Mark Richens

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

The biggest news from the Orpheum's 2017-18 Broadway season announcement Monday evening involved a show that won't come to Memphis until the season after: "Hamilton."

The hottest Broadway musical of its generation, "Hamilton" has been booked for the Downtown theater's 2018-19 season, the Orpheum said in a press release ahead of its announcement event for subscribers.

"I think it's the first time the Orpheum has ever announced a show a year in advance," Brett Batterson, president and CEO of the Orpheum Theatre Group, said Monday afternoon. "Everybody wanted to know if and when it was coming. So we can answer the 'if' question: We have secured it. We're not yet able to say when."

Tickets for the historical drama about U.S. founding father Alexander Hamilton, with its diverse cast and hip-hop-influenced score, won't be available until 2018-19 season tickets go on sale next year. Batterson said he hopes those hoping to catch "Hamilton" will subscribe to the 2017-18 season to guarantee their spot.

"We want people to be committed," he said, "and if they commit this year, they're going to get the rewards of having first crack at 'Hamilton' next year."

The 2017-18 season features a handful of old chestnuts touring in updated revival productions — "The King and I," "The Color Purple" and "The Phantom of the Opera" — along with three shows playing the Orpheum for the first time: "An American in Paris," "Finding Neverland" and "Something Rotten!"

"An American in Paris" is based on the 1951 film and features the songs of George and Ira Gershwin. "Finding Neverland" is an adaptation of the 2004 movie about "Peter Pan" creator J.M. Barrie. And "Something Rotten!" is a song-and-dance-heavy ode to Broadway musicals.

"We always like our audience to try the newest and latest, so it's a matter of finding the right mix," Batterson said.

New season ticket packages go on sale Monday, April 3. Current ticket holders can renew their subscriptions now. For more information, go to orpheum-memphis.com, or call the Orpheum box office at 901-525-3000.

2017-18 at the Orpheum

"The King and I": Sept. 19-24.

"An American in Paris": Oct. 24-29.

"The Phantom of the Opera": Nov. 29-Dec. 10.

"Finding Neverland": Jan. 23-28, 2018.

"The Color Purple": Feb. 13-18, 2018.

"Wicked": March 7-25, 2018.

"Something Rotten!" April 10-15.

Contact Mark Richens at mark.richens@commercialappeal.com; follow him on Twitter at @markrichens.