The Wedding Singer (musical)
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| The Wedding Singer | |
| Music | Matthew Sklar |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | Chad Beguelin |
| Book | Chad Beguelin Tim Herlihy |
| Based upon | 1998 film The Wedding Singer |
| Productions | 2006 Broadway 2008 UK Tour 2008 West End |
The Wedding Singer is a musical based on the film The Wedding Singer, with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy.
The musical opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on April 27, 2006 and closed on December 31, 2006 after 284 performances. It was directed by John Rando, with choreography by Rob Ashford, and featured Stephen Lynch as Robbie.
A U.S. tour began on August 31, 2007. A Swedish version opened in Karlstad on September 1, 2007.[1] El Rey de Bodas, the Spanish-language version, which translates into "The King of Weddings", opened in Madrid in October 2007.[2]
A UK tour is scheduled to open at the Manchester Palace Theatre in February 2008 which is expected to star Jonathan Wilkes, and is then expected to begin an open-ended West End towards the end of 2008 and early 2009. The Japanese version will open in Tokyo at the Nissay Theatre on February 6, 2008,[3] and other foreign productions are scheduled for Finland, Germany, Australia, and South Korea. The show's New Zealand premeire season started on April 3rd and runs til April 13, 2008 at Palmerston North Boys' High School's Speirs Centre with a cast of amateur actors from Palmerston North Boys' and Palmerston North Girls' High Schools. The season is directed by Chris Burton and Liz O'Connor.[4]
Amateur rights have been released in Australia prior to any professional production. [5]
In Finland, an open air version of the musical will be performed in the city of Turku from June to August 2008.
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[edit] Differences from the film
The musical largely follows the same storyline as the 1998 film of the same title which starred Adam Sandler opposite Drew Barrymore. However, some plot and character elements were indeed altered. For instance:
- The older woman to whom the lead character Robbie Hart gives piano lessons, portrayed in the film by Ellen Albertini Dow, is changed into his own grandmother for the musical;
- Robbie's friend Sammy, portrayed by Allen Covert in the film, is a member of Robbie's band in the musical, while he was a limousine driver in the movie. His character's personality was also changed to give it more "white trash" elements as compared to the film version.
- Julia's cousin Holly and Robbie's friend Sammy are shown to be broken up from a relationship, though they still love each other. In the movie, the two know each other but there is no mention of a relationship between the two until the end , where they lightly flirt.
- When Robbie goes to the city to seek out gainful employment, in the musical he turns to Julia's fiancé Glen (his rival for her affections), rather than an unrelated bank as in the film.
- In the musical, the climax scene takes place in Las Vegas, while in the movie, the climax takes place on a plane on the way to Las Vegas.
[edit] Songs
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- The song "Pop" was removed for the US National tour for reasons unknown.
[edit] Original Broadway cast
- Stephen Lynch as Robbie Hart
- Matthew Saldivar as Sammy
- Kevin Cahoon as George
- Laura Benanti as Julia Sullivan
- Amy Spanger as Holly
- Richard H. Blake as Glen Guglia
- Rita Gardner as Rosie
- Felicia Finley as Linda
- Constantine Maroulis replaced Matthew Saldivar as Sammy in September and October 2006.
[edit] Original UK Cast
- Jonathan Wilkes (Tommy/ Various other musical parts) as Robbie Hart
- Simon Lipkin (Original London Cast of Avenue Q and former Joseph) as Sammy
- Natalie Casey (2 Pints of Lager and Packet of Crisps) as Julia Sullivan
- Nick Hayes as George
- Jodie Jacobs (Little Shop- London 2007) as Holly
- Stephen Webb as Glen
- Tricia Deighton as Rosie
- Camille Devine as Linda
- Carys Gray as Angie
[edit] Awards and nominations
- Best Musical (nominated)
- Best Book of a Musical (nominated)
- Best Original Score (nominated)
- Best Actor in a Musical (Stephen Lynch, nominee)
- Best Choreography (nominated)
- Outstanding Musical (nominated)
- Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Stephen Lynch, nominee)
- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Amy Spanger, nominee)
- Outstanding Choreography (nominated)
- Outstanding Lyrics (nominated)
- Outstanding Set Design of a Musical (nominated)
- Outstanding Music (nominated)
- Outstanding Costume Design (nominated)
- Distinguished Production of a Musical (nominated)
- Distinguished Performance Award (Felicia Finley, nominee)
- Distinguished Performance Award (Stephen Lynch, nominee)
