Lineup includes recent Broadway hits ‘Jersey Boys,’ ‘Beautiful,’ and ‘Waitress’—plus, a smash-hit of the current Broadway season: ‘Prayer for the French Republic’
[SALT LAKE CITY, UT, MARCH 27, 2024] — Pioneer Theatre Company (PTC), Utah’s premier professional theatre, announces its 2024-2025 season lineup, which offers PTC’s signature mix of contemporary works, Utah premieres, and re-imagined classics.
“We’re thrilled to unveil our 2024-2025 Season, which is an eclectic lineup of some much-anticipated productions like Jersey Boys and Waitress, along with the fresh-from-Broadway Prayer for the French Republic,” said Artistic Director Karen Azenberg. “This season will also mark the first in which we’re able to program two productions at the intimate Meldrum Theatre. We’re excited to continue to create spaces for new works and create new takes on established pieces.”
PTC kicks off its 63rd Season with the jukebox juggernaut Jersey Boys. Running September 13-28, Jersey Boys tells the electrifying tale of the rise of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Winner of four Tony Awards—including Best Musical—the landmark musical is filled with chart-topping hits like “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry,” “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night),” and so many more.
The company will then present the Utah premiere of the recent Broadway hit play, Prayer for the French Republic. The timely work by Joshua Harmon portrays a curious American student named Molly, who seeks to connect with her family in France. When her cousin becomes the victim of an anti-Semitic attack, Molly’s uncle Charles—who immigrated from Algeria—decides to move to Israel. This earns the dismay of Molly’s anti-Zionist uncle Patrick, all set against the growing threat of political extremism in France. The play will run from October 25-November 9.
During the 2024 holiday season, PTC will offer up an alternative to traditional holiday fare: the acclaimed chamber theatre comedy, Souvenir. The play tells the stranger-than-fiction account of Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy socialite with an insatiable passion for opera—despite possessing a hilariously tone-deaf voice! This intimate and extraordinary play will be onstage from December 6-21 at the Meldrum Theatre.
From January 10—25, PTC will present the Utah premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s new adaptation of Dial M for Murder. This modern retelling of Frederick Knott’s classic thriller plunges audiences into a web of intrigue as ex-tennis pro Tony Wendice concocts a chilling plot to murder his unfaithful wife. Classic suspense at its finest!
PTC will then present the 7-time Tony-nominated sensation Beautiful: The Carole King Musical from February 14-March 1. A tribute to the indomitable spirit of one of America’s greatest musical artists told through her incredible music, including “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Natural Woman,” and “I Feel the Earth Move,” and other hits of the era by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, The Righteous Brothers, Neil Sedaka, and more!
From March 28—April 12, the Meldrum Theatre will be home to A Case for the Existence of God, a profound new work from the playwright behind the Oscar-winning film The Whale. In the confined space of an office cubicle, Keith, a mortgage broker, and Ryan, a yogurt plant worker with aspirations tied to ancestral land, discover an unexpected shared thread weaving through their lives.
Concluding the season, from May 2—17, is the delectable Broadway hit, Waitress. Based on the 2007 Sundance film, Waitress is the story of Jenna, a pie chef and waitress at a small-town Southern diner who’s stuck in a loveless marriage. When Jenna discovers she is pregnant, a local pie-baking contest with a cash prize becomes Jenna and her baby’s chance for a better life. Nominated for four Tony Awards, Waitress is a theatrical treat with delicious songs by multiple Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles.
SEASON TICKETS & A NEW TICKET PACKAGE OFFERING
Season tickets to the 2024/2025 Pioneer Theatre Company Season will be made available to new and returning subscribers beginning March 27, 2024. PTC will once again offer its signature Full 7, Pick-5, Pick-3, 35-and-Under, and Senior Citizen subscriptions. PTC’s Rush Pass subscription will also be made available, but at a later date.
New to the 2024/2025 season is the Platinum Full 7 package. For an additional $49, subscribers can enhance their Pick-7 subscription with exclusive benefits including an additional ticket voucher to any production at the Lees Theatre (PTC’s mainstage) at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre.
New and returning subscribers are encouraged to renew/subscribe via PioneerTheatre.org, by calling 801-581-6961, or in person during the upcoming production, The Lehman Trilogy (playing at the Meldrum Theatre at the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse from March 29-April 13). Single ticket sales for the 24/25 season will be announced at a later date.
PRESS CONTACT
Joshua Black
Director of Marketing and Communications
Joshua.Black@PTC.Utah.edu
O: 801-581-6270
INTERVIEWS
Artistic Director Karen Azenberg can be made available for additional commentary, should that be of interest. Please contact Joshua Black to arrange.
VENUE INFORMATION
Pioneer Theatre Company (PTC) is located in the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre AND the Meldrum Theatre at the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse
Main PTC Box Office:
Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City
801-581-6961
Open 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM., Mon. – Fri.
ABOUT PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY (PTC)
Kicking off its 63rd season in September, 2024, the award-winning PTC is Utah’s premiere professional theatre company and a leading arts organization of the West. Led by Artistic Director Karen Azenberg and Interim Managing Director Diane L. Parisi, PTC presents world-class productions that celebrate diversity in culture and society, and serve as the connecting bridge between art and scholarship as an affiliate of the University of Utah. For more information, visit PioneerTheatre.org.
