Goodbye Gray Skies: Happy Days Musical Begins Paper Mill Run

By Andrew Gans
September 26, 2007

After a sold-out developmental run by Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut, Happy Days: A New Musical arrives at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ, Sept. 26. The limited engagement, which runs through Oct. 28, will officially open Sept. 30.

Based on the hit Paramount Pictures TV series that was created by Garry Marshall, the Paper Mill production — like the Goodspeed run — features direction by Gordon Greenberg. The Paper Mill cast includes Joey Sorge as The Fonz, Rory O'Malley as Richie Cunningham, Felicia Finley as Pinky Tuscadero, Patrick Garner as Howard Cunnigham, Cynthia Ferrer as Marion Cunningham, Natalie Bradshaw as Joanie Cunningham, Todd Buonopane as Ralph Malph, Christopher Ruth as Potsie, Eric Schneider as Chachi and Michael J. Farina as Arnold.

The ensemble comprises Scott Barnhardt (Scooter), Julia Burrows (Lori Beth), Andrea Dora (Paula), Lisa Gajda (Pinkette Sally), Stephanie Gibson (Pinkette Lola), Lauren Parsons (Louise), Tom Plotkin (Jumpy Malachi) and Andrew Varela (Count Malachi).

"Happy days are here again with Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph and the unforgettable king of cool Arthur 'The Fonz' Fonzarelli," according to Paper Mill. "[The musical] reintroduces one of America's best loved families, the Cunninghams, and the days of 1959 Milwaukee, complete with varsity sweaters, hula hoops, and jukebox sock-hoppin'. The famed drive-in malt shop and number one hang-out, Arnold's, is in danger of demolition, so the gang teams up to save it with a dance contest and TV-worthy wrestling match against former Phister prison members Count Jacques and Jimbo, aka the infamous Malachi Brothers. Even the daredevil diva Pinky Tuscadero returns to help and reunite with her 'legend in leather.'"

Happy Days features a score by Paul Williams and a book by Garry Marshall.

The creative team also includes Michele Lynch (choreographer), Walt Spangler (scenic design), David C. Woolard (costume design), Jeff Croiter (lighting design), John McDaniel (musical supervisor) and Shaun Gough (music director).

Tickets, priced $25-$92, are available by calling (973) 376-4343 or by visiting www.papermill.org.

The Paper Mill Playhouse is located on Brookside Drive in Millburn, NJ.