Rider University Presents "The Wedding Singer"

Rider University’s Westminster College of the Arts will present the rollicking musical version of the hit movie “The Wedding Singer” Nov. 10 through 19 in the Yvonne Theater on the Rider University campus in Lawrence Township.

Performances will be Friday, Nov. 11; Saturday, Nov. 12; Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m.  Preview performances will be Thursday, Nov. 10, and Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.

“The Wedding Singer” was nominated for Tony Awards as Best Musical and Best Score during the 2006 Broadway season.  It tells the story of Robbie Hart, New Jersey's favorite wedding singer until his fiancée leaves him at the altar. Heartbroken, he’s forced to reexamine the meaning of love and marriage with the help of Julia, a waitress from one of his wedding-singing venues.

The cast is composed of Rider University students.  Miriam Mills directs the production, and Louis F. Goldberg is musical director.  Robin Lewis is choreographer.

Miriam Mills has directed more than 100 shows nationally, including productions of “Extremities,” “The Pillowman,” “Rent” and “Sweet Charity.”  In 2009 she received the Kennedy Center ACTF Meritorious Directing award for excellence in directing for her production of “The Pillowman.”  Her New York acting credits include leads in such productions as “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hot’l Baltimore” and “Company.”

Louis F. Goldberg has served as music director for Rider’s recent productions of “Rent” and “The Light in the Piazza.” He has conducted National and European tours of “Man of La Mancha,” “Cabaret,” “Chicago,” and “42nd Street.” His recent projects include playing Ted Shapiro in “Red Hot Mama: The Sophie Tucker Songbook” at New York’s York Theatre, a role he premiered at the Denver Center For The Performing Arts. In Philadelphia, he has conducted “St. Louis Woman” and “Peter Pan and Wendy” at the Prince Music Theater, “Dirty Blonde” at the Wilma Theatre, and “Evita” at the Walnut Street Theatre. He is also the resident music director for Gretna Theatre in Mt. Gretna, Pa.

Robin Lewis’ Broadway credits include “Fosse,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Christmas Carol” at Madison Square Garden and the first national tours of “Victor/Victoria” and “The Producers.” He appears on the PBS Dance in America movie “Fosse: A Celebration in Dance.”   Lewis' choreographic work includes the Richard Linklater film “Bernie” starring Shirley MacLaine and Jack Black. He has choreographed scores of others shows regionally, garnering multiple critical awards, including the Kennedy Center/ACTF Excellence In choreography.  He will direct “Legally Blond”e in the summer of 2012 with Broadway's Hailey Banks.

Tickets for the Nov. 11, 12, 18 and 19 performances are $20 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. For tickets call the box office at (609) 896-5303 or e-mail ticketbooth@rider.edu. Tickets for the preview performances on Nov. 10 and 17 are $9 and available only at the door. 

is located at 2083 Lawrence Rd. (Route 206) in Lawrence Township. For updates visit www.rider.edu/arts.