Girls Just Want to Have Fun World Premiere at Pittsburgh Playhouse Announces Cast

Pittsburgh Playhouse, Lively McCabe Entertainment, and Primary Wave Music have announced full casting for the world premiere production of Girls Just Want to Have Fun, a new musical inspired by the 1985 cult-classic film written by Amy Spies. The show will run November 11-22 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse’s PNC Theatre at Point Park University.

The 23-member company includes Paige Schmella as Janey Glenn (the role originated in the film by Sarah Jessica Parker), Caroline O’Neil as Lynne (the role originated in the film by Helen Hunt), Alejandro Tinnell as Jeff Malene, Bee Walker as Natalie Sands, Autumn Papczynski as Mother Superior, Bianca Dixon as Sister Eileen, Marshall Benton as Colonel Glenn, Devin Claudio as Drew, Isabella Corea as Mrs. Glenn/Mrs. Dobson, Evan Williams as Mr. Malene, Cadee Velasquez as Rikki, Sam Welborn as DTV Assistant/J.P. Sands, and Jaqueline Trinh-Juarez as Maggie Malene. The ensemble also includes Eric Acosta, Joel Balinao, Casey Rose Colcombe, Kaylee Deenihan, Melissa Garlock, Anthony Raymond, Amber Gibson, and Lucas Lee.

Adapted for the stage by M Dickson and Lauren Marcus, the musical is about Janey Glenn, a natural-born dancer, who, as the timid, straitlaced daughter of a strict colonel, only lets loose in front of her bedroom mirror. When Janey transfers to a new school, she finds her first real friend: bold, fearless Lynne. United by their obsession with Dance TV, the two become inseparable, and Lynne helps Janey work up the nerve to defy her father and try out for the show.

The score is made up of hit songs made famous by artists such as Whitney Houston, Huey Lewis and the News, Olivia Newton-John, and Culture Club, arranged and orchestrated by Broadway composer and music director Georgia Stitt.

Jennifer Werner is the director and choreographer. The creative team also includes Christian Fleming (scenic design), Michael Montgomery (costume design), Dalton Hamilton (lighting design), Zach Moore (sound design), Camille Villalpando Rolla (music director/conductor), Leonard Sullivan and Saki Kawamura (associate directors), Kristyn Pope (associate choreographer), Olivia Mohnkern (production stage manager), and Kobi Kassal (line producer on behalf of Lively McCabe Entertainment).

With this production, Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts students will work side-by-side with Broadway and entertainment industry professionals, providing hands-on experience and firsthand insight into the creative process of developing a new musical from the ground up.