Bristol Riverside Theatre announces its 2009 summer programming which runs from June 18 through August 23. This summer marks the 13th season of the hugely popular Summer Musicale Series, created by BRT’s Artistic Director Keith Baker. This year’s series celebrates Broadway, songs of the late 1950s and early 1960s, and the 40th anniversary of the epic rock concert, Woodstock.

“This summer’s musicales will take a journey from the past to the present,” says Baker. “Following up on our previous War Songs, we could not pass up a chance to showcase Woodstock’s 40th anniversary. It is a landmark cultural event of the twentieth century. The final musicale will celebrate the romantic Broadway songs of today with music from Aida, Rent, The Boy From Oz, The Producers and more.”

The 4th Annual Jazz Weekend features the Eric Mintel Quartet, Warren Oree & The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble, and guitarists Jack Wilkins and Howard Alden.

Theatre Arts Center Children’s Theatre offers a series of professionally staged productions performed for youth, by youth, and the Gustafson family brings magic from around the world to BRT with Amazing World of Magic. [A full schedule and ticket information follows below.]

THE SUMMER SEASON – MUSICALES

It Was A Very Good Year, June 18 - 28
The fabulous pop standards of the late 50s and early 60s invoke a time of innocence – of soft summer nights, falling in love and dancing under the stars. In BRT’s first Summer Musicale of the season audiences will hear Walk on By, Never On Sunday, Save the Last Dance For Me, The Girl from Ipanema, What Now My Love, and more.
Thursday, June 18, 8pm
Friday, June 19, 8pm
Saturday, June 20, 8pm
Sunday, June 21, 3pm
Wednesday, June 24, 2pm
Friday, June 26, 8pm
Saturday, June 27, 8pm
Sunday, June 28, 3pm

Woodstock at 40, July 16-July 26
For three days in the Summer of 1969, the world stood still as 450,000 people gathered in a field for the greatest rock festival of all time. This was Woodstock. BRT’s band and vocalists will bring audiences the rock music that marked a generation in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Woodstock.
Thursday, July 16, 8pm
Friday, July 17, 8pm
Saturday, July 18, 8pm
Sunday, July 19, 3pm
Wednesday, July 22, 2pm
Friday, July 24, 8pm
Saturday, July 25, 3pm
Saturday, July 25, 8pm
Sunday, July 26, 3pm

Broadway Starlight, August 13-23
The songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Stephen Sondheim and Mel Brooks will light up the night with beautiful, lyrical, and inspired music for the final Musicale of the season. Vocalists will create a magical evening from some of Broadway’s most popular shows for a starry-eyed finale to the Summer Musicales.
Thursday, August 13, 8pm
Friday, August 14, 8pm
Saturday, August 15, 8pm
Sunday, August 16, 3pm
Wednesday, August 19, 2pm
Friday, August 21, 8pm
Saturday, August 22, 3pm
Saturday, August 22, 8pm
Sunday, August 23, 3pm

4th ANNUAL JAZZ WEEKEND, July 31 – August 2
Friday, July 31, 8pm: Returning for another season, Warren Oree & The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble was called one of the most innovative jazz bands in the Philadelphia area by Temple University Public Radio. Arpeggio mixes original compositions with jazz standards, and their repertoire ranges from soft, contemplative melodies to heart-pounding, energetic arrangements.

Saturday, August 1, 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.”

Sunday, August 2, 3pm: Guitarists Jack Wilkins and Howard Alden will perform as a duo in a concert featuring the “Great American Songbook,” with songs by Berlin, Arlen, Gershwin, Porter and others. Wilkins has been a part of the international jazz scene for more than four decades. His flawless technique and imaginative chordal approach have inspired collaborations with Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Bob Brookmeyer, Buddy Rich and many others. Jazz Times wrote of Alden, "He may be the best of his generation.”

AMAZING WORLD OF MAGIC, June 30 – July 5
The Gustafsons return to BRT with an evening of mystifying, mesmerizing, fantastical magic from around the world. Amazing World of Magic takes audiences from the exotic Far East to ancient Persia, from the mysteries of India to the sleight-of-hand of the Old West. Grand illusions and hilarious audience participation offer families an outing to remember.
Tuesday, June 30, 1pm
Wednesday, July 1, 1pm
Thursday, July 2, 1pm & 7:30pm
Friday, July 3, 1pm & 7:30pm
Sunday, July 5, 2pm

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.

All shows: Fridays 11am & 1pm, Saturdays 11am (unless otherwise noted)
High School Musical I, July 4 & 10
Steps (That’s What Kids Do II), July 11 & 17
Dear Edwina, July 18 & 24
School House Rock, July 25 & 31
Drowsy Chaperone, Jr., August 1 & 7
Blue’s Clues Birthday Party, August 8 & 14
Broadway Bound Musical Revue, August 15 (3pm) & 16 (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 $95 – $63 for adults and $30 – $50 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 $8 and $7 for BRT members, except for Broadway Bound which is $16. Tickets for Amazing World of Magic are $15 for adults, $13 for BRT members, and $8 for students.

About Bristol Riverside Theatres
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. Currently under the direction of Artistic Director Keith Baker and Founding Producing Director Susan D. Atkinson, BRT is in its 22nd season. For information, visit www.BRTstage.org.