The musical — featuring a score by David Yazbek and a book by Terrence McNally — will play the New Jersey theatre through Sunday, Feb. 8. The Full Monty, which is based on the Academy Award-nominated film of the same name, stars Jeremiah Zinger as Jerry Lukowski, the down-on-his-luck dad who decides to bare it all to raise money for child support; Patrick J. Corgan as the rigid Harold Nichols; and Penny Larsen as the strippers' rehearsal pianist Jeanette Burmeister. The remainder of the cast comprises Taylor White Buice (Tony Giordano), Joe Coots (Dave Bukatinsky), Emily Crosby (Pam Lukowski), Steve DeBruyne (Malcolm MacGregor), Anna K. DeMoranville (Estelle), Kate Fahrner (Susan Hershey), Tyler John Griffin (Nathan Lukowski), Stephen Hohendorf (Nathan Lukowski), Anne Karner (Joanie Lish), Robert Koutras (Minister), Ann Burnette Mathews (Vicki Nichols), Jamal McDonald (Police Sergeant, Dance Captain), Happy McPartlin (Georgie Bukatinsky), Sean Richmond (Keno), Troy Scarborough (Noah "Horse" T. Simmons), Katherine Smart (Molly MacGregor), Eric Thorne (Ethan Girard), Jonathan Tisevich (Teddy) and Chris Vanhoy (Reg Willoughby).
The Full Monty features direction by Madeleine Loftin, based on the show's original Jack O'Brien direction. Denis Jones has restaged the original Jerry Mitchell choreography. The creative team also includes John Arnone (sets), Robert Morgan (costumes), Mark T. Simpson (lights) and Shannon Slaton (sound).
About the musical, Tony Award winner Terrence McNally said in a statement, "The show is about friendship, about being a parent. It’s also about an image obsessed society that says you have to look like Brad Pitt. This show says quite the opposite. It celebrates everybody for exactly who they are." And, composer-lyricist David Yazbek added, "The Full Monty is a sports story. It’s not about stripping. It’s a bunch of guys who get together and form a team. There are ups and downs, and, in the end, they win."
Before opening at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre Oct. 26, 2000, The Full Monty began life at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre setting an Old Globe box-office record. The Broadway production — starring Patrick Wilson — received ten Tony nominations including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Director, but was overshadowed by The Producers.
The Full Monty will play NJPAC Feb. 3-5 at 7:30 PM, Feb. 6 and 7 at 8 PM; Feb. 5 at 1:30 PM, Feb. 7 at 2 PM and Feb. 8 at 3 PM. Tickets, priced $12-$64, are available by calling (888) 466-5722 or by visiting www.njpac.org. The theatre is located at One Center Street in Newark, NJ.
