Who Tells Gammage's 2017-18 Story? A conversation with Colleen Jennings-Roggensack

Colleen Jennings-Roggensack
photo by Tim Trumble

by Jennifer Haaland

What will forever be remembered as the HAMILTON season at ASU Gammage begins next month.  The iconic musical's closing number begs the question, "Who tells your story?" It's long-time ASU Gammage Executive Director Colleen Jennings-Roggensack who tells a lively, inside story of the rockstar 2017-18 Broadway tour season to PHX Stages.

"We WILL have some single seats available for HAMILTON.  The exact details are still in the works," Jennings-Roggensack said first and foremost, being all 22,000 season subscription packages sold out in May within ninety minutes.

Arizona State University is the first college campus stop on the fresh-from-New-York, debut national tour of HAMILTON, which plays January 30 to February 25, 2018. It's a chance for ASU to fan the flames of important stories surrounding the hottest show ever.

"We have the ability to add context around content. Faculty in constitutional law, in history, in immigration are raring to participate. We have authors involved, too," Jennings-Roggensack said. "It's also a huge opportunity for our supporters to again know that we are the strongest and first in so many ways. It opens more pathways like the potential for underwriting, so that more kids can attend."

Even other single-show tickets, which go on sale September 11, will be especially hot commodities because of the huge subscription leap to 22,000. By comparison, in recent previous years, the Gammage subscription base has held steady around 15,000 members. Single seats for the season opener, FUN HOME, are already available.

Kate Shindle and Robert Petkoff in the national tour of Fun Home
photo by Joan Marcus

Lin Manuel Miranda's HAMILTON has been that game changing rarity that gets an entire population thoroughly immersed in an art form. Like the nation's desire to read was rekindled by Harry Potter, live theatre has been ignited by HAMILTON. By association, the other shows in the Gammage 2017-18 season provide red hot exposure to expand and grow more fans.

Jennings-Roggensack, who holds the distinction of being Arizona's sole Tony Awards voter,  shared memorable sparks within each of the other eight shows. She's a lady who's made a career of being 'in the room where it happens,' especially these productions' theatres of origin--on Broadway and on London's West End:

FUN HOME - September 5-10, 2017 – A play with music about finding out who you are, who your family is, and loving even the bumps and bruises. It's moving, funny, filled with pathos.
Bright spark: Alison's signature song with that "ring of keys," the moment she discovers who she is.

SOMETHING ROTTEN!  - October 31, 2017 - November 5, 2017 – So ribald! A huge musical with puns about every musical you've ever seen. We are looking for fun right now. This is it.
Bright spark: When the old sage, Shakespeare style, divulges this brand new concept called a musical.

BODYGUARD - November 28, 2017 - December 3, 2017– The film with a tiny different twist. This is not the first time we've taken a showstopper on the road when it's come over from London before, or instead of, its stop on Broadway. Heather Headley won the Olivier award for her jaw-dropping role.
Bright spark: That beautiful Dolly Parton song ['I Will Always Love You'].

CINDERELLA - December 19-24, 2017– We got so many calls confirming tickets for CINDERELLA were in the subscription package.  It's the perfect rags to riches show we all know, right during the Christmas season.
Bright spark: This production is defined by the breathless, magical costumes.

HAMILTON – January 30 - February 25, 2018

THE KING AND I - March 20-25, 2018 – Such beautiful new light on the old story. Asians weren't originally cast in their own roles like they are here. Two loves never get to happen while people struggle to be themselves, holding onto important pasts as a clashing future arrives.
Bright spark: You'll be so stunned by the opening moment.

THE COLOR PURPLE - April 17-22, 2018 – Director John Doyle a is an essentialist. The uni-set, direction, every element is reduced to the bare essentials.
Bright sparks: When the chairs become shovels in the 'Big Dog' scene, the men are unforgettable. I've also yet to see an audience that isn't moved to stand up when Celie finishes singing 'I'm Here.'

LES MISERABLES - May 15-20, 2018 – There are two definite camps of musical theatre lovers: Phantom and Les Mis. Les Miserables is a tougher book and a tougher score. In this production the barricade has more of an emotional presence than ever before.
Bright spark: 'Master of the House' will be more real than we've ever seen and very bawdy.

THE HUMANS - May 29 - June 3, 2018 – My firm belief is that a season isn't a season without a play. Four Tonys, and such a young playwright!  I fought very hard for this amazing show to be part of our touring season.
Bright spark: If you've ever been at a Thanksgiving dinner with family, this is your play.

SCHOOL OF ROCK - June 19-24, 2018 – We end with such fun and a show that ties into our Camp Broadway. It's a great film repeat that just feels so good when the underdog wins.
Bright spark: The remarkable thing is that all those little children who are in the roles actually play those instruments. They are exceptional, the true quadruple threats.
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As Jennings-Roggensack looks ahead to the future of theatre while she chuckles about the HAMILTON-Harry Potter analogy, she says under her breath, "Let me tell you, the next juggernaut to crash our shores from London will be HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD.  It's still the toughest ticket to come by on the West End."

'Who lives? Who dies? Who tells your story?'  Joyfully immersed in this historic HAMILTON Season, Colleen Jennings-Roggensack tells a vibrant, enticing ASU Gammage story.

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