Kyle DeSantis, President of Drury Lane Theatre, announced that the Broadway-bound production, Beaches, will replace Deathtrap from June 24 through Aug. 16. Presenting the first new work on the Drury Lane stage in 21 years, Beaches signifies the theater’s renewed dedication to develop new works.

“This is one of the most exciting seasons that we’ve ever presented in our 31-year history,” said DeSantis. “We are elated to produce Beaches, the first new production in two decades on the Drury Lane stage, as well as two Regional Premieres and two musical revivals. We believe that we have a responsibility to help cultivate the development of new works and this season marks our renewed commitment to this.”

The season begins with the Regional Premiere of the international smash hit musical Billy Elliot, previewing April 10, opening at 8 p.m. April 16  and running through June 7, 2015. Multi-Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell (Les Misérables, The Sound of Music, and Oliver! at Drury Lane Theatre) will direct with Musical Direction by Jeff Award winner Roberta Duchak (Les Misérables, and Sweeney Todd, at Drury Lane Theatre, vocal coach for Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman for the Academy Award-winning film Les Misérables). One of the most celebrated musicals on stage today, Billy Elliot has been dazzling London’s West End since 2005.

Following Billy Elliot, Drury Lane Theatre will present the Broadway-Bound new musical Beaches, previewing June 24, opening at 8 p.m. July 2, and running through Aug. 16. The production is a poignant yet uplifting story of two extraordinary women exemplifying the triumph of the human spirit and the bonds of sisterhood. Beaches was adapted from the 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart, which was later adapted into the popular 1988 film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey. Beaches features a book by Iris Rainer Dart and Thom Thomas, lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart, and music by David Austin.

The Regional Premiere of the Tony Award-winning play, Peter and the Starcatcher, will preview Aug. 27, open at 8 p.m. Sept. 3. and run through Oct. 18. Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director and Jeff Award Winner William Osetek will direct. Adapted by Rick Elice and based on the best-selling novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Peter and the Starcatcher is an enchanting, swashbuckling prequel to Peter Pan and the Neverland you never knew. A company of twelve actors plays more than a hundred unforgettable characters on a journey to solve the mystery of how Peter Pan became “The Boy Who Never Grew Up.”

Previewing Oct. 29, opening at 8 p.m. Nov. 5 and running through Jan. 3, 2016, White Christmas is joyful entertainment just in time for the holiday season. Directed by Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director William Osetek with choreography by Matthew Crowle, the story follows two former Army buddies – turned Broadway performers – as they attempt to save a charming Vermont Inn from bankruptcy.

To conclude its 2015-2016 season, Drury Lane Theatre will feature the classic All-American musical Bye Bye Birdie previewing on Jan. 14, opening at 8 p.m. Jan. 21  and running through March 20.

Become a Drury Lane Theatre subscriber for as low as $140 per person. Subscribers receive special offers on dining, early notification and priority seating for added events and concerts and a flexible ticket exchange policy.

The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. For reservations, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at (630) 530-0111, call TicketMaster at 1-800-745-3000, or visit drurylaneoakbrook.com.