Summer showtime
THERE’S a blend of old favourites and exciting new productions among the big-budget shows being staged over summer in Melbourne and Sydney.
Making a welcome return is The Lion King, which premiered this week at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre. Since its Broadway premiere in November 1997, 21 productions around the world have been seen by more than 70 million people, including Australian fans when it was last staged here in 2005.
Director Julie Taymor uses a blend of puppeteers and actors to tell the story of the lion cub prince, Simba, as he grows up in the wilds of Africa until forced into exile. He later returns to overthrow his wicked uncle Scar and take his rightful place as ruler.
The Lion King features hit songs by Elton John and Tim Rice including The Circle of Life, Can You Feel the Love Tonight and the haunting ballad Shadowland.
The cast is a mini-United Nations with performers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, China, Thailand, Brazil and the United States.
Grease is still the word as it is Melbourne’s turn to host the hit musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre from January 2 after a successful Sydney season.
Leading the way as teen heartthrobs Danny and Sandy are Rob Mills and Gretel Scarlett, while showbusiness veteran Bert Newton plays slick DJ Vince Fontaine. The strong cast includes Todd McKenney, Anthony Callea and Val Lehman.
The high-energy musical includes songs such as You’re The One That I Want, Summer Nights, Grease Is The Word, Hopelessly Devoted To You and Greased Lightnin’.
Excitement is growing for the premiere of Strictly Ballroom The Musical at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre on March 25, bringing Baz Luhrmann’s award-winning 1992 movie to the stage.
Strictly Ballroom tells the story of a championship ballroom dancer who defies all the rules to follow his heart.
Luhrmann will again be at the helm as director and co-writer, with set and costume designer Catherine Martin and choreographer John “Cha Cha” O’Connell.
It will feature original classics from the film such as Love is in the Air, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps and Time After Time as well as newly-composed songs.
At the launch of Strictly Ballroom recently Luhrmann said: “Strictly Ballroom has been an almost 30-year journey for me. I have often marvelled at how this story has managed to touch, move, entertain and uplift so many people from so many different backgrounds.
“I think the simple truth is that, despite all the sequins, outrageous hairdos and classic Hollywood musical plotting, the simple message is that there isn’t only one way to cha cha cha, and that within us all we have the true potential to dance through life with our own steps.”
Strictly Ballroom’s key roles of young lovers Scott and Fran will be played by Thomas Lacey and Phoebe Panaretos, supported by experienced performers including Robert Grubb, Drew Forsythe, Natalie Gamsu and Mark Owen-Taylor.
Strictly Ballroom is being produced by Global Creatures, the company behind the spectacular musical King Kong.
There’s more than a touch of magic surrounding The Illusionists, a team of six performers headlining Arts Centre Melbourne’s summer season from January 3-12.
Each of the world-class illusionists specialises in a different area of magic – David Williamson is the trickster, Dan Sperry is the anti-conjuror, Andrew Basso is the escapologist, Kevin James is the inventor, Philip Escoffey is the mentalist, Mark Kalin is known as the gentleman and Jinger Leigh is the enchantress.
The Illusionists is presented in association with producers Tim Lawson and Simon Painter.
Performers from around the world stretch the boundaries of circus, cabaret, vaudeville and burlesque in the show Empire, which returns to Sydney on January 7 after touring around Australia this year.
Staged by Spiegelworld in a large spiegeltent at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park, the dramatic show contains plenty of thrills, drama and humour.
Empire will also have a return Melbourne season at Crown from March 11.
Enquiries:
www.lionking.com.au
www.greaseistheword.com.au
www.strictlyballroomthemusical.com
www.empireaustralia.com
REPORT by Danny Gocs
PHOTO from The Lion King
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