Minneapolis Musical Theatre Tickets for SUNSET BOULEVARD AND REEFER MADNESS Go On Sale Friday

Individual tickets for Minneapolis Musical Theatre's (MMT) Reefer Madness and Sunset Boulevard go on sale at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 5. These productions, featured on MMT's 2013 Season and directed by their artistic director Steven Meerdink, are being presented as part of a new partnership between MMT and Hennepin Theatre Trust at the New Century Theatre, 615 Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. Reefer Madness is a raucous musical comedy about the perils of marijuana which runs February 1-24, 2013. Sunset Boulevard is the Broadway hit based on the Oscar-winning movie about faded glory and thwarted ambition which runs May 31-June 23. For tickets and information visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org or aboutmmt.org, or call 1.800.982.2787.

This partnership matches the Trust's expertise in audience development and community outreach to MMT's ongoing commitment and success in presenting new or rarely-seen musical works. The New Century Theatre space also enables the Trust to increase collaborative work with local theatre companies.

February 1-24, 2013, New Century Theatre
Reefer Madness, called "A delirious romp, which at its best reaches highs of intoxicating goofiness," by USA Today, was inspired by the original 1936 film. This satirical morality tale is a depiction of clean-cut kids lured into a hysterical downward spiral by the evil weed, jazz, sex and violence. The alluring musical numbers range from big Vegas-style show stoppers like "Listen to Jesus, Jimmy," complete with an angel chorus of showgirls, to swing tunes like "Down at the Ol' Five and Dime." Directed by Andy Flickman, with book and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and music by Dan Studney, the musical premiered in Los Angeles in 1999, ran off-Broadway in 2001 and re-emerged as a 2005 movie starring Alan Cumming, Kristen Bell, Neve Campbell and Ana Gasteyer.

May 31-June 23, 2013, New Century Theatre
Sunset Boulevard opens with Norma Desmond, the fading silent movie star abandoned by the "talkies," who longs for a return to big screen glory. Enter struggling Hollywood screenwriter Joe Gillis, and their ensuing passionate and warped affair leads to a volatile conclusion. The 1950 film, directed by Billy Wilder and starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson, was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won three, including one for Best Music. In 1997, it ranked as #12 on the American Film Institute's Best American Films of the 20th Century. The original Broadway production, directed by Trevor Nunn with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, won
seven 1995 Tony Awards including Best Musical. As Time Magazine described it, "The show's a hit. Lloyd Webber's most shamefully and artfully constructed score. Radiant."

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for Reefer Madness and Sunset Boulevard will go on sale at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. Tickets range from $24 to $30 depending on seating preference. Tickets may be purchased in person (no service fees) at the New Century Theatre Box Office (615 Hennepin Avenue, Mpls., 55403, street level of City Center), online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org or by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Center. All prices include applicable facility fees. Additional service charges may apply. Discounts are available for students, groups, seniors and military members. Groups of 10 or more should call 612.455.9501. Patrons can also purchase tickets through the New Century Sampler pack for only $22 each. Note: Tickets are not being sold at the State Theatre Box Office.

Reefer Madness:
Performance dates are Friday, Feb. 1 to Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre, 615 Hennepin Ave. Mpls., MN. 55403. Performance times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. There is an additional performance on Monday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday, Feb. 24 performance will be at 2:30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

Sunset Boulevard:
Performance dates are Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 23, 2013 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre, 615 Hennepin Ave. Mpls., MN. 55403. Performance times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. There is an additional performance on Monday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday, June 23 performance will be at 2:30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST, owner of the historic Orpheum, State, Pantages and New Century Theatres, is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to arts-inspired community cultural development. We achieve our mission by presenting a rich mix of live performances, creating inspiring arts education experiences and advancing a thriving Hennepin Avenue cultural district in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Trust's activities include presenting Broadway touring productions and the related Broadway Confidential series, concerts, comedy, speakers and other variety entertainment plus educational initiatives including our SpotLight Musical Theatre and SpotLight Critical Reviewer programs for high schools, Teen Ushers, the Access Program and Family Day events.

MINNEAPOLIS MUSICAL THEATRE is dedicated to providing the community with access to high quality, affordable works of musical theatre never before, or very rarely, seen by Twin Cities' audiences. Founded in 1992, MMT has produced over 45 productions, including 24 area premieres. MMT has continued to grow and evolve, having started as a touring troupe before becoming the first-ever 'Company in Residence' at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater in 2000. In 2002, MMT moved downtown to Hennepin Stages (formerly Hey City Theater), and later to the Illusion Theater in the Hennepin Center for the Arts in 2008. A consistent theme in MMT's growth and development has been improving audience access to and enjoyment of the art of musical theater.