Home Grown in Fertile Ground

Home Grown is still growing strong with the announcement of a brand new Songbook Feature. Coral Drouyn has the news.

When talented young composing duo Hedger and Nicholson started the Home Grown series nearly two years ago now, even they weren’t certain if it would work or simply be a one off. The idea of showcasing composers of new musicals, plus some of the best ensemble musical theatre performers to perform the new songs, in an intimate setting was new to Australia but not to New York, where the idea had run successfully for years at venues like Joe’s Pub and 54 Below.

Ben and Nick have five musicals of their own in the pipeline, but they also have prolific friends in the likes of Matthew Lee Robinson and Jamie Burgess who needed to showcase shows they were working on. There is no shortage of sensational Music Theatre projects in Australia, the problem is, and always has been, finding producers to commit to developing and staging them. Part of the agenda was to keep giving continual exposure to new works, in the hope of creating a buzz, promoting feedback and getting the shows one-step closer to being ready for production.

Now, a couple of years down the track, The Dynamic Duo have risen to the status of entrepreneurs. Their Home Grown website now features video performances of original material and even a store where you can purchase sheet music for fabulous songs from musicals that have yet to reach the Main Stage. When you hear something like Matthew Lee Robinson’s sensational showstopper Boyband, you have to wonder why we keep having mainstage revivals of old musicals…iconic though they may be. Hedger and Nicholson and friends have a slew of material that is both fresh and refreshing, and it’s contemporary, melodic and often very funny.

Home Grown now calls Chapel off Chapel home and launched the 2016 season on Jan 31^st with four of the country’s most exciting new composers, all showcasing new musicals. Alanya Bridge, who has a new musical called Connected, showed why her lyrics and music are worthy of any stage, Drew Downing showcased his new musical Jason and The Argonauts, in which the Greek myth is retold through a pop band. Jamie Burgess brought some of the cast and the hilarious musical goodies from his current musical Butch Masters – Man of Destiny. Shannon Whitelock, an award winner for Oprahfication, presented stunning songs from his new musical.

All the composers had stunning performers to present their show tunes, with honours going to the superbly named Adam Noviello, whose voice is simply angelic and loaded with emotion. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Adam has his own cabaret show There was a Boy at 7pm this Friday at Chapel off Chapel. I’ll be there and it makes a fabulous double with Chelsea Plumley’s new show Follow Spot following at 9pm. Two fantastic talents in the one venue on the same night.

Now, Home Grown is expanding further to present the Songbook series….showcasing one composer. On Sunday March 6^th,  they present The Craig Christie Songbook. If you don’t know Craig Christie, you really need to rectify that. Apart from writing Eurobeat, the most successful Australian musical of all time with productions all around the world, he is also the only Australian to make a full time living as a writer of Musical theatre. This is a production step up for our talented young pair. The Songbook will present twenty songs from 10 Christie musicals and features a stunning lineup of musical theatre favorites and hot newcomers; Francesca Arena, Michelle Brasier, Baylie Carson, Olivia Charalambous, Zoy Frangos, Chelsea Gibb, Joel Granger, Samm Hagen, Matt Heyward, Jacqui Hoy, Meg Hoult, Kristin Keam, Cameron MacDonald, Heather Manley, Lisa-Marie Parker, Kellie Rode, Brent Trotter, Drew Weston, Teagan Wouters & Craig Christie himself.

This special event is a one off on Sunday March 6^th at Chapel off Chapel, so this is one you really do need to book for. The following Sunday, March 13^th, Home Grown will return to its normal format and hopefully we’ll get to hear some new Hedger Nicholson compositions, that’s if they still have time to write these days. And you can be sure that when a full-blown Aussie Musical hits Broadway or the West End in years to come, Home Grown will have been part of its birth.