Goodbye grey skies, hello blue: ‘Happy Days’ to hit the stage this weekend in Highland

When the weekend comes, it will be time to hum, as Hard Road Theatre presents the new musical Happy Days.

Based upon the hit TV series of the same name and written by TV series creator Garry Marshall, with music by Grammy- and Academy Award-winning composer Paul Williams, the musical follows the characters — Ritchie, Potsie, Ralph Malph, Joanie, The Fonz, etc. — of the beloved hit TV series during the spring of 1959.

Arnold’s, the famed drive-in malt shop and No. 1 hangout, is in danger of being demolished. In attempt to raise money to save Arnold’s from being destroyed, the Happy Days gang holds a dance competition and a televised wrestling match. Even Pinky Tuscadero, Fonzie’s childhood sweetheart, returns to help, and she and Fonzie rekindle their old flame.

Director Lori Wahl knows audiences will love the production and hopes that it “evokes fond memories from their childhood, high school years, or just of the TV show.” She said she was drawn to the script because of her own memories of the TV show and listening to the golden oldies music of the 1950s and 1960s.

A New York Times reviewer said of the musical, “If you’re going to make a stage musical out of a television show, Happy Days is not a bad choice. All that cheerful white-bread 1950s innocence. All those instant audience associations with beloved characters and the actors who played them.”

For fans of the TV series, there are several allusions and jokes that will reward those who listen carefully.

Happy Days has a cast of around 25 individuals, including Mitch England as The Fonz, Amanda Juenger as Pinky Tuscadero, Weston Holzinger as Richie Cunningham, Kenzie Holzinger as Joanie Cunningham, Joshua Miller as Ralph Malph, Devonn DeLong as Potsie Webber, Tim Albaugh as Howard Cunningham, Carrie Henrichs as Marion Cunningham, Jonathon Beavers as Chachi Arcola, Linda Collman as Count Malachi, Mary Knebel as Jumpy Malachi, and Tom Varner as Arnold Delvecchio.

The show is directed assistant directed by Breanna Noe, with musical direction by David Wilton and choreography by Dylan Stanley with assistance from Ashley Crane.

The show is being presented in association with the Highland Arts Council and sponsored by Woodforest National Bank and Staunton Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram.

Hard Road Theatre Productions is a non-profit theater organization committed to providing the greater Highland area with high-quality, affordable, live productions.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 11:07 AM with the headline "Goodbye grey skies, hello blue: ‘Happy Days’ to hit the stage this weekend in Highland."