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 run 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 premiere season started on April 3rd and ran until 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 was directed by Chris Burton and Liz O'Connor.[4] The South Australian premiere will open on July 9th 2008 at the Arts Theatre, Adelaide, presented by Matt Byrne Media {http://www.mattbyrnemedia.com.au]

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.

1 Differences from the film
2 Songs
3 Original Broadway cast
4 Original UK Cast
5 Awards and nominations
6 External links

[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

Act I

It's Your Wedding Day-Robbie and Company
Someday-Julia and Company
A Note From Linda-Linda
Pop-Holly, Julia, Glen and Company #
Somebody Kill Me-Robbie
A Note From Grandma-Grandma Rosie
Casualty of Love-Robbie and Company
Come Out of the Dumpster-Julia and Robbie
Today You Are a Man-Sammy, George, and Robbie
George's Prayer-George
Not That Kind of Thing-Robbie, Julia, Clerk, and Company
Saturday Night in the City-Holly, Robbie, Julia, Glen and Company

Act II

All About the Green-Glen and Company
Someday (Reprise)-Julia
Right in Front of Your Eyes-Holly
Single-Sammy, George, Robbie and Company
If I Told You-Robbie and Julia
Let Me Come Home-Linda
If I Told You (Reprise)-Robbie
Move That Thang-Grandma Rosie, George and Company
Grow Old With You-Robbie and Julia
It's Your Wedding Day (Finale)-Robbie and Full Company

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 cast member) 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