The 2018-2019 Hippodrome Theatre season will bring nine productions to its stage, eight of which are still on Broadway. Most notable, perhaps, is the Baltimore premiere of the much-raved-about Hamilton, which has taken the theater world by storm since its debut in 2015.
“Hamilton in Baltimore—I’m just so excited,” says Ron Legler, president of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center at Hippodrome, in a phone conversation with Baltimore. “To have the first-ever Washington Monument in Mt. Vernon and the Lafayette Monument and the history of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ here, it’s just so exciting that we’re doing Hamilton over the Fourth of July weekend [in 2019].”
Another highlight is the musical Come From Away, inspired by true events. It tells the story of a small Canadian town where some 7,000 people were stranded after dozens of planes were ordered to land there following 9/11. What transpires is a story of humanity and hope, as the townspeople take in these weary travelers. Legler calls the show moving and uplifting, as it takes its audience on an incredible journey.
He also raves about The Play That Goes Wrong (the only production on the bill that’s not a musical): “At this show, your stomach hurts from laughing so much.”
Suitable for children—and fun for adults—are the whimsical and wonderful Roald Dahl favorite Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Anastasia, inspired by the films.
Also on tap for what Legler calls a banner season are Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I, Tony Award-winning Best Musical The Book of Mormon, Tony Award-winning Les Misérables, and the classic Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher.
A QUICK RUN DOWN:
LES MISÉRABLES: Oct. 9 to 14
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: Nov. 13 to 18
ANASTASIA: Dec. 4 to 9
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: Jan. 22 to 27
THE KING AND I: Feb. 19 to 24
THE BOOK OF MORMON: April 2 to 7
COME FROM AWAY: April 23 to 28
THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG: June 4 to 9
HAMILTON: June 25 to July 21