Pulling Out All The Plugs

Pulling Out All The Plugs

Broadway Unplugged at The Vanguard in Newtown.

While Melbourne has revelled in Twisted Broadway this week, let’s not forget that both Sydney and Melbourne have Broadway Unplugged on a regular basis. Melbourne’s last Unplugged was on August 10th and featured a “Fairytale” theme from Music Theatre shows like Wicked, Into The Woods and Cinderella.  Sydney retaliates next Monday (August 24) with some of our very best talents. The venue is the Vanguard in Newtown, and this purpose built music venue couldn’t be more appropriate. For those who don’t know the format, there’s an open Mic part of the evening when newer performers get a chance to show their chops – and who knows, maybe the next Jemma Rix or Simon Gleeson might be discovered.

But a ticket also buys you first off a show by the professionals – the current and future stars of Musical Theatre singing their own choice of Broadway songs, and next Monday’s line-up is one you don’t want to miss.

Heading the show next week is Scott Morris, an exceptional talent with skills beyond his tender years and boyish good looks (sorry Scott.). Scott has toured extensively in Grease, but also made a huge impact as Mark in A Chorus Line, and as a Young Johnny O’Keefe in Shout. Then there’s Hairspray, Oliver for Cameron Macintosh, and my favourite of Scott’s performances – Spring Awakening. You always get the feeling with Scott that “ Super Stardom” is just a lucky break away. Monday night gives Scott a chance to show what he does best, sing his heart out with some gobsmacking Broadway numbers.

The brainchild of multi award-winning Australian producer George Youakim (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), and musically directed by Steven Kreamer, Broadway Unplugged provides an exclusive platform for gifted Australian performers and Youakim says of Morris, “We are thrilled to have one of the most incredible talents seen on Australian stages at the August edition of Broadway Unplugged in Sydney. After first seeing Scott in Spring Awakening, and then again in A Chorus Line, I am thrilled to have him as featured artist for the evening." And that’s straight from the producer’s mouth.

Even though Scott alone is worth the price of admission, you also get to see one of WAAPA’s newest super-talents in Ross Chisari, plus The multi talented and award winning Dean Vince, who only last month was breathing life into Officer Krupke in The Production Company’s West Side Story. Giving a female POV is the very lovely Lauren McKenna, another terrific talent who has just finished a run in Heathers at The Hayes Yheatre, playing Martha/Ms Fleming. Bernie Lagana, top saxophonist and composer will also make a welcome appearance.

So, while it’s Scott you may be going to see, you get all this additional talent as a bonus PLUS a chance to sing at the open Mic if you feel up to it. …but it’s wise to register online. There’s Tapas, Pizza and drinks at the bar and the atmosphere is intimate and a must for all lovers of live music, especially Broadway. I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t want to be there.

Coral Drouyn