A new musical version of the classic sitcom "Happy Days" will run from February 15th through March 12th at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank, California; opening night is February 24th. Joey McIntyre, the former New Kids on the Block singer who has become known as a musical theatre leading man, plays Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli, while Ernie Sabella (Sweet Charity, Man of La Mancha) is also featured in the show.
The musical is directed by Gary Marshall, who created "Happy Days," a TV hit from 1974 to 1984.
Happy Days also features a book by Marshall, and music and lyrics by Oscar and Grammy Award-winner
Paul Williams (
A Star is Born with
Barbra Streisand,
Bugsy Malone, The Muppet Movie).
"Grab your poodle skirt and letterman jacket and come on down to the Falcon Theatre! It's May, 1959 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Fonzie is still the king of cool at his favorite malt shop, Arnold's. The school year is coming to an end and Richie, Lori Beth, Potsie, Ralph Malph and the rest of the gang, are all getting ready to graduate from Jefferson High School. All your favorites from this famous sitcom, including Pinky Tuscadero and the Malachi Brothers, are here to sing you back into the '50s," state press notes.
In addition to McIntyre and Sabella, the cast of
Happy Days also includes Audra Blaser, Ryan Bollman, Joseph Leo Bwarie, Wayne Duvall, Cynthia Ferrer, Christine Lakin, Philip Lightstone, Heather Lindell, Matt Merchant, Jaclyn Miller,
DeQuina Moore (
Little Shop of Horrors), Rory O'Malley, Robert Petrarca,Paul C. Vogt and Anna A. White.
McIntyre's musical theatre credits include
tick, tick...BOOM! off-Broadway,
Wicked on Broadway and
Babes in Arms at Reprise!; he also appeared in the film version of
The Fantasticks. Marshall, who has also appeared in many films as an actor, has directed films such as
The Princess Diaries, Pretty Woman, and
Beaches, and created or co-created TV shows such as "Murphy Brown," "Mork & Mindy" and "Laverne & Shirley."
The Falcon Theatre was founded by Marshall in 1997; it is currently run by his daughter Kathleen (not to be confused with the Broadway director-choreographer).
The Falcon Theatre is located at 4252 Riverside Drive in Burbank, CA. For more information and tickets, call (818) 955-8101 or visit
www.falcontheatre.com.
