New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Two River Theater Presents The World Premiere of "Pamela's First Musical"


By Gary Wien, JerseyArts.com

originally published: 09/20/2018


If anyone ever doubts that New Jersey is home to great theatre, just point them to the world premiere of “Pamela’s First Musical” at Two River Theater. The cast and creative behind this show by Wendy Wasserstein and Christopher Durang includes a combined total of more than 25 Tony Award nominations and seven wins. It’s a cast that would look impressive at any theatre – Broadway  or otherwise. According to one of the stars, the opportunity to work with the 10-time Tony Award nominee director/choreographer Graciela Daniele and to be part of a new musical was too good to pass up.

“When somebody like Graciela Daniele is involved, everybody wants to jump on board,” explained Howard McGillin, who is one of the cast members with Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations on his resume. “She has fantastic energy and is just so talented. I worked with her 30 years ago on a show called ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ for Broadway and it’s great to be with her again. Of course, you can’t overlook the fact that we have David Zippel and Cy Coleman writing the songs and Wendy Wasserstein and Christopher Durang with the book.”

The new musical tells the story of Pamela (played by 12-year-old Sarah McKinley Austin), an unhappy, imaginative young girl whose mother has died. Her father (McGillin), though well-meaning, doesn’t fully understand his creative, unusual daughter. When Pamela’s eccentric and fabulous Aunt Louise (a modern “Auntie Mame” played by Carolee Carmello) sweeps her away on her birthday to see her very first Broadway musical, Pamela meets many of the colorful personalities of the New York theatre world, including musical-comedy star Mary Ethel Bernadette (Andréa Burns), producer Bernie S. Gerry (David Garrison) and director Hal Hitner (Michael Mulheren). In meeting them and watching a clever musical-within-a-musical, Pamela discovers her tribe and the place where, as she sings, “all the pieces fit”—the world of musical theatre.

It may seem a bit risky to have a lead actress who isn’t even a teenager yet, but Sarah McKinley Austin has already been part of two national tours (“Matilda the Musical” and “Once”) in her young career. Being surrounded by this talented creative team is an incredible experience for her, but she is holding her own.

“She’s amazing,” said McGillin. “She is definitely holding her own. We’re all kind of in awe of her. She’s so solid and always thinking ahead. She’s a delight to work with.”




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



“Pamela’s First Musical” is based on the late Wendy Wasserstein’s children’s book and has taken a long path to reach this production. The musical was originally announced to have its premiere in November 2005 at Goodspeed Musicals’ Norma Terris Theatre in Connecticut. That production was canceled when Cy Coleman died of a heart attack in November 2004. Two years later, a 2006 production announced at TheatreWorks in California was shelved after Wendy Wasserstein died from lymphoma complications. With two major creative members gone, the play remained in limbo for years. Eventually John Dias, artistic director at Two River Theater, contacted David Zippel about presenting the work in Red Bank.

“It’s rare that you actually get an opportunity to work on a new musical,” explained McGillin. “Obviously, this is a musical that’s been around, but it’s never had a production. I think that was part of the attraction, as well. The people not only wanted to work with Graciela, but felt that this was an opportunity to take a crack at a new musical that’s never been produced. Broadway has become a lot about revivals, which are always fun to do, but there’s something very special about being able to put your mark on the first production of something. It’s definitely exciting.”

The play may be based on a children’s book, but its music, a storyline and jokes that will appeal to all ages. Some of that can be attributed to the work of New Jersey native Christopher Durang.

“He has added so much to this show in terms of the rewrites,” said McGillin. “From what I understand, a lot of the focus of his work has been on the show within the show. What is so fun and delightful about this show is that it’s seen through the eyes of this little girl, which includes the imagination she brings to seeing her first Broadway show. It goes from her seeing the show to suddenly taking on a life of its own given her imagination; what she’s thinking about and dreaming is happening in the show.

