Whether it’s family-friendly song and dance or racy social satire San Antonio’s theatergoers crave, the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts’ 2018-19 season aims to satisfy a wide range of tastes.
“In keeping with our goal of providing something for everyone, we challenge ourselves to seek out and provide a very eclectic mix of offerings every year,” Aaron Zimmerman, the Tobin’s vice president of programming and marketing, told an audience of season subscribers, board members, and community partners Monday. “This year is definitely a winner.”
The BMW of San Antonio Signature Series will present six Broadway musicals including first-run tours, classics, and a circus show set in a Western saloon.
The Tobin Edge Series of Off-Broadway shows were selected for adults-only audiences and cleverly address a range of contemporary issues.
“The Edge Series is light-hearted and a lot of fun,” Zimmerman told the Rivard Report. “They’re all very different, some very powerful, which is what I love about it.”
For more reality-based audiences, a new National Geographic Live! Series offers adventures with a seeker of big cats, a Mars exploration engineer, and a Western pioneer in two foreign outposts, North Korea and Cuba.
2018-19 BMW of San Antonio Signature Series (H-E-B Performance Hall)
“Rock of Ages:” Nov. 27, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
Nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Musical, “Rock of Ages” captures 1980s Hollywood and its musical soundtrack, the albums of Styx, Poison, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake, and many others. This 10th-anniversary production brings a new dynamic cast.
“Legally Blonde – The Musical:” Jan. 22, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
This award-winning, fast-paced hit show is based on the popular movie about Elle Woods’ transformation from a stereotypical blonde battling sexism, snobbery, and scandal to respect as the smartest person in the room.
“Cirque Éloize Saloon – A Musical Acrobatic Adventure:” Feb. 24, 2019, 7 p.m.
Energetic folk music sets the tone for an acrobatic comedy in which the tales of motley Old West characters unfold in a mad flurry. Based on the multiple talents of its artists, “Cirque Éloize” combines circus arts with music, dance, and theater in highly original performances.
“The Wizard of Oz:” March 12 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Celebrating the iconic 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz” transports viewers to a dazzling Oz complete with dancing munchkins. Spoiler alert: It even has flying monkeys, thanks to ingenious stagecraft.
“Monty Python’s SPAMALOT:” April 24, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
The Tony Award-winning Best Musical continues its search for the Holy Grail in an outrageous musical comedy taken from the film classic “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” (Book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez.)
“The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical:” May 14-15, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio’s own Rick Riordan authored the series of young adult books on which this musical is based. Percy Jackson is a young man whose life is being ruined by Greek gods. As a son of Poseidon, he has newly discovered powers he can’t control and monsters on his trail while undertaking an epic quest to prevent a war between the gods. “The Lightning Thief” was nominated for three Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical. This is its first national run.
2018-19 Tobin Center Edge Series (Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater)
“One Man Dark Night: A Batman Parody:” May 3, 2018, 7:30 p.m. and May 4 & 5, 8 p.m.
This one-man, one-hour show by Charles Ross foregoes costumes, sets, and Batmobiles as it lovingly rips director Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy in a combination of parody and homage. After all, Batman is serious enough for the rest of us.
“One Funny Mother:” Oct. 25, 2018, 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 26, 27, 8 p.m.
Dena Blizzard, a comedian and mother of three, created this one-woman show after the success of her board game “Chardonnay Go,” her answer to “Pokemon Go.” Her back-to-school video rant at Target got 96 million web hits. “One Funny Mother” uses dirty laundry, baby strollers, and arguments over who works harder – the wife or the husband – to analyze modern motherhood.
“The Mushroom Cure:” Nov. 15, 2018, 7:30 p.m. and November 16 & 17, 8 p.m.
Written and performed by Adam Strauss, this “hilarious, harrowing, and heart-rending” true story centers on how, inspired by a scientific study, Strauss tried to treat his severely OCD son with psychedelics.
“Baby Mama: One Woman’s Quest to Give Her Child to Gay People:” Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 14 & 15, 8 p.m.
The true story chronciles birth mother Mariah MacCarthy’s adoption journey from conception to finding the gay couple of her dreams, all while living her life, dating, and attending the occasional orgy. From adoption agency visits to burlesque performance, this is one night of intimate storytelling.
“With Love, Marilyn:” Feb.7, 2019 7:30 p.m., Feb. 8 & 9, 8 p.m.
A sensual and playful cabaret performance is set behind the scenes as Marilyn Monroe prepares an evening of entertainment. Erin Sullivan pays tribute to Monroe performing such songs as “I Wanna Be Loved By You,” “My Heart Belongs To Daddy,” and “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.”
“The Secret Comedy of Women:” April 16-18, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
A two-woman performance, “The Secret Comedy of Women” has found popularity with female audiences for its “unique examination of all things girly,” its publicity frankly states. “Born out of the earnest and sweetly ridiculous writings of girlhood diaries, it is a mix of sketch comedy, improvisation, and audience participation – an original comedy that celebrates the honor, truth, humor, and silliness of being female.”
National Geographic Live! Series (H-E-B Performance Hall)
“On the Trail of Big Cats:” Oct. 7, 2018, 4 p.m.
Award-winning photographer and explorer Steve Winter takes audiences from tiger populations in Asian jungles to the Himalaya, home of the rare snow leopard, and to Latin American rainforests to pursue jaguars, sharing both dangerous and lighter moments. Author of a new National Geographic book, Winter’s mission is to share the beauty of big cats while working to save them.
“Exploring Mars,” Feb. 10, 2019 4 p.m.
NASA engineer Kobie Boykins looks at discoveries from Mars rovers in NASA’s ongoing Mars Exploration Program. Boykins helped design and build the solar arrays that enabled rovers to keep going long after their planned 90-day life. He also supervises the mobility and remote sensing mast teams for the Mars Science Laboratory, and so will report on the newest findings on Mars.
“A Rare Look: North Korea to Cuba:” March 31, 2019, 4 p.m.
David Guttenfelder has broken down traditional political walls by helping the Associated Press open a trailblazing bureau in North Korea in 2011 and boarding the first cruise ship in decades to travel from the United States to Cuba in 2016. His audacity has led to revealing geo-political photo essays in National Geographic and connected people through Instagram.
Tickets
Subscriptions for all three series are now available in full or as create-your-own series combinations online or by calling (210) 223-8624. The Tobin Center Box Office is located at 100 Auditorium Circle, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m.
Single tickets for all three series events go on sale on May 18 at 10 a.m.
