'Mormon,' 'Kinky Boots' and 'Motown' headline Broadway of Hennepin season in Minneapolis

"The Book of Mormon," the blockbuster musical that had a sold-out run in Minneapolis last February, will return to the Twin Cities to kick off the Hennepin Theatre Trust's 2014-15 Broadway on Hennepin season, announced Wednesday.

The lineup also includes fresh-from-Broadway productions of the Cyndi Lauper musical "Kinky Boots," the jukebox show "Motown the Musical" and the revival of "Pippin."

Altogether, the shows have won nearly three dozen Tonys.

"It's a season of fun," said Tom Hoch, president of the trust. "A lot of these shows do have deep meaning, but if you don't want to find something deep, you can just have a great time."

The season begins Aug. 20-Sept. 7 with "Mormon," the acidic send-up of white missionaries in Africa by the creators of "South Park" that won nine Tonys.

Closing out the season is "Kinky Boots," the musical about the revival of a bankrupt footwear business that won six Tonys last year, including best musical (July 28-Aug. 2, 2015).

In between, look for:

• "Irving Berlin's White Christmas," which had a successful engagement at the Ordway a couple of seasons ago (Nov. 25-30).

• The holiday slot is given over to the soulful sounds of "Motown the Musical," the behind-the-scenes story of the iconic record label, written by co-founder Berry Gordy and with songs made popular by the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations and many more (Dec. 16-28).

• "I Love Lucy Live on Stage," a adaptation of the classic TV show featuring Lucy and her Latin love (Jan. 20-25, 2015).

• "Pippin," the Stephen Schwartz musical about a young man's search for meaning that won the Tony for best revival last year (Feb. 17-22, 2015).

• Perennial favorites "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" (March 10-15, 2015), "Annie" (March 31-April 5, 2015) and the popular Four Seasons musical "Jersey Boys" (April 28-May 3, 2015).

Rohan Preston • 612-673-4390