Charles Dickens’ greatest characters Oliver Twist, Fagin, Nancy, Bill Sikes and The Artful Dodger spring to life once again in the much anticipated United States tour of the spectacular new production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, playing at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Andrew Jackson Hall October 26-31 for eight performances only.
Bart’s adaptation of the classic Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist tells the story of an orphaned boy (Oliver) who escapes to London from a bleak workhouse and is taken in by a gang of apprentice pickpockets who work for master thief Fagin while learning their trade. When Oliver is falsely accused of exposing the gang by the frightening Bill Sikes, Oliver begins to realize he has more friends than he thought.
“It’s a big, adventurous show with a huge cast and large scale scenic and costume design,” said Brent Hyams, TPAC’s director of marketing. “In its second year, the tour of Oliver! has been well reviewed and received by audiences nationwide as a great evening or afternoon of entertainment for all ages.”
With its vivid characters and engaging plot, Oliver Twist has been brought to life through dramatic interpretations time and time again since the book’s first publication in 1838. Of the numerous staged versions, the best loved and most successful is Lionel Bart’s musical Oliver!. The show debuted in London in 1960, the first time the story had ever been told in a musical format. Oliver! was an instant hit, and after transferring to Broadway in 1963, it became Broadway’s longest-running British musical up to that time. The show’s unforgettable songs include “Food, Glorious Food,” “Consider Yourself,” “Where is Love?,” “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two,” “I’d Do Anything,” “Oom Pah Pah,” and “As Long As He Needs Me.” Oliver! was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, and won three: Best Composer and Lyricist; Best Conductor and Musical Director; and Best Scenic Designer.
The film version of the musical was released in 1968 and, like its staged counterpart, it was a critical and box office success. It was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won five, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Score.
The current North American tour is based on Cameron Mackintosh’s successful 1994 London revival of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! Produced by Networks Presentations, LLC., it features direction by Graham Gill, choreography by Geoffrey Garratt, scenic design by Adrian Vaux, lighting design by Jenny Kagan, orchestrations by William David Brohn, costume design by Anthony Ward, sound design by Peter Grubb, and original music staging by Matthew Bourne. Oliver! is produced in association with Southbrook Group Ltd.
Ticket prices for Oliver! range from $18 to $66, depending upon performance times and seat locations. For tickets, visit the TPAC Box Office (Downtown or at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Green Hills), online at www.tpac.org, or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 615/255-ARTS (2787). For information on offers for groups of 20 or more and a special “Arts and Entertainment” package, call TPAC Group Sales at 615/782-4060. Participants in the Feed America First food drive at Cool Springs Galleria, October 15-23, can receive a special discount on Oliver! tickets upon making a food or monetary donation at the mall’s customer service desk.
The Family Night performance will be Wednesday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m., with activities for young people beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Andrew Jackson Hall lobby. Young people attending the Sunday, October 31 7:30 p.m. performance are invited to dress in costume. Halloween treats will be provided in the lobby for this performance. As a special offer, one free student ticket for each adult ticket purchased will be available for both of these performances. To receive this discount, ask for the J-type ticket at the TPAC Box Office (Downtown or at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Green Hills), or by calling (615) 255-ARTS (2787).
The performance schedule in Nashville October 26 – 31 is: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8:00 p.m. Friday; 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saturday; 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. TPAC recommends Oliver! for ages 9 and up.
The HCA/TriStar Broadway in Nashville at TPAC Series is sponsored by American Airlines, Cadillac, Coca-Cola and The Hermitage Hotel. Show sponsors for Oliver! are WJXA Mix 92.9, WSMV Channel 4 News and The Tennessean.
