Tacoma Musical Playhouse - 2005-2006 Season

Faust meets professional baseball in this Broadway classic from the creators of The Pajama Game.

Middle-aged baseball fanatic Joe Boyd trades his soul to the Devil for a chance to lead his favorite team to victory in the pennant race against the New York Yankees. As young baseball sensation, “Joe Hardy,” he transforms the hapless Washington Senators into a winning team, only to realize the true worth of the life (and wife) he's left behind. With the help of a handy escape clause and a guilt-ridden temptress named Lola, Joe outsmarts the Devil, returns to his former self and shepherds the Senators to the World Series.

Light, fast-paced and devilishly clever, Damn Yankees is a home-run hit whose all-American subject matter and irreverent sense of humor have brought many a sports fan into the theater. Features a catchy score filled with rousing production numbers and popular favorites like "Heart" and "Whatever Lola Wants."

Based on the book The Kensington Stories by Sally Benson, and the MGM motion picture Meet Me in St. Louis

Based on the heartwarming movie, Meet Me in St. Louis is a rare treasure in the musical theater world. Join the Smith family (Esther, Tootie, Grandpa et al) at the 1904 World's Fair, and see how their love and respect for each other is tempered with the genuine humor that can only be generated by such a special family. Like the 1944 film, the stage version features a magical score of memorable musical numbers, including: “The Boy Next Door,” “The Trolley Song,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and several songs created especially for the stage version of this celebrated Family Classic!

“A worthy revival that should have theatergoers singing its praises for a long time.”

One of the most uproariously funny musicals in recent years, Urinetown is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. In a Gotham-like city, a 20-year drought has led to a water shortage and a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Urinetown is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny. Praised for reinvigorating the very notion of what a musical could be, Urinetown catapults the “comedic romp” into the new millennium with its outrageous perspective, wickedly modern wit, and sustained ability to produce gales of unbridled laughter.

“Like everyone else who first heard of a show called “Urinetown, The Musical,” I made a face and expressed disgust at the title….. I had the time of my life! “Urinetown” is one of the cleaverest and funniest evenings I’ve spent in many a season.”

My One and Only

The Gershwin Musical

Music and Lyrics by: George and Ira Gershwin
Book by: Peter Stone and Timothy S. Mayer
Original Staging and Choreography by Thommie Walsh and Tommy Tune
Original Broadway Production produced by Paramount Theatre Productions, Francine LeFrak, Kenneth-John Productions, Jonathan Farkas, Bernard Carragher, Obie Bailey, Bernard Bailey and Lewis Allen

Age Rating: Suitable for all ages.

Runs: February 22 – March 16, 2008

Two performances: March 8 and 15

Behind the Curtain! at TMP: 2/17/2008

The Tony Award-winning musical, My One and Only, concerns an aviator, a Channel swimmer and the America of 1927 which knew exactly what it wanted. This dance spectacular features a sensational Gershwin score - taking the heart-stopping songs “'S Wonderful,” “Funny Face,” and of course “My One and Only” from George and Ira Gershwin's Funny Face and joining them with such great tunes as “I Can't Be Bothered Now,” “He Loves and She Loves,” “Strike Up the Band,” “Nice Work If You Can Get It” and “Kickin' the Clouds Away

Miss Saigon

Lyrics by: Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby,Jr.
Music by: Claude-Michel Schönberg

Age Rating: Not recommended for children under age 14. Contains mature themes and strong language. Family Flex Pass holders may elect to bring adults in lieu of children for this show only.
Additional information available at the April 6th Behind the Curtain! preview presentation.

Miss Saigon Parental Guidance Information

Runs: April 11 – May 4, 2008

Two performances: April 26 & May 3

Behind the Curtain! at TMP: April 6

A classic love story is brought up-to-date in one of the most stunning theatrical spectacles of all time. In the turmoil of the Vietnam War, an American soldier and a Vietnamese girl fall in love, only to be separated during the fall of Saigon. Their struggles to find each other over the ensuing years ends in tragedy for her and a fighting chance for the child he never knew he had. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michael Schönberg (Les Misérables), along with Richard Maltby, Jr. (The Pirate Queen, Ain’t Misbehavin’) collaborate to bring the story of Madame Butterfly to the modern world in a moving testament to the human spirit and a scathing indictment of the tragedies of war.

"A triumphantly vibrant, courageous work of musical theater." - Chicago Tribune
"One of the most richly melodious scores heard in two decades." - Gannett Newspapers"

This is the 1950's rock 'n' roll musical! Gum-chewing, hubcap-stealing, hot-rod-loving boys with D.A.'s and their wise-cracking girls in bobby sox and pedal pushers capture the look and sound of Rydell High School’s Class of ‘59 in a rollicking musical. While hip Danny Zuko and wholesome Sandy Dumbrowski resolve the problems of their mutual attraction, the gang sings and dances its way through such nostalgic scenes as the pajama party, the prom, the burger palace, and the drive-in movie. Songs recall the Buddy Holly hiccups, the Little Richard yodels and the Elvis Presley wiggles that made the music of the ‘50s a gas. Grease's eight year run made Broadway history and its recent revival put it among today's most popular musicals.

"A lively and funny musical---as well as the dancingest one in town…the sheer energy of Grease carries all before it."---N.Y. Daily News.

Attend an entertaining, informative, and free preview presentation prior to each of the six TMP mainstage productions! These 90-minute interactive presentations are designed to enhance the theater-going experience of audience members, whether familiar with the show or not, by providing an enlightening introduction into the history and impact of the story and its writers, the varied technical efforts of TMP to produce each particular show in this theater, and musical highlights presented by the cast. This preview also serves to assist parents in educating their children about an upcoming production, and the theater-going experience as a whole, before attending a show.

Behind the Curtain! at TMP is held at 7 pm on the Sunday evening prior to a show’s opening, is open to the public, and, best of all, is FREE!: