Drew Anthony Creative presents The Wedding Singer musical with Greg Jarema as Robbie Hart at Planet Royale

Musical theatre performer Greg Jarema has always felt a connection to Adam Sandler, adding another thread when cast in one of the American actor and comedian’s most iconic leading roles — Robbie Hart in musical The Wedding Singer. Growing up Jewish in New Jersey, Jarema’s parents would take him to see all the Broadway tours that would travel to Philadelphia, sparking his dream to train in musical theatre at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He was over the moon when it came to fruition. “Funnily enough, it’s the same university Adam Sandler went to and he lived in the same dorm that I lived in my freshman year,” 36-year-old Jarema says. “When you go to NYU, he’s one of those presences. He still attends fundraisers and was a name that I’d hear quite often when I was there. There used to be a rumour that he’d take out to lunch whoever lived in his freshman dorm room. “The Wedding Singer musical actually opened on Broadway my freshman year. I remember seeing it and falling in love with the show then. It was a role I’ve always wanted to play.” Based on the hit film starring Sandler and Drew Barrymore, the musical features a lot of the memorable songs Hart sings on guitar — from Somebody Kill Me to Grow Old With You — in addition to new music rounding out an infectious 80s pop score that Jarema says is sure to keep audiences humming on their way out of the theatre. Staying true to the film’s storyline, it follows lovable wedding singer Hart whose life falls apart after fiancee Linda leaves him at the altar, and is put back together by waitress Julia Sullivan, played in this production by Kate Sisley. “This show is all about love,” Dianella-based performer Jarema shares. “It’s all about feeling good and people who get a little lost along the way. Robbie’s a guy who does what he loves and loses sight of that, and then has to come back to it. He finds who he is and what he really loves about himself and the people around him. “It’s a great journey because you have all these great supporting actors around you, who all bring their own uniqueness, hilariousness and specialties to their roles (cue Perth acting veteran Marian Byrne as hip-hopping granny Rosie).” Love first brought Jarema to Perth seven years ago, thanks to his Perth-raised partner, where he has jumped into the local musical theatre scene in shows Legally Blonde The Musical, Avenue Q, Fame, The Wizard of Oz and Drew Anthony Creative productions Chicago A Musical Vaudeville, Grease, A Chorus Line, and now The Wedding Singer. “I spent four years training in New York City, living and performing and auditioning out of New York afterwards where it’s just been a life of unfolding musical theatre ever since,” Jarema, who is also a qualified yoga teacher, says. “Yoga is one of the many feathers in my cap and came about as sort of a balance to performing in New York City. You have all those highs and lows of auditioning and yoga just became one of those tools that got me through it, yoga and meditation. I fell in love with it and started teaching it. It’s really served me well ever since.” With 80s-inspired costumes sporting an explosion of neon, tulle and mullets, The Wedding Singer musical is all about celebrating second chances and pure, joyful escapism. “This show has one of those finales where you leave smiling ear to ear,” Jarema says. “You feel it when you’re doing it on stage, because the way the music builds and builds, it fills your cup and then it runs over.” The Wedding Singer is at Royale Theatre, Planet Royale, Northbridge, July 17 to August 4. Tickets at ticketmaster.com.au.