La Jolla Playhouse's Broadway-bound world premiere musical adaptation of the Universal Pictures John Waters cult classic film Cry-Baby began performances November 6; Opening Night scheduled for November 18, with performances through December 16. Mark Brokaw directs.
"When silver-spooned 'Square' Allison Vernon Williams falls for the spit curl charm of leather-jacket clad 'Drape' Cry-Baby Walker, her charm school world of bobby sox and barbershop quartets will never be the same. Set in 1954 Baltimore at the dawn of rock 'n' roll, Cry-Baby tells a not-so-typical story of bad boy meets good girl, and what happens when the good girl can't resist finding out if he's as bad as they say. Hilarity ensues as their town desperately tries to keep the two star-crossed lovers on their respective sides of the track. This riotous, trash-with-flash spoof is a testament to teenage rebellion," explain press notes.
Cry-Baby features a book by Tony Award-winners Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, lyrics and music by Emmy Award-winner David Javerbaum and Grammy Award-nominee Adam Schlesinger and choreography by Rob Ashford.
James Snyder stars in the title role as Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker with Elizabeth Stanley as Allison Vernon-Williams and Harriet Harris as Mrs. Vernon-Williams. The rest of Cry-Baby's gang includes Cristen Paige as Mona, Carly Jibson as Pepper, Lacey Kohl as Wanda and Chester Gregory II as Dupree. Plus Alli Mauzey as Lenora and Christopher J. Hanke.
The ensemble includes Cameron Adams, Ashley Amber, Nick Blaemire, Michael Buchanan, Eric Christian, Colin Cunliffe, Joanna Glushak, Michael D. Jablonski, Marty Lawson, Spencer Liff, Courtney Laine Mazza, Mayumi Miguel, Richard Poe, Torrey Ross, Eric Sciotto, Peter Matthew Smith, Allison Spratt, Charlie Sutton and Stacey Todd Holt.
Show times are Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 7:30PM; Thursdays & Fridays at 8PM; Saturdays at 2PM (no matinee during first two weeks) & 8PM; and Sundays at 2PM & 7PM.
Tickets range from $40 - $100. For tickets call 858-550-1010 or visit www.lajollaplayhouse.org. The box office is located at 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, CA.
Photos by Kevin Berne
Harriet Harris as Mrs. Vernon-Williams
James Snyder as Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker and Elizabeth Stanley as Allison
l-r: Colin Cunliffe, Christopher J. Hanke, Elizabeth Stanley, Peter Matthew Smith and Nick Blaemire
James Snyder and Elizabeth Stanley
Christopher J. Hanke (Baldwin), Elizabeth Stanley, James Snyder and Alli Mauzey (Lenora)
Colin Cunliffe and Peter Matthew Smith (Whiffles), Michael Buchanan (Uncle Sam), Richard Poe (Judge Stone) and James Snyder
James Snyder and Elizabeth Stanley
Lacey Kohl (Wanda), Elizabeth Stanley, Cristen Paige (Mona) and Carly Jibson (Pepper)
Ensemble members l-r: Charlie Sutton, Ashley Amber, Spencer Liff, Cameron Adams, Eric Sciotto, Mayumi Miguel, Eric L. Christian, Allison Spratt
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