Wedding gig
Jul 8, 2009 |
Sat
Jul
10
The cast of Diamond Head Theatre’s season finale has been moonwalking back to the ’80s for a good six weeks in preparation for its Hawaii premiere of The Wedding Singer. That’s right: The Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore movie has been remade into a musical. Prepare to get funky.
Rehearsals are going great, says Emmett Yoshioka who shares music director duties with his wife Judy. “One should expect to be purely entertained,” he says. “There’s a lot of dancing and a hot rock ’n‘ roll pit band.”
The show takes place in the decade that gave us Cabbage Patch dolls, big hair and as the passing of the great King of Pop has clearly demonstrated, music that will never die. Though they couldn’t obtain permission to use the same chart-busting hits from the film–“Every Little Thing She Does is Magic,” “White Wedding” and “Holiday,” to name a few–songwriters Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin knocked off a score of rockers to take their place that will have your feet tapping, says Nanilisa Pascua, cast member.
“It is so high energy,” she says. “The opening sequence itself is a blast of color, intense choreography and full on, all-out ensemble and solo singing. You’ll hear hints and innuendos of many songs of the ’80s. See if you can spot the Michael Jackson ‘Thriller’ reference in one.”
With only minor changes from the movie version, the plot follows the adventures of Robbie Hart, New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. When his own bride leaves him at the altar, he gets vengeful and sets out to destroy other couple’s weddings until love in the form of nice-girl Julia sets him straight again.
“The story is rich in comedy, pathos and love springing eternal,” says Pascua. “Plan on going early in the run because I’m sure this is one of those plays you’ll want to attend again and again.”
Helming the production is guest director Scott White whose past performing credits include King Herod in the national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and 11 years with Disney Cruise Line. Thomas McCurdy stars as Robbie, with Katie Beth Hicks as Julia. And watch out for cameo appearances from Boy George, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Mr. T, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Billy Idol and Imelda Marcos.
A bonus for brides and brides-at-heart: Wear a veil to the show and receive a gift, compliments of The Wedding Café.
