ZACH Theatre Announces the Return of The Hit 60’s Girl Group Musical BEEHIVE

Jan. 13, 2009 - PRLog -- Austin, Texas - ZACH Theatre, Austin’s premiere professional theatre, announces the return of its Austin Critics Table and B. Iden Payne award-winning Best Musical, BEEHIVE, for farewell performances running from January 16 to February 22, 2009, at 8:00 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m., Sundays on ZACH’s Kleberg Stage. Celebrating 16 years of success, BEEHIVE will play 18 shows before hanging up the fringe, sequins and towering hairdos for the last time.  A record number of attendees are expected; tickets range from $32-$46 with discounts available for seniors, students and groups of eight or more.

“BEEHIVE is the biggest hit in ZACH’s 75-year history” says ZACH Artistic Director Dave Steakley on ZACH’s blog. “We’re anticipating a high turnout of devoted fans, and hope to attract scores of first-timers who have never seen the show with this final revival. It’s our “Sweet Sixteen” year and in speaking to the original cast we decided this was an appropriate time to blow a final kiss goodbye to the show that has become so identified with ZACH.  Our opening weekend is also Janis Joplin’s and Andra Mitrovich’s birthdays, so there’s something particularly divine in that! BEEHIVE audiences are the best -- we look forward to giving them a fantastic show and starting 2009 with a bang!”

Created by Larry Gallagher and directed by Steakley, BEEHIVE first opened in Austin on ZACH’s stage New Year’s Eve 1992 and became an instant hit with its heartfelt tribute to the girl groups and individual artists who skyrocketed to fame between the years 1960-1969: The Shirelles, The Supremes, Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, Lesley Gore, Aretha Franklin, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Tina Turner, and Janis Joplin. ZACH’s stellar cast of singers – who raise-the-roof nightly with one chart topping hit after another – has made BEEHIVE an enduring favorite with audiences. Playful audience participation that enlists the audience has been a hallmark of the show creating memorable new things that happen at every single performance.

This will absolutely be the final opportunity to enjoy original Beehive cast members Rebecca Schoolar, Laura Benedict, Judy Arnold and Andra Mitrovich. Rebecca as Connie Francis will lead Lesley Gore on a search for a groom in the audience nightly in a hilarious spoof of Where The Boys Are.  Laura brings Brenda Lee’s adolescent yodel to full country glory on I’m Sorry and audiences will swear they’re looking at and hearing Lulu when she sings To Sir With Love. Judy has a memorable game of Twister in store for a lucky audience member each night, and will have the fringe flying in her powerhouse rendition of Tina Turner’s Proud Mary complete with Ikettes. Andra as Janis Joplin singing songs like Me & Bobby McGee and Piece of My Heart made her an Austin star and provides audiences a taste of what lies ahead next summer when ZACH stages the Off-Broadway hit Love, Janis.   And the high point of every Beehive performance is the show-stopping Judy and Andra duet on You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman/ Do Right Woman.  New to the show this year are Amani Dorn and Noellia Hernandez who have delighted Austin audiences recently as the Radio in Caroline, or Change and in roles in ZACH’s Jesus Christ Superstar/Jesucristo Superestrella, Rockin’ Christmas Party and Seussical.

Add to this Dave Steakley’s period perfect choreography – with tongue planted firmly in cheek, the original retro-inspired costume and set designs by Michael Raiford -- including the legendary dresses made from actual Twister games and a curtain made from hundreds of 45 records – 36 skyscraper wig designs by Willa Kay Warren, a rockin’ sound design by Craig Brock, and eye-popping lighting by Jason Amato, which will transport audiences to the era which spans from Shindig! to Woodstock. All this artistry combines with the hilarious “higher the hair, closer to God” antics of our ladies, who ignite the stage one last time to say “Thanks Austin!” and get your 2009 off to a terrific start!
To keep up with ZACH Theatre news, events and happenings, visit www.zachtheatre.org, or add ZACH as a friend on MySpace, Facebook (Zach Scott) or follow on Twitter.com/zachtheatre for real-time updates.

ZACH Theatre is sponsored, in part, by Austin American-Statesman, Time Warner Cable, American Airlines, Austin News TV 36, Premiere Tents and Events, The Dell Foundation, SOL Marketing Concepts, IKEA, The Shubert Foundation, The City of Austin - under the auspices of the Austin Arts Commission, The Texas Commission on the Arts, and The National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.zachtheatre.org.

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About ZACH Theatre
ZACH is Austin’s premiere professional theatre now celebrating its 76th anniversary as Texas’s longest running theatre. The Theatre's mission is to engage Central Texas in a dialogue by producing professional theatre of the highest artistic quality, inspired by a unique artistic vision and to offer a diverse theatre experience which is accessible to the community as a whole. In addition, ZACH Theatre fosters artistic education, expression, and development in children, teens and adults through a variety of outreach opportunities.