Badanai Theatre’s Summer Musical Throwback to the 50s and 60s
By Taylor Onski
Want to fill up some summer nights with some live theatre? If so, check out Badanai Theatre’s production of The Marvelous Wonderettes. This jukebox musical follows four friends, Missy (Amanda Commisso), Suzy (Jaime Morrison), Betty Jean (Katherine Nemec), and Cindy Lou (Tegin Menei), navigating life while singing along to popular music of the 1950s and 60s.
“It’s prom and their last day of high school. They’re having a wonderful time, but also dealing with ups and downs of loss of love. Then in act two, we see them 10 years later and how they’ve grown, and face trials and tribulations with their eyes focused on good music and good times,” says director Spencer Hari.
Rehearsing since early May, these four talented ladies all bring something different to the show—something Commisso says is “a strength” of the show. Another strength these four women have is the bond they all share in and beyond the rehearsal hall.
“We’re onstage the entire time. We don’t get a break. We’re singing and acting the entire time,” says Menei. “It is draining energy wise but it’s also the easiest show I’ve done because of the strong relationships the cast has with one another. You’re working with your friends. There’s no drama, there’s no competitiveness. We all get along so well. We’re all each other’s cheerleaders.”
The show features 27 songs—including classics such as “Mr. Sandman,” “You Don’t Own Me,” “Respect,” and “Son of a Preacher Man”—and everyone involved is looking forward to bringing this show to life for summer theatre with a little bit of their own take on these classics.
“The show is something different in terms of content and the amount of people you see onstage. But at the same time, it’s super familiar,” says Nemec. “It’s music of the 50s and 60s, something that people kind of go in knowing what to expect. They know the songs and that they’re going to love the music. So it gives us an opportunity to take them along on the journey through the music.”
The Marvelous Wonderettes runs from July 26–28 and August 2–4 at Paramount Theatre. Purchase tickets online at badanai.eventbrite.ca or for more information, find on Facebook @badanaitheatre.
