‘Quality Broadway in our backyard’

For more info on season tickets, show tickets and more at Broadway Scranton at the Scranton Cultural Center, call 570.342.7784 or visit www.broadwayscranton.com.

As Helene Runco picks up the phone, she pauses and apologizes for the noise.

“I like to listen to Broadway tunes while I’m working,” she says sheepishly.

Quite appropriate for the assistant to the director of Broadway Scranton, who is gearing up for the 2010-11 season at the Scranton Cultural Center. Runco’s status as a theater buff serves her well in her job. And while she gets to New York City to catch shows every chance she gets, Runco is confident that Broadway in our own backyard is every bit as good.

“It’s a quality act here,” Runco says.

So without further ado, here’s what Broadway Scranton’s quality act has in store:

‘A Chorus Line’

In July of 1975, one production took audiences where only a select few ever get to go — behind the scenes of a Broadway dance audition. With a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban, “A Chorus Line” captured the dreams and aspirations of wannabe dancers and took the hearts of the public with them. “A Chorus Line” ran for more than 6,100 performances, winning nine Tony Awards, five Drama Desk Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. There’s no elaborate set or dazzling special effects to tell the story, just fancy footwork and terrific tunes including “I Can Do That,” “The Music and the Mirror,” “What I Did for Love,” “One” and “I Hope I Get It.” (Oct. 15-17)

‘Legally Blonde’

UCLA coed Elle Woods is used to getting what she wants. She’s got the right clothes, the right guy and the right sorority sisters. But when Elle’s perfect fianc� leaves her for more serious prospects at Harvard Law, she decides it’s time for a change, embarking for law school with hilarious and heartwarming results. Elle’s story was first told in the 2001 big-screen hit starring Reese Witherspoon, but the perpetually pink one got some song and dance moves when her tale came to Broadway in the spring of 2007. “Legally Blonde” ran for nearly 600 performances, racking up seven Tony nominations and 10 Drama Desk nods. Now this perky Delta Nu and her crew are coming to Scranton with a feel-good score including “What You Want,” “Positive,” “Ireland” and “Omigod You Guys.” (Nov. 19-21)

‘Blue Man Group’

Folks at the Scranton Cultural Center will be coming down with a bit of the blues (or a lot of the blues), but in this case, that’s not a bad thing. Blue Man Group is coming to NEPA and bringing a show unlike anything else the season has to offer. BMG’s shows are part multimedia spectacular, part musical and part comedy. They contain no spoken dialogue yet manage to communicate with audience members of all ages. Though Blue Man Group is a bit hard to put into words, unique, exciting, creative, outrageous and messy begin to scratch the surface. For area audiences to really grasp BMG, they’ll just have to catch one of the Scranton dates on Blue Man Group’s first-ever U.S. theatrical tour. (Feb. 11-13)

‘The Color Purple’

In 1982, Alice Walker published “The Color Purple,” a tale of hardship and struggle in the American South of the 1930s told through the eyes of a young woman, Celie. Walker’s novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. In 1985, director Steven Spielberg brought Celie to life on the silver screen in an Academy Award-nominated film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. Celie still had more to say, and her tale came to life in a 2005 Broadway adaptation. With a book by Marsha Norman and lyrics and music by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, “The Color Purple” ran for more than 900 performances, earning 11 Tony nominations and a win for Best Actress in a Musical. Backed by a Grammy-nominated score full of jazz, gospel and blues, “The Color Purple” is a powerful musical tale of the joy of overcoming hardship, offering inspiration and love. (March 4-6)

‘Spamalot’

More than 30 years ago, a group of brave (what?) and noble (hmmm . . .) knights set out on a quest to bring the tale of King Arthur to the big screen with a small bit of silliness thrown in for good measure. That quest would come to be a comedy classic known as “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Never one to let good silliness go to waste, Eric Idle, one of the original Python-ers, teamed with John Du Prez to create a book and score to tell the knights’ tale live on stage. And so “Spamalot” was born. “Spamalot” hit Broadway in March of 2005, running for nearly four years and more than 1,500 performances. The production’s cup overflowed with Tony nominations, with statues bestowed for Best Musical, Best Featured Actress and Best Direction. Now the silliness is headed this way, backed by a score which includes “I Am Not Dead Yet,” “The Diva’s Lament” and “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway.” (April 8-10)

Runco is thrilled about what the entire season Broadway Scranton has to offer, but she’s particularly excited about two shows: “Legally Blonde” and “The Color Purple.”

“‘Legally Blonde,’ for the comedy,” she says. “I just think it’s going to be a really funny musical, and this is one I haven’t seen on Broadway.”

She’s looking forward to “The Color Purple” for a whole different reason.

“It’s more about women finding strength to carry on and do what they have to do. It’s so empowering when you walk out.”

But whether area theater fans are looking for laughs, inspiration or toe-tapping tunes, Runco is certain this season will have it all.

“It’s going to be a fabulous season this year. It really is.”

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