Upbeat musical seeking proposals on stage

“There was something about it that was so upbeat, the dancing was fantastic. And it became my dream project to direct and choreograph it,” Frieder said.

She is doing that – and more – with a local production of the musical comedy. She also portrays Julia, the female lead, and is the show’s producer. Frieder acknowledged her multiple duties pose a challenge.

“You have to be on top of your game so you can pay attention to how a scene is running or the choreography,” she said.

The production opens tonight for a two-weekend run at Musical Theatre Southwest’s Black Box Performance Space.

The story centers on the character of Robbie Hart, a wedding singer whose deepest desire is to find love.

	‘The Wedding Singer’ WHEN: 7 p.m. tonight, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5; and 4 p.m. Jan. 6. Repeats Jan. 11-13 WHERE: Black Box Performance Space, Musical Theatre Southwest, 6320 Domingo NE, Suite B HOW MUCH: $15 general public, $12 students, VIP seating $25. For reservations call 505-216-6014 or at the door

Adam Sandler played Robbie in the 1998 film of the same name and Stephen Lynch was that character in the 2006 Broadway production.

Logan Mitchell, a senior at the Arizona School for the Arts, portrays Robbie in the local production.

“I don’t want to be a carbon copy of Stephen Lynch or Adam Sandler,” Mitchell said. “I have to play him a little young. I also have to play him less over the top. Since I am so young, if I take it the Adam Sandler route, it would sound more juvenile.”

Mitchell is 17 but has played older characters. Frieder said he has the voice, the acting talent and the comic timing the character of Robbie demands.

Robbie is engaged to Linda, who dumps him.

“She wanted him to be a rock star. Here he is a wedding singer living in his grandma’s basement,” Frieder said.

Mitchell said his character expresses his depression and anger through song after getting dumped.

Robbie sings “Somebody Kill Me, Please.” It is one of only two songs carried over from the film to the stage show. He sings them both. The other is “Grow Old With You.”

About 20 other songs are new to the stage show.

Since graduating from high school, Frieder has directed and choreographed a number of productions in New Mexico including “Xanadu,” “Gypsy” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” among others.

“‘The Wedding Singer’ has always been on the back burner. I knew I’d get to it when the time was right,” Frieder said.

For the last year and a half she’s been working in New York City as an auditioning actor and choreographer.

“So many people come to me asking if I would do another show (in New Mexico), whether to be in it or to see it,” Frieder said. “So I felt I could gather the right cast for this show.”

Among the other leads are Kir Kipness as Linda and Erik Joshua Clack as Glenn, Julia’s two-timing boyfriend. Clack also is the production’s music director and Kipness is Frieder’s assistant director.

Frieder said the Broadway show had a reputation for offering audience members a romantic opportunity to propose on stage.

She said patrons coming to her production will have the same opportunity. They should call the ticket reservation phone number if they want to propose after a performance.

“I would be just thrilled if a proposal happened,” Frieder said.