Take a trip down memory lane with jukebox musical “The Marvelous Wonderettes”

Published 11:35 am Tuesday, November 5, 2024

THOMASVILLE- Everybody, let’s rock!

Thomasville on Stage and Company will debut “The Marvelous Wonderettes” on Friday, November 8, at 7 p.m., followed by a Premiere Party on Saturday.

“The Marvelous Wonderettes” takes a step back in time with high school seniors Betty Jean (Emily Brooks), Cindy Lou (Trinity Griffin), Missy (Catherine Adams), and Suzy (Tashina Martinez) at the Springfield High School Class of 1958 Super Senior Prom. Viewers see the four best friends navigate relationships, grow up, and follow their dreams, all to the latest jukebox hits.

Email newsletter signup

Following their prom, guests will flash forward in Act II to Springfield’s 10-year reunion, where a lot has changed for the Wonderettes. The four long-time friends must now navigate their friendship as grown women forever bonded by their four-part harmony.

Directed by Cherokee Godwin, the musical hopes to bring a fun flair to the stage, with songs everyone can sing along to.

“I’ve directed two musicals before,” Godwin said. “TOSAC has produced some pretty high, in-demand musicals recently, but it is really hard to get the rights to produce them.”

Godwin explained other local stage companies may be producing the same show, preventing TOSAC from gaining the rights.

Originally hoping to showcase “Annie,” as their fall premiere, a semi-professional company was performing the Broadway musical in Jacksonville, leaving TOSAC to venture into a performance that may typically be found off-Broadway.

When discussing options, Godwin was among only two board members who had seen “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” and was ready to take on the challenge.

“We decided we wanted to move our musical to open in the fall because in the spring the schools are always doing their spring showcases, so we wanted to try and bring the kids into the fall since they are so busy in the spring,” Godwin said.

However, after “Annie” didn’t pan out, the show only called for four main cast members, who all are familiar with the stage.

This all worked out for the best, as Godwin said the musical came together quickly, following the cancellation of “Annie.”

“We were crunching wondering what would our community enjoy and a jukebox musical with music everyone knows and a cast of four women fit perfectly,” Godwin said.

The cast has been working diligently every night, as they only had five weeks to prepare.

“We got the materials on October 1st and we are opening on November 8th,” Godwin said. “We usually have 10-12 weeks for a musical, and we are doing this one in five; we are crunching it all in.”

Despite a small preparation time, Godwin guarantees the show will be a ca n’t-miss with fun music, including hits “Mr. Sandman” and “Lollipop.”

The show will run for two weekends and tickets can be purchased at Tosac.com/tickets.

Tickets are $15 for students and $20 for adults.