For their second mainstage show of the 2023/24 season, UVic’s Phoenix Theatre offers an epic journey through the most iconic and beloved musicals of our time as 100 Years of Broadway dances into the spotlight. Whether you’re a seasoned theatregoer or new to the magic of the stage, 100 Years of Broadway promises an experience that will leave you with a song in your heart.
Created by noted arranger and composer Mac Huff, this revue seamlessly weaves together medleys and full-song performances, capturing the essence of each era and showcasing the evolution of musical theatre — so expect delightful nuggets of history and fun facts to spice up this musical adventure.
Light the lights
It all begins in the early 20th century at the historic hotspot Tin Pan Alley, the epicentre of American musical genius. Imagine a bustling hive where songwriters, composers and publishers wove the very fabric of popular music with unforgettable music and timeless melodies by the likes of Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers — timeless creators who etched their names into the musical legacy that gave rise to today’s Broadway productions.
From there, you’ll be transported to the golden era of the ’50s and ’60s with iconic scores from Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly! and Oliver. Then it’s a quick fast-forward through the groundbreaking ’70s and ’80s and the works of modern titans Andrew Lloyd Webber (Phantom of The Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, CATS) and Stephen Sondheim (A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Company). After that, we shift into the contemporary, with the likes of Wicked, Something Rotten, Waitress, Come From Away, Rent and The Last Five Years, among many others. 100 Years of Broadway celebrates the past, present and lasting joy that only Broadway can deliver.
A night of nights
It’s all directed by guest director and Phoenix alum Pia Wyatt, who received her master’s degree in directing from UVic in 1994. A professional educator, director and choreographer who has worked throughout the country and internationally, she now shares her talents as a professor of theatre and dance, and head of directing and performance at Louisiana’s Northwestern State University.
“I look forward to breathing new life into each theatrical production, helping create a masterpiece that entices the hearts and minds of the audience,” says Wyatt. “Theatre and dance provide freedom of expression and the power to communicate, to educate and to entertain — this outreach is what makes it exciting for me to create theatre.”
Indeed, Wyatt’s students and graduates are currently performing on Broadway, cruise lines, regional theatres and amusement parks worldwide. Under her direction and featuring an all-student design team, 100 Years of Broadway speaks to the legacy of the Phoenix theatre program — which continues to nurture top talent who contribute to the cultural landscape at home and abroad.
Alumni director Pia Wyatt
Building the student-designed set for 100 Years of Broadway
On with the show
The stage is set and the legacy of more than a century of beautiful music awaits you with 100 Years of Broadway. Inspiring, entertaining and uniquely able to connect people across generations, 100 Years of Broadway offers a night that will leave you singing and dancing long after the curtain falls.
Don’t miss this unforgettable evening as we celebrate Broadway’s extraordinary legacy! Book your tickets now, as they are already going fast!
100 Years of Broadway runs February 14-17 & 20-24, with 2pm matinees on Feb 17 & 24. Tickets are $11-$32, by phone at 250-721-8000 or in-person at the Phoenix Theatre box office.
There will also be a public pre-show lecture with Department of Theatre chair and Broadway historian Tony Vickery at 7pm Friday, February 16.