Musical Double Bill for Hills: Rent and Gutenberg
The Hills Musical Society (NSW) is presenting a varied end to its 2013 season with two simultaneous shows, RENT and Gutenberg! The Musical! at its new home at Castle Hill RSL from October 30 to November 3.
Theatre-goers will be familiar with RENT, the Tony award-winning masterpiece by Jonathon Larson, and director / set designer Jeff Fisher promises a fresh, reflective take on the show.
“Every now and then a show comes along that speaks to you,” Jeff says, “for me RENT was one of those shows. I am unable to put my finger on the exact thing that made me latch onto the show, which makes it even more special.”
Jeff is teamed with musical director Andrew Bartle and choreographer Kara Harris.
“The cast of RENT have been phenomenal to work with,” Kara says, “they are constantly giving everything to get the details of the choreography right. As a choreographer I could't ask for more.”
The principal cast features Alex Giles as the show’s narrator Mark Cohen; David Russell (well known on the Sydney community theatre circuit as a director, musical director and pit guitarist) as the troubled rocker Roger Davis; Australian Institute of Music student Kaleigh Donna as the tragic Mimi Marquez and Dave Bleier as Tom Collins.
The fiery couple that is Maureen Johnson and Joanne Jefferson will be played by Ashli Marin and Emma Scarlis respectively; Jon Emmett takes on the least sympatetic character amongst a group of friends, in Benny Coffin III, while Adam Haynes plays the flamboyant Angel Dumott Schunard.
Of taking on Angel, Adam says, “It’s one of the most challenging and fun roles I've ever played. Such an interesting character to develop for the stage.”
The RENT Ensemble features Miriam Binskin, Levi Burrows, Ally Clarkson, Angus Crutcher, Jarryd Prain, Trevor Sharpham, Sally Struzinski, Zoe Tillet, Leah Tomko, David Wright and Nick Yates.
As part of a year of change for the society, Hills is unveiling its latest project entitled “The Hills Studio”. The Studio is designed to bring small cast, small budget shows to Sydney amateur stages, as well as offering a place for new production team members to gain experience on smaller scale productions. It particularly focusses on shows that aren’t often seen by Sydney audiences, including fringe and experimental musical theatre.
The inaugural Hills Studio show will be Gutenberg! The Musical!, a show within a show that presents a reading of a new musical by two Broadway hopefuls, Doug Simon (Australian Institute of Music student Levi Burrows) and Bud Davenport (David Russell), about the fifteenth century inventor of the printing press.
The director, Nick Yates, will make his debut with the show. “The challenge of working with such a small space, as well as the hats – you’ll understand when you see it – has been a great learning experience.”
Nick says that he couldn’t have put the show together without his experienced production team, Jeff Fisher as musical director and assistant director, and Steen Kreamer as assistant musical director.
Significant discounts on Gutenberg! are available for RENTticket-holders.
RENT
Thursday, 31st October at 8pm, Friday, 1st November at 7.30pm, Saturday, 2nd November at 1pm, Saturday 2nd November at 8pm & Sunday 3rd November at 5pm. Adults: $35 Concession: $30
Gutenberg! The Musical!
Friday 1st November at 10.30pm, Saturday 2nd November at 4.30pm, Sunday 3rd November at 2pm. Adults: $25 Concession: $20
Book at: http://hillsms.iwannaticket.com.au/ or call 0490 132 030
Images (from top): DAVID RUSSELL (Bud Davenport) and LEVI BURROWS (Doug Simon) in Gutenberg! The Musical!; EMMA SCARLIS (Joanne Jefferson) and ASHLI MARIN (Maureen Johnson) & DAVE BLEIER (Tom Collins) and ADAM HAYNES (Angel) in RENT.
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