"Next season promises to be one of our biggest and best," says Victoria Theatre Association President & CEO Dione Kennedy. "We have several of the hottest new Broadway shows lined up, including the smash hit Legally Blonde, in its first year out on tour, as well as The Color Purple. Plus, we are able to offer a sneak preview of some exciting things in store for the 2009-2010 season."

The 2008-2009 Chase Broadway Series features the Broadway smash hits Legally Blonde: The Musical and The Color Purple, along with the amazing tribute show Rain: The Beatles Experience, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Human Race Theatre Company's revival of the spellbinding thriller Wait Until Dark.

Rain: The Beatles Experience, December 10 – 21, 2008: Victoria Theatre

Next year's Chase Broadway Series kicks off later than usual, but it will be well worth the wait. Experience what Beatlemania was all about – from Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road! They look like them and they sound just like them! All the music and vocals are performed live by this critically acclaimed group. Rain covers the Fab Four from the earliest beginnings through the psychedelic late '60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. Rain is a multi-media, multidimensional experience. A fusion of historical footage and hilarious television commercials from the 1960s lights up video screens, and live cameras zoom in for close-ups.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, January 20 – 25, 2009: Schuster Center

You'll believe a car can fly! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is everything you could want in a musical – and more. Sensational sets, stunning special effects, an irresistible story, and an unforgettable Sherman Brothers score, including memorable classics like "Truly Scrumptious," "Hushabye Mountain," and, of course, the Oscar-nominated title song, all add up to a Broadway blockbuster the whole family will love.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, February 17 – March 1, 2009: Victoria Theatre

In The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. This tuneful, offbeat and at times heartwarming show offers audience members the opportunity (strictly voluntary) to become part of the action as on-stage spellers!

The Color Purple, April 21 – 26, 2009: Schuster Center

The Color Purple is an inspiring family saga that tells the unforgettable story of a woman who – through love – finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. Set to a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, The Color Purple is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love and a celebration of life.

Wait Until Dark, May 5 – 17, 2009: Victoria Theatre

Before the unforgettable film starring Audrey Hepburn, this electrifying thriller was a hit on Broadway and London's West End. A sinister con man and two ex-convicts are about to meet their match in a courageous blind woman. Produced for Victoria Theatre Association by The Human Race Theatre Company, Wait Until Dark is a meticulously crafted and thoroughly satisfying thrill-ride.

Legally Blonde: The Musical, June 16 – 21, 2009: Schuster Center

Legally Blonde: The Musical will take you from the sorority house to the halls of justice with Broadway's brightest new heroine (and, of course, her chihuahua, Bruiser). Sorority star, Elle Woods, doesn't take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style. -- www.victoriatheatre.com