Haddonfield residents will get the chance to remember the 80s and fall in love again with Haddonfield Plays and Players’ performance of “The Wedding Singer.”
“The Wedding Singer,” a comedic and romantic musical based on the movie of the same title, will have audience members at the edge of their seat all night rooting for love. The show runs from July 16 through Aug. 8 at the HPP’s theater located at 957 E. Atlantic Ave. near Crows Woods.
“Come to be entertained. The talent of the cast is just incredible. Working with them has been a pleasure,” Director Connor Twigg said.
Twigg knew HPP was doing “The Wedding Singer” in May 2014, getting together the crew and production team right off the bat. As HPP puts on many performances throughout the year, it started auditions in April and began rehearsals in May, practicing a few days a week for only two and a half months.
“I think the plot line is relevant. I think any generation can relate to it. And overall, it is just entertaining. I thought Haddonfield was a great place for it. So I presented it to them and they agreed,” Twigg said.
Set in 1985, rock star wannabe Robbie Hart, played by Steve Stonis, is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. He’s the life of the party, until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar. Heartbroken, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. But then, he meets waitress Julia, played by Jayne Zubris, who wins his affection. But Julia is engaged to a Wall Street shark, and Robbie has to put on the performance of a decade to win the girl of his dreams. Famous songs such as “Somebody Kill Me” and “Grow Old With You” are in the performance, along with many others.
Twigg and cast members describe the show as high-energy and fast-paced; audience members will be entertained for the whole performance. Attendees might even want to dance in their seats along with performers.
“It is an extremely high energy show from start to finish, no low point, even with the ballads. It flows well and is a really exciting show,” Twigg said.
“The show is high energy, fast-paced, has lots of dancing and lots of 80s nostalgia. This show makes me feel good,” said Genna Garofalo, who plays Julia’s cousin Holly.
A highlight and favorite part of the show is a secret at the end of Act One that, according to Twigg, will be a big surprise for audience members who haven’t seen “The Wedding Singer.”
“My favorite part of the show, I can’t tell or give it away. It is a big surprise to the audience. If you don’t know the musical, it is something completely wild and a great way to make the audience say, ‘Wow, I can’t wait to see what happens next,’” Twigg said.
“The finale of Act One is really high energy. Everyone is in it; everyone is really fun.
“A lot of character stuff comes out. The choreography is great. There is some surprise special effects at the end, which will be fun. I can’t wait,” Garofalo said.
The preview performance is July 16 at 7:30 p.m. Other performances are July 17, 18, 24, 25, 29 and 31 and Aug. 1, 7 and 8 at 8 p.m., and July 19 and 26 and Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets range in price from $10 to $20 and can be ordered online through HPP at www.haddonfieldplayers.com, or through the box office at (856) 429–8139. There might be some tickets available at the door. Box office hours can be found online.
“It’s a fun night out, super funny. You’ll laugh; you’ll cry; you’ll mostly laugh,” Zubris said.
“I am super excited. I hope everyone comes out and see it,” Garofalo said.
Coming up after for HPP is the Mark Twain comedy “Is he dead?” which runs Sept. 17 through Oct. 3.
