Kimmel Center Presents 2008-09 Season Sponsored by Citi

Crowded stores have you screaming for alternate holiday shopping methods? No need to fret. Allow Kimmel Center, Inc. to be your one stop shop for treating family and friends to Broadway showstoppers and regional, national and international musical talent.

Watch out Philadelphia, Elle Woods will be painting the town pink this holiday season with Legally Blonde The Musical taking center stage December 2-7. For those looking for more traditional holiday fare, South African ensemble Soweto Gospel Choir and experimental fusion band Béla Fleck and the Flecktones offer their own spin on holiday classics; and, the whole family can enjoy the masterful storytelling techniques of Ira Glass, host of This American Life.

Gift giving options still got you in a frenzy? Shake up your holidays with one size fits all gift certificates available for friends and family. No returns, no fuss, and plenty of options to choose from beyond the month of December, including Broadway Series presentations of Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Jan. 9-11) and RENT (Feb. 3-8).

All gift certificates are redeemable for tickets to any Kimmel Center Presents performance or Broadway Series show. Gift certificates may be purchased in any dollar amount by calling Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1999 or online at www.kimmelcenter.org. (Additional fees may apply.)

Top performing arts picks for this holiday season:

America’s favorite blonde, Elle Woods takes audiences on a hilarious, musical whirlwind at the Academy of Music as Legally Blonde The Musical makes its Philadelphia premiere, December 2 – 7, 2008. Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

Dreams come true during the holidays! A Chorus Line, the musical for everyone who's ever had a dream and put it all on the line, comes to the Forrest Theatre, December 16, 2008-January 4, 2009. In an empty theater, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. Winner of nine Tony Awards®, including Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for drama, this singular sensation is the longest running American Broadway musical ever.

The first masterpiece from the legendary writing team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar exploded onto the scene in 1971 changing the world of musical theater forever. Now you can become a part of the magic as this smash hit musical comes to the Academy of Music, January 30- February 1, 2009. With a score of original songs from “I Don't Know How to Love Him,” to “What's the Buzz,” and “Superstar,” this groundbreaking production starring Ted Neely in the title role and Living Colour’s Corey Glover as Judas is as relevant and timeless as ever.

Rich harmonies, earthy rhythms, vibrant costumes and dancing take center stage as the Soweto Gospel Choir returns to Philadelphia on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 8pm for an inspirational concert to usher in the holiday season. This majestic choir has enjoyed global success since garnering a Grammy® Award for their second album, Blessed, and in collaborations with Bono, The Eurythmics, Jimmy Cliff and many others. The Choir performs holiday selections and traditional favorites in six South African languages with a four-piece band and percussion section.

Nine-time Grammy® Award-winning composer-musician Béla Fleck and his incredibly talented band of musicians, the Flecktones, blend bluegrass, folk and jazz in a modern improvisational style on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 8pm, featuring special guest Andy Statman on clarinet. The group will perform selections from Jingle All The Way (September 2008), the first holiday CD of their blazing 20-year career.

Tuba or not tuba? That is the question! Toot your own horn at the seventh annual Tuba Christmas Celebration on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 12:30pm in the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza, as part of the Free at the Kimmel series. The holidays come to life as over 50 regional tuba and euphonium players join together to perform holiday classics free to the public and for all ages.

Poignant, funny and surprising, radio host Ira Glass comes to the Kimmel Center for an evening of storytelling on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 8pm in Verizon Hall. The award-winning host and producer of This American Life has reinvented radio through his ability to find humor and drama in everyday events. Making his Kimmel Center debut, Ira Glass proves why TIME magazine calls him the “Best Radio Host in America.”

Broadway classics “Into the Woods,” “West Side Story” and “Sweeney Todd” come to life as legendary Broadway composer and multiple Tony Award®-winner Stephen Sondheim joins forces with New York Times columnist and former chief theater critic Frank Rich on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 8pm in Verizon Hall. The two theatrical luminaries come together for an informal evening of candid conversation and shared insights on Sondheim’s illustrious career.

Tickets for all Kimmel Center Presents performances are available for purchase by calling 215-893-1999; online at www.kimmelcenter.org; at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings; and at the Academy of Music box office on performance evenings only. For group sales, please call 215-790-5883.

Tickets for all Broadway Series performances can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad and Spruce Streets (open daily 10am to 6pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (open during performances only). Groups of 15 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947.

Tickets for A Chorus Line are available by calling 800-447-7400, online at www.telecharge.com, or at the Forrest Theatre box office, 1114 Walnut Street beginning Nov. 24. Groups of 15 or more call 866-276-2947.

KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS AND BROADWAY SERIES PRESENTATIONS

Legally Blonde the Musical
Tuesday-Thursday, December 2-4, 2008 at 7:30pm
Friday, December 5, 2008 at 8pm
Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 2pm and 8pm
Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 1pm and 6:30pm
Academy of Music
Price: $25-100

A Chorus Line
December 16, 2008-January 4, 2009
Times vary according to performance
Forrest Theatre
Price: $31.50-151.50

Jesus Christ Superstar
Friday, January 30, 2009 at 8pm
Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 2pm and 8pm
Sunday, February 1, 2009 at 1pm and 6:30pm
Academy of Music
Price: $25-100

Soweto Gospel Choir
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 8pm
Verizon Hall
Price: $29-61

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
With special guest Andy Statman, clarinet
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 8pm
Verizon Hall
Price: $32-59

Tuba Christmas
Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 12:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza
FREE

Radio Stories & Other Stories:
An Evening with Ira Glass
Host of This American Life
Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 8pm
Verizon Hall
Price: $29-40

An Evening with Stephen Sondheim and Frank Rich
Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 8pm
Verizon Hall
Price: $25-79