Dame Julie Andrews To Direct Recreation Of The Original 1956 Broadway Production of MY FAIR LADY For Opera Australia and The Gordon Frost Organisation

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's MY FAIR LADY and the 60th Anniversary of Opera Australia, Opera Australia and The Gordon Frost Organisation are collaborating to recreate the original production Broadway production. Multiple Award Winning star of stage and screen, Dame Julie Andrews, the first Eliza Doolittle, will share her knowledge with a new generation of performers as she directs this production. Andrews was joined by Opera Australia's CEO Craig Hassell, Artistic Director Lyndon Terrancini AM, The Gordon Frost Organisation Managing Director John Frost AM and NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres to give the media an insight into what audiences can when the show opens at the Sydney Opera House on 30 August 2016.

Following on from years of research, which required trips to Wisconsin, London, New York City and Los Angeles, the production team have bought together what remains of ground plans, costume and set designs from the original creative team and cast. Cecil Beaton (original costume designer) and Oliver Smith's (original set designer) former assistants have also provided links to important materials that will enable the production to be as faithful a recreation as possible. The final link in recreating the work was to bring Dame Julie Andrews, the last surviving member of the original production, onboard as Director to allow new audiences to relive the experience of the first 'event' musical.

Andrews will draw on her own memories as a young 'green' inexperienced performer that felt she understood the role but needed to be guided to give a new cast the same considerate and kind guidance that Director Moss Hart showed her. She remembers what advice helped her and will seek to pass on the importance of thinking through a role and understanding the words and lyrics which helped her find the 'rolling sound' in the text and music. Even before Sydney's Eliza has been selected, Andrews has imparted her wisdom and shown support for the hopefuls auditioning with John Frost likening the auditions to a Masterclass of information and guidance.

With the audition process of narrowing down the 1000+ hopefuls, Andrews has stated she is looking for an Eliza with a strong singing voice, the ability to sustain 8 shows a week with a voice that can range from the coarse cockney to rage and then be able to switch to the pure soprano in an instant. Andrews was 21 when she originated the role and felt that she bought an innocence and vulnerability along with her well trained voice which gives an indication of what she may be looking for in the casting process.

Andrews admits that the project is "daunting" but she is looking forward to discovering new talent and giving back to the industry by supporting the next generation of performers. Whilst it is well known that Andrew's is no longer able to sing, she does not express any disappointment but rather a recognition of why she was originally chosen to create the diverse roles that made her famous. In recreating the show, Andrews is seeking to approach the work from a "real place" which demonstrates the performers understanding of her favorite lines like "I'm a good girl I am", "I washed my face and hands before I come I did", "you are a brute" and the post transformation desperate plea of "What's to become of me?"

When asked why recreate a 60 year old production rather than mount a new interpretation Andrews simply responded "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Given the importance of this work in the history of musical theatre, the opportunity to share Moss Hart's iconic original vision with a new generation will provide an interesting contrast to the high tech, special effects laden modern productions. The choice to stage the recreation in Sydney was simply because John Frost and Opera Australia offered her the opportunity and "why not Sydney Opera House".

On the longevity of MY FAIR LADY, and also THE SOUND OF MUSIC, for which Andrews won the Golden Globe for Best Actress In A Musical, which will open in Sydney in December 2015, Andrews cites that the works represent the peak of their respective writers. The works come from the "Golden Age of Broadway" when wonderful melodies were written to combine with text and lyrics that created beautiful images. She recalls that at the time she was auditioning for MY FAIR LADY, she also auditioned for Rogers and Hammerstein's PIPE DREAM and was told, teasingly, by Rogers that she was "absolutely adequate" before he advised that if Hart offered her MY FAIR LADY she should take it, showing his own faith in the new work.

From 21 November 2015, Sydney Audiences will have the opportunity to secure tickets to the limited season which commences on 30 August 2016.

MY FAIR LADY - DIRECTED BY JULIE ANDREWS

Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House

Season: from 30 August 2016

Performance Times: Wednesday - Saturday 7:30pm, Matinees Tues, Wed & Sat 1pm, Sun 3pm

Price: From $89.90 (additional transaction fees and/or credit/debit payment processing fees may apply)

Bookings: myfairladymusical.com.au or 02 9318 8200, 02 9250 777 or 1300 723 038

Groups of 12 or more call 02 8240 2290