Diane Willcox has not slowed down since she arrived in 做厙勛圖 six months ago.
Willcox took over the job as general manager of Broadway in 做厙勛圖 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 做厙勛圖, and has overseen marketing for UA Presents. She selected the just-announced 2019-20 Broadway in 做厙勛圖 season. And she has been pumping up UA Presents and Broadway in 做厙勛圖s educational programs.
She guesses she works 12 to 14 hours a day.
Its 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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Weve been expanding interactions of casts with the community and (high school) students, she says, obviously relishing the project. Weve brought in students geared toward non-theater careers. Weve had company personnel, costumers, and tech people in to have a conversation about the alternate careers in the theater.
She is also looking to develop an internship program with University of Arizona students, and collaborating with non-arts schools on campus, as well as with community organizations.
But her first responsibility is the Broadway in 做厙勛圖 season.
And shes very excited about the upcoming one.
The season will open with the road show of the Hello Dolly! revival (Oct. 22-27), which won several Tony Awards, including one for Best Revival of a Musical. The story is based on Thornton Wilders farce The Matchmaker, 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: Anastasia (Nov. 19-24). It is an adaptation of the long-lived story of Russias Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevnas escape from the assassination of her entire family in 1918 (DNA testing conclusively proved she did not escape).
Its a female empowerment adventure, says Willcox. She is an adventurous girl wanting to uncover the mystery of her past. Its beautiful and lush and glorious.
Dec. 3-8, Jesus Christ Superstar returns. This is the production that won a 2017 Olivier Award (Englands equivalent to a Tony) for Best Musical Revival.
The Play That Goes Wrong (Jan. 14-19) is a farce without music, an anomaly for Broadway in 做厙勛圖, which generally sticks to musicals. The play snagged an Olivier for Best New Comedy in 2015.
Doo-wop music figures in A Bronx Tale (March 24-29, 2020), which is based on actor Chazz Palminteris life.
Ending the season is the musical Come From Away (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 做厙勛圖 is also bringing in The Book of Mormon (Feb. 11-16, 2020) and Jersey Boys (April 24-26, 2020), but those two are not part of the regular season.
Im really proud of the season, says Willcox. I think audiences will love it.
And audiences will love this: The smash musical Hamilton will make a multiweek stop in 做厙勛圖 during the 2020-21 season, likely late in 20, says Willcox.
But theres 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 its those with the full season who will get priority for Hamilton.
Tickets are on sale now at or 866-821-2929.
Contact reporter Kathleen Allen at kallen@tucson.com or 573-4128. On Twitter: @kallenStar
Kathleen Allen
Reporter
