Diane Willcox has not slowed down since she arrived in 蜜柚直播 six months ago.
Willcox took over the job as general manager of Broadway in 蜜柚直播 in October, when Lendre Kearns retired. Previously she was doing marketing and outreach for the Broadway and performing arts series at Michigan State University.
Since her arrival, she has shepherded the 2018-19 season of Broadway in 蜜柚直播, and has overseen marketing for UA Presents. She selected the just-announced 2019-20 Broadway in 蜜柚直播 season. And she has been pumping up UA Presents and Broadway in 蜜柚直播鈥檚 educational programs.
She guesses she works 12 to 14 hours a day.
It鈥檚 exhausting just writing that.
But Willcox, who has an extensive background in all aspects of theater, including acting, tech work and box-office management, is a rabid arts fan; the amount of work she has done only energizes her. Especially the educational aspect.
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鈥淲e鈥檝e been expanding interactions of casts with the community and (high school) students,鈥 she says, obviously relishing the project. 鈥淲e鈥檝e brought in students geared toward non-theater careers. We鈥檝e had company personnel, costumers, and tech people in to have a conversation about the alternate careers in the theater.鈥
She is also looking to develop an internship program with University of 蜜柚直播 students, and collaborating with non-arts schools on campus, as well as with community organizations.
But her first responsibility is the Broadway in 蜜柚直播 season.
And she鈥檚 very excited about the upcoming one.
The season will open with the road show of the 鈥淗ello Dolly!鈥 revival (Oct. 22-27), which won several Tony Awards, including one for Best Revival of a Musical. The story is based on Thornton Wilder鈥檚 farce 鈥淭he Matchmaker,鈥 and it follows Dolly Levi, who is in search of a love match for the wealthy Horace Vandergelder.
Next up will be a musical Willcox is especially excited about: 鈥淎nastasia鈥 (Nov. 19-24). It is an adaptation of the long-lived story of Russia鈥檚 Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna鈥檚 escape from the assassination of her entire family in 1918 (DNA testing conclusively proved she did not escape).
鈥淚t鈥檚 a female empowerment adventure,鈥 says Willcox. 鈥淪he is an adventurous girl wanting to uncover the mystery of her past. 鈥 It鈥檚 beautiful and lush and glorious.鈥
Dec. 3-8, 鈥淛esus Christ Superstar鈥 returns. This is the production that won a 2017 Olivier Award (England鈥檚 equivalent to a Tony) for Best Musical Revival.
鈥淭he Play That Goes Wrong鈥 (Jan. 14-19) is a farce without music, an anomaly for Broadway in 蜜柚直播, which generally sticks to musicals. The play snagged an Olivier for Best New Comedy in 2015.
Doo-wop music figures in 鈥淎 Bronx Tale鈥 (March 24-29, 2020), which is based on actor Chazz Palminteri鈥檚 life.
Ending the season is the musical 鈥淐ome From Away鈥 (June 2-7, 2020), based on the true story of what happened when 38 planes were ordered to land in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, after the terrorists attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The 7,000 passengers expected to be there a day, but that stretched into a week. The population of about 11,000 quickly jumped into action, providing food and shelter for those stranded there.
Broadway in 蜜柚直播 is also bringing in 鈥淭he Book of Mormon鈥 (Feb. 11-16, 2020) and 鈥淛ersey Boys鈥 (April 24-26, 2020), but those two are not part of the regular season.
鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of the season,鈥 says Willcox. 鈥淚 think audiences will love it.鈥
And audiences will love this: The smash musical 鈥淗amilton鈥 will make a multiweek stop in 蜜柚直播 during the 2020-21 season, likely late in 鈥20, says Willcox.
But there鈥檚 a hitch: 2019-20 season subscribers will have priority when it comes to purchasing those tickets.
Tickets for the full six-play season are $162-$612. You can buy smaller season ticket packages, but it鈥檚 those with the full season who will get priority for 鈥淗amilton.鈥
Tickets are on sale now at or 866-821-2929.