THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Opens At The Miracle Theatre 10/2

Coral Gables is South of Broadway to South Florida theatre fans when Actors' Playhouse opens its exciting 2009-2010 season with the current New York hit musical THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES at the Miracle Theatre October 2nd. Actors' Playhouse is the first regional producing theatre company outside of New York to receive the licensing rights for this smash hit musical while it is still playing Off-Broadway.

Written by Roger Bean, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES is a cotton candy colored, non-stop pop musical blast from the past! Featuring favorite songs from the ‘50s and ‘60s, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet the Wonderettes - Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts and voices to match! As we learn about their lives and loves over ten years, the girls perform such classic ‘50s and ‘60s songs as "Lollipop," "Dream Lover," "Stupid Cupid," "Lipstick on your Collar," "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," "It's My Party," "It's In His Kiss," "Rescue Me," "Respect," and so many more!

Executive Producing Director Barbara Stein believes this fast paced, fun-loving show will be just as big of a hit here in Coral Gables as it has been in New York. "The music and the era it depicts will be a huge favorite with the baby boomer generation that grew up with these songs," says Stein. "But you don't have to be from the 50's or 60's to enjoy it. These songs are timeless classics and the show is just good old fashioned fun for audiences of all ages. Every night will be prom night at the Miracle Theatre during the run of THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES."

Award-winning Artistic Director David Arisco has selected a dynamic quartet of lovely, talented girls to play the Wonderettes. Tiana Checchia (Suzy Simpson), whose National Tour credits include Grease and Chance at Love, returns to Actors' for the first time since Footloose in 2008. The talented Julie Kleiner, who was in the Actors' summer production of Married ALIVE! as well as the company's productions of Footloose and White Christmas, will play Betty Jean Reynolds. They will be joined by Amy Miller Brennan (Cindy Lou Huffington) who was nominated for a Carbonell Award for Best Actress for her performance as Ariel Moore in Footloose at Actors' and also appeared in the New York productions of The Miracle Worker and Sunday in the Park with George. Carbonell-nominated actress Lisa Manuli, who has performed in Grease, Beauty and the Beast and Aida at Actors', will also join the girls as Missy Miller.

"THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES is an irresistible and charming new musical that has been winning over audiences for a year now in New York, " says David Arisco. "We are excited to assemble four gifted singers and comedic actresses to present this inventive and must-take musical trip down memory lane to our South Florida audiences."

Preview performances of THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES will be held Wednesday, September 30th and Thursday, October 1st at 8 p.m. The show will open Friday, October 2nd and play through November 1st. Performances will be held Wednesday - Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Additional matinees will be held Wednesday, October 7th at 2 p.m and Wednesday, October 14th and 21st at 10 a.m for student groups with special arrangements made through the education department.

Preview night tickets on the first Wednesday and Thursday are $35. Tickets for weeknights and matinees are $40, and on Friday and Saturday evenings $48. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain with identification. Discounts are based on availability and exclude Saturday and Sunday.
Group discounted rates are offered for 15 or more through our group sales department. Single tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293 or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.

Subscriptions are now available to the 2009-2010 season, which also includes: Another Night Before Christmas by Sean Grennan and Leah Okimoto (December 2 -27, 2009), The Great American Trailer Park MUSICAL with music and lyrics by David Nehls and book by Betsy Kelso (January 13 - February 7, 2010), Boublil and Schönberg's Miss Saigon (March 3 - April 4, 2010), the world premiere play Unreasonable Doubt by Michael McKeever (May 12 - June 6, 2010) and Are We There Yet? by James Hindman, Ray Roderick and Cheryl Stern with music by John Glaudin (July 7 - August 15, 2010).

The best way to guarantee seats to this exciting new season is to become a valued Actors' Playhouse subscriber. Season subscriptions for the 2009-2010 Season are on sale now with prices ranging from $174 for preview performances, $228 for Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday matinees, $264 for Friday and Saturday evenings, and $270 for VIP Flexible/Anytime tickets for premium seats in every performance. Opening Night Subscriptions, which include an invitation to a Gala party and Bacardi bar, are $432. Miracle Maker donor subscriptions, including two tickets to opening nights, donor acknowledgement, and two tickets to the 19th Annual Reach for the Stars Gala Auction 2010 are $1250. Subscriptions for children 18 years and younger with a full paid adult subscription, and college students, are $102 (restrictions apply). All prices include handling charges and fees. Actors' Playhouse subscribers receive guaranteed best seating and pricing, lost ticket insurance, generous membership benefits to Coral Gables' finest restaurants and discounts on single tickets, among other benefits. To become part of the Miracle as an Actors' Playhouse subscriber, call 305.444.9293 or order online at www.actorsplayhouse.org.

Actors' Playhouse, the nonprofit resident theatre company and managing agent of the Miracle Theatre, has an agreement with Actor's Equity Association, the union of professional actors, New York. Under the leadership of Founding Executive Producing Director Barbara S. Stein and Artistic Director David Arisco, Actors' Playhouse was named South Florida's Theatre Company of the Year 2008 for overall season excellence and community outreach by the Carbonell Committee and in 2009 Artistic Director David Arisco received the industry's highest acknowledgement with the George Abbott Award for his 22-years of artistic excellence in South Florida. Actors' Playhouse is a Florida Presenting Cultural Organization, one of eight major Florida professional theatre companies, and one of twenty-one major cultural institutions in Miami Dade County. In addition to its Mainstage season, Actors' Playhouse produces a year-round five-show season of Musical Theatre for Young Audiences, a National Children's Theatre Festival, and a Theatre Conservatory and Summer Camp Program.