Seattle is basking in the glow of Broadway thanks to a couple of blockbuster shows that had their pre-New York runs here.
Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre struck gold first in 2004 with the pre-Broadway run of the Tony-winning musical “Hairspray.” In 2005, Intiman Theatre produced another New York-bound Tony winner, “The Light in the Piazza.”
Now comes “The Wedding Singer,” a new musical based on the popular Adam Sandler-Drew Barrymore movie, which opens Tuesday at the 5th Avenue Theatre. The stage show is a collaboration between the 5th Avenue and New Line Cinema, which made the 1998 movie.
Like the movie, the musical is set in 1985, and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. He’s the life of the party until his own fiance leaves him at the altar. Enter Julia, a sweet-tempered waitress also engaged to the wrong person, and sparks fly.
The show will star Stephen Lynch as Robbie Hart with Laura Benanti in the Barrymore part. Also in the cast are Matthew Saldivar, Richard Blake, Rita Gardner, Kevin Cahoon, Felicia Finley and Amy Spanger.
The pop score, which plays homage to the big-hair era of the ’80s, is by Matthew Sklar, with book by Tim Herlihy and Chad Beguelin, lyrics by Beguelin and choreography by Rob Ashford. John Rando, who won a Tony for his direction of “Urinetown,” directs.
After the close of its Seattle run on Feb. 9, the musical will move to Broadway.
Reunion Theatre Group: Theater history was made in 2003 when former drama students at Everett High School held a reunion with their beloved teacher, Bob Henry.
The former thespians had such a grand time they decided to continue the tradition, forming a new drama society, Reunion Theatre Group, and began presenting plays.
This month, they return to their old home, the Everett High School Little Theatre, for performances of “Mrs. California,” a light comedy by Doris Baizley about a 1955 competition to name California’s best homemaker.
The Reunion Theater Group members are all former students of Henry’s, who taught drama at Everett High School from 1955 to 1979.
“Mrs. California,” which plays today, Saturday and Sunday, features a cast of former drama students and includes Henry, who celebrated his 81st birthday last summer.
Three plays, one topic: Three one-act plays that examine relationships between men and women open this weekend in Snohomish. Last Leaf Productions is presenting the short works at the Carnegie Library Building in performances today through Sunday and again Feb. 3-5.
“The Sure Thing” by David Ives is about a couple, who meet at a sidewalk cafe, and the social dance of “getting acquainted” conversation.
The second one-act production, “Fishing in Vegas,” is about a couple of strangers who wake up in a Las Vegas motel room and discover they are married.
| “The Wedding Singer”: Tuesday through Feb. 19 at The 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle, Tickets, $19-$71, at Ticketmaster, 206-292-ARTS, www.ticketmaster.com.
“Mrs. California”: Performances at 8 tonight, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Everett High School Little Theatre, 24th Street and Hoyt Avenue. Tickets, $8 and $10, at the door. 425-334-1330. Last Leaf Productions: Three one-act plays performed at 7 p.m. today and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, and 7 p.m. Feb. 3-4, 2 p.m. Feb. 5, at the Carnegie Library Building, 106 Cedar Ave, Snohomish. Donations welcomed. 360-805-9379, www.geocities.com/lastleaf99. |
The third play, “Murray and Judith Take a Trip,” is about a married couple of senior citizens who are preparing for a car trip.
Pat Ainsworth and Regan de Victoria wrote the last two plays. The local playwrights were winners in the Santa Cruz Actors Theatre 10-minute play-writing competition in 2004.
These plays, aimed at adult audiences, are presented free, but donations are welcome to support the work of Last Leaf Productions, which gives performances of children’s theater throughout Snohomish County and Western Washington.
ABOVE: Laura Benanti (left) Stephen Lynch in “The Wedding Singer” at the 5th Avenue.
LEFT: Mike McArthur and Alexandra Carlyle star in “Fishing in Vegas,” one of the one-act plays presented by Last Leaf Productions.
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