HAPPY DAYS - A NEW MUSICAL Plays April 14-19th at Progress Energy Center for the Arts

Goodbye gray skies, hello blue – Happy Days – A New Musical is coming to the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, April 14-19. Tickets are on sale now!

Based on the hit Paramount Pictures’ television series, Happy Days – A New Musical reintroduces one of America’s best loved families, the Cunninghams and the days of 1959 Milwaukee.  This time capsule is complete with familiar friends, Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph, Joanie and Chachi, Pinky Tuscadero and of course, the king of cool: Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli. 

Arnold’s the famed drive-in malt shop is in danger of demolition, so the gang teams up to save it with a dance contest and TV-worthy wrestling match.  Complete with varsity sweaters, hula hoops and jukebox sock-hoppin’, Happy Days – A New Musical brings back the nostalgia of the 50’s in a perfect family entertainment. 

Garry Marshall has created, written and produced some of television’s most beloved situation comedies, including Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Mork & Mindy and The Odd Couple.  He has directed 16 movies.  Among them are Pretty Woman,  Beaches, Overboard, The Princess Diaries 1 & 2 and Runaway Bride.  As an actor he’s played many memorable roles, including ‘Mr. Harvey’ in his sister Penny Marshall’s “A League of Their Own” and ‘Irwin’ in his son Scott Marshall’s debut feature, “Keeping Up with the Steins.”  In 1995, Marshall wrote his autobiography with his daughter Lori, called “Wake Me When It’s Funny.”  And in 1997, he built a theater in Burbank, California with his daughter Kathleen, called the Falcon Theatre.

Academy Award winning composer Paul Williams brings a new energy to the 50’s genre.  His diverse style of songwriting has given the world pop hits recorded by The Carpenters (“We’ve Only Just Begun” and “Rainy Days and Mondays” among others) and Barbara Streisand (“Evergreen” – the love theme from “A Star is Born”), to the frothy confection, “The Theme to the Love Boat.”  He also composed the song “The Rainbow Connection” for “The Muppet Movie.”  

Happy Days – A New Musical features a book written by the TV series’ legendary creator Garry Marshall.  Musical and Lyrcis by the Academy Award-winning composer Paul Williams.  Directed by Gordon Greenberg, Music Arrangement and Music Supervision by John McDaniel and Choreographed by Michele Lynch.  Set design is by Walt Spangler, Costume design by David C. Woolard, Lighting design by Jeff Croiter, Sound Design by Jay Hilton and Hair and Wig design by Mark Adam Rampmeyer.

Happy Days – A New Musical is produced by Robert Boyett Theatricals in association with McCoy Rigby Entertainment.   Robert Boyett is one of the original producers of the successful TV series, Happy Days with Garry Marshall.

Happy Days – A New Musical will play Tuesday, April 14 through Sunday, April 19.      Performances are April 14, 15, 16, 17 at 8 p.m. and April 18 & 19 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $16 to $63 and are on sale now at the Progress Energy Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.broadwayseriessouth.com or call 1-800-745-3000. Group orders may be placed by calling 919.857.4565.