewison film version of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, will be headlining this tour of Superstar. This JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is a "soaring testament to longevity," raves THE BUFALO NEWS, while DC THEATRE SCENE notes the rock opera's status as an "indelible cultural entity."
Individual tickets are $63.50, $58.50, $48.50 and $38.50; for groups of 10 or more, $63.50, $53, $44 and $35, and including dinner, $88.50, $78, $69 and $60.

HAIRSPRAY (8 p.m. Friday, March 5; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 6; on sale Dec. 18) – In HAIRSPRAY, it's 1962 – the '50s are out and change is in the air. Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion – to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show," and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity.

But can a plus-size trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her 'do? Only in HAIRSPRAY! Welcome to the '60s!

Everyone is raving about this delightful musical, including the critics. "A great big fat gorgeous hit," claims Clive Barnes of the NEW YORK POST. "Completely irresistible! Get those tickets now!" declares syndicated columnist Liz Smith. "So many numbers bring down the house, it's a wonder the theater is still standing," says Jeremy Gerard of NEW YORK MAGAZINE.

HAIRSPRAY is based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, who served as a creative consultant on the musical comedy. This production of Hairspray is based on Jack O'Brien's original direction and Jerry Mitchell's original choreography, recreated by Matt Lenz and Danny James Austin, respectively. HAIRSPRAY is produced by NETworks Presentations.

Individual tickets are $63.50, $58.50, $48.50 and $38.50; for groups of 10 or more, $63.50, $53, $44 and $35, and including dinner $88.50, $78, $69 and $60.

RAIN – A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES (7 p.m. Sunday, March 14; on sale Jan. 15) – Get Back Milwaukee! RAIN, the acclaimed Beatles concert, returns by popular demand! They look like them and they sound just like them! "The next best thing to seeing The Beatles," raves the DENVER POST. All the music and vocals are performed totally live!

Rain covers The Beatles from the earliest beginnings through the psychedelic late '60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. Rain is a multimedia, multidimensional experience ... a fusion of historical footage and hilarious television commercials from the 1960s lights up video screens and live cameras zoom in for close-ups. "A thrilling bit of time-warping nostalgia... Boomer Heaven!" raves THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. "Uncanny! Rain are a quartet of fine musicians in their own right...as The Beatles, they triumph!" cheers the BOSTON HERALD. "An adoring Valentine to The Beatles," declares the WASHINGTON POST.

Sing along with your family and friends to such favorites as "Let It Be," "Hey Jude," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Come Together" and "Can't Buy Me Love," and relive Beatlemania from Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road!

Individual tickets are $50 and $38; for groups of 10 or more, $45 and $33 for ticket only or $70 and $58 for ticket and dinner.

ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN (7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18; on sale Jan. 15) – ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN formed in 2000 after Gary Mullen won ITV's 'Stars In Their Eyes' grand finale with a record poll of 864,838 votes, more than double the runner up and the most votes ever received on the show. Along with his band The Works, Gary delivers the look, the sound and the showmanship of arguably the greatest live band of all time.

Over the past nine years ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN has toured virtually non-stop around the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, Holland, France and New Zealand, playing theatres, arenas and festivals to sell-out crowds everywhere. In September 2005 the show was invited to perform at the BBC's "Proms in the Park" event in Hyde Park, London, alongside Andrea Bocelli, G4 and Simply Red. Being described as "the highlight of the day" and receiving rapturous applause from 45,000 fans, cemented ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN's reputation as being "much more than a tribute." Gary Mullen is Freddie Mercury and he will rock you!

The NNEWCASTLE EVENING CHRONICLE’s Andrew Mitchell proclaims, "Mullen’s vocal range is impressive, no unbelievable, to say the least." And Nick Hyde of the BLACKPOOL GAZETTE raves, "As tribute shows go, there can be none better than this. Absolutely superb."

Ticket information: Individual tickets are $45, $35 and $25; for groups of 10 or more, $40, $30 and $20 for ticket only or $65, $55 and $45 for ticket and dinner.