On a warm May evening, patrons and friends of Prima Theatre gathered for an exciting, exclusive event: the 2022-2023 Season Reveal. As the lobby filled, old friends and new acquaintances chatted and took photos together, catching up on each other’s lives and reminiscing about their favorite past Prima performances. Then, speculating about what the new season might hold, the crowd filtered into the Culliton Stage for an exclusive preview of Prima’s upcoming 2022-2023 season of fresh, invigorating theatre.
The new season will kick off in October with Here Comes the Sun, an uplifting Beatles tribute concert. After the heaviness and the hard times experienced by many in the past two years, this theatrical concert promises to bring a little joy and light back into people’s lives. Sharing the beloved and timeless music of the Beatles is the perfect way to both lift spirits and to reflect on the communities, art, and people that give us hope in dark times. What’s more, the universal appeal of these classic songs makes this performance a welcoming one for anyone and everyone.
December 2022 will bring Prima’s holiday show, Illumination—though in true Prima fashion, it won’t be your typical holiday fare. This immersive concert will include fresh takes on classic holiday music from Prima’s powerful, dynamic singers, and a mesmerizing visual experience: a piano will be at the center of the room, with seating on all four sides and cozy candlelight throughout the theatre. For anyone who loves the joy of the holiday season, but is getting a little tired of watching the same films and listening to the same songs every winter, Illumination offers a wonderful new way to celebrate. And, as an added bonus, Prima will also be running the LanCarolers, a traveling singing troupe that performs Pentatonix-style acapella holiday songs. The LanCarolers can be booked to perform anywhere from workplaces to private homes or whole neighborhoods, providing unique holiday cheer to soundtrack the season.
Another of Prima’s extra experiences (not included in season subscriptions) for 2022-2023 is Stage Brawl, a truly unique show in which Lancaster community leaders leap out of their comfort zone to perform songs and scenes in a lighthearted and laugh-out-loud competition. This one-night-only performance will take place on February 4th, 2023, raising support for Prima’s artistic endeavors.
In addition to creating brand-new shows, Prima also loves bringing beloved, classic shows to life in fresh new ways. That’s why March 2023 will bring Prima’s production of Into the Woods, James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical that reimagines and weaves together fairytales like Rapunzel and Jack and the Beanstalk. The age-old familiar fairy tales make the show accessible for just about anyone—but the plotlines don’t stick to the fairy tale script. Rather, these stories of family, love, and the unexpected consequences of having your wishes come true involve many twists and turns, making for a show that evokes complicated questions and resists easy answers. And of course, the show’s iconic setting—a deep, dark, magical forest—will make for a stunning visual experience. Combining the magic of fairy tales with the magic of theater, Into the Woods will whisk Prima audiences out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary.
Finally, the season will wrap up in May 2023 with The Mom Show, a Prima original that pairs together true stories and bold music to create a unique look at one of the hardest jobs in the world: motherhood. From stay-at-home moms seeking identity beyond their kids, to working professionals balancing the demands of two different worlds, to those who only know motherhood as an ever-present silent loss, The Mom Show beautifully weaves together many heartfelt, heavy, and hilarious experiences of motherhood. It’s a show that will definitely make you laugh, maybe make you cry, and, most importantly, make you want to take a moment to honor all the leading ladies in your life.
In the darkened theater, the Season Reveal audience gasped, laughed, and breathed in the beauty of live theater with each sneak peek of these upcoming shows. Combining the excitement of the fresh and unfamiliar with the comfort of beloved classics, Prima’s 2022-2023 season is both welcoming and refreshing, offering something for just about anyone. When the lights came up, the audience was surprised to realize that an hour had passed. Even with just a few small glimpses of upcoming performances, live theater was already working its magic, lifting people out of their ordinary lives and offering the beauty of something more.
