By Sophie Yalkezian
CHATHAM — Ever wondered what it would be like to travel back in time? Grab a ticket to Mac-Haydn Theater’s “The Marvelous Wonderettes”, running Sept. 7-17, and you may get the chance to find out.
The jukebox musical follows four best friends as they perform for their 1958 high school prom and subsequent 1968 class reunion. They learn about the power of friendship while journeying through more than 30 girl group classics. The show should “feel like a time machine,” according to its choreographer and director, Ashley DeLane Burger.
“My number one goal is for the audience to have a really good time watching it,” said Burger, who called the show a timeless mix of girl power and 1960s flower power. “There’s something in it for everyone. Most of us have been to high school prom or can relate to those [coming-of-age] feelings.”
On the topic of time, it moves fast at Mac-Haydn. The theater puts up new shows in as little as two weeks, often with the same cast and crew working on an upcoming production during the day while performing another at night.
“If you can do theater here you can do theater anywhere,” Burger said with pride.
The Wonderette's main cast also performed in August’s “Jersey Boys,” which Burger choreographed.
“We’re so lucky to have actors with such stamina,” she said. “They leave their hearts on the stage every night.”
This is Burger’s fifth summer at Mac-Haydn but her first doing double duty as a director and choreographer.
“It’s hard but it’s been really rewarding and I’m so excited to see it all come together with a big pink bow on it,” she said.
When approached by theater leadership about directing, Burger noted the all-women cast and 1960s setting sold her on the idea.
“The ‘60s are becoming my niche,” she said.
The cast (Stephanie Prestage, Rachel Pantazis, Adeline Trivers, Cydney Gleckner) is an exceptional group of NYC-based actors with an incredible vocal range, allowing them to perfectly cover each song without losing the unique flavor of their character.
The show features hits like “Mr. Sandman,” “Lollipop,” “Stupid Cupid,” and “It’s In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)”.
Grab your tickets now and warm up your own vocal chords, too — singing along is perfectly welcome.
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