Kelsey Theatre Announces 2012-13 Season: BORN YESTERDAY, NEXT TO NORMAL and More

Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre celebrates its Ruby Pink 40th Anniversary with a "Salute to the Ladies" during its 2012-13 season. Nineteen full-length adult and family productions will feature strong, determined, feisty women, like the adventurous Maria in "The Sound of Music," and the fashionista turned lawyer Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde – The Musical." The Kelsey Kids Series offers 12 productions featuring traveling professional companies and local troupes, in fun family shows like "Charlotte's Web" and "Cinderella." Kelsey Theatre is conveniently located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

Discounted series packages are on sale now; subscribers will receive more than 45% off regular ticket prices. Current subscribers must renew by August 19 to receive priority seating. New subscribers and tickets for single shows will be processed after August 26.

Full-length performances appealing to both the young and young-at-heart kick off with the Tony Award-winning musical "Pippin," as performed by the Pennington Players Sept. 7-16. Next up is the Yardley Players in "Born Yesterday," a timeless and timely comedy about politics and the power of female persuasion, Sept. 21-30.

Pierrot Productions presents the emotional powerhouse musical "Next to Normal," the tale of one family's struggles with madness, sorrow, rage and forgiveness, from Oct. 5-14. A lighter take on relationships – including one very mean plant! – follows in the rock 'n roll classic "Little Shop of Horrors," performed by Playful Theatre Productions from Oct. 19-28.

Up next, the Perry Award-winning Maurer Productions Onstage presents "A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody" Nov. 2-11, when bumbling Matthew has made it his New Year's resolution to murder his wife before the year is out.

The mood turns decidedly more celebratory in December when the Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre returns to Kelsey with "El Sueno," a unique adaptation of The Nutcracker holiday classic Dec. 7-8.

PinnWorth Productions starts off the new year with the visually and musically stunning masterpiece "Sunday in the Park with George" Jan. 25-27. Then, it's time for poodle skirts and leather jackets when Kelsey Theatre presents the "Grease! Movie Sing-Along" Jan. 25-27.

Telling the story of two miraculous women, "The Miracle Worker," presented by the Pennington Players, is the century-old story of Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan, coming to Kelsey Feb. 1-10. It will be followed by "Love Letters," a show for romantics by A.R. Gurney, to be presented by M&M Productions over Valentine's Day weekend, Feb. 15-17.