Following an award-winning run at Los Angeles' El Portal Theatre, the production began previews Aug. 29.
Written and directed by Roger Bean, the cast boasts Farah Alvin (Nine, The Look of Love, Saturday Night Fever) as Missy, Beth Malone (Ring of Fire) as Betty Jean, Bets Malone as Suzy (she originated this role at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre) and Victoria Matlock (national tours of Wicked and Evita) as Cindy Lou.
Wonderettes, according to press notes, "features the iconic sounds of the fifties and sixties in a journey back to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where the Wonderettes — Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy — are four young girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts." Songs included in the new show are "Lollipop," "Dream Lover," "Stupid Cupid," "Lipstick on Your Collar," "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," "It's My Party" and "It's in His Kiss."
The creative team also includes set designer Mike Carnahan, costume and wig designer Bobby Pearce, lighting designer Jeremy Pivnick, sound designer Cricket S. Myers, musical director Brian William Baker and choreographer Janet Miller.
David Elzer, Peter Schneider and Marvelous Dreams, NYC are presenting the Off-Broadway run. Writer-director Bean has worked with the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Utah Musical Theatre, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Madison Repertory Theatre, Skylight Opera Theatre and the Utah Shakespearean Festival, among many others. He is the executive director of Steele Spring Productions, a theatrical licensing company, and a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and The Dramatists Guild.
Show times are Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 7 PM with matinees Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 3 PM.
The Westside Theatre is located in Manhattan at 407 West 43rd Street. Tickets, priced $75 (premium seats are $125), are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.
For more information visit www.marvelouswonderettes.com.
