2019 Year in Review: How Do You Measure a Year?
2019 Year in Review: How Do You Measure a Year?
Of course, "In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee..."
...and in a whole lot of exciting happenings here at MTI! 2019 proved to be full of showstopping pizzazz, including record-breaking festivals, Broadway blockbuster acquisitions, new releases of highly-anticipated hit shows, welcoming brand-new Authors to the MTI family, and thousands of celebrated productions of MTI titles all across the globe! We share all of this exciting news with each and every one of you and thank you for all you do for making the world a better place through the magic of Musical Theatre.
As the spotlight begins to focus on the year ahead and the curtain comes to a close on a fantastic 2019, we wanted to look back on some of this past year's notable highlights.
Exciting Acquisitions
Buckle up! From Rodeo Drive to North Shore High, MTI's new acquisitions this year brought us a colorful collection of characters including a pesky demon, Dorothy Michaels, and the notoriously pink Plastics. Read about the future releases acquired in 2019:
Beetlejuice
The ghost-with-the-most comes to the stage in this edgy and irreverent musical comedy based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film. Beetlejuice tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager obsessed with the whole “being dead thing.” Lucky for Lydia, her new house is haunted by a recently deceased couple and Beetlejuice, a delightful demon with a real zest for life.
The whole "being licensed" thing. @BeetlejuiceBway https://t.co/lNOP3NXmcA
— Music Theatre Int. (@mtishows) November 4, 2019
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features an original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray) and a book by David Greig. The score also pays homage to the Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley score from the 1971 film with songs from the motion picture including "Candy Man," "I've Got a Golden Ticket," "Oompa Loompa Song," and "Pure Imagination."
Mean Girls
Mean Girls, the brutally hilarious musical from book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), is taking Broadway by storm. Adapted from Fey's hit 2004 film, Mean Girls was nominated for a staggering 12 Tony Awards.
Pretty Woman: The Musical
The classic film starring Julia Roberts is now a hit musical! Pretty Woman: The Musical, features an original score by Grammy Award-winner Bryan Adams ("Summer of '69," "Everything I Do") and his longtime songwriting partner Jim Vallance, and a book by the movie's legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton.
Tootsie
Tootsie is the New York Times Critic's Pick that has audiences rolling in the aisles in what is being hailed as "Broadway's funniest new musical!" (The New York Post). With music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning David Yazbek (The Band's Visit, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and a laugh-out-loud book by Robert Horn (13 the Musical), it comes as no surprise that Tootsie won Best Book of a Musical and received a staggering 11 Tony Award Nominations, including Best Musical and Best Score.
Brand-New Releases
2019 also debuted a slew of fantastic new releases.
From chivalrous knights to rockin' mole rats, an ugly duckling to everyone's favorite Elf, the unforgettable characters in these shows will transport your actors and audiences everywhere from the magic of Arendelle, to the bustling Big Apple!
Check out the 2019 New Releases
First-Rate Festivals
Thousands of passionate student performers and their dedicated teachers, directors, and parents gave their all at the 2019 Junior Theater Festivals, and at the legendary International Thespian Festival. Check out some of the magical highlights below:
Just a glimpse of all the excitement this morning at @JTFestival! pic.twitter.com/ZkOsYhcxcV
— Music Theatre Int. (@mtishows) January 19, 2019
The Junior Theater Festival and JTF West, are annual celebrations of all things Broadway Junior in Atlanta, GA, and Sacramento, CA, respectively. Here, incredible young performers truly bring MTI shows to life. Thousands of Broadway Junior stars perform their MTI shows for adjudication in front of esteemed theater professional guest judges. JTF also boasts workshops for teachers, students, and parents. The jaw-dropping New Works Showcase debuts numbers from future Broadway Junior titles. This year's New Works Showcase included Frozen JR., Sister Act JR. and more!
Bravo to @SOCStudio, @BACTheatre , @InspirationStge , and Wildfish Theatre on their amazing performances last night at the #JTF New Works Showcase!!!
— Music Theatre Int. (@mtishows) February 10, 2019
Photo: Marcus Woollen pic.twitter.com/OcW2Bn0uwK
We also had an absolute blast at the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, NE. Together, along with thousands of high school students and their dedicated teachers, we celebrated the power of theater in our schools.
In particular, we applauded four Thespian Troupes who performed MTI shows on the Main Stage: Bring It On, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Scottsboro Boys, and Xanadu! It was also a privilege to have the original director and choreographer of The Scottsboro Boys on Broadway, Susan Stroman, with us at the production.
Last night's performance of The Scottsboro Boys was unforgettable. Bravo to all involved in this phenomenal production! And it was a treat to have Tony winner Susan Stroman, director & choreographer of the original Broadway production, in the audience! #thesfest19 @thespians1 pic.twitter.com/Bi4368bRD0
— Music Theatre Int. (@mtishows) June 27, 2019
Getting Social
It's also been an incredible year following along and engaging with your theatrical journeys on our social platforms!
Thank you so much for following the fun and tagging @mtishows on Facebook, Twitter, and especially on Instagram! Thanks to you, our Instagram has surpassed 20,000+ followers, and counting!
We hope 2019 was as great a year for you as it was for us, and we all look forward to a fantastic 2020.
Follow the fun @mtishows on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
