The Media Theatre, Delaware County’s only professional music theatre, has an exciting and diverse five-show season beginning in September 2009 and continuing through June 2010. The titles represent two different eras in our history (“Show Boat” and “Rent”), one of the best known stories in the country’s popular culture (“The Wizard of Oz”), a look at a New York City born opera legend portrayed by Tony nominated actress Ann Crumb (“Master Class”), and a satirical look at small-town USA (“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”).

“Show Boat”, with music by Jerome Kern and a book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, returns to the Philadelphia region for the first time in more than a decade as a professional production September 30-November 1. The musical chronicles the lives of those living and working on the Cotton Blossom, a Mississippi River boat during 1880-1927. The shows themes include racial prejudice and enduring love. The cast includes Barrymore winner Jennie Eisenhower, as Julie, and Elisa Matthews as Magnolia. Philip Boykin, who portrayed Joe on the National Tour of “Show Boat” and was nominated for Best Actor by the National Broadway Theatre Awards, will play the same role at The Media Theatre allowing audiences to hear his rendition of the legendary “Ol’ Man River”.

“This revival will be relevant to issues of our past and present,” stated Artistic Director Jesse Cline who will be directing the show. “It will not be a ‘watered-down’ production but will maintain the integrity of the original version.”

“The Wizard of Oz” will delight audiences of all ages November 24-January 10. The story of Dorothy and her journey down the Yellow Brick Road is endearing, joyous, and timeless. Cline said, “This is the perfect show for the holiday season. The cast will combine professional performers with local youth for a memorable experience.” The Media Theatre will produce the Royal Shakespeare Company’s version of the musical, which is crafted more toward the famous film rather than L. Frank Baum’s books and includes the songs “If I Only Had A Brain” and “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”.

Tony nominated actress Ann Crumb, who appeared at The Media Theatre as Florence Foster Jenkins in “Souvenir” two years ago, returns to her home-town as Maria Callas in “Master Class” February 3-20, 2010. Callas was a glamorous, commanding, and larger-than-life presence who, in the context of the Terrance McNally script, is both dismayed and impressed by the students who parade before her. “Ann Crumb will bring her incredible depth as an actress to this piece,” Cline said. “She is known worldwide for her performance in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original productions of “Aspects of Love” both on Broadway and The West End. We are fortunate to have her enlighten audiences once again.”

March 3-28 brings the first of two Philadelphia professional premieres to the stage which round out the season: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”. The hysterical, improvisational award-winning show with plenty of audience interaction centers around a fictional spelling bee in the geographically ambiguous location of Putnam Valley Middle School. In this hilarious tale of overachiever’s angst chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime, we learn that a spelling bee is the one place they can stand out and fit in at the same time. Overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, they learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t mean you are a ‘loser’. The one-act musical comedy with music and lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin, won two Tony Awards in 2005.

“Rent” closes the season May 5-June 6. Jonathon Larson’s rock-opera take on “La Boheme” focuses on a group of impoverished young artists and musicians who struggle to create and survive on the Upper East Side during the thriving days of Alphabet City under the shadow of AIDS. The score includes the frequently performed and recorded song “Seasons of Love” and the show is widely credited with introducing the Broadway musical to a younger generation.

The Media Theatre is Delaware County’s only professional music theatre and has received over a dozen “Best Of” Awards from local media outlets and reader’s polls. The recipient of a Barrymore Award for “Excellence in Theatre” from the Philadelphia Theatre Alliance in 2005, it is nominated for three of those prestigious awards again in 2009.

“We produce our shows from the ground up right here at the theatre,” Artistic Director Jesse Cline said. “Each production has its own design, unique direction, and professional actors that we hire from auditions in New York City and the Philadelphia region. When you purchase a ticket to a Media Theatre musical you are supporting our mission of music theatre and you will see a production unique to our stage and complete with our vision. We are not a community theatre, but rather a professional music theatre company which is a vital part of our community.”

For tickets to The Media Theatre’s 2009-2010 Broadway Series season, or for information on how to subscribe, call 610.891.0100 or visit www.mediatheatre.org.