The longest running off-Broadway musical revue in history has been revised for the 21st century! I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is a celebration of the mating game takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as “the relationship.” Through sketches and songs, Act I explores the journey from dating and waiting to love and marriage, while Act II reveals the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car, and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set. This hilarious revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, and to those who have dared to ask, “Say, what are you doing Saturday night?”
Meet the Cast!
AJ LORENZINI returns for his 11th show at the Civic Theatre. Previous Civic appearances include Into the Woods (Cinderella's Stepmother), Hello, Dolly! (Rudolph, Dance Captain), Young Frankenstein (Frederick), Mamma Mia! (Harry), and Forbidden Broadway. He has won Anthony Awards for his appearances in Seussical (The Cat in the Hat), Sweeney Todd, and the one-man-play Buyer & Cellar. AJ has also appeared in productions with Arena Dinner Theatre, TRMT, and Firs Pres.
STEPHANIE LONGBRAKE is loving her 13th Civic Theatre show, and 5th under Doug’s direction! Roles in FW theatre include actor, music and assistant directors, and most recently, dramaturg. Aside from the Civic Theatre, she’s performed at Arena Dinner Theater, First Pres, TRMT, SCMT, USF, and VWCT. Favorite roles include Annelle in Steel Magnolias and Amalia in She Loves Me. Stephanie can offer zero relationship advice, but can quote Nora Ephron, queen of the romcom on demand.
AARON MANN was recently seen in Arena’s Tick, Tick, Boom (Michael). Graduate of Purdue Theatre, Fort Wayne, Mann holds a Master’s in Education: Special Education from USF, and is Technical Director for Snider High School’s Theatre program. Recent roles include Wedding Singer (Glen Guglia), American Idiot (Saint Jimmy), and Noises Off (Lloyd Dallas). Performing in venues from North Carolina to California, favorite roles include Annie (Oliver Warbucks), Company (Bobby), Avenue Q (Princeton), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Lawrence Jameson), MacBeth (MacBeth), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), HAIR (Berger), and South Pacific (Emile De Becque).
MELISSA TERHUNE is a singer, actor, wife, and mom to both human and feline children. She is thrilled to be making her Fort Wayne Civic Theatre debut with this incredible cast. Most recently, she appeared as Marian Paroo in The Music Man with Summit City Music Theatre. Other local credits include Alf in The Wedding Singer with Summit City Music Theatre, The Nice Mrs. Cratchit/Monica/Hedwig in Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge at Arena Dinner Theatre, Ms. Gardner in Carrie with Three Rivers Music Theatre, and as a Featured Soloist in TRMT’s cabaret series.
BEN WEDLER is happy to be back on stage at the Civic Theatre where he has music directed Sweeney Todd, Rock of Ages, Seussical, Elf, and Something Rotten!. He also assistant directed 1776. He has been seen on stage at the Civic Theatre in Into the Woods, Once Upon a Mattress, Shadowlands, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Christmas Story and in his Anthony Award winning role as Horton the Elephant in Seussical in 2006. He has music directed many musicals at Arena Dinner Theatre, including I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change and had his directing debut with last summer’s Lucky Stiff. He is the Board Treasurer at Arena Dinner Theatre.
LEAH WEDLER is excited to be back on the Civic Theatre stage after last being seen in Hello, Dolly! Other Civic productions include 1776 (John Dickinson), Sweeney Todd (Wigmaker Quintet), Seussical (Bird Girl), The Glass Menagerie (Laura) and Once Upon a Mattress (Lady Beatrice- Anthony Award). Among her credits, Leah lists favorites South Pacific (Nellie Forbush - Arena Award), A Little Night Music (Mrs. Anderssen), and Lucky Stiff (Anabelle Glick).
In 1995, I Love You... premiered at New Jersey's American Stage Company, where, in the middle of one early performance, a woman in the audience couldn't help but blurt out, “This is my life!” From that moment on, the creators knew they were on to something. The following season, I Love You... moved to New Haven's Long Wharf Theater, and then on August 1st, 1996, I Love You... opened off-Broadway at The Westside Theater, where it ran through for 5,003 performances. When it closed on July 27, 2008, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change had become the second longest-running show and longest-running revue in off-Broadway history. The musical has been showcased in more than 250 cities worldwide, including London, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Sydney, Seoul, Rio de Janeiro and Johannesburg. In addition to its enormous success, the off-Broadway production was the site of over 50 marriage proposals.
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