Fela, American Idiot, Bring It On join Broadway in Chicago spring slate

Broadway in Chicago this morning announced a spring slate of shows that's a bit more boundary-pushing—dare I say, edgier—than we normally expect from the downtown presenters. Offerings in the Spring Season Series subscription package include the Green Day rock opera American Idiot (February 7–19 at the Oriental Theatre); the acclaimed, Bill T. Jones–directed Afrobeat bio Fela! (March 27–April 8 at the Oriental); the Broadway-aimed tour of the new musical Bring It On, adapted by Avenue Q cowriter Jeff Whitty, In the Heights composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Next to Normal composer Tom Kitt and High Fidelity lyricist Amanda Green from the cult-favorite Kirsten Dunst cheerleading movie (March 6–25 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre).

The subscription series also includes the just-announced Chicago engagement of The Book of Mormon (December 11, 2012–March 3, 2013 at the Bank of America Theatre, not exactly "spring" but we'll take it) and the recent Lincoln Center production of South Pacific in its first downtown stop (the tour previously hit the Rosemont Theatre) and—alas, just when you thought it was all going to be exciting and cool—the previously announced nine-week return engagement of Jersey Boys (April 5–June 2 at the Bank of America Theatre). Womp womp. The series goes on sale to new subscribers starting September 18.

BIC also announced a number of off-series shows in brief stints, including In the Heights (January 10–15 at the Oriental), Mamma Mia! (January 24–29 at the Oriental), Riverdance in its Cher-esque "farewell tour" (March 13–18 at the Oriental) and, in case you missed it the first 73 times, Cats (May 1–6 at the Cadillac Palace).