Mystic Pizza (musical)

Last updated
Mystic Pizza
MusicVarious Artists
LyricsVarious Artists
Book Sandy Rustin
Basis Mystic Pizza (1988)
By: Alfred Uhry
Amy Holden Jones
Perry Howze
Randy Howze
Productions2021 Ogunquit Playhouse
2025 Paper Mill Playhouse

Mystic Pizza is a jukebox musical with a book by Sandy Rustin and score by various artists. The score includes pop music hits from the 1980s. [1]

Contents

The musical is based on the 1988 film of the same name that starred Julia Roberts. The show is set in Mystic, Connecticut, during the 1980s and follows the lives of three young waitresses at the Mystic Pizza restaurant. [2]

Production history

Work began on the show during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Sandy Rustin writing the book and video-conferencing with the all-female development team from home. The production was directed by Casey Hushion with choreography by Liz Ramos. Orchestrations of the score were done by Carmel Dean. [3] Melissa Etheridge was originally set to score the musical herself. The show does contain one song from her catelog, I'm the Only One . [4]

Ogunquit (2021)

The show had its world premiere at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, running from September 1, 2021, until October 2. [5]

The musical was also staged at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, New York from September 15, 2022, until October 30, 2022. [6] The show was workshopped at the Adirondack Theatre Festival from August 5–7, 2022.

Paper Mill Playhouse (2025)

A Pre-Broadway production will premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, running from January 29, 2025, until February 23, 2025. [7]

Prior to the Paper Mill production, the show had a West Coast premiere at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada, California, from January 20 through February 11, 2024. [8]

Original cast and characters

CharacterOlgunquit (2021)
Daisy Araújo Krystina Alabado
Katherine "Kat" AraújoKyra Kennedy
Josephina "Jojo" BarbozaGianna Yanelli
Leona SilvaRayanne Gonzales
Charles Gordon Windsor Jr. Corey Mach
William "Bill" MontijoGarrett Marshall
Tim TraversJoel Perez
Mrs. AraújoNicole Paloma Sarro

Musical numbers

Related Research Articles

<i>Mystic Pizza</i> 1988 film by Donald Petrie

Mystic Pizza is a 1988 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Donald Petrie in his feature directorial debut, and starring Annabeth Gish, Julia Roberts and Lili Taylor. It follows the coming-of-age of three young Portuguese-American friends who work at a pizza parlor in a seaside Connecticut town. The film received positive reviews, with Roger Ebert declaring at the time, "I have a feeling that Mystic Pizza may someday become known for the movie stars it showcased back before they became stars. All of the young actors in this movie have genuine gifts." It marked Matt Damon's film debut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Engel</span> American actress (1948–2019)

Georgia Bright Engel was an American actress. She is best known for having played Georgette Franklin Baxter in the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1972 to 1977, Pat MacDougall on Everybody Loves Raymond from 2003 to 2005, and Mamie Sue on Hot in Cleveland from 2012 to 2015. She was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards and a BAFTA award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolee Carmello</span> American actress

Carolee Carmello is an American actress best known for her performances in Broadway musicals and for playing the role of Maple LaMarsh on the television series Remember WENN (1996–1998). She is a three-time Tony Award nominee and a five-time Drama Desk nominee, winning the 1999 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her role in Parade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disney Theatrical Productions</span> Subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company

Disney Theatrical Productions Limited (DTP), also known as Disney on Broadway, is the stageplay and musical production company of the Disney Theatrical Group, a subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, a major division and business unit of The Walt Disney Company.

Robert Cuccioli is an American actor and singer. He is best known for originating the lead dual title roles in the musical Jekyll & Hyde, for which he received a Tony Award nomination and won the Joseph Jefferson Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Fany Award for outstanding actor in a musical.

Sara Gettelfinger is an American actress, singer, and dancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Martin (comedian)</span> Canadian actor (born 1962)

Robert Martin is a television and musical theatre actor and writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

<i>The Hunchback of Notre Dame</i> (musical) 1999/2014 musical by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a musical with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. It is adapted from Walt Disney Animation Studios' 1996 film of the same name, which in turn was based on the 1831 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. The musical premiered in 1999 in Berlin as Der Glöckner von Notre Dame, with a book by James Lapine. It was produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, being the company's first musical to premiere outside the United States. It ran for three years, becoming one of Berlin's longest-running musicals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Lee Goldyn</span> American Broadway actress (born 1985)

Jessica Lee Goldyn is an American musical theatre actress, singer, and dancer best known for creating the role of Val in the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line and appearing as Nini (replacement) in Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Goldyn played the lead role of Cassie from August 10, 2008 opposite Mario Lopez as Zack, until the show ended its Broadway revival run on August 17, 2008. Goldyn had been an understudy for the lead character of Cassie. She played the title role in Annie (musical) at age 21. Goldyn appeared in The Paper Mill Playhouse (NJ) rendition of A Chorus Line in the star role of Cassie from October 7 through October 28, 2012.

