Playhouse Square & Firstmerit Bank Announce New Partnership

Playhouse Square is proud to announce FirstMerit Bank as the title sponsor for four shows coming to the Connor Palace and State Theatre during the 2015-16 season, including the Cleveland premiere of ELF THE MUSICAL. The partnership with FirstMerit Bank allows Playhouse Square to continue expanding its entertainment offerings.

In addition to ELF, the FirstMerit Diamond Performances include THE WIZARD OF OZ, complete with new material by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice; the perennial Broadway classic ANNIE; and the crowd-pleaser of all crowd-pleasers ABBA's MAMMA MIA!.

Playhouse Square Executive Producer, Gina Vernaci, welcomes FirstMerit's support in bringing these exciting titles to Cleveland, "Putting others first is FirstMerit's philosophy in all that it does and sponsoring these musicals delivers on that ideal and more. Each production is a delightful evening that will make lasting memories for the entire family."

The sponsorship affirms FirstMerit's commitment to the vitality of the performing arts in its hometown. "We are excited to partner with Playhouse Square and help bring these great musicals to Cleveland," says Julie Tutkovics, Chief Marketing Officer at FirstMerit. "Playhouse Square has long been a vibrant part of Cleveland's arts scene and we are pleased to help keep the footlights shining brighter than ever."

Tickets to the FirstMerit Diamond Performances are on sale now by calling (216) 241-6000, online at playhousesquare.org or at the State Theatre Ticket Office at 1519 Euclid Avenue.

The 2015-16 FirstMerit Diamond Performances

THE WIZARD OF OZ
December 1-6, 2015
wizardofozthemusical.com/ustour

This new production of The Wizard of Oz is an enchanting adaptation of the all-time classic, totally reconceived for the stage.

Developed from the ever popular MGM screenplay, this production contains the beloved songs from the Oscar-winning movie score, all the favorite characters and iconic moments, plus a few surprises along the way, including new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

ELF THE MUSICAL
December 29, 2015-January 3, 2016
elfontour.com

ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy's enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF.

Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, ELF features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (THE WEDDING SINGER), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (ANNIE, THE PRODUCERS, HAIRSPRAY) and Bob Martin (THE DROWSEY CHAPERONE).

ANNIE
January 12-17, 2016
anniethemusical.com

Leapin' Lizards!

The world's best-loved musical returns in time-honored form. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin and choreographed by Liza Gennaro, this production of ANNIE will be a brand new incarnation of the iconic original.

Featuring book and score by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, ANNIE includes such unforgettable songs as "It's the Hard Knock Life," "Easy Street," "I Don't Need Anything But You," plus the eternal anthem of optimism, "Tomorrow."

MAMMA MIA!
March 8-13, 2016
mammamiaontour.com

MAMMA MIA! is the ultimate feel-good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill. Now it's your turn to have the time of your life at this smash-hit musical that combines ABBA's greatest hits, including "Dancing Queen," "S.O.S.," "Super Trouper," "Take A Chance on Me" and "The Winner Takes It All," with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. Whether it's your first visit or your fourteenth, see the show that has the whole world coming back for more, because every time feels like the first time at MAMMA MIA! But act now as the tour is about to go off the road for a bit; and with the Broadway production now closed, the national tour is the only way to experience MAMMA MIA! live. See it while you still can!