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The Full Monty by San Diego Musical Theatre  San Diego has a fresh, new source of professional musical
theatre with the debut of San Diego Musical Theatre. And although surely size
doesn’t matter, this debut is awfully big. Gary and Erin Lewis have spared no
expense, bringing together a who’s who of top actors and designers to launch
their company. The result was an enormous success that rocked the world of the
historic North Park Theatre. Not too far from where The Full Monty had
its world premiere at the Old Globe Theatre.
This musical, based on the Academy Award-nominated film, tells the story of recently divorced, blue-collar steelworker Jerry Lukowski who gets laid off and may lose the right to see his son if he doesn’t get his life in order. When he learns that women are paying $50 a seat to see professional strippers strip down to a thong, Jerry sees an opportunity to make a wad of fast cash. He just needs to convince a few of his other laid-off friends to go along with him. But they need to offer a little more than the professional club to draw women to a bunch of strippers with very average bodies and dance moves. And the little more they offer is to strip down to The Full Monty. Allan Snyder stars as Jerry, offering a dynamic performance and stage presence as the father who has to choose between his carefree cockiness and the possible rewards of being a more humble and responsible man. He is backed up by a fantastic supporting cast led by his best friend, the overweight Dave Bukatinsky (John Massey, Jr.). John nails the role, both the humor and the poignancy of a guy embarrassed by his body and feels insecure with his beautiful wife. Local actress Amy Biedel shines as said wife Georgie, her infectious energy as the emcee for the strip show getting everything off to a great start, as well as playing the more serious side of a wife not sure what to do about her husband’s inattention. The cast is chock full of talent from the featured actors to the ensemble. Just a few of the other standouts include Kevin McMahon as a mousy fellow who is at the center of the darkly humorous failed suicide scene, Andy Collins as a nerdy former-director of the steel plant, Marci Anne Wuebben as his fun, life-of-the-party wife who has no idea her husband has been out of work for months, and Reggie Burrell as Noah “Horse” T. Simmons who is a hit as the Big Black Man. San Diego favorite Priscilla Allen is the straight-talking volunteer accompanist for the amateur strippers, Craig Cady is the professional version of their profession, Dana Shaw is Jerry’s estranged wife Pam, and Ari Lerner is their son Nathan who delivers some zingers that keep his dad grounded. Director Nick DeGruccio has put together a fun, polished show from top to bottom featuring a great cast, sets, costumes by Jeanne Reith (in those scenes that used costumes), a flawless orchestra led by Don LeMaster, and Lee Martino’s choreography that concludes with Let It Go – the show’s finale that is, of course, a huge one.Performs May 4 - 13, 2007. ~ Cast ~
 Georgie Bukatinsky:
Amy BiedelBuddy (Keno) Walsh: Craig Cady Reg Willoughby: Brett Daniels Jerry Lukowski: Allan Snyder Dave Bukatinsky: John Massey, Jr. Malcolm MacGregor: Kevin McMahon Ethan Girard: David Cooper Nathan Lukowski: Ari Lerner Susan Hershey: Amy Northcutt Joanie Lish: Maeve Martin Estelle Genovese: Jenn Mandala-Gravel Pam Lukowski: Dana Shaw Teddy Slaughter: Michael Kelly Molly MacGregor: Jenn Mandala-Gravel Harold Nichols: Andy Collins Vicki Nichols: Marci Anne Wuebben Jeanette Burmeister: Priscilla Allen Noah (Horse) T. Simmons: Reggie Burrell Marty/Repo Man: Andrew Smith Reg/Minister: Brett Daniels Police Sergeant/Repo Man: Jeremy Shull Director: Nick DeGruccio Choreographer: Lee Martino Musical Director/Conductor: Don Le Master Stage Manager: Stanley Cohen Costume Designer: Jeanne Reith Sound Designer: Steve Stopper Assistant Choreographer: John Todd Lighting Design: Jennifer Edwards Technical Director: Andrew Young |