<i>Little House on the Prairie</i> (musical) Musical

Little House on the Prairie is a book musical adapted from the children's books, Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Steve Blanchard is an American stage actor and singer best known for his musical theatre roles, being most closely associated with the role of The Beast in the musical Beauty and the Beast, which he played on Broadway for eight years. In recent years, he has played the role of "Pa" in several regional theatre productions of the musical version of Little House on the Prairie. He also guest stars in television roles and released Northbound Train, a solo CD where he sings songs from shows that he has been in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Cody</span> American dancer and actress

Jennifer Cody is an American actress and dancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Jordan (actor, born 1984)</span> American actor & singer

Jeremy Michael Jordan is an American actor and singer. He has performed on Broadway, in television and film, in concert, as well as in other theatrical productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ogunquit Playhouse</span> Theater in Ogunquit, Maine (opened 1937)

Ogunquit Playhouse is a regional theater on 10 Main Street in Ogunquit, Maine. Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last remaining summer theaters from the Summer Stock which still produces musical theatre. The Playhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Level of Significance "in consideration of the significant contributions made by its founder Walter J. Hartwig and the Playhouse to Performing Arts Education throughout the nation."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob McClure</span> American actor (born 1982)

Rob McClure is an American actor and singer, best known for his work on the Broadway stage.

<i>Hercules</i> (musical) 2019 musical by Alan Menken and David Zippel

Hercules is a musical based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios 1997 film of the same name, with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and David Zippel, and a book by Kristoffer Diaz, Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah. The production is also loosely based on the legendary hero of the same name, the son of Zeus, in Greek mythology.

Grumpy Old Men: The Musical is a stage musical with book by Dan Remmes songs composed by Neil Berg and lyrics by Nick Meglin. The music was orchestrated by Larry Hochman with additional orchestrations by Phil Reno. It is based on the 1993 Warner Bros. film Grumpy Old Men by Mark Steven Johnson which starred Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margret. It tells the story of two childhood friends, John Gustafson and Max Goldman, now aging neighbors. An old grudge resurfaces when a mysterious woman moves in across the street.

Matt Lenz is a New York City-based theatre director. His career encompasses work on Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, regional theater and international productions. He is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Clue: On Stage is a murder-mystery farce adapted from the 1985 film Clue, itself based on the popular board game. Sandy Rustin adapted Jonathan Lynn's screenplay for the stage, with additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price.

Corey Mach is an American stage actor and producer. He is known for his role as "Tyler" in the Original Broadway Revival Cast of Merrily We Roll Along, "Harry" in Kinky Boots on Broadway, and "William Shakespeare" in the First National Broadway Tour of & Juliet. He is also known for Godspell and Hands on a Hardbody on Broadway as well as the National Tours of Wicked, Rent, and Flashdance. He also appeared in the World Premieres of Waitress, Mystic Pizza, From Here to Eternity and Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing, written and directed by James Lapine. He has been seen on TV in supporting roles in "Elsbeth", "Uncoupled", "The Blacklist" and "FBI". He is also the producer and creator of the concert series Broadway Sings.

References

  1. "Mystic Pizza". Concord Theatricals.
  2. Maslin, Janet (October 21, 1988). "Review/Film; The Autumn Before Womanhood" via NYTimes.com.
  3. "Mystic Pizza Trades Smelly Fish for Melissa Etheridge, as the Musical Gods Intended - TheaterMania.com". September 9, 2021.
  4. "Melissa Etheridge at Work on Mystic Pizza Musical | Playbill".
  5. "Mystic Pizza - Show". Ogunquit Playhouse.
  6. Theater, John W. Engeman (September 7, 2022). "Mystic Pizza, A New Musical coming to the Engeman". Engeman Theater.
  7. "New Musicals Mystic Pizza and Take the Lead Set for Paper Mill Playhouse Season". Broadway.com.
  8. "Photos: Take a Look at La Mirada Theatre's Mystic Pizza Musical | Playbill".