ROGER BEAN (Creator/Director) The Marvelous Wonderettes was first written for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, where Mr. Bean has created ten new musicals that re-imagine the unique American experience through the creative use of established and lesser-known radio, phonograph and jukebox hits. Among his theatrical stage hits are The Andrews Brothers, Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, Winter Wonderettes, Route 66, Honky Tonk Laundry, Don't Touch That Dial!, and Life Could Be A Dream. With exclusive licensing through Bean’s company Steele Spring Productions, these shows have seen over 175 productions in regional and community-based theatres across the country.
“The Marvelous Wonderettes” recently completed a record-breaking 19-month long run at the El Portal Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, where the show garnered numerous awards and accolades, including the 2007 Los Angeles Ovation Award for Best Musical. An updated version of Bean’s "The Andrews Brothers," directed by Nick DeGruccio, was a recent smash-hit at Musical Theatre West in Long Beach, CA, and additional productions are slated for 2009 across the Southern California area. “The Marvelous Wonderettes” will open Off-Broadway in early fall of this year.
Mr. Bean has helmed numerous musicals on the stages of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Delaware Theatre Company, Utah Shakespearean Festival, Madison Repertory Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Utah Musical Theatre, Skylight Opera Theatre, and numerous stages in between. Last summer Mr. Bean directed the world premiere of the Broadway-bound "Lend Me A Tenor: The Musical" at the Utah Shakespearean Festival, written by Peter Sham and Brad Carroll, based on the Tony-Award winning play by Ken Ludwig.
Mr. Bean is a long-standing member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and The Dramatists Guild. Mr. Bean is pleased as punch to be a producing partner with David Elzer.
(Top photo from the recent Los Angeles production of The Marvelous Wonderettes)
