PackardSome days, life feels more like sleepwalking. Stress about work, family, and the world takes over. Moments of joy and excitement become few and far between, and we forget how it feels to be fully alive. But then— if we’re lucky— a moment of beauty comes along to remind us of what life can be. The right song plays on the radio, or a friend shares a beautiful photograph, and suddenly we feel invigorated and wide awake. These moments of beauty are precisely what Prima Theatre aims to create for its audiences.
"Life's most beautiful experiences are those shared with people who matter to us,” says Mitch Nugent, Prima’s Executive Artistic Producer. “The moments of awe and wonder, and live experiences, especially those centered around music and storytelling.” As he looks ahead to Prima’s 2023-2024 season of fresh theatrical experiences, Nugent believes that everyone who comes to a Prima show in the next year will leave the theater feeling fully alive.
The season will kick off with Girl Group Greats, an energetic concert celebrating the music of influential female artists from The Supremes to the Spice Girls. Prima often highlights female talent, with recent examples including the all-women cast of The Mom Show and Prima’s production of Into the Woods, directed by Galia Backal. In Girl Group Greats, women will once again run the Prima stage. Combining powerful vocals with stunning visuals, costumes, and choreography, this concert experience will make everyone want to leave their seats and dance. “Whatever your age or musical taste, Girl Group Greats will be a blast,” says Nugent.
Winter 2023 will bring the return of Prima’s immersive holiday concert, Illumination, which dazzled audiences this past December. “Illumination is the most asked-for experience to return to the Prima stage,” says Nugent. “It's a dose of holiday peace and joy in a uniquely immersive setting.” This visually stunning show centers around a baby grand piano, with the stage awash in the glow of candlelight. The result feels almost magical, perfectly setting the scene for the beauty of live music. In addition to honoring beloved classic tunes, Illumination also puts a new spin on some songs, capturing the magic of the season in a refreshing way.
Perhaps Prima’s most anticipated offering for the upcoming season is Off the Yellow Brick Road, an original show that puts a twist on The Wizard of Oz. This show is a special one for everyone at Prima because it’s been in development since 2016, when Nugent had the idea to tell Dorothy’s story in a new way. Unfortunately, the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic prevented the show’s intended debut. But in 2024, audiences will finally be able to experience Oz as they’ve never seen it before. Nugent describes the show as “a uniquely Prima hybrid between concert and theatre, and an immersive experience with a theme and characters we all love.”
The final mainstage performance of the season will be Rated P For Parenthood, a hilarious and heartwarming celebration of parenthood in all forms. This energetic sketch comedy musical will be entertaining for all ages, especially for parents, caregivers, and anyone who’s ever driven a hungry kid home from soccer practice. “This should feel like a laugh-out-loud release for all audiences,” says Nugent.
Returning in March 2024 is Stage Brawl, a fundraiser that has become a beloved Lancaster tradition. In this lighthearted and hilarious competition, local community leaders perform a song, dance, or monologue, and the performer with the most votes is crowned “Champion of the Stage.” Watching community leaders bravely leap out of their comfort zone is always a joy, and the performances grow increasingly more hilarious each year.
From the magic and whimsy of the yellow brick road to the everyday hilarity of being a parent, each of Prima’s upcoming shows offers audiences something unique. No two are alike in story or subject— yet all of them share an underlying thread. Whether it’s an evening of powerful, moving music or one of jokes that will make you laugh until your sides hurt, all of Prima’s shows offer a chance to leave the routine and ordinary behind. Prima’s philosophy is that everyone should have that chance. “We're aiming to be the most welcoming and invigorating cultural outlet in the region,” says Nugent, “because everyone deserves an invigorated life.”