'Book of Mormon' to return to Forrest Theatre

The Book of Mormon will be back in Philadelphia's Forrest Theatre late this year for a month-long reprise of its successful 47-day 2014 engagement, part of Broadway Philadelphia's 2015-16 season, officials of the Kimmel Center and the Schubert Organization announced Friday.

The Kimmel and the Schubert Organization are joint presenters of the season.

"Each season, we seek compelling theater productions with story lines that resonate with our diverse audiences," Anne Ewers, Kimmel president and chief executive, said in a statement. She noted the season will include "five new family productions," having their Philadelphia premieres.

Philip J. Smith, chairman of the Shubert Organization, touted the season lineup as "the best of Broadway."

The two presenters will be mounting their Broadway productions in the Academy of Music, the Merriam Theater, and the Forrest.

Beyond Mormon, which will run at the Forrest from Nov. 24 through Dec. 27, the season will feature six new national touring shows.

It will open with Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway from Oct. 27 through Nov. 1 at the Academy of Music. Matilda: The Musical, based on Roald Dahl's novel, will run Nov. 17 to 29 at the Academy.

The hit musical Pippin will play the Academy from Feb. 23 through 28, 2016, and The Sound of Music will be there March 15-20, followed by Beautiful: The Carole King Musical from March 22 through April 3. If/Then, a British musical, will open at the academy June 21 and run through June 26.

From Dec. 15 though Dec. 20, the Merriam will host Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Next up at the Merriam: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, running from Dec. 29 through Jan. 3.

Feb. 16 though Feb. 21, Disney's Beauty and the Beast will take over the Academy, and Riverdance - The 20th Anniversary World Tour will wind up the season at the Merriam from June 14 to June 19.