New Brisbane Company Introduces Tweet Seats for The Wedding Singer

Smash Theatrical, founded by Joanna Pearson and Shane Tooley, will launch onto the Brisbane stage in 2013 with their inaugural production of The Wedding Singer, the Broadway musical based on the Adam Sandler movie, will be presented at Brisbane’s historic Schonell Theatre from February 14 to 23 2013.

Smash Theatrical declares its aim is to bring the best of contemporary Broadway and West End to the Brisbane stage. “We could not think of a better show to launch our production company”, said Joanna Pearson. “We wanted our first production to reflect the aims of our company. The Wedding Singer is a great show with an authentic story and a high-energy score, which has not seen a professional run here in Australia. It is a great night out at the theatre, accessible by a wide audience who love to indulge in all things 1980s or nostalgically remember the hair, leg warmers and shoulder pads.”

“The Wedding Singer is a high energy and fun show,” Musical Director Shane Tooley told Stage Whispers. “The essence of the movie has been transferred into a great libretto which will have the whole audience laughing. The all-new score, nominated for a Tony Award in 2006, captures the sound and style of 1980s pop. Even two of Adam Sandler’s original compositions have been included in the show.”

“The cast we have assembled for this production represents some of the very best up and coming talent in Brisbane,” Director Joanna Pearson said. “Callan Warner (Robbie Hart) is starting to make a name for himself in the Brisbane Musical Theatre scene. As a current Harvest Rain intern, Callan has wowed audiences in a variety of roles including Albert Peterson in their recent production of Bye Bye Birdie. Laura Caitlin Jensen (Julia Sullivan) is new to the theatre stage but is seasoned vocalist, having sung as the resident vocalist for the University of Queensland Big Band and performing across Brisbane.”

Smash will also be bringing a new interactive audience element, Tweet Seats, to their production, a first for Brisbane.

“Innovation is something we want to see in our productions,” Shane Tooley explains, “and with The Wedding Singer, we are trialling the concept of Tweet Seats. Audience members can book specially selected seats for 2 performances and interact with the cast and crew live during the show. This is something we’ve seen add an extra dimension to performances in the US including the recent revival of Godspell. Anything that further engages the audience with the dramatic action and creative process is something worth exploring. The layout of the Schonell Theatre provides us with the opportunity to slightly separate Tweeting audience members from regular members of our audience to ensure neither are distracted during the show.”

Creative Team

Director: Joanna Pearson

Musical Director: Shane Tooley

Choreographer: Caron Koch

Cast includes: Callan Warner as Robbie Hart, and introducing Laura Jensen as Julie Sullivan

Season: 14 – 23 Feb (Preview 13 February).

Venue: Schonell Theatre, University of Queensland

Opening Night: 14 February

Charity Night: 15 February (Lions Medical Research Foundation)

Tweet Seats: 16 Feb @ 7:30pm, 21 Feb @ 7:30pm

Tickets available online via www.smashtheatrical.com.au

Images: (From top) Simply Wed: Sammy (Lachlan C Clarke), George (Michael Nunn) & Robbie (Callan Warner); Linda (Jennifer Ashley) & Robbie (Callan Warner); Julia (Laura Caitlin Jensen) and Robbie (Callan Warner)and bottom, Hannah Grondin, Jacinta Welch & Ashley Samuels.

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