The creative team and full cast list has been announced for the hilarious, feel-good musical, The Wedding Singer, which will have its Australian premiere in just two weeks on Friday 9 April.
The appetite for the 80s musical rom-com is proving irresistible, with new