Newsies, Lion King, Kinky Boots Bring Broadway to Boston in 2014/2015 Season

Its three hours and thirty-nine minutes from Boston to New York City — without traffic. Yeah, like that ever happens. Some may think it silly to wait for Broadway to come to them when they are such a relatively short distance away from the bright lights, but Boston can stay at home during the 2014-15 season because the stars are lighting up Beantown.

This season affords a little something for everyone. There are plenty of Tonys to go around, musicals abound before your eyes, and the newcomers mingle quite nicely with the classic stalwarts.

Disney’s The Lion King gets things started on September 9 and runs for just over a month till October 12. You’ve heard about the Smithsonian worthy costumes of the Julie Taymor directed masterpiece so come see them in person. Playing the Boston Opera House, Lion King brings its six Tony Awards in tow this fall.

Staying on the classic vein, Mamma Mia! brings its estrogen powered fun to the Citi Emerson Colonial Theatre. This will be the musicals fifth pass through Boston. This ABBA-inspired gem transports you to the scenic Greek Isles for a wedding packed with plenty of surprises.

Motown the Musical welcomes the new year opening at the Boston Opera House on January 27, 2015 and sticking around till February 15. This new musical centers around the life and times of Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records. All those classic soul tracks fill the air as groundbreaking artists like Michael Jackson and Diana Ross take to the stage. No jukebox musical outside of Jersey Boys packs these kinds of hits.

The 80s film classic Dirty Dancing comes to the Citi Emerson Colonial Theatre from April 28 to May 10. Those songs are running through your head as we speak, aren’t they? Baby, Johny and the rest of the film characters take the stage to infuse you with a powerful dose of nostalgia next spring.

I bet you thought one Disney musical was all Boston was going to get, didn’t you? Well Disney’s latest box office draw Newsies is giving you a double dose of the mouse as it hits the Boston Opera House from June 23 to July 5, 2015. Based on the film of the same name, the newsboys of New York rise up to make the headlines in this tale of the underdog. With a Harvey Fierstein book, Tony winning music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman, what’s not to love?

The flamboyant Kinky Boots struts into the Boston Opera House on August 11, 2015 for a two week run. Yet another musical inspired by Hollywood, Kinky Boots took home Best Musical at last year’s Tonys. Cyndi Lauper composes as Harvey writes the book for this unlikely partnership of Charlie and Lola.