Impresario's Choice, a non-profit arts organization, presents The Broadway Series at the Monroe Civic Center. Its mission is to bring high-quality Broadway musicals on national tour to Northeast Louisiana and to expand the theatregoing audience, both in number and diversity.
The group was organized in 1998 by Dr. Raymond Poliquit, a pediatrician in Tallulah, LA, out of a need in Northeast Louisiana for regular quality theatrical events with the same caliber of professionalism and creativity as the Broadway stage. In 2004, he was honored with the Louisiana Governor's Arts Award for Promotion of the Arts.
The organization has grown to include an active Board of Directors and volunteers that meet every 2nd Friday of each month at St. Francis Medical Center Old Board Room, Nazareth Hall, 309 Jackson Street, Monroe, LA, from 5 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Impresario's Choice has entered a new era this season with its partnership with Jam Theatricals, Ltd., a large entertainment company in Chicago, IL, that will allow the organization to continue bringing bigger and more popular titles while keeping its financial viability.
Since 1998, the organization has brought the following productions to Northeast Louisiana:
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1998-1999
Cirque Ingenieux
Beehive
1999-2000
Victor/Victoria
Showboat
Mahalia, The Gospel Musical
Annie
2001-2002
Footloose
Jekyll & Hyde
Unforgettable, The Nat King Cole Story
Chicago
2001-2002
My Fair Lady
Our Sinatra
Titanic
Ragtime
2002-2003
Cabaret
Cinderella
Ain't Misbehavin'
South Pacific2003-2004
The Sound of Music
Black to Broadway
Seussical, The Musical Cats2004-2005
Fiddler on the Roof
Broadway, The Big Band Years
Grease
Miss Saigon
Blue's Clues LIVE!2005-2006
Oklahoma
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Sing! Sing! Sing!
42nd Street
Dora The Explorer LIVE!2006-2007
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Jesus Christ Superstar
Torme sings Torme
I Can't Stop Loving You
Thomas and Friends LIVE!2007-2008
10th Anniversary Season
Cats
Cirque Dreams - Jungle Fantasy
The Producers
Lord of the Dance
Forever Tango
Stomp
Go Diego Go LIVE!2008-2009
Go Diego Go
Chicago
Hairspray
The Silent Seats Program In keeping with its commitment to expand the theatregoing audience, Impresario's Choice has developed the Silent Seats Program that allows deserving students, seniors and people with disabilities to enjoy an evening of high quality theatre at low subsidized ticket prices. Since its inception in 1999, its has brought over 7,000 recipients to the theatre. The participants also attend a Pre-performance Workshop and a Post-performance Q& A with artists to enhance their theatrical experience. Theatre for Younger Audiences In response to the growing need for children's entertainment, Impresario's Choice started the Theatre for Younger Audiences program in 2004. It has brought "Blue's Clues LIVE!", "Dora The Explorer LIVE!", "Scooby-Doo LIVE!", "Thomas and Friends LIVE" snd Go Deigo Go. We will be bringing "The Backyardigans" this season. This highly successful program is developing new audiences for live musical theatre, providing exciting opportunities for young children to experience live theatre for the first time with their families.Board Of Directors
Dr. Raymond Poliquit, Artistic Director
Ezekial J. Moore, Executive Director
Douglas Leporati, President
Greg Speed, Vice-President
Betty Lemmer, Secretary
Mark Henderson, Treasurer
Mark Henderson, Education Outreach Director
Janet Simon, Summer Tennis Tournament Chairperson
Members:
Helen Cook, Elaine Henderson, Melissa Henderson, Agnes Hillman, Beverly Jay, Joe Jay, and Denise Rainey.
This website is maintained by the father and son team of Douglas and Josh Leporati.
Cirque Ingenieux
Beehive
Victor/Victoria
Showboat
Mahalia, The Gospel Musical
Annie
Footloose
Jekyll & Hyde
Unforgettable, The Nat King Cole Story
Chicago
My Fair Lady
Our Sinatra
Titanic
Ragtime
Cabaret
Cinderella
Ain't Misbehavin'
South Pacific
The Sound of Music
Black to Broadway
Seussical, The Musical Cats
Fiddler on the Roof
Broadway, The Big Band Years
Grease
Miss Saigon
Blue's Clues LIVE!
Oklahoma
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Sing! Sing! Sing!
42nd Street
Dora The Explorer LIVE!
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Jesus Christ Superstar
Torme sings Torme
I Can't Stop Loving You
Thomas and Friends LIVE!
Cats
Cirque Dreams - Jungle Fantasy
The Producers
Lord of the Dance
Forever Tango
Stomp
Go Diego Go LIVE!
Go Diego Go
Chicago
Hairspray
The Silent Seats Program In keeping with its commitment to expand the theatregoing audience, Impresario's Choice has developed the Silent Seats Program that allows deserving students, seniors and people with disabilities to enjoy an evening of high quality theatre at low subsidized ticket prices. Since its inception in 1999, its has brought over 7,000 recipients to the theatre. The participants also attend a Pre-performance Workshop and a Post-performance Q& A with artists to enhance their theatrical experience. Theatre for Younger Audiences In response to the growing need for children's entertainment, Impresario's Choice started the Theatre for Younger Audiences program in 2004. It has brought "Blue's Clues LIVE!", "Dora The Explorer LIVE!", "Scooby-Doo LIVE!", "Thomas and Friends LIVE" snd Go Deigo Go. We will be bringing "The Backyardigans" this season. This highly successful program is developing new audiences for live musical theatre, providing exciting opportunities for young children to experience live theatre for the first time with their families.
Ezekial J. Moore, Executive Director
Douglas Leporati, President
Greg Speed, Vice-President
Betty Lemmer, Secretary
Mark Henderson, Treasurer
Mark Henderson, Education Outreach Director
Janet Simon, Summer Tennis Tournament Chairperson
Copyright 2008 Impresario's Choice. All Rights Reserved