“I play her father in the story that begins ‘Pamela’s First Musical,’ where we meet Pamela. And then suddenly she goes to see her Broadway show and she sees me up on the stage playing another character – in fact, a couple of different characters in the show. Other people in her life also appear on the stage as other characters, too. So, it’s fun and a great opportunity for an actor to play a variety of things.”

The show has led cast members to recall the first musicals they attended. McGillin said he remembers seeing his first musical from the orchestra pit while in high school. It was a production of “The Sound of Music,” which ironically is gently spoofed during the show within a show segment of “Pamela’s First Musical.” During the segment, McGillin plays a Captain Von Trapp character. During the first musical he attended, his older brother played Captain Von Trapp. McGillin laughs at the way that play has come full circle for him.

McGillin  says the audience at “Pamela’s First Musical” has been laughing out loud at the jokes and it’s great to hear that laughter. Based on the first performances, it’s clear that the play will remind audiences of classics like “Willy Wonka” or “Annie” – plays that appeal to adults as well as children.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



It may have taken a long, strange journey to reach the stage, but “Pamela’s First Musical” is finally being introduced to the world, thanks to Two River Theater. In doing so, Two River has lured an amazingly talented cast to Red Bank and raised the theatre’s already lofty profile throughout the industry.

“Pamela’s First Musical” runs through October 7th at Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue in Red Bank, New Jersey. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.tworivertheater.org

All Photos by T. Charles Erickson 





About the author: Gary Wien is a music journalist from Belmar, NJ. A three-time winner of Asbury Music’s Music Journalist of The Year, his writing and photographs have been seen in publications like Upstage Magazine, Backstreets Magazine, Gannett Newspapers, and Princeton Magazine. He is the also the author of two books: Beyond The Palace (about the history of rock music in Asbury Park) and Are You Listening? (his picks for the Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists) and is the publisher of New Jersey Stage magazine.

Content provided by Discover Jersey Arts, a project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.





FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


A

A Broadway Tour of America

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

The

The MAC players at the Middletown Arts Center present "Hairspray"

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

The

The Wizard of Oz

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 2:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

More events

Event Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

PHOTOS

PHOTOS from "Jesus Christ Superstar" at Pleasant Valley Productions

(WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Pleasant Valley Productions (PVP) is presenting Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's iconic rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar at the Oscar Schindler Performing Arts Center (OSPAC). The production runs July 11-12 and July 17-19, 2025. This groundbreaking musical, which revolutionized the world of theatre, tells the story of the final week of Jesus' life through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.



bergenPAC

bergenPAC presents "Shrek, the Musical"

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- This summer, the swamp hits the stage in the most unforgettable way! Join Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) for the smash-hit Broadway musical Shrek, presented July 31, August 2-3, 2025 — a show bursting with heart, humor, and high-energy performances by the rising stars of tomorrow from across New Jersey.



Aspire

Aspire PAC presents "Into The Woods, Jr."

(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- This July, Aspire Performing Arts Company will present the musical Into the Woods JR. at The Barn Theatre in Montville from July 25-27, 2025. Stephen Sondheim's and James Lapine's cockeyed fairytale comes to life in this adaptation of their groundbreaking musical. This lyrically rich retelling of classic Brothers Grimm fables features classic characters — Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk), and the Witch.



Asbury

Asbury Park to Host 1st Annual ACT OUT, DIVA! New Play Festival

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Bailey Dumlao and Matthew Yee have announced the first annual ACT OUT, DIVA! New Play Festival featuring five new plays presented as readings from July 17-20, 2025. Matthew Yee is one of the featured playwrights and Bailey Dumlao directs all five pieces.



Cape

Cape May Stage presents "Sexy Laundry"

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Cape May Stage presents Sexy Laundry by Michele Riml from July 16 through August 24, 2025. The relatable storyline follows Alice and Henry, a long-married couple, attempting to reignite the spark in their relationship by escaping to a trendy hotel with a copy of the book Sex for Dummies in hand.