The Boy From Oz First Show for New Willoughby Venue
Willoughby Theatre Company will present the inaugural production in the brand new Theatre on the Concourse (Chatswod NSW), one of Australia’s most popular musicals, The Boy From Oz.
The Concourse in Chatswood is a brand new performing arts centre on Victoria Avenue in the heart of Chatswood shopping precinct opening in September 2011 incorporating a state of the art 1000 seat Concert Hall, a 500 seat Theatre, a Civic Pavilion, Studio and Library.
The brand new 500 seat Theatre on the Concourse boasts excellent sightlines and acoustics, two tiered seating (stalls and dress circle), an orchestra pit and fly tower.
Willoughby Theatre Company President, Tom Sweeney is directing The Boy From Oz. With a cast of 50, this production heralds the return of the BIG show reputation that Willoughby was famous for with productions like Titanic, 42nd Street, Beauty and the Beast, Cats and Sweeney Todd.
The Boy From Oz is widely regarded as Australia's most popular home-grown musical. It ran for a total of 766 performances over two years from 1998 starring Todd McKenney, and was the first Australian musical to enjoy a sellout season on Broadway with Hugh Jackman in the lead role.
This is the story of the great Australian entertainer Peter Allen, from his humble beginnings to his meteoric rise to fame as an international star. Singing in country pubs from age 11, Peter Allen survived family tragedy to become a local TV star at age 16. Discovered by Judy Garland, he married her daughter Liza Minnelli and went on to become a beloved performer and an Oscar-winning songwriter. Musical highlights of the show include I Still Call Australia Home, I Honestly Love You, Don’t Cry Out Loud, Quiet Please There’s A Lady On Stage and the fabulous finale I Go To Rio.
After a marathon audition process in early June the lead cast members are Nick Moorhead (Peter Allen), Aled Morris (Young Peter Woolnough), Josephine Ison (Liza Minnelli) Sally O’Donoghue (Judy Garland) and Deirdre Lee (Marion Woolnough). Musical Direction is by Mark Pigot and Choreography by Janina Hamerlok.
Nick Moorhead (Peter Allen) first performed with Willoughby Theatre Company back in 1998 in West Side Story. He has since trained at WAAPA and spent a couple of years in London where he performed in The Importance of Being Ernest, Crazy For You and Wizard of Oz.
SEASON DETAILS: THE BOY FROM OZ
VENUE:The Theatre on The Concourse, Cnr Victoria Ave & Anderson St, Chatswood
DATES:23rd September – October 1, 2011
PERFORMANCE TIMES: 8pm weeknights, 1pm & 6pm Sat, 5pm Sunday.
PRICES:Adults $47.50, Seniors/Students: $43.50, Under 15’s $36.50, Groups of 10+ $43.50, Groups of 20+ $37.50
BOOKINGS:Phone 9550 3666 or book online.
WEBSITE:www.willoughbytheatreco.com.au
Images. From top - Josephine Ison as Liza Minelli, Nick Moorhead as Peter Allen and Sally O'Donoghue as Judy Garland; Nick Moorhead as Peter Allen with his showgirls; Aled Morris as Young Peter and Nick Moorhead as Peter Allen; Aled Morris as Young Peter with Deirdre Lee as his Mum, Marion Woolnough
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