Page 5 - WeddingSingerProgram-Flipbook
P. 5
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to welcome you to the debut production of THE WEDDING SINGER at Pittsburgh CLO.
This show premiered on Broadway in 2006, and while its superficial appeal may skew “tween” due
to the feel good movie on which it’s based and its popularity on the high school musical circuit,
its story is firmly rooted in the timeless screwball comedy genre of love and marriage. Add to
that some infectious music and zippy choreography, and it landed an impressive five Tony Award®
nominations, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, plus eight
Drama Desk Award nods.
On Broadway, the show starred Stephen Lynch and Laura Benanti and was directed by John
Rando and choreographed by Rob Ashford. It was adapted from the 1998 film of the same name
(starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore) by the film’s author, Tim Herlihy, with co-writer/
lyricist Chad Beguelin. Matthew Sklar composed - marking his Broadway bow as a composer at
age thirty-three. Herlihy (who was Sandler’s college roommate) is the writer or co-writer of films
such as “Billy Madison,” “Happy Gilmore,” “The Waterboy” and “Big Daddy.” Beguelin authored the
book and additional lyrics for the score of Disney’s ALADDIN on Broadway, and he and Sklar have
collaborated on a number of new shows, including ELF THE MUSICAL.
It is always challenging and rewarding for our organization to mount new, large scale musicals,
and this summer has been chock full of firsts. Today’s show and MARY POPPINS were first-timers
for our production team, and we hadn’t produced revivals MAN OF LA MANCHA or GYPSY in twenty
and eighteen years respectively. I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed making the acquaintance of these
shows, especially if they’ve been new to you too.
In the end, I hope that every show we produce transports, uplifts, surprises and inspires you.
Musical theater by nature appeals to the young at heart – and of course the young – who are
the future of show business and every business we’re in. Ask Matthew Sklar, who credits his New
Jersey middle school music teacher with igniting his career in composing: She asked him to write
a song for his 8 grade graduation, which on a whim he sent to Walt Disney Productions, which
th
recorded it for the “Mickey Mouse Club.” And, so, began his story.
I look forward to seeing you again at KINKY BOOTS and Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA.
Thank you for supporting Pittsburgh CLO.
Enjoy the show!
Van Kaplan
Executive Producer
Pittsburgh CLO
pittsburghCLO.org - 3
I am pleased to welcome you to the debut production of THE WEDDING SINGER at Pittsburgh CLO.
This show premiered on Broadway in 2006, and while its superficial appeal may skew “tween” due
to the feel good movie on which it’s based and its popularity on the high school musical circuit,
its story is firmly rooted in the timeless screwball comedy genre of love and marriage. Add to
that some infectious music and zippy choreography, and it landed an impressive five Tony Award®
nominations, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, plus eight
Drama Desk Award nods.
On Broadway, the show starred Stephen Lynch and Laura Benanti and was directed by John
Rando and choreographed by Rob Ashford. It was adapted from the 1998 film of the same name
(starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore) by the film’s author, Tim Herlihy, with co-writer/
lyricist Chad Beguelin. Matthew Sklar composed - marking his Broadway bow as a composer at
age thirty-three. Herlihy (who was Sandler’s college roommate) is the writer or co-writer of films
such as “Billy Madison,” “Happy Gilmore,” “The Waterboy” and “Big Daddy.” Beguelin authored the
book and additional lyrics for the score of Disney’s ALADDIN on Broadway, and he and Sklar have
collaborated on a number of new shows, including ELF THE MUSICAL.
It is always challenging and rewarding for our organization to mount new, large scale musicals,
and this summer has been chock full of firsts. Today’s show and MARY POPPINS were first-timers
for our production team, and we hadn’t produced revivals MAN OF LA MANCHA or GYPSY in twenty
and eighteen years respectively. I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed making the acquaintance of these
shows, especially if they’ve been new to you too.
In the end, I hope that every show we produce transports, uplifts, surprises and inspires you.
Musical theater by nature appeals to the young at heart – and of course the young – who are
the future of show business and every business we’re in. Ask Matthew Sklar, who credits his New
Jersey middle school music teacher with igniting his career in composing: She asked him to write
a song for his 8 grade graduation, which on a whim he sent to Walt Disney Productions, which
th
recorded it for the “Mickey Mouse Club.” And, so, began his story.
I look forward to seeing you again at KINKY BOOTS and Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA.
Thank you for supporting Pittsburgh CLO.
Enjoy the show!
Van Kaplan
Executive Producer
Pittsburgh CLO
pittsburghCLO.org - 3