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Jersey Boys
The Story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice
Music by Bob Gaudio
Lyrics by Bob Crewe
September 13-28, 2024
Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre
The landmark musical premieres at PTC at last! Winner of four Tony Awards—including Best Musical!
The electrifying tale about the fateful rise of four blue-collar kids who become one of the best-selling pop groups in history: Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Spanning the second half of the 20th century, Jersey Boys takes audiences on a nostalgic journey from humble beginnings in 1950s New Jersey all the way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This widely-beloved musical is filled with chart-topping hits like “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry,” “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” “My Eyes Adored You,” “Stay,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Who Loves You,” “Working My Way Back to You,” “Rag Doll,” and so many more!
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Prayer for the French Republic | Utah Premiere
by Joshua Harmon
October 25-November 9, 2024
Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre
Fresh off its hit Broadway run and winner of the 2022 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award
In 2016, a curious American student named Molly seeks to connect with her family in France. When her cousin becomes the victim of an anti-Semitic attack, Molly’s uncle Charles—who immigrated from Algeria—decides to move to Israel. This earns the dismay of Molly’s anti-Zionist uncle Patrick, all set against the growing threat of political extremism in France. Timely and poignant, Prayer for the French Republic had several extended sold-out runs both Off and on Broadway. Deadline calls the production “blistering, funny, and heartbreaking,” and The Wall Street Journal said it was “easily the finest play of the Broadway season.” Don’t miss your chance to see one of the hottest plays in the nation—in one of its first productions outside of New York.
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Souvenir
by Stephen Temperley
December 6—21, 2024
Meldrum Theatre at the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse
Enjoy a change of pace this holiday season—with an intimate comedy in our new Meldrum Theatre…
Stranger-than-fiction, Souvenir is the true account of Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy socialite with an insatiable passion for opera, despite possessing a hilariously tone-deaf voice. Set against the backdrop of New York City in the early 20th century, this heartwarming and humorous play follows Jenkins’ ambitious pursuit of her dreams, supported by her loyal pianist, Cosmé McMoon. Souvenir is a must-see theatrical gem that will leave you laughing, crying, and cheering for Jenkins’ indomitable spirit. This holiday season, experience the magic of this extraordinary true story that proves that sometimes, the most beautiful music comes from the heart.
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Dial “M” for Murder | Utah Premiere
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher; Written by Frederick Knott
January 10—25, 2025
Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre
Classic suspense at its finest!
Step into a heart-pounding world of betrayal and deception with a new adaptation of the celebrated murder mystery that inspired Hitchcock’s masterpiece! This modern retelling of Frederick Knott’s classic thriller plunges audiences into a web of intrigue as ex-tennis pro Tony Wendice concocts a chilling plot to murder his unfaithful wife. With its gripping plot and sharp dialogue, this adaptation offers a fresh perspective on the timeless tale of murder and manipulation. Experience the intrigue of Dial M for Murder in a captivating new light.
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Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Book by Douglas McGrath
Words and Music by Gerry Goffin & Carole King, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Music by Arrangement With Sony/ATV Music Publishing
February 14—March 1, 2025
Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre
The 7-Time Tony-nominated global sensation!
Before she became the iconic chart-topping music sensation known as Carole King, she was Carol Klein, a girl from Brooklyn with unwavering determination and astounding talent. This Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical follows King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from her early days as a teenage songwriter to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in music history—and many of her personal triumphs and struggles in between. A tribute to the indomitable spirit of one of America’s greatest musical artists told through her incredible music, including “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Natural Woman,” and “I Feel the Earth Move,” and other hits of the era by Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, The Righteous Brothers, Neil Sedaka, and more!
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A Case for the Existence of God | Utah Premiere
by Samuel D. Hunter
March 28—April 12, 2025
Meldrum Theatre at the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse
A profound new work from the playwright behind the Oscar-winning film ‘The Whale’
In the confined space of an office cubicle, Keith, a mortgage broker, and Ryan, a yogurt plant worker with aspirations tied to ancestral land, discover an unexpected shared thread weaving through their lives. Amidst discussions of loans and financial uncertainties, their conversation delves deeper, touching upon the challenges of parenthood and the angst of insecurity. Through a blend of humor, empathy, and raw honesty, Hunter skillfully intertwines Keith and Ryan’s stories, bridging the gap between their individual life experiences and shedding light on the complexities of human existence.
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Waitress
Book by Jessie Nelson
Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles
Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly
May 2—17, 2025
Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre
Enjoy what’s inside this delectable Broadway hit!
Based on the 2007 Sundance film, Waitress is the story of Jenna, a pie chef and waitress at a small-town Southern diner who’s stuck in a loveless marriage. When Jenna discovers she is pregnant, a local pie-baking contest with a cash prize becomes Jenna and her baby’s chance for a better life. But, as is often the case, fate has a few extra ingredients that complicate Jenna’s recipe for a new life. Nominated for four Tony Awards, Waitress is a theatrical treat with delicious songs by multiple Grammy Award-winner Sara Bareilles.
