Mystic Pizza (musical) explained

Mystic Pizza
Music:Various Artists
Lyrics:Various Artists
Basis:Mystic Pizza (1988)
By: Alfred Uhry
Amy Holden Jones
Perry Howze
Randy Howze
Productions:2021 Ogunquit Playhouse
2025 Paper Mill Playhouse

Mystic Pizza is a jukebox musical with a book by Sandy Rustin and score by various artists. The score includes pop music hits from the 1980s.[1]

The musical is based on the 1988 film of the same name that starred Julia Roberts. The show is set in Mystic, Connecticut, during the 1980s and follows the lives of three young waitresses at the Mystic Pizza restaurant.[2]

Production history

Work began on the show during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Sandy Rustin writing the book and video-conferencing with the all-female development team from home. The production was directed by Casey Hushion with choreography by Liz Ramos. Orchestrations of the score were done by Carmel Dean.[3] Melissa Etheridge was originally set to score the musical herself. The show does contain one song from her catelog, I'm the Only One.[4]

Ogunquit (2021)

The show had its world premiere at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, running from September 1, 2021, until October 2.[5]

The musical was also staged at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, New York from September 15, 2022, until October 30, 2022.[6] The show was workshopped at the Adirondack Theatre Festival from August 5–7, 2022.

Papermill Playhouse (2025)

A Pre-Broadway production will premiere at the Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey, running from January 29, 2025, until February 23, 2025.[7]

Prior to the Papermill production, the show had a West Coast premiere at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada, California, from January 20 through February 11, 2024.[8]

Original cast and characters

CharacterOlgunquit (2021)
Daisy AraújoKrystina Alabado
Katherine "Kat" AraújoKyra Kennedy
Josephina "Jojo" BarbozaGianna Yanelli
Leona SilvaRayanne Gonzales
Charles Gordon Windsor Jr.Corey Mach
William "Bill" MontijoGarrett Marshall
Tim TraversJoel Perez
Mrs. AraújoNicole Paloma Sarro

Musical numbers

Act I
Act II

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mystic Pizza. Concord Theatricals.
  2. Web site: Review/Film; The Autumn Before Womanhood. Janet. Maslin. October 21, 1988. NYTimes.com.
  3. Web site: Mystic Pizza Trades Smelly Fish for Melissa Etheridge, as the Musical Gods Intended - TheaterMania.com. September 9, 2021.
  4. Web site: Melissa Etheridge at Work on Mystic Pizza Musical | Playbill.
  5. Web site: Mystic Pizza - Show. Ogunquit Playhouse.
  6. Web site: Mystic Pizza, A New Musical coming to the Engeman. John W. Engeman. Theater. September 7, 2022. Engeman Theater.
  7. Web site: New Musicals Mystic Pizza and Take the Lead Set for Paper Mill Playhouse Season. Broadway.com.
  8. Web site: Photos: Take a Look at La Mirada Theatre's Mystic Pizza Musical | Playbill.