Malone, Matlock and Alvin Are The 'Wonderettes'

The Marvelous Wonderettes lands at Off-Broadway's Westside Theatre, with performances beginning Friday, August 29.  Written and directed by Roger Bean, The Marvelous Wonderettes will have its Official Opening Night on Sunday, September 14 at 7:00 PM. 

A cotton-candy colored non-stop pop musical comedy, The Marvelous Wonderettes features the iconic sounds of the fifties and beyond 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.  Brimming with such classic hits as "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 Shoop Shoop Song)," The Marvelous Wonderettes is an effervescent musical blast from the past.      

Writer/director Roger Bean has written several musicals originally created for and produced by the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Route 66, Honky Tonk Laundry, Why Do Fools Fall In Love? and The Andrews Brothers have also been produced in numerous theatres across the country Musical Theatre West, Delaware Theatre Company, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Madison Repertory Theatre, Phoenix Theatre.  

The Marvelous Wonderettes features Farah Alvin (Broadway: Nine, The Look of Love, Saturday Night Fever, Grease; nat'l tour: Grease) as "Missy," Beth Malone (Broadway: Ring of Fire; Off-B'way: Bingo, Regional: Sister Act The Musical, Ring of Fire, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown) as "Betty Jean," Bets Malone as "Suzy" (originated the role of "Suzy" at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre; at Reprise in LA: Babes in Arms with Joey MacIntyre, 1776 with Roger Rees, No Strings with Scott Bakula) and Victoria Matlock (Nat'l Tours: Wicked, Evita with Hal Prince, The Full Monty; Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Sound of Music) as "Cindy Lou."   

This production includes Set Design by Michael Carnahan, Costume and Wig Design by Bobby Pearce (Broadway's Taboo), Lighting Design by Jeremy Pivnick, Sound Design by Cricket S. Myers, Musical Direction by Brian William Baker and Choreography by Janet Miller.

The Marvelous Wonderettes earned an Ovation Award (Best Musical in an Intimate Theatre) and LADCC Awards for Best Choreography and Ensemble in its run at Los Angeles' El Portal Theatre, where it played a record-setting 19 months.  Most recently, The Marvelous Wonderettes enjoyed a special limited 8-week engagement at Laguna Playhouse (began July 8).  This production is presented by David Elzer (Jewtopia, The Laramie Project), Peter Schneider (The Lion King, Sister Act: The Musical) and Marvelous Dreams, NYC.  

The Marvelous Wonderettes will play as follows at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street): Monday, Tuesday, Friday & Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday at 7:00 PM, with matinee performances on Wednesday at 3:00 PM and Saturday & Sunday at 3:00 PM.  Tickets are available through Telecharge at www.telecharge.com or (212) 239-6200.  Tickets are $75.00, with a limited number of premium tickets available for $125.00.  In addition, a limited number of $25 Student Rush tickets are available at the box office 1 hour prior to show (cash only, with valid ID, limit 2 tickets per person).  For more information, please visit www.MarvelousWonderettes.com. 

Photo Credit Ben Strothmann

Need more Off-Broadway Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...