arts & entertainment

Riverside Theatre, led by Executive Producer Jon R. Moses and Artistic Director Allen D. Cornell, along with Lively McCabe Entertainment and McCoy Rigby Entertainment announce the Southeast premiere of a brand new musical, Mystic Pizza, based on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture, with story and characters by Amy Holden Jones, book written by Sandy Rustin, music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Carmel Dean, choreography by Connor Gallagher, music direction by Kristin Stowell, and direction by Casey Hushion. Sponsored by Bill and Eva Gurley and Riverside Theatre’s Patron Producers Group, Mystic Pizza plays the Stark Stage at Riverside Theatre from January 7-26, 2025.

Based on the classic 1988 movie starring Julia Roberts, Mystic Pizza is a new musical about three working-class girls who navigate the complexities of life, love and family in a small-town pizza joint. The infectious score features megahits of the 80s and 90s, from “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” to “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and songs originally recorded by Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, John Cougar Mellencamp, Debbie Gibson, Wilson Phillips, The Bangles, Belinda Carlisle, Rick Astley, Bryan Adams, among many others.

The show had its world premiere at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine in September 2021 and a West Coast premiere at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in January 2024.

Mystic Pizza is Directed by Casey Hushion with Associate Direction by Jennifer Werner and stars Krystina Alabado (Daisy Arujo), Alaina Anderson (Katherine “Kat” Arujo), Deánna Giulietti (Josephine “JoJo” Barboza), Ben Fankhauser (Tim Travers), F. Michael Haynie (Bill Montijo), Vincent Michael (Charles Gordon Windsor, Jr.), Jennifer Fouché (Leona Silvia), Mia Gerachis (Debbie), James Hindman (Mr. Charles Windsor Sr.), Michael James (Lou), April Josephine (Mrs. Arujo), Alyssa M. Simmons (Aunt Bonnie), Victor Souffrant (Mr. Barboza), Jake Swain (Frank), Zephaniah Wages (George), Rachel Kae Wirtz (Lorna). Swings for this production are: Chachi Delgado and Adriana Negron.

The production team includes: Connor Gallagher (Choreographer), Hannah Jean Simmons (Assistant Choreographer), Kristin Stowell (Music Director & Conductor), Jennifer Lin (Associate Music Director), Nate Bertone (Scenic Design), Joshua Warner (Associate Scenic Designer), Jen Caprio (Costume Design), Antonio Consuegra (Associate Costume Designer), Ryan J. O’Gara (Lighting Design), Samantha Weiser (Assistant Lighting Designer), Matt Kraus (Sound Design), Forrest Gregor (Associate Sound Designer), Craig Beyrooti (Assistant Sound Designer), Roxanne De Luna (Hair/Wig/Makeup Design), Geoffrey Ko (Copyist), E. Sara Barnes (Production Stage Manager) with Aisling Galvin and Nia J. Blizzard  (Assistant Stage Managers). Casting is by Geoff Josselson Casting.

Mystic Pizza performs January 7- 26, 2025 on the Stark Stage at Riverside Theatre. Tickets start at $45. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 772-231-6990 or online at http://www.riversidetheatre.com.

Performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm; with matinees on Wednesdays, select Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. 

Performance Schedule:

January 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22 & 23 @ 7:30pm

January 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 25 & 26 @ 2pm

January 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25 @ 8pm

Riverside Theatre is located at 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963. Riverside Theatre programs are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Riverside Theatre is a member of the Cultural Council of Indian River County, the Indian River Chamber of Commerce, and the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

MEET THE PRODUCERS

Lively McCabe Entertainment is a theatrical development and acquisition company founded in 2017 by former Disney executive Michael Barra. The company is best known for its collection of theatrical properties including: Clue: A New Comedy (currently touring the US) and its UK siblings Cluedo, and Cluedo 2 (currently touring the UK), the musical adaptation of Mystic Pizza which is touring the US next season, country music musical May We All (developed with Florida Georgia Line), and Joe Iconis’ Punk Rock Girl!. The company is also developing the stage musical adaptation of the iconic films Girls Just Want To Have Fun and Can’t Hardly Wait. For more information, please visit livelymccabe.com.

McCoy Rigby Entertainment (Tom McCoy & Cathy Rigby McCoy, Executive Producers)

Broadway: Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby, Jekyll and Hyde starring Deborah Cox. National Tours: Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby, Camelot starring Michael York and Lou Diamond Phillips,  Jesus Christ Superstar starring Carl Anderson, Annie Get Your Gun starring Cathy Rigby, Happy Days The Musical by Gary Marshall and Paul Williams, Seussical The Musical starring Cathy Rigby. International: Miss Saigon (Macau), Dreamgirls (Tokyo), Peter Pan (Macau & Riyadh), Awards: Emmy Awards and Nominations, Tony Award Nominations, countless Ovation Awards and Nominations. La Mirada Theatre: 30th season having produced over 100 musicals, plays, concerts, special events. Television: Peter Pan (A&E), A Night with Janis Joplin and Peter Pan (Broadway HD).

Riverside Theatricals is a division of Riverside Theatre, Inc. With over 50 years of experience producing Broadway shows for Vero Beach and the entire Treasure Coast of Florida, Riverside Theatricals is dedicated to creating original works from script to score and partnering with other creators of new works for development, producing, and touring opportunities.