La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts' West Coast premiere of Mystic Pizza officially opened January 20 after beginning performances January 19. The jukebox musical adaptation of the 1988 film will continue performances through February 11.
The production stars Krystina Alabado as Daisy Arujo, Gianna Yanelli as Josephina JoJo Barboza, Kyra Kennedy as Katherine Kat Arujo, Rayanne Gonzales as Leona Silvia, Jordan Friend as Bill Montijo, Michael Thomas Grant as Charles Gordon Windsor, Jr., and Chris Cardozo as Tim Travers.
Check out photos from the production in the gallery below.
Krystina Alabado, Kyra Kennedy, and Gianna Yanelli
Kyra Kennedy and Chris Cardozo
Jordan Friend, Gianna Yanelli, Domo D’dante, Michael James and Jake Swain
Jordan Friend, Gianna Yanelli, Krystina Alabado and Michael Thomas Grant
Jake Swain, Michael James, Domo D’dante, Jordan Friend, Gianna Yanelli, Kyra Kennedy and Krystina Alabado
Chris Cardozo and Kyra Kennedy
Krystina Alabado, Michael Thomas Grant, Jordan Friend, Gianna Yanelli, Chris Cardozo and Kyra Kennedy
Gianna Yanelli and Jordan Friend
Krystina Alabado and Michael Thomas Grant in Mystic Pizza
Rachel Kae Wirtz, Michael Thomas Grant, Krystina Alabado and Kyra Kennedy
The company of Mystic Pizza
The company of Mystic Pizza
Jake Swain, Monika Peña, Kyra Kennedy, Jeff Skowron, Gianna Yanelli, Krystina Alabado, Rachel Kae Wirtz and Domo D'dante
Jeff Skowron, Alyssa M. Simmons, Michael Thomas Grant, Krystina Alabado, Rachel Kae Wirtz and Jake Swain
Rayanne Gonzales and Gianna Yanelli
Gianna Yanelli, Krystina Alabado, Kyra Kennedy and Rayanne Gonzales
The company of Mystic Pizza
The ensemble includes Domo D’dante, Michael James, April Josephine, Louis Pardo, Monika Peña, Alyssa M. Simmons, Jeff Skowron, Jake Swain, and Rachel Wirtz, with the company rounded out by swings Chachi Delgado and Tayler Mettra.
Casey Hushion is back at the helm after staging the musical's 2021 world premiere at Ogunquit Playhouse. Also returning from the Ogunquit run are music director Kristin Stowell, arranger and orchestrator Carmel Dean, scenic designer Nate Bertone, and costume designer Jennifer Caprio. New on the creative team for the California premiere are choreographer Connor Gallagher, lighting designer Ryan J. O'Gara, sound designer Josh Bessom, and hair and makeup designer Kaitlin Yagen.
Adapted from the 1988 film by book writer Sandy Rustin (Clue, The Cottage), the musical follows three working-class young women as they navigate the complex expectations of life, love, and family in a small-town pizza joint serving everyone from townies to the privileged country club set. The score includes hits of the '80s and '90s, including "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," "Addicted to Love," "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now," and "Take My Breath Away" (Ogunquit's production also featured original songs written by Melissa Etheridge). Following the 2021 world premiere, Mystic Pizza was produced at Engeman Theater in 2022 with a wholly new creative team.
The California engagement is presented by Lively McCabe Entertainment, McCoy Rigby Entertainment, Riverside Theatricals, and La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Visit LaMiradaTheatre.org.
