"Getting Married Today"?: A Catered Affair Opens at San Diego's Old Globe
By Andrew Gans
30 Sep 2007
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Leslie Kritzer in A Catered Affair.
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| photo by Craig Schwartz | The pre-Broadway engagement of the new musical A Catered Affair officially opens at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre Sept. 30. Previews for the Harvey Fierstein-John Bucchino musical began Sept. 20.
The musical, which features a book by four-time Tony winner Fierstein and a score by songwriter Bucchino, will play the California not-for-profit through Oct. 28 before arriving at New York's Walter Kerr Theatre March 25, 2008. Opening night on Broadway is scheduled for April 17.
Fierstein, who was last on Broadway in the revival of Fiddler on the Roof, also stars in the small cast of Catered Affair. The theatre favorite plays Uncle Winston with Tony winner Faith Prince as Aggie Hurley (mother of the bride), Tom Wopat as Tom Hurley (father of the bride), Leslie Kritzer as Janey Hurley (the bride) and Matt Cavenaugh as Ralph Halloran (the groom). Also in the company are Philip Hoffman (Mr. Halloran and Sam), Katie Klaus (Alice and Army Sergeant), Heather MacRae (Delores and the Caterer), Lori Wilner (Mrs. Halloran) and Kristine Zbornik (Myra and the Dress Saleswoman). Jennifer Allen, Britta Ollmann and Matthew Scott are understudies.
The marriage-minded musical (based on the Paddy Chayefsky TV film and movie) is directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle, who helmed the actor-musician Broadway revivals of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company. Constantine Kitsopoulos is the show's musical director; orchestrations were penned by Don Sebesky.
The design team comprises David Gallo (sets), Ann Hould-Ward (costumes), Brian MacDevitt (lights), Dan Moses Schreier (sound), Zachary Borovay (projections) and David Lawrence (hair).
"My goal," Fierstein recently told Playbill.com, "was to write the kind of show that does not 'talk' to the audience. I wanted to write the type of show where you sit there, the curtain goes up, and you think: 'Oh, my God, I know these people. These are the people I grew up with.' Theatre really works when you're watching somebody else's story, but you're capturing so much of yourself."
About his co-stars, Fierstein said, "It's a great cast. We all get along great. There are only ten of us. Faith Prince and I did a benefit concert in Seattle and have been close ever since. Tom Wopat and I did a 9/11 benefit. I've known Heather MacRae forever. Leslie Kritzer was in Hairspray. Matt Cavenaugh was dating one of the girls in Fiddler, so that's how I know him. Lori Wilner played Golde for a short time after Andrea Martin left and Rosie O'Donnell took over. Philip Hoffman was in Fiddler."
According to press notes, "Funny, heartbreaking and oh so human, A Catered Affair reveals relationships strained to their limits when a couple must decide whether to spend their life savings on a family business or to launch their only daughter's marriage with a lavish catered affair. Harvey Fierstein's book and John Bucchino's score seize the opportunity to explore the meaning of family and the need for love, both new and reawakened."
The musical is based on the Turner Entertainment motion picture distributed by Warner Brothers and written by Gore Vidal, and the original teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky.
A Catered Affair will be produced on Broadway by Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth, Harvey Entertainment/Ron Fierstein, Richie Jackson and Daryl Roth.
For more information about the Old Globe run, visit www.theoldglobe.org.
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Leslie Kritzer, Matt Cavenaugh, Lori Wilner, Harvey Fierstein, Tom Wopat and Philip Hoffman in The Old Globe's world-premiere production of A Catered Affair.
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| photo by Craig Schwartz |
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