The Spencer Theatre Presents THE WEDDING SINGER, 11/5

The Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts will present The Wedding Singer at 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 5. 

Based on the hit film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, The Wedding Singer features 80s pop-culture and songs that have a familiar sound to Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston and Heart. Called "One Big Party! A good-natured, high-energy musical" by Newsday, this romp about love features the wannabe rock star Robbie Hart who is in love with being in love and makes his living as New Jersey's favorite wedding singer until. But that starry-eyed persona takes a radical change when he is left cold at the altar. Broken-hearted, Robbie takes out his bitterness on stage at everyone's weddings. Every wedding he plays is a disaster until a charming waitress named Julia captures his affections. The only trouble is, Julia is engaged to a successful Wall Street broker and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of his lifetime, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever. Can he win her heart before she says "I Do" or will it be too late?

The 1998 film of The Wedding Singer captured hearts and grossed over $120 million nationwide. The Broadway musical opened in April of 2006, with music by Matthew Sklar, and book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy (former head-writer for "Saturday Night Live" and author of the original screenplay). It ran for 284 performances and was nominated for five Tony Awards (including Best Musical and Best Musical Score); eight Drama Desk Awards (including Outstanding Musical, Music, and Lyrics); and three Drama League Awards. The Wedding Singer has gone on to tour the United States, U.K., Europe and Japan.

The Wedding Singer is produced by Prather Entertainment Group, owned and managed by Will Prather with show direction by M. Seth Reines, choreography by Amy Marie McCleary, Musical Directing by JR McAlexander and lighting design by Russell Thompson.

Starring in the lead roles of Robbie Hart and Julia are real life husband and wife J. Michael Zygo and Jillian Zygo. J. Michael Zygo has performed on previous national tours as Rooster in Annie and as Will Parker on the first national tour of Oklahoma! Other roles that he has performed include Jamie in The Last Five Years, Jerry and Malcolm in The Full Monty, Chad in All Shook Up, Emcee in Cabaret and Monty in Violet. Michael is also a singer/songwriter and has two full studio albums of country music with his band Zygo & The Deuce.

Jillian Zygo has performed with PEG on the national tour of Beehive the 60s Musical, Fanny Brice (Funny Girl AriZoni Award Best Actress), Georgie in The Full Monty and Nancy (Oliver). Her tour/regional credits include Ado Annie (Oklahoma! First National), Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun), Kathy (The Last Five Years),Violet (Violet) and Ginger ( I Love A Piano national tour).

Director M. Seth Reines, a member of Actor's Equity Association, Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, has staged five world premieres including Monky Business, which has been produced in over 400 cities around the world; the American revivals of The Red Mill and Knickerbocker Holiday; the American premiere of Anne of Green Gables; the Midwestern premiere of Closer Than Ever; and the West Coast premieres of Victor/ Victoria and Ragtime. He has directed over 425 productions for stage and television including national tours of Sunday in the Park with George and South Pacific, working with such stars as Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera, Oprah, Leslie Uggams, Jerry Herman, Tom Wopat, Peter Allen, Emily Loesser and Sierra Boggess. M. Seth Reines serves as an Artistic Producer for Prather Entertainment Group and Artistic Director of Little Theatre On The Square, Illinois' oldest Equity stock company.

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