Theater News

Jerry Springer to Star in Chicago as Part of Kimmel Center Season; Additional Programming Announced

The Kimmel Center has announced that Jerry Springer will star in the Philadelphia engagement of the Chicago tour, to be presented at the Academy of Music, September 15-20, as part of the Kimmel’s 2009-2010 season. Springer recently completed a run in the London production of Chicago, playing the role of Billy Flynn. He is best known worldwide for The Jerry Springer Show, and he has also been the mayor of Cincinnati, a political pundit, a lawyer, an award-winning newscaster, and a country recording artist. The length of Springer’s run in the tour has not been announced, and The New York Times reports that no contract has yet been signed, and that Springer is also in negotiations to play the role on Broadway.

The Kimmel Center’s just announced additions to its 2009-2010 season, which will also include the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas (November 14); RAIN (February 5-7); The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (February 9-14); Annie (February 26-28); GROOVALOO (March 9-14); and Lord of the Dance (May 14-16) as part of the Center’s Broadway series. Newly added artists and/or events also include the Mariinsky Orchestra led by principal conductor Valery Gergiev (February 22), Video Games Live (October 11), Melody Gardot (October 17), Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca (January 22 and 23), The Pink Floyd Experience (February 23), Max Raabe and Palast Orchester (March 5), and Johnny Mathis (May 2).

As previously announced, the Kimmel’s “Broadway Series,” co-presented by the Shubert Organization at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre, will also feature Mamma Mia! (November 3-8), White Christmas (November 24-29), Wicked (January 6-24), The Lion King (March 30-April 4), August: Osage County (April 27-May 2); Avenue Q (June 18-20), and Dreamgirls (June 22-27).

In addition, the Kimmel Center will present the Curtis Opera Theatre’s production of Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra (March 17, 19, and 21). Among the many other scheduled performers are Sonny Rollins (September 25); Lizz Wright and the Danilo Perez Trio (October 10); Christian McBride and Bruce Hornsby (October 16); Andre Watts (November 1); Kronos Quartet (November 7); Phildanco (November 12-15, April 15-28); Kurt Elling (November 21); The Vienna Boys Choir (December 4); Sheila Jordan (December 5); Sweet Honey in the Rock (February 6); Cameron Carpenter (March 6); Chanticleer (April 7); Cherryholmes (April 23); and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (May 14-15).

For tickets and information, call 215-893-1955 or visit www.kimmelcenter.org.