Pittsburgh Playhouse, Lively McCabe Entertainment and Primary Wave Music have announced the full cast for the world premiere of Girls Just Want To Have Fun. The new musical is inspired by the cult-classic film written by Amy Spies and features a score of 1980s chart-toppers. It plays Nov. 11-22 only at the Pittsburgh Playhouse’s PNC Theatre at Point Park University.
The 23-member company includes Paige Schmella as Janey Glenn, Caroline O’Neil as Lynne, Alejandro Tinnell as Jeff Malene, and Bee Walker as Natalie Sands. Autumn Papczynski plays Mother Superior, Bianca Dixon plays Sister Eileen, and Marshall Benton plays Colonel Glenn. Devin Claudio is Drew, Isabella Corea is Mrs. Glenn/Mrs. Dobson, Evan Williams is Mr. Malene, Cadee Velasquez is Rikki, Sam Welborn is DTV Assistant/J.P. Sands, and Jaqueline Trinh-Juarez is Maggie Malene. The ensemble features Eric Acosta, Joel Balinao, Casey Rose Colcombe, Kaylee Deenihan, Melissa Garlock, Anthony Raymond, Amber Gibson and Lucas Lee.
The musical was adapted for the stage by M Dickson (“How I Met Your Father”) and actor, singer, and songwriter Lauren Marcus. It follows Janey Glenn, a natural-born dancer who only lets loose in front of her bedroom mirror because her father, a strict colonel, keeps her sheltered. After transferring to a new school, she befriends the bold Lynne, and the two bond over their love of Dance TV. With Lynne’s encouragement, Janey works up the nerve to try out for the show, though the catch is that it airs live and her father can never find out.
Georgia Stitt, a Broadway composer and music director, arranged and orchestrated the score. It includes hits made famous by Whitney Houston, Huey Lewis and the News, Olivia Newton-John and Culture Club, along with songs from the original film such as “Dancing In Heaven” and “I Can Fly.” In the 1985 film, the characters of Janey and Lynne were played by Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt.
Jennifer Werner (“The Book of Mormon,” “Mystic Pizza” National Tour) directs and choreographs. The creative team includes Christian Fleming on scenic design, Michael Montgomery on costume design, Dalton Hamilton on lighting design, and Zach Moore on sound design. Camille Villalpando Rolla is music director and conductor, Leonard Sullivan and Saki Kawamura are associate directors, and Kristyn Pope is associate choreographer. Olivia Mohnkern is the production stage manager, and Kobi Kassal is line producer for Lively McCabe Entertainment.
Tickets are available now. The production gives students in Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts the chance to work alongside Broadway and entertainment industry professionals while a new musical is developed from the ground up.
After the premiere, Girls Just Want To Have Fun is expected to move toward future productions and join Lively McCabe’s “Hits” Musicals Collection, available exclusively through Music Theatre International.
Follow us on social media
Facebook • Instagram • Tiktok • Newsbreak
Visit our other sites
Finding Connecticut • Finding New York City • Finding The Hudson Valley • Finding Lehigh Valley • Finding Westport
