THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Comes To Saint Michael’s Playhouse

A high-spirited musical, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES, will be staged at the Saint Michael's Playhouse August 3-13 in the McCarthy Arts Center on the campus of Saint Michael's College. Called "a cotton-candy colored, non-stop pop musical blast from the past," this good-spirited romp will take you back with fabulous singing of 50s and 60s pop tunes.

Now in its 64th season of professional summer theater, the Saint Michael's Playhouse has been named "One of the best regional theater companies in America" by The Drama League of New York City, and hailed by Yankee Magazine as "The Best of New England."

"This is a new Off-Broadway musical that just had a very successful run in New York City, and quickly became known as a female Forever Plaid," said Director/Choreographer Keith Andrews. "It includes everyone's favorite hits from the 50s and 60s, so if you liked Suds and Breaking Up is Hard to Do, you going to love THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES." Keith Andrews directed The Playhouse's smash hit season opener The Drowsy Chaperone. He also directed last year's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Always... Patsy Cline as well as Dames at Sea, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Barnum, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Suds, My Way, The Pirates of Penzance, and Big River.

Created by Roger Bean, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet the Wonderettes, four girls with hopes and dreams, big crinoline skirts and many songs to sing. The show runs evenings at 8 p.m., August 3 through 6, and 9 through 13; matinees at 2 p.m., August 6 and 13.

The Wonderettes tell their story using classic pop hits like "It's My Party," "Lollipop," "Stupid Cupid," "It's In His Kiss," "Rescue Me," "Respect," and more.

"The success of The Playhouse is due to the extraordinary artistic achievement of our actors and creative team," said Chuck Tobin, producing artistic director of the Saint Michael's Playhouse. "Our highly talented company of regional, Off-Broadway, and Broadway theater artists brings to life four outstanding productions each summer that win rave reviews from theater critics and audiences, across the board," he said.

Director KEITH ANDREWS has directed the National Tours of The Full Monty and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh. Other recent directing/choreography credits include: Avenue Q, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (starring Joe Piscopo), The Wedding Singer, Cold as Ice (starring Oksana Baiul), Urinetown, Happy Days, the Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, and Forever Plaid, to name just a few. Keith received a New York Innovative Theater Award for Best Production of a Musical and nomination for Best Choreography for his work on the new show, Like You Like It. On the ice, Keith has directed and choreographed several hits as well as two productions of Stars, Stripes and Skates, the yearly benefit to help survivors and families of the 9/11 tragedy. He directs and choreographs student industry showcases at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC.

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES cast:
MICHELE SCULLY (Betty Jean) who was a knock-out in Boeing-Boeing. She also played in How the Other Half Loves and Breaking Up is Hard to Do at The Playhouse. Recently she played Sally DeBaines in Reefer Mad­ness at The Gallery Players which was nominated best musical for NY Off-Off Broadway theatre. She played Sandy and Marty in the European Tour of Grease, as well as Sandy regionally. Other credits in­clude: May in an Off- Broadway production of Fool For Love (ATA), Belle in A Christmas Carol (European Tour), and Lois Warner in Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (Alham­bra Dinner Theatre - N.E. Florida premiere). Michele has appeared on SNL and is set to play Suzanne Her­shey in the upcoming independent feature film Eventu­ally Yours.

SAMANTHA B. NORTHART (Cindy-Lou) has performed on the high seas as the Lead Vocalist on the MV Century, the MS Volendam, and the MS Voyager. She has toured nationally with Theatre IV and Mad River Theater Works and has performed regionally in Nunsense II, Side By Side By Sondheim, Children of Eden, Radio Gals, Human Comedy, Tick, Tick, Boom!, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Winter Wonderettes, A Funny Thing...Forum, Godspell, Bye, Bye, Birdie, for which she won an Orchid Award for Best Actress, and Peter Pan which allowed her to "fly". She was seen in the World Premiere casts of The Gospel According to Tammy Faye as Tammy Faye Bakker, Belle in A Christmas Carol and Lead Woman in War Games at Ensemble Theater of Cincinnati.

Lucy Sorensen (Missy) appeared at The Playhouse last year as Patsy in Always...Patsy Cline. Other Playhouse credits: SUDS, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do and How The Other Half Loves. Her New York City performances include Sympathy Jones (NYMF), Sarah, Plain & Tall, We Tell the Story (Lortell), and Einstein & the Roosevelts. Regional credits-Radio City Christmas Spectacular as Mrs. Claus (Grand Ole Opry), Full Monty, and Iron Curtain. Favorite credits-My Fair Lady (London cast), Parade, and A Little Night Music. She has participated in numerous workshops and recordings.

AMANDA RYAN PAGE (Suzy), who recently wowed the audience playing in Boeing-Boeing. She appeared Off-B'way: Zanna Don't! (Houseman); Charlie Brown & Henry and Mudge (Lortel). Other NYC Cred­its: Trailer Park (NYMF); Awesome 80's Prom (work­shop/co-writer); Dreams This Way/ Raw Impressions (TADA!); Babes In Toyland (Avery Fisher); Lucky Stiff (APAC). National Tour: Fiddler; Water Coolers. Re­gional: Ring of Fire (Fireside); Spelling Bee (Northern Stage); Pump Boys and Dinettes & Trailer Park (Willows & Mason St.); Stand By Your Man (Mtn. Playhouse); Urinetown (Carousel); Perfect/Change & Brighton Beach (Saint Michael's); Das Barbecu (Arvada); No, No Nanette (Goodspeed); Noises Off! & Brighton Beach (Leatherstocking); Carousel & Over Here! (Conn. Rep)

PLAYHOUSE JR., Children's Theater
THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
Directed by Tim Maynes, Friday, August 5 at noon, Saturday, August 6 at 10 a.m.; Sunday, August 7 at 10:00 a.m. & noon. This hilarious and highly entertaining story by Hans Christian Andersen tells the tale of a bashful prince, an unlikely princess, and a peculiarly hard pea. This classic Danish fairy tale will have audiences giggling with delight.

A professional theater company operating as an auxiliary enterprise of Saint Michael's College, The Playhouse is Greater Burlington's only Actors' Equity resident theater company and as such operates under contract with Actors' Equity Association in New York City. At the same time, Saint Michael's College students have the opportunity to learn from the pros through internships in technical theater, costuming, lighting, set construction, and publicity.

For tickets and information: Call (802) 654-2281 or go online to www.saintmichaelsplayhouse.org . Or visit the box office in the McCarthy Arts Center lobby on the campus of Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont, weekdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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