Curtain rising on new theater seasons in Corridor

New theatrical seasons are springing up, bringing shows hot off Broadway, Pulitzer Prize-winners, family favorites, comedies and dramas to area stages this year and next.

Theatre Cedar Rapids is launching and ending its 2016-17 main stage lineup with movie hits that made the leap to the stage: 'Sister Act” in September and 'Billy Elliot The Musical” in June and July 2017. Season tickets are on sale now, including a two-child package featuring 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast” for the holidays and the highflying fun of 'Peter Pan” in May.

The folks at Giving Tree Theater in Marion are thrilled to be the first company in the region to present the ages-18-and-younger version of 'School of Rock,” bouncing onto the Marion stage June 17 to July 3.

'It just opened on Broadway in December to fantastic reviews,” director Richie Akers said. 'This is a very unique situation; these shows typically do not allow productions of any kind until the Broadway run has wrapped, and in most cases until the touring production is finished, too. When it was announced they would open rights to youth productions while still on Broadway, and then we found out the book for the show was written by Julian Fellows (of ‘Downton Abbey') and, of course, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, we just knew it would be a fantastic opportunity for all of the kids clambering for more opportunities in the community.”

The secret is out for the Old Creamery Theatre's main stage lineup announced last fall. The Amana troupe promised a recent Broadway hit for June, and is delivering with 'Million Dollar Quartet,” a musical based on Dec. 4, 1956, recording session with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Here's a look at the season lineups:

THEATRE CEDAR RAPIDS

' Mainstage: 'Sister Act,” opening Sept. 16; 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast,” opening Nov. 18; 'Next Fall,” opening Jan. 13; 'Assassins,” opening Feb. 17; 'The Crucible,” opening March 24, 2017; 'Peter Pan,” opening May 5, 2017; 'Billy Elliot The Musical,” opening June 30, 2017.

' Grandon Studio: 'The Flick,” opening Aug. 26; Studio Cabaret, opening Sept. 23, 'Tribes,” opening Oct. 21; Studio Improv, opening Nov. 25; Underground New Play Festival, opening Feb. 3; 'Vinegar Tom,” opening March 31, 2017; 'The Bully Plays,” opening May 26, 2017.

' Tickets: To order series subscriptions now, or find out single ticket on-sale dates, go to Theatrecr.org/2016-17-season. Two-show child subscriptions include tickets to 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast” and 'Peter Pan.” A subscription information session with staff will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. March 24 in TCR's mainfloor Linge Lounge. Information: TCR Box Office, 102 Third St. SE, open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, (319) 366-8591,

GIVING TREE THEATER

' Shows: 'School of Rock,” June 17 to July 3; summer camp and show, TBA, in July; 'The Odd Couple,” Aug. 12 to 28; 'A Streetcar Named Desire,” Sept. 9 to 25; 'Blithe Spirit,” Oct. 14 to 30; 'Rabbit Hole,” Nov. 4 to 13; 'Another Show of Gratitude,” Nov. 18 and 19; Christmas show TBA, Nov. 25 to Dec. 11

' Tickets: Giving Tree Theater, 752 10th St., Marion, (319) 213-7956 or <URL destination="http://www.Givingtreetheater.com%0D">Givingtreetheater.com

</URL>OLD CREAMERY THEATRE

' Mainstage, Amana: 'Steeple People,” April 21 to May 22; 'Million Dollar Quartet,” June 2 to 26; 'Shear Madness,” Aug. 4 to 28; 'Grease,” Sept. 8 to Oct. 2; 'Nana's Naughty Knickers,” Oct. 13 to Nov. 6; 'Winter Wonderettes,” Nov. 17 to Dec. 18

' Studio Stage, Middle Amana: 'Completely Hollywood Abridged,” March 31 to April 17; 'I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers,” June 30 to July 17; 'Buyer and Cellar,” July 21 to 31; 'Me and Jezebel,” Oct. 6 to 9 and Nov. 10 to 13

' Young Audiences, Amana: 'The Frog and the Princess,” March 26 to April 9; 'The Emperor's New Clothes,” June 18 to July 2; 'Miss Nelson has a Field Day,” Sept. 17 to Oct. 1; 'The Elves and the Shoemaker,” Nov. 26 to Dec. 17

' Special events, Amana: 'A Tribute to Elvis Starring Award Winning Bobby Simkins,” 7:30 p.m. March 26; Branson on the Road: Salute to America, 2 p.m. July 13 and 14; Ole & Lena: 'Ole Plays Nursemaid - Dial 911!” 2 p.m. Aug. 31; Dean Martin Tribute Starring Robbie Howard, 2 p.m. Oct. 8; John Denver Musical Tribute Starring Ted Vigil, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12

' Tickets: Season and single tickets on sale, Box Office, 39 38th Ave., Amana, (319) 622-6262 or Oldcreamery.com