THE WEDDING SINGER Comes To Willows Theatre 5/11 - 6/14

The Willows Theatre Company brings back the ’80s (as if they’d ever left) with its production of The Wedding Singer, the musical comedy based on the hit 1998 film that starred Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.  The musical version has music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, with book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy.

Ryan Weible directs the Willows Theatre production, with choreography by Gia Solari-Welch, and music direction by Tim Hanson. Ryan Drummond stars as the wedding singer, Robbie Hart, with Sarah Aili as his gal Julia. The Willows production runs May 11 – June 14 at the Willows mainstage, 1975 Diamond Boulevard in Concord.

The Wedding Singer is a tribute to the music and ethos of the 1980s.  The title character, Robbie, is a wannabe rock star who lives in his mother’s basement and makes a living fronting a band that plays wedding receptions in Ridgefield, N.J.  Robbie is a wistful romantic and good at weddings because he truly believes in love – until he is left standing at the altar by his brassy fiancée. Robbie crashes, but finds solace when he suddenly meets Julia, a sweet-but-clumsy waitress who unfortunately already has a boyfriend, a Wall Street junk-bond wheeler-dealer.  The plot thickens and leads to veritable non-stop musical numbers, dashing choreography, and a climactic wedding scene in Las Vegas.

The original Broadway production opened in April 2006, and ran for 284 performances.  The Wedding Singer was nominated for five Tony awards (including Best Musical, Best Musical Score, and one for Stephen Lynch for Best Actor in a Musical); eight Drama Desk awards (including Outstanding Musical, Music, and Lyrics); and three Drama League awards.  It has subsequently toured the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Japan.

In the Willows production, Ryan Drummond (Robbie) has been seen recently as Leo Bloom in the Diablo Light Opera Co. production of The Producers, also directed by Mr. Weible.  Drummond also played a lead in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at the Willows Cabaret last season, opposite Sarah Aili, who is appearing as Julia. The cast also includes Danny Cozart as Robbie's best friend Sammy, Noel Anthony Escobar as Julia's fiancé Glen Guglia, Linnea vonAhn as the lovable grandmother Rosie, Brady Woolery as the outrageous band member George, and Mary Kalita as Robbie's ex-fiancée Linda.

Cast of the Willows Theatre production of The Wedding Singer is as follows:

Robbie Hart - Ryan Drummond*

Julia Sullivan - Sarah Aili

Linda - Mary Kalita

Sammy - Danny Cozart

Glen - Noel Anthony Escobar*

Rosie - Linnea vonAhn

George - Brady Woolery

Angie - Jennifer Lucas

Holly - Brittany Ogle

Ensemble: Allison Appell, Matt Caffoni, Mariah Castle, Katherine Coppola, Eric Johnson, Taylor Jones, Alexander Murphy, Don S. Olayvar, Ruben Oriol-Rivera, Le Neac Weathersby

* Member, Actors Equity Association

The production crew includes:

Director - Ryan Weible

Stage Manager - Alison Ward*

Choreographer - Gia Solari-Welch

Musical Director - Tim Hanson

Technical Director - Adam Puglielli

Assistant Director - Alexandra Elliott

Lighting Designer - Robert Anderson

Set Designer - Peter Crompton

Props Designer - Shaun Carroll

Costume Designer - Robin Speer

Sound Designer - Sean McStravick

Lighting Designer - Robert Anderson

Company Manager - Tim Hanson

General Manager - Chris Butler

Artistic Director - Rich Elliott

Tickets to The Wedding Singer are $30-$40 with discounts for students (6-18), seniors (65+), groups (10+), and Preview performances.  To purchase tickets call (925) 798-1300 or visit the Willows Theatre web site at www.willowstheatre.org.  Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., with matinees Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m., and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.  Low-priced Previews held Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday of Opening Week (7:30 pm).

The Willows Theatre is located at 1975 Diamond Blvd. next to REI in the Willows Shopping Center in Concord, across the street from the Concord Hilton and one block east of the Willow Pass Road exit off Highway 680.

The Willows Theatre Company Daytime Box Office is located at 636 Ward Street in Martinez, in the lobby of the Campbell Theatre. Box Office hours are Tuesday-Saturday 12:00-6:00 pm.

The Willows Theatre Company is led by Producing Artistic Director Richard Elliott. The Willows Theatre Company 2008-2009 Season Sponsors are Best Western John Muir Inn of Martinez, Rocco’s Pizzeria of Walnut Creek, Industrial Lumber of Martinez, Alphagraphics of Walnut Creek, the Concord Hilton, and US Bank (student/teacher discount ticket sponsor).

Photo by: Judy Potter