A local theater will be turned into a laundromat as ’60s tunes bubble in this fun-loving musical.
“SUDS: The Rocking ’60s Musical Soap Opera” will be onstage Tuesday through Aug. 19 at Mountain Playhouse, 7712 Somerset Pike, Jennerstown.
The story is set in a Wash-O-Rama, where Cindy, played by Sara Sawyer, is down on her luck.
It’s the story of girl meets boy, girl loses boy, then girl finds true love set amidst more than 30 lushly romantic songs from the 1960s.
Cindy’s guardian angels in training, who teach her the lessons of love through music, are played by two actresses and singers from New York.
“They’re like Clarence in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ ” said director Guy Stroman.
“They help Cindy regain her confidence and wash her blues away.”
DeeDee will be played by N’Kenge and Marge will be played by Florrie Bagel.
Chart-topping hits from the 1960s, an era that brought Connie Francis, Dionne Warwick, Petula Clark, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Burt Bacharach and Johnny Mathis to fame, will include “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Goin’ to the Chapel,” “Be My Baby,” “Please Mister Postman,” “Wishin’ and Hopin’,” “It’s My Party,” “Where the Boys Are,” “Respect” and “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.”
Todd Adamson will play the male characters in the production, including a washer repairman, the postman and Cindy’s true love, Mr. Right.
“His songs will include an Elvis number, ‘Secret Agent Man’ by Johnny Rivers and ‘Wonderful, Wonderful’ by Johnny Mathis,” Stroman said.
“The numbers move the story along. It’s like a fairy tale, and the angels are like fractured fairy godmothers. They help Cindy find her way in life and love.”
Along with ’60s tunes will come ’60s dance moves like the monkey, the watusi, the funky chicken, the jerk, the swim, the twist and the locomotion.
“Jacob Toth is returning as choreographer,” Stroman said.
“He has the dance vocabulary.”
“SUDS” was created by Melinda Gilb and Steve Gunderson at a time in the early 1990s when Stroman was performing the role he originated off-Broadway in “Forever Plaid” in San Diego.
Stroman said Gunderson would hang out in the dressing room and talk about music selections for his show.
“He also used ‘Forever Plaid’s’ story structure in creating ‘SUDS,’ ” Stroman said.
“They made great music selections. This is music people know.”
The songs will be placed in surprising and theatrical ways.
“I’m having a ball doing it,” Stroman said.
“The music is so tight, and the singers’ voices create beautiful harmonies together. Their voices knock me out. We’re going to rock the place Tuesday night.”
It’s showtime
What: “SUDS: The Rocking ’60s Musical Soap Opera.”
When: Tuesday through Aug. 19.
Curtain times: 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and 3 p.m. Sundays.
Where: Mountain Playhouse, 7712 Somerset Pike, Jennerstown.
Tickets: $12 to $19.50 for the preview, $17 to 33 for matinees and $22 to $39 for evening performances.
Information: 629-9201, option 1, or MountainPlayhouse.org.
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