Lucky Stiff Next Production for Neglected Musicals

Lucky Stiff Next Production for Neglected Musicals

Next presentation for Sydney-based Neglected Musicals is Lucky Stiff (Book & Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Music by Stephen Flaherty).

Directed by Neil Gooding and with Musical Direction by Isaac Hayward, Lucky Stiffis based on the 1983 novel The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo by Michael Butterworth, and will be presented at Darlinghurst Theatre for two performances on October 29 at 2pm and 8pm

Starring Lucy Maunder, Luke Joslin, Margi de Ferranti, Garry Scale, Trevor Ashley, Josie Lane, Gael Ballantyne, Matt Young and Jay James-Moodyn, this murder mystery farce propels a mild-mannered English shoe clerk (Joslin) into a lunatic mix of murdered Atlantic City croupier, his near-sighted jilted mistress, her hen-pecked brother and several hundred (off-stage) dogs. Witherspoon will inherit six million dollars if he can successfully go on holiday with his uncle, the late departed croupier, in Monte Carlo for a week. If he doesn't pull it off, the money goes to the Universal Dogs Home of Brooklyn - and if there is one thing in life that Harry hates, it's dogs! Annabel Glick (Maunder), a representative of the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn is there to make sure Harry conforms to every part of the will.

Lucky Stiff premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizon in 1988 for 15 performances and won the Richard Rodgers Award for that year. Directed by Thommie Walsh, the cast featured Stuart Zagnit, Mary Testa, and Julie White.  It won the Helen Hayes Award for Best Musical.  1997 it had a West End production, starring Frances Ruffelle, Paul Baker, and Tracie Bennett, directed by Steven Dexter.

“Lucky Stiff is a fun, light-hearted musical farce written by Lynne Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty who wrote Ragtime, Seussical and My Favorite Year. It is funny and irreverent, and will be an incredible joy. It is the musical theatre equivalent of ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ – featuring some fantastic songs by one of Broadway's most prominent writing partnerships and provides actors with caricatures that they can really sink their teeth into…,” said Director Neil Gooding.

Lucy Maunder is currently touring her one woman show Irving Berlin: Songs In The Key Of Black musical theatre credits include; Lara in Doctor Zhivago; Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera; Janet in The Rocky Horror Show and Emma in Jekyll and Hyde.

Luke Joslin’s most recent musical theatre credits include; Annie, Doctor Zhivago, Avenue Q  and The Threepenny Opera.  Luke last appeared for Neglected Musicals in the 2010 presentation of Girl Crazy.

Garry Scale was most recently seen on stage in the Australian tour of the blockbuster musical Hairspray he has also appeared in The Boy From Oz and Buddy Holly The Musical .

Margi de Ferranti has starred in Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, The Buddy Holly Story and Aspects of Love.

Trevor Ashley played the role of Edna Turnblad in the Australian tour of Hairspray the Musical. He recently penned and starred in Diamonds are for Trevor and Fat Swan.

Josie Lanemade her professional theatre debut in 2007 in the STC’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Following that she appeared in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – the musical.  Josie last appeared for Neglected Musicals inNick & Nora. Gael Ballantyne has appeared in Mamma Mia, La Cage Aux Folles, Summer Rain.

Matt Young is currently performing in ANNIE and was last seen in Nick & Nora for Neglected Musicals.

This is the third Neglected Musical for Jay James – Moody who was also seen in On The 20thCenturyand She Loves Me, James is co-founder of music theatre company Squabbalogic.

Neglected Musicals is an initiative dedicated to presenting musical theatre that has never (or rarely) been seen in Australia, whether it be that the musicals were not considered commercial enough for an Australian season or they just didn’t get picked up by an Australian producer. A musical chosen to be presented by Neglected Musicals may have had a long run on Broadway and the West End but never made it to Australia or may have had a short run off Broadway to critical acclaim but didn’t go any further for one of a hundred reasons. It may even have been a financial flop overseas but have artistic merit and worth a look.   Neglected Musicals presents a reading of a chosen show with scripts in hand, with the musical numbers sung through, after only a few rehearsals. Although the presentations do not have set or costume design – there are some design elements.

Neglected Musicals is not for profit, where the participants are volunteers.  All proceeds from ticket sales fund the next Neglected Musical.

NOW ON SALE

Bookings via the Neglected Musicals website

or by calling 0487 436 709

www.neglectedmusicals.com.au

LUCKY STIFF

Book & Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens

Music by Stephen Flaherty

Based on “The Man Who Broke The Bank At Monte Carlo”

By Michael Butterworth

Originally Produced by Playwrights Horizons 1 April 1988

Winner of the 1988 Richard Rodgers Production Award

by arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd Exclusive agent for Music Theatre International (NY)

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