"Comedy Central" star Stephen Lynch will head the cast as Robbie Hart opposite the Julia of two-time Tony Award nominee Laura Benanti. The company will also feature Matthew Saldivar as Robbie's best friend Sammy, Richard Blake as Julia's fiance Glen Gulia, Rita Gardner as grandmother Rosie, Kevin Cahoon as band member George, Felicia Finley as ex-fiancée Linda and Adinah Alexander as Julia's mom Angie. (The role of Holly will be announced shortly.).
After its Seattle run, The Wedding Singer — with an ensemble that comprises Matt Allen, Tracee Beazer, Cara Cooper, Ashley Amber Haase, Nicolette Hart, Peter Kapetan, Spencer Liff, J. Elaine Marcos, Christina Sivrich, Matthew Stocke and Eric Lajuan Summers — will begin previews at a Jujamcyn theatre to be announced March 30 with an official opening April 27.
Based on the New Line Cinema film, The Wedding Singer, according to press notes, "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 fiancé leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Enter Julia, a sweet-tempered waitress who wins his affection. The only trouble is Julia is about to be married to a Wall Street shark. Unless Robbie can pull off the performance of the decade, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever."
The Wedding Singer features music by Matthew Sklar, a book by Tim Herlihy and Chad Beguelin and lyrics by Beguelin. Urinetown's John Rando will direct the production, which will boast choreography by Rob Ashford. The creative team also includes Scott Pask (scenic designer), Gregory Gale (costume designer), Brian MacDevitt (lighting designer), Peter Hylenski (sound designer), David Brian Brown (hair designer) and Joe Dulude (make-up designer).
Producers include Margo Lion, New Line Cinema and The 5th Avenue Theatre as well as The Araca Group, Douglas Meyer, James D. Stern, Roy Furman, Rick Steiner, Jam Theatricals, Michael Gill, Dr. Lawrence Horowitz and Jujamcyn Theaters. Tickets for The Wedding Singer, priced $19-$71, are available by calling (206)-292-ARTS or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.5thavenuetheatre.org for more information.
