Betty Buckley, who has been called “The Voice of Broadway” by New York magazine, plays the lead
role in an award-winning revival of Hello, Dolly. Buckley played Grizabella in the original Broadway
production of Cats, which won her a Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 1983.
om, I think we have a very busy
year ahead of us!” That comment
was typical of the more than
1,000 exuberant posts on the Dr.
Phillips Center for the Performing Arts’ Facebook
page when the lineup for the 2018-19
Fairwinds Broadway in Orlando™ season was
announced.
“I’m crying I’m so happy,” read another
response. “I didn’t think last season could
be topped!” One post, however, may have
best described the local reaction — using just
three simple words:
“Best. Season. Ever.”
Hamilton — which will run for three weeks
— is certainly a major reason why season
subscriptions for the seven-show series are
already at capacity. Tickets for individual
shows will go on sale closer to their opening
dates.
This year’s Season Option, Jersey Boys, is
have priority access to buy tickets for this nostalgic
rock ‘n’ roll musical, which features the
hit songs of the legendary Frankie Valli and
The Four Seasons.
68 artsLife | SUMMER 2018
The regular season includes award-winning
new shows, including the Tony and Grammy
award-winner Dear Evan Hansen, alongside
time-tested audience favorites such as Hello,
Dolly! — starring Broadway icon Betty Buckley
— and Fiddler on the Roof.
In all, it’s a rich, varied lineup that combines
splashy blockbusters with more thoughtprovoking
fare; familiar classics with leadingedge
contemporary works.
Still, much of the buzz is about Lin-Manuel
Miranda’s Hamilton, winner of 11 Tonys
and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016. The
Treasury will command the Walt Disney Theater
stage for three full weeks, during which
24 shows are slated.
If you’re doing the math, that means
66,000 people will have an opportunity to see
Hamilton — and few, if any, empty seats are
Camping World Stadium (formerly the Citrus
Bowl).
“This will be a standout season on so many
levels,” says Kathy Ramsberger, the arts center’s
president and CEO.
PHOTO BY VICTORY TISCHLER-BLUE
M“