Bristol Riverside Theatre announces its 2008 summer programming with a season of Music of Broadway and Beyond, which runs from June 12 through August 17 and features the hugely popular Summer Musicale Series, the 3rd Annual Jazz Weekend, and Theatre Arts Center Children’s Theatre. Three “Musicales” – a French term meaning a social affair featuring a musical program – celebrate the great heroes and villains of Broadway, songs of the 1930s and 1940s, and the leading ladies of Broadway. [A full schedule and ticket information follows below.]

This year marks the 12th season of the Musicale Series created by BRT’s Artistic Director Keith Baker. “This summer we’ll return to the dynamic music of Broadway, along with a tribute to one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Harold Arlen and the music of his friends,” says Baker. Returning for the series are many of BRT's favorite summer performers, including Keith Spencer, Demetria Joyce Bailey, and Philip Chaffin, among others.

BRT’S 3rd Annual Jazz Weekend presents the Eric Mintel Quartet, Warren Oree & The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble, and the Joshua Richman Trio. The Theatre Arts Center Children’s Theatre offers a series of professionally staged productions performed for youth, by youth.

THE SUMMER SEASON - MUSICALES

This is the Moment – June 12 – 22
An exuberant “hats off” to the great heroes and villains of Broadway, This is the Moment recreates these unforgettable characters as a summer of music begins. An all-male cast performs music from Jekyll and Hyde, Oklahoma, Man of La Mancha, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables, and many more classic Broadway shows.
Thursday, June 12, 8pm
Friday, June 13, 8pm
Saturday, June 14, 8pm
Sunday, June 15, 3pm
Wednesday, June 18, 2pm
Friday, June 20, 8pm
Saturday, June 21, 8pm
Sunday, June 22, 3pm

Come Rain or Come Shine – July 10 - 20
Come Rain or Shine celebrates the legendary Harold Arlen and some of his friends: Gershwin, Porter, and Berlin, to name a few. The 1930s and 40s come alive with a beautiful, melodic, and nostalgic evening of classic songs. “Come Rain or Shine” is but one of the great songs in this tribute to the composer of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".
Thursday, July 10, 8pm
Friday, July 11, 8pm
Saturday, July 12, 8pm
Sunday, July 13, 3pm
Wednesday, July 16, 2pm
Friday, July 18, 8pm
Saturday, July 19, 8pm
Sunday, July 20, 3pm

Broadway Baby – August 7 - 17
The men may be BRT’s heroes and villains, but it’s the women who often have the last laugh in this rousing tribute to the leading ladies of the Broadway stage. Broadway Baby features music from shows such as Gypsy, Mame, Hello Dolly!, and Applause.
Thursday, August 7, 8pm
Friday, August 8, 8pm
Saturday, August 9, 8pm
Sunday, August 10, 3pm
Wednesday, August 13, 2pm
Friday, August 15, 8pm
Saturday, August 16, 8pm
Sunday, August 17, 3pm

3RD ANNUAL JAZZ WEEKEND – June 27 - 29

Friday, June 27, 8pm: New to BRT, Warren Oree & The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble was called one of the most innovative jazz bands in the Philadelphia area by Temple University Public Radio. Mixing original compositions with jazz standards, Arpeggio’s repertoire ranges from soft, contemplative melodies to heart-pounding, energetic, multi-rhythmic arrangements.

Saturday, June 28, 8pm: BRT welcomes back the Eric Mintel Quartet. Pianist and composer Eric Mintel has performed at the White House for President Clinton and at the Kennedy Center, and has been featured in Down Beat Magazine and on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on NPR. The quartet opened for Dave Brubeck at the Kimmel Center and has appeared on XM Satellite Radio's Live Performance Theater. Energetic and lyrical, Mintel’s catchy original compositions combine standard swing with classical elements to create a sound that All About Jazz described as “easy going but at the same time cerebral and always enjoyable.” www.ericmintelquartet.com

Sunday, June 29, 3pm: The Joshua Richman Trio was hailed as “the future of this uniquely American art form” by Marilyn Bergman of the ASCAP Foundation. A 21-year old pianist, Richman is the composer and compelling force behind this trio and recently won the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award for the second consecutive year.

THEATRE ARTS CENTER CHILDREN’S THEATRE – every week July - mid August
The Theatre Arts Center is back at BRT this year with more professionally staged productions for youth, by youth. Mixing professionalism, creativity, and children’s summer theatre camp, these shows are a great afternoon outing for children young and old. Theatre Arts Center has been entertaining Bucks County audiences since 1985.

Disney’ Mulan Junior July 5 @11am, July 11 @11am & 1pm
Rugrats July 12 @11am, July 18 @ 11am & 1pm
Bridge to Tarabithia July 19 @11am, July 25 @11am & 1pm
That’s What Kids Do July 26 @11am, August 1 @11am & 1pm
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr. August 2 @11am, August 8 @ 11am & 1pm
Disney’s the Aristocats August 9 @11am, August 15 @ 11am & 1pm
Bound for Broadway August 16 @3pm, August 17 @7:30pm

TICKETS
Bristol Riverside Theatre is located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, PA. Summer Season subscriptions and individual tickets are available by calling the BRT Box Office at (215) 785-0100 or online at www.BRTstage.org.

Summer subscriptions range from $63 - $79 for adults and $30 - $40 for students. Individual tickets for all Musicales are $29 for adults, $25 for BRT members, and $10 for students. Individual Jazz Weekend tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for BRT members, and $10 for students. All Children’s Theatre tickets are $7, and $6 for BRT members, except for Bound For Broadway which is $15.

About Bristol Riverside Theatre
Since 1986, BRT has brought consistently acclaimed professional theatre to Bucks County and maintained a long-term commitment to finding and developing new plays. The theatre is the recipient of over 50 Barrymore Award nominations for Excellence in Theatre, given annually by the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. In addition to its mainstage productions, the theatre serves as a cultural hub for the community, with such programs as children's theatre, community concerts and exhibitions of local visual arts.

Bristol Riverside Theatre’s 2007-2008 season is sponsored by Verizon, Grand Sponsor of the 21st Season.

To request more information, photos, and interviews, please contact: Megan Wendell, Canary Promotion, (215) 242-6393, megan@canarypromo.com