Adam Epstein, Allan S. Gordon, Elan V.
McAllister and Brian Grazer
James P. MacGilvray, Universal Pictures Stage Productions
Anne Caruso, Adam S. Gordon, Latitude Link, The Pelican Group
In association with Philip Morgaman, Andrew Farber/Richard Mishaan
Present
CRY BABY
The Musical
Book by MARK O’DONNEL & THOMAS MEEHAN
Songs by DAVID JAVERBAUM & ADAM SCHLESINGER
Based on the Universal Pictures Film Written and Directed by JOHN WATERS
Starring
JAMES SNYDER, ELIZABETH STANLEY
CHESTER GREGORY II, CHRISTOPHER J. HANKE, ALLI MAUZEY
COURTNEY BALAN CARLY JIBSON, LACEY KOHN, RICHARD POE
CAMERON ADAMS, ASHLEY AMBER, NICK BLAEMIRE, MICHAEL BUCHANAN, ANDREW C. CALL
ERIC L. CHRISTIAN, COLIN CUNLIFFE, LISA GAJDA, STACEY TODD HOLT, MICHAEL D.
JABLONSKI
LAURA JORDAN, BRENDAN KING, MARLY LAWSON, SPENCER LIFF, COURTNEY LAINE MAZZA
MAYUMI MIGUEL, TORY ROSS, ERICK SCIOTTO, PETER MATTHEW SMITH
ALLISON SPRATT, CHARLIE SUTTON
And
HARRIET HARRIS
Directed by MARK BROKAW
Choreographed by ROB ASHFORD
Incidental Music, Arrangements and Music Direction by LYNNE SHANKEL
Creative Consultant: JOHN WATERS
Scenic Design by SCOTT PASK
Costume Design by CATHERINE ZUBER
Lighting Design by HOWELL BINKLEY
Sound Design by PETER HYLENSKI
Production Manager: JUNIPER STREET PRODUCTIONS
Production Stage Manager: ROLT SMITH
Marquis Theatre
Broadway @ 45th Street
(212) 307-4100 or
www.ticketmaster.com
Opening Night: April 25, 2008
Scathing wit, total irreverence, endearing characters who defy convention, and
it’s 1954 in Baltimore. That’s right! John Waters is back on Broadway in
a musical which I found even more amusing than his highly-acclaimed Hairspray.
CRY BABY has the usual theme of the “bad boy” who doesn’t fit into
society persevering against all odds. The book by Mark O’Donnell and
Thomas Meehan has been enhanced by songs with some of the cleverest wording
on a stage today (thanks to David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger).
Period costumes by Catherine Zuber and magnificent sets by Scott Pask
put you right into the proper frame of time and mind, and the action begins with
an Anti-Polio Picnic. I did mention irreverence, right?
Classes clash as Cry Baby (James Snyder), his sidekick Dupree (Chester
Gregory II) and a group of misfits crash the picnic. Here Cry Baby meets the
beautiful Allison (Elizabeth Stanley) and her uptight grandmother
(wonderfully portrayed by veteran Harriet Harris). As the battle ensues
and a romance blossoms, songs like “Watch Your Ass,” “Squeaky Clean,” “Class
Dismissed,” and “You Can’t Beat The System” keep the audience
hysterical and Water’s message at the forefront of the action. CRY BABY
makes you root for the person who is on the outside looking in, gives hope to
those whom society scorns, and even dares to make fun of all that conservative
compliers hold near and dear. You’ll join in the fun with a huge smile on your
face throughout the entire production. Thanks heavens John Waters didn’t
waste his efforts trying to fit in! Look at all the fun we’d be missing.
- Laurie Lawson -