When Danny Hoskins became Blackfriars Theatre's artistic director last summer, one of his goals was to develop educational programming at the theater to train the next generation of artists. Hoskins and his team have recently launched Blackfriars Theatre's Summer Intensive, a program for rising high school juniors through newly graduated college seniors. Over the past few months, the group has undergone actor training, ensemble building skills, and performance experience during the rehearsal process for "The Wedding Singer," which opens Friday, July 8. The young cast will perform the classic story of an aspiring rock star moonlighting as a wedding singer after he's left at the altar. (The show, which is set in 1985 New Jersey, is based on the 1998 film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.)

"The Wedding Singer" runs Friday, July 8, through Sunday, July 17, at Blackfriars Theatre, 795 East Main Street. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. $34.50 general; $20 students; $31.50 seniors. 454-1260; blackfriars.org.