Benanti, Cahoon, Finley, Gardner, Lynch Cast in The Wedding Singer

Laura Benanti and Stephen Lynch will star in The Wedding Singer, a stage musical adaptation of the hit 1999 Adam Sandler-Drew Barrymore film comedy, which will have its world premiere at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater in a January 21- February 19 engagement. The show is scheduled to begin previews on Broadway on March 30 and to open officially on April 27 at a theater yet to be announced.

Directed by John Rando and choreographed by Rob Ashford, The Wedding Singer features music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Beguelin and Tim Herlihy. The design team consists of Scott Pask (sets), Gregory Gale (costumes), Brian MacDevitt (lighting), Peter Hyslenski (sound), David Brian Brown (hair), and Joe Delude (make-up).

The principal cast also includes Matthew Saldivar, Richard Blake, Felicia Finley, Kevin Cahoon, and Rita Gardner. (The role of Holly is yet to be cast.) Featured in the ensemble will be Matt Allen, Tracee Beazer, Cara Cooper, Ashley Amber Haase, Nicolette Hart, Peter Kapetan, Spencer Liff, J. Elaine Marcos, Christina Sivrich, Matthew Stocke, and Eric Lajuan Summers.

The Wedding Singer tells the story of Robbie Hart, New Jersey’s most popular wedding singer, who begins to ruin other people’s nuptials after his fiancée leaves him at the altar. Things begin to look up after he meets Julia, a warm-hearted waitress — who is also engaged to be married.

Rando’s directing credits include Urinetown, for which he won a Tony Award, as well as Dance of the Vampires, A Thousand Clowns, and The Dinner Party. Ashford won the Tony Award for Thoroughly Modern Millie. Beguelin and Sklar have previously collaborated on the musicals The Rhythm Club and Oedipus, Private Eye. Herlihy wrote the screenplay for The Wedding Singer and the screenplays for numerous other movies starring Sandler — his college roommate — including Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and the upcoming Click.

Benanti, who will play Julie, is a two-time Tony Award nominee for Swing! and Into The Woods; she has also been seen on Broadway in The Sound of Music and Nine. Lynch, who will play Robbie, is a well-known comedian who stars on Comedy Central. Saldivar, who will play Sammy, starred in the film version of Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding. Blake, who will play Glen, has starred on Broadway in Hairspray and Saturday Night Fever. Finley, who will play Linda, appeared as Amneris in Elton John’s Aida. Cahoon, who will play, George may currently be seen on Broadway as the Childcatcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Gardner, who will play Rosie, is best known for originating the role of The Girl in The Fantasticks.