Ariel (Sierra Boggess) surrenders her voice to Ursula (Sherie Rene Scott) in the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid.

The Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth at Bass Hall will co-present three shows during their 2015-’16 series: The Little Mermaid, 42nd Street and The Sound of Music.

That last show will be a new stage adaptation making its North Texas debut and opening the DSM’s season. The series will also offer area debuts of three other musicals, all adaptations of films, but none of which lasted more than five months on Broadway: The Bridges of Madison County, Bullets Over Broadway and Elf. 

In contrast, Wicked will be making its fifth appearance with the DSM, this time as a series add-on, and there’ll be other familiar titles as well: The Little Mermaid, Ragtime and 42nd Street.

Meanwhile, Fort Worth will be finally getting The Book of Mormon — after Dallas has seen it twice at the Winspear Opera House — as well as Motown The Musical, which also played the Winspear last year. Throw in The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Blue Man Group, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (as a add-on special) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — and you’ve got a lot of familiar titles.

What is definitely new (though previously announced) are two shows being presented at the McDavid Studio: Dixie’s Never Wear a Tubetop While Riding a Mechanical Bull (and 16 Other Things I Learned While I was Drinking Last Thursday)  and a new show in the “Late Night Catechism” series, Back to School Catechism: The Holy Ghost and Other Terrifying Tales. 

The full release:

DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS AND PERFORMING ARTS FORT WORTH ANNOUNCE 2015-2016 BROADWAY SEASONS!

The two organizations will come together to co-present three shows. Season tickets go on sale online 10:00 a.m., Sunday, June 7 and in person and over the phone 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 8

Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth proudly announce their 2015-2016 Broadway seasons! Once again, the two performing arts groups, in a groundbreaking move spearheaded last season, will come together to co-present many of these titles, allowing patrons across North Texas ample opportunities to experience the Best of Broadway.

Dallas Summer Musicals will kick off its highly anticipated 2015-2016 season with the North Texas debut of a brand-new stage adaptation of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The season will continue with the hilarious tale of a modern day Christmas, ELF The Musical; followed by the musical romance, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID; Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, WICKED, as a season add-on; a turn-of-the-century celebration, RAGTIME; the classic comedy musical BULLETS OVER BROADWAY; and, closing the season, the caper revival, 42ND STREET.

“Building from the momentum of our 75th Anniversary Season, we are thrilled to continue to present the Best of Broadway in North Texas,” said Michael A. Jenkins, President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals. “This new season will bring something for everyone as we look forward to the next 75 years of creating memories, while continuing our legacy of presenting top quality family entertainment.”
From the creators of “South Park” and winner of nine Tony Awards ®, THE BOOK OF MORMON will open the Broadway at the Bass season, held at Bass Performance Hall, and play a limited six-day engagement Dec. 1-6. The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century” and Entertainment Weekly says it’s “the funniest musical of all time.”

This season will close with Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

In between will be the direct-from-Broadway MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, the story of Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to heavyweight music mogul; DSM’s production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID; a revival of the classic backstage romp 42ND STREET; the timeless classic THE WIZARD OF OZ; and a brand-new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

In addition, MAMMA MIA!, BLUE MAN GROUP and RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER THE MUSICAL will return as add-on specials, along with the previously announced JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. The series also includes two shows in the intimate McDavid Studio – the previously announced DIXIE’S NEVER WEAR A TUBETOP WHILE RIDING A MECHANICAL BULL (AND 16 OTHER THINGS I LEARNED WHILE I WAS DRINKING LAST THURSDAY) and an all-new show in the “Late Night Catechism” series, BACK TO SCHOOL CATECHISM: THE HOLY GHOST AND OTHER TERRIFYING TALES. Both shows can be added on to season packages.

Continuing a partnership that blossomed last season, Dallas Summer Musicals and Performing Arts Fort Worth will co-present three of these titles: Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, 42ND STREET and THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

“We at Dallas Summer Musicals are delighted to continue this great partnership with Performing Arts Fort Worth” said Jenkins. “This cooperation not only provides us with new opportunities for our organizations but it further enhances our commitment in developing collaborative efforts that benefit both our patrons and the Dallas-Fort Worth arts community.”
Dione Kennedy, President and CEO of PAFW, said: “This is a relationship that has worked extremely well for both us and Dallas Summer Musicals, and we’re thrilled to be able to continue this partnership with our new season.”
Dallas Summer Musicals’ seven-show season tickets, starting at $134, go on sale Sunday, June 7 at 10 a.m. online at DallasSummerMusicals.org and in person Monday, June 8 at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas or by phone at 214-346-3300. In addition, season ticket buyers have the option to add on WICKED to their season subscription for an 8-show package starting at $174.

For season tickets, groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount. For WICKED, groups of 15 or more save on select performances. All groups receive priority seating and many more benefits. Please call 214-426-GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org.
Broadway at the Bass season tickets go on sale online at www.basshall.com at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 7, and over the phone at 817-212-4280 and in person at the Bass Hall Box Office at 10 a.m. Monday, June 8. Seven-show season ticket packages start at $275. For more information, call 817-212-4280 or visit www.basshall.com.