The Book Of Mormon part of 2012/13 Broadway Season in Minneapolis

Hennepin Theatre Trust unveiled the spectacular new lineup for the 2012/13 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season featuring five Minnesota debuts. The runaway highlight is The Book Of Mormon, the hottest ticket on Broadway from the creators of "South Park" and the winner of nine 2011 Tony Awards including Best Musical. The season also features the stunning War Horse (2011 Best Play), along with hot new titles Catch Me If You Can, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Flashdance. Running from October 2012 to June 2013 at the Trust's Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis, the season will also include Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins will return as a season special addition.

"From the inventive hilarity of The Book Of Mormon, currently the hottest show on Broadway, to the achingly beautiful international sensation of War Horse, this year's scope of productions delivers the unparalleled music and magic of the best in live theatre," commented Hennepin Theatre Trust President/CEO Tom Hoch. "Five Minnesota debuts further reinforce Hennepin Avenue as the place to see the best new shows direct from Broadway."

First up this fall is Disney's Beauty and the Beast, a show that originated its first national tour at the Orpheum Theatre in 1995. This all new production runs for one week only, October 16-21, 2012. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, this musical love story with such beloved songs as "Be Our Guest" and "Beauty and the Beast" has charmed more than 35 million people worldwide.

The Minnesota debuts begin December 11-16, 2012 when Catch Me If You Can lands at the Orpheum Theatre. Inspired by the real-life story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., this high-flying production tells how a teenager who ran away from home successfully posed as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer with nothing but his boyish charm, a big imagination-and millions of dollars in forged checks.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert kicks off the new year January 8-13, 2013, bringing its uplifting story about a trio of friends on the road trip of a lifetime. With more than 500 dazzling 2011 Tony Award-winning costumes, this outrageously fun show features a hit parade of dance-floor favorites including "It's Raining Men," "Finally" and "I Will Survive."

The Book Of Mormon, winner of nine 2011 Tony Awards including Best Musical, is an undeniable season highlight that makes its Minnesota debut for two weeks only at the Orpheum Theatre February 5-17, 2013. From four-time Emmy Award-winners Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of the landmark animated series South Park, and Tony Award-winner Robert Lopez, co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy Avenue Q, it has been called "the best musical of this century" by The New York Times. The original Broadway cast recording for The Book Of Mormon, nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on Ghostlight Records.

Flashdance, the journey of Alex, a woman who is a welder by day, but who dreams of obtaining a place at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy, leaps into the Orpheum April 2-7, 2013. This new musical showcases the Academy Award-winning title track "Flashdance - What a Feeling," "Maniac," "Gloria" and "I Love Rock & Roll," along with 10 original songs.

The magical British nanny touches down once again as Mary Poppins returns to Minneapolis by popular demand as a special addition to the season running April 23-28, 2013. Produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, this favorite Broadway musical combines the best of the original stories by P.L. Travers with songs from the classic Walt Disney film including "Chim Chim Cher-ee," "A Spoonful of Sugar" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

War Horse, the heartwarming and thrilling season highlight, created at the prestigious National Theatre of Great Britain and winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play, debuts in Minnesota June 12-23, 2013. With astonishing life-sized puppets by South Africa's Tony Award-winning Handspring Puppet Company bringing horses to life on stage, this imaginative World War I drama was called "a landmark theatre event" by Time Magazine.

Season Ticket Packages are now on sale and include The Book Of Mormon, War Horse, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Flashdance, Catch Me If You Can and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Mary Poppins is returning as a season special so is an optional add-on. Package prices start at $174 and include applicable season ticket discounts, Select Seating, theatre restoration and handling fees. Information is available 24 hours a day at HennepinTheatreTrust.org. Patrons can purchase a season ticket package in person at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Avenue, Mpls., 55402) with no additional service fees.

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