Picture a Post-It Note: A blonde leading a blonde. Then remember… Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
The cult film hit, “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” has spawned a musical, which is making its world premiere at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre.
Yes, the girls are back but they now sing.
If you’ve seen the 1997 film, you know the story. They were BFFs all through high school, where they didn’t run with the popular set. In fact, the popular set made their lives miserable. You know, the football star, the cheerleader, the homecoming king and queen. They decided who was in and who was out. And Romy and Michele were definitely out.
How we laughed and cheered when those snot-nosed bitches and macho jocks got their comeuppance in the film. 2017 year marks the 20th anniversary of the movie, and the birth of its musical adaptation.
Cortney Wolfson as Romy and Stephanie Renee Wall as Michele as Romy and Michele (Photo Credit: Mark Kitaoka)
Same story; different stars.
As in the film, two blonde bimbo besties have a plan. They will attend their 10th reunion in style. Romy borrows a fancy sports car, while Michele designs and makes their outfits. Together they will face those mean girls who made their lives miserable all through high school.
When R&M invent fake careers (They claim to have invented Post-It Notes) to impress people at their reunion, their relationship begins to unravel. The mean girls are even meaner, and unlike Post-It Notes, R&M no longer stick together.
But hark! The class nerd flies in to save the day and expose the truth.
Making their 5th Avenue debut, Broadway star Cortney Wolfson and Disney star Stephanie Renee Wall costar as Romy and Michele.
Wolfson’s Broadway credits include “Kinky Boots” (as Nicola), “The Addams Family,” and “Les Misérables” (First Revival). She also toured nationally with “The Addams Family” (as Wednesday), and “Legally Blonde” (as Serena and Brooke Wyndham).
Wall originated the role of Elsa in “Frozen: Live at the Hyperion at Disney’s California Adventure.” Her recent credits include Elle in “Legally Blonde” (3D Theatricals and Performance Riverside), Mary Poppins in “Mary Poppins” (Performance Riverside), Fiona in “Shrek” (Performance Riverside), Louise in “Gypsy” (West Coast Ensemble),
Joining them are Jordan Kai Burnett as Heather Mooney, Michael Thomas Grant as Sandy Frink, Seattle local Hannah Schuerman as Toby Walters, and Tess Soltau as Christie Masters.
Kristin Hanggi, the Tony®-nominated director of “Rock of Ages,” directs the musical, with book by the film’s screenwriter Robin Schiff.
Peggy Hickey choreographs, as she did for Broadway productions “Anastasia” and “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” among others.
The ‘80s and ‘90s pop/rock-inspired score is by Gwendolyn Sanford and Brandon Jay, composers of the score for “Orange is the New Black.”
Unfortunately, we don’t know any of the song titles in ““Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion.” We couldn’t pry the info out of the PR honchos at the 5th. Although television clones of the 1997 film didn’t succeed as expected, the producers of the new musical have high hopes for a Broadway run.
But one thing is certain: we will never again take Post-It Notes for granted.
“Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” runs June 8th-July 2nd at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Tickets start at $29, and are available at www.5thavenue.org or the box office at 206-625-1900.
