By Karen Nowosad
originally published: 04/05/2019
In 1993, the movie “Benny & Joon” made its way to theaters. Starring Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson, the movie was well received. It continues to attract audiences through steaming services like Amazon Prime. According to the movie’s page on Rotten Tomatoes, it is about “Benny who runs a small car repair shop. He must also take care of his mentally ill sister Juniper, better known as Joon. After losing a bet, Benny is forced to bring another eccentric into his house: Sam, the cousin of a friend. Not inclined to conversation, Sam expresses himself by performing Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton routines . . . Not surprisingly, he immediately hits it off with Joon. . . . ”
The movie is now adapted for the stage and it is a musical aptly named Benny & Joon. After premiering at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in the Fall, 2017, the show now has its East Coast premiere beginning April 4 at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse. With the addition of some new songs and a few cast changes, Benny & Joon is preparing to win hearts in New Jersey.
Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director for The Paper Mill Playhouse saw a reading of the show awhile ago and was very interested in bringing it to New Jersey. Although there were a few years in between the run at The Old Globe and now, the team from Benny & Joon wanted to work with the Paper Mill.
There are some unique aspects to this show as described by Mr. Hoebee. He explained that it celebrates a brother and sister relationship which you don’t see very often. Also, it is a story of a family dealing with mental illness. There are some very poignant components as the family aspect is explored.
At a recent Press/Media Day, it was evident that the cast, creatives, and crew of this show are hard at work to provide theater goers a fine experience. There are some new songs and a few cast changes from San Diego, but basically, the story is remaining true to how it started out there and as a film. However, it still faces the challenges any show has when a movie has been around for a long time and it has a loyal following.
Movie to Stage Conversion
Years ago, the formula was frequently seen the other way around. Shows from the stage were converted to movies. The success of show to movies like “Oklahoma” and “The Sound of Music” are classic examples. More recently, “Chicago” and “Into the Woods” and others continue the tradition. But then, Disney brought several of their movies to stage like “The Lion King” and “Mary Poppins” with tremendous success. And now this spring, Broadway has new shows from the popular movies Pretty Woman and Tootsie. So Benny & Joon has its work cut out for it.
Adaptation to the stage takes some of the most critical and poignant moments from the movie and brings songs in for those moments. For example, when Sam tells Joon he loves her, there is a song. Spoiler alert: it was very a very touching moment hearing it. It is a special moment in the show and the song enhances that moment even more.
Benny & Joon has a book by Kirsten Guenther, music by Nolan Gasser, and music lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. They spoke about getting the show to this point including one of the most important aspects: how are songs developed. There is a good deal of thought and development that goes into this including spending a long time examining scenes in the film especially close ups on a face. Then, they had to imagine what the character would think or do. From that stepping off point, songs are developed. Some are tried and some changed but all with the goal of enhancing critical moments in the show. In a movie, some things work better visually. On stage, with a musical, those moments can explored in more depth including emotion that comes through a song.
For fans of the movie, this musical will give you a chance to learn more about the characters. The idea that everyone has things that they use to get through in their life is one of the ideas in the show. As these concepts unfold, Benny & Joon promises to be a show that will touch many in some very unique ways.
Production Details
Benny & Joon is directed by Jack Cummings III, with choreography by Scott Rink and music direction by J. Oconor Navarro.
The principal cast features Claybourne Elder (Sunday in the Park with George) as Benny, Hannah Elless (Paper Mill’s The Other Josh Cohen) as Joon, Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) as Sam, Conor Ryan as Sam at certain performances, (Paper Mill’s My Very Own British Invasion). Tatiana Wechsler (Oklahoma) plays Ruthie, with Colin Hanlon (Falsettos) as Mike, Paolo Montalban (Paper Mill’s The King and I) as Larry, Natalie Toro (A Tale of Two Cities) as Dr. Cortez/Mrs. Smail, Jacob Keith Watson (Carousel) as Waldo/Video Store Owner and Belinda Allyn (Paper Mill’s West Side Story).
The production team includes scenic and costume design by Dane Laffrey and lighting design by R. Lee Kennedy. Sound design is by Kai Harada, flying by Foy, movement coordinator Lorenzo Pisoni, and orchestrations by Michael Starobin. The production stage manager is Victoria Navarro. Casting is by Nora Brennan, CSA.
Performance Schedule
Benny & Joon performs at Paper Mill Playhouse eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Performance schedule: Wednesday at 7:30pm, Thursday at 1:30pm and 7:30pm, Friday at 8:00pm, Saturday at 1:30pm and 8:00pm and Sunday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale and can be obtained by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org.
Students may order $23-$28 rush tickets over the phone or in person at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office on the day of the performance.
PHOTO: The cast of Benny & Joon playing April 4 – May 5, 2019 at Paper Mill Playhouse – photo credit Karen Nowosad
About the author:
Let's Go to the Theater helps people learn more about about live theater and develop appreciation for this art form. Karen M. Nowosad is the founder of the site. The enjoyment Karen gets from going to the theater is something she wants to share with others.
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