Broadway smash-hit 'Newsies' coming to new Dr. Phillips Center

ORLANDO, Fla. — Just days after celebrating a construction milestone, the concrete pour of the Alexis and Jim Pugh Theater stage, the Dr. Phillips Center has another exciting announcement.   They are giving the community a "sneak peek" at the much-anticipated 2014-15 inaugural Broadway Season, by announcing the Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical smash, Newsies, as part of their lineup.

While Newsies isn't the first show in the Center's Broadway season, it's the ideal community tease, given it is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, a division of the Walt Disney World Company, a naming rights donor of the Center's 2,700-seat Broadway theater.

"This is the ideal opportunity to announce one of our inaugural season shows with the launch of the Newsies national tour." said Dr. Phillips Center President Kathy Ramsberger. "The overall support for the project is increasing as our inaugural season takes shape.  We wanted to ensure our community hears the news from us."   She also notes great show announcements help get subscribers and future subscribers excited about the Center's opening.

While the entire season will be announced early 2014 and exact show dates for Newsies are still being finalized, subscribers to the current Broadway Season will be the first to ensure access to the best seats in the new Walt Disney Theater.   "It's not too early to guarantee your seats by subscribing to the 2013-14 season," she added.

"We continue to be overwhelmed by the passion and support for Newsies on Broadway and are elated that the show will continue on the road," said Thomas Schumacher, president and producer, Disney Theatrical Productions. "The enthusiasm from North American audiences and theatres for a Newsies tour has been palpable, proving that the affection for this title is deeper and more widespread than even we imagined.  I am so proud that patrons will soon have the opportunity to enjoy Newsies in their own backyards."

Newsies has consistently exceeded expectations since premiering on Broadway at The Nederlander Theatre in March 2012.  Originally transferred to Broadway as a limited engagement of a few dozen performances, the breakout hit is now approaching its 700^th performance.

In a remarkable demonstration of the breadth of the title's appeal, ticket orders arrived from all 50 states within weeks of its first Broadway performance.  Since then, Newsies has set and broken seven Nederlander Theatre house records and became the biggest hit of the 2011-12 season.

For information on the Newsies national tour, visit: NewsiesTheMusical.com/Tour  Facebook.com/Newsies and Twitter.com/Newsies. For information concerning auditions for the tour, visit: http://www.newsiesthemusical.com/auditions. To subscribe, visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com or call 800.448.6322.

WFTV