Roger Bean's MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Sequel Releases Original Cast Album

Roger Bean's The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns, the eagerly awaited sequel to the popular off-Broadway jukebox musical The Marvelous Wonderettes, has a brand new cast album. The show opened July 7th at Laguna Playhouse to sparkling reviews. Wonderettes creator Roger Bean has selected 32 songs for the new show and each one, from beloved classic to hidden treasure, has received the signature Wonderettes touch for the new album. 

Michael Borth's musical arrangements bring the signature '60s girl group sound to a whole new set of favorites including "River Deep, Mountain High," "Rock Around the Clock," and "Wonderful World." Roger Bean fans will be thrilled to find recognizable hits like "Dancin' in the Street," "Good Lovin'," and "Just One Look" as well as deeper cuts such as " Mr. Touchdown," "My Boy, Flat Top," and "Rock and Roll Waltz."

The original cast recording of The Marvelous Wonderettes was listed as #28 on the Amazon.com 100 top-selling girl group recordings in 2010. That award-winning show ran for two years at the El Portal Theatre in Los Angeles and for over 540 performances in New York, and continues to fill theaters all over the world.

Fans and supporters will be able to listen or purchase The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns cast recording via most major music distributors including iTunes, Amazon.com, Google Play, and CDbaby.com. The official release date for the album is today, November 16th, 2012. Additionally, fans can buy original cast albums for the smash hits The Marvelous Wonderettes and Winter Wonderettes from the same distributors.

The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns cast recording brings together audience favorites Jenna Coker-Jones, Misty Cotton, Bets Malone, and Lowe Taylor.

Bets Malone who originated the role of Suzy in The Marvelous Wonderettes as an original cast member at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. She went on to do the role several times, including its award-winning Las Angeles production at the El Portal in North Hollywood and later at Laguna Playhouse. She also travelled to NYC to originate the role off-Broadway at The Westside Theatre (original cast album). She can also be heard on the cast recording of Winter Wonderettes. She has collaborated both on and off stage with writer Roger Bean on Honky Tonk Laundry, Route 66, The Andrews Brothers, and Summer Of Love. Her vocal talents can be heard as Talulah the Monkey of the DVD "Barbie - As The Island Princess" as well as the singing voice for Velma in Scooby Doo - Music of the Vampire. www.betsmalone.com

Misty Cotton has played the role of Missy in both The Marvelous Wonderettes and Winter Wonderettes, in several productions in California as well as off- Broadway. Broadway/National Tours- Miss Saigon (Ellen), Les Miserables (Eponine), and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator) opposite Donny Osmond. Some of her favorite roles and shows are- Side Show (Violet) Colony Theatre- Ovation, Garland, and Robby Awards, Little Night Music (Petra) SCR- LADCC Award-best featured actress. She has originated roles in two other Roger Bean productions, Honky Tonk Laundry (Katy Lane) and Winter Wonderettes (Missy). She can also be heard on the original cast recording of Winter Wonderettes. Misty is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, member of the LA based Musical Theatre Guild (MTG), and a proud member of Actors Equity.

Lowe Taylor recently completed a critically acclaimed run in The Blank's The Cradle Will Rock (LA Weekly Award nominee), sang and danced at the Sardi's Alzheimer's Benefit in Beverly Hills, sang her heart out in O Works a night celebrating the music of composer David O, and continues to travel from prom to prom performing The Marvelous Wonderettes all over the country including New York City and Sacramento Music Circus. Lowe is the first actress ever to perform all four roles in The Marvelous Wonderettes. Off-Broadway: The Marvelous Wonderettes (Suzy). Regional: The Marvelous Wonderettes (Suzy, Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy), Winter Wonderettes (Cindy Lou), Little Shop Of Horrors (Audrey), Divorce! The Musical (Penny), Sunday In The park With George (Dot / Marie), South Street (Lydia), Into The Woods (Baker's Wife), The Pajama Game (Babe Williams), and Once Upon A Mattress (Princess Winnifred). She is a proud member of SAG, AEA, and Musical Theatre Guild. www.lowetaylor.com

Jenna Coker-Jones has performed in several productions on both coasts. Her Los Angeles Credits include The Wedding Singer (Holly Sullivan) at Musical Theatre West and Cabaret at LA's Reprise Theatre. Before coming to Los Angeles Jenna spent six months playing one of her dream roles opposite her husband in Little Shop of Horrors at the infamous Ford's Theatre in DC, where they got the honor to perform for the Obama's. Off-Broadway: Evil Dead (Cheryl, cast album), Fame on 42nd Street (Lambchops, cast album). National Tours: Annie, Jekyll & Hyde, Seussical, Doctor Dolittle. TV: "L&O." www.jennacoker.com

Michael Borth (Musical Director/Arrangements) Off Broadway: The Marvelous Wonderettes (Conductor and Orchestrator) NYC: Ryan Scott Oliver's 35mm (production and cast recording). National Tours: Gypsy, 25th...Spelling Bee, Man of La Mancha, Will Rodgers Follies, and The King and I. Recent regional work includes re-orchestrating Kiss Me Kate for Reprise! and arranging and conducting Roger Bean's Summer of Love at MTW. Regional work includes Pasadena Playhouse, Sacramento Music Circus, Ogunquit Playhouse, Music Theatre of Wichita, and Musical Theatre West.

Roger Bean created the long-running off-Broadway sensation The Marvelous Wonderettes. Bean is thrilled to release this original cast album as an addition to the ongoing story of these four delightful song leaders from Springfield High. Bean has created two sequels, Winter Wonderettes and now, the eagerly awaited The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns. MR. Bean also created the long- running Los Angeles hit Life Could Be a Dream, which was honored with the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, the LA Weekly Theatre Award, and the Backstage Garland Award for Outstanding Musical of 2010. The Marvelous Wonderettes received the 2007 LA Ovation Award for Best Musical. Other musicals created by MR. Bean include The Andrews Brothers, Summer of Love, Why Do Fools Fall in Love?, and the cross-country hit Route 66 (over 100 productions throughout the country). The Marvelous Wonderettes has recently expanded internationally, with productions in Australia, Canada, Italy, and Great Britain. A brand new production of The Marvelous Wonderettes begins touring the United States in January of 2013. www.rogerbean.com

More Articles by This Author...