Broadway in Scranton season to bring blockbuster hit and higher prices

The upcoming schedule of Broadway in Scranton will bring a blockbuster hit and fan favorite franchises, but two fewer shows than the past season and price increases.

The lowest-cost season ticket now buys four shows for the same price that previously bought six. Other increases will be less dramatic.

The season’s biggest title coming to the Scranton Cultural Center is the third show, in April. “Dear Evan Hansen” was a huge Broadway hit, the original cast recording reached the Billboard charts and it became a movie. The story of a teen boy’s search to fit in won the Tony Award for best musical for 2017.

“It's a show that we tried for years to bring to Scranton,” said Tom Combs of NAC Entertainment, the company that books shows for the long-running Broadway-inspired series. “We are big believers in it for many reasons: the message, the music. It is so well known, and also the fact that it is such a timely and contemporary story.”

The complete season is:

“Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations:” Nov. 15 - 17.

“The Addams Family:” March 7 - 9.

“Dear Evan Hansen:” April 4 - 6.

“Mean Girls:” May 16 - 18.

In touring theater terms, the shows are recent hits. Three have never been to the Scranton area. “The Addams Family” was at the Scranton Cultural Center more than a decade ago.

The number of shows per season often varies. The prices are going up because costs are going up, Combs said.

Single-show ticket prices, which vary by production, haven’t been set, but there will be an increase, he said. Also, for the second year, Broadway in Scranton will use dynamic pricing for single shows, meaning the cost of shows rises, based on demand as opening night nears.

Season tickets, which are a better bargain than buying tickets for each production separately, go on sale Aug. 19. This season, there are three tiers: $245, $285, and $335.

Last season’s lowest tier was $240. Broken down as price per show, the cheapest season ticket tier goes up 50 percent, from $40 to $61.

Last season there was a fourth, most expensive tier, for the best seats, and that has been dropped. The most expensive package is now $335 for four shows, as opposed to $450 for six shows.

Combs warned that tickets bought from resale websites cost more and may be fake. The authorized vendors for Broadway in Scranton the the Cultural Center box office, BroadwayinScranton.com and Ticketmaster.

Combs expects a good turnout because the season features well known titles that appeal to a wide audience.

“Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations” follows the legendary Motown group’s dramatic rise. Combs said young audiences who might not recognize the group’s name tend to recognize the songs, including: “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” The Broadway version was nominated for 12 Tony Awards 2019.

“The Addams Family,” a musical based on the old television show and its later spinoffs, focuses on the creepy and kooky daughter, Wednesday, falling in love with a normal boy. It is this year’s show aimed most specifically at families, Combs said.

“Dear Evan Hansen,” “checks so many boxes,” Combs said. Its themes are relevant to parents and teens and the music is well known. That includes “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through A Window,” and “For Forever.”

“Mean Girls” is “one of the most quotable comedies of all time” Combs said. There are two movies, plus the musical, based on the story by actress and writer Tina Fey. In it, the new girl at high school encounters the frenemy clique, The Plastics.