“The Marvelous Wonderettes” Opens October 22 at arts center.

VICTORY TOWNSHIP – The West Shore Community College Performing Arts Series will take a nostalgic trip to the 1950s and ’60s with “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” a perky, hit-packed show that opens October 22, in the performance hall of the Ludington Area Center for the Arts.

Using pop songs from the ’50s and ’60s as a vehicle to tell its story, this smash off-Broadway hit, written and created by Roger Bean, takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School Prom where we meet The Wonderettes —Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy — four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts, and voices to match.

Called upon to perform as a last-minute replacement, The Wonderettes rally together at prom to entertain their classmates in four-part harmony. The group competes for Prom Queen and learns each other’s deepest secrets in the process.

Act 2 moves forward to their 10th year class reunion, where everything has changed. Pregnancy, divorce and death have shaken their lives and has changed them for the better. As a result, these four high school friends have learned how to have each other’s backs and the true meaning of friendship.

Playing “The Marvelous Wonderettes” are Bethany Anderson as Cindy Lou, Erin Wall as Missy, Marcelina Shriver as Suzy and Lorrell Pepple as Betty Jean.

Michelle Kiessel, the director for the show and a favorite of area audiences notes, “The girls have been putting in some long hours and working really hard on the show, and with vocal coaching from Dana Wall, and accompanist Jane Glerum, it is really coming together. The songs and the choreography will take you back to the 50s and 60s, a time when things were simpler and the senior prom was the most important thing in your life.”

According to Michael Mikula, the show’s producer, scenic designer, and technical director, Kiessel is bringing all of her years of stage experience to bear in this new role as director.

“It has been wonderful to watch Michelle work and share what she has learned as she is working with the cast,” says Mikula. “Combine that with the orchestra, under the musical direction of Phil DeYoung, and including Jane Glerum, Jaime Pepple, Dave Kosla, Keith Kuczynski, Kyler Keck and Tom Parks, this is a show that people will be talking about for a long time. This is one of those shows where the box office phones will still be ringing after the show has ended.”

Catchy songs performed during the course of the musical include “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick on Your Collar,” “It’s My Party” and “It’s in His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song).”

The behind the scenes personnel include Stage Manager Emily Hartrum, Resident Lighting Designer Amanda Collene, Sound Coordinator Adam Knudson, and Matt Crescenzi is the sound board operator.

Marty Cupp is the charge painter and scenic decorator, Susan Bernard, the costume adviser, Casey Granada, the costume designer, Kelsey Motyka, costume assistant and Breanne Tetzlaff is the hair and make-up designer.

“The Marvelous Wonderettes” is a collaboration with the Ludington Area Center for the Arts and the college, and will play Thursday–Saturday, 7:30 p.m., October 22-24, and Sun., 2 p.m., October 25, at the Ludington Center for the Arts.

Tickets for the production can be purchased online at www.westshore.edu or by calling the WSCC Box Office at231-843-5507, which is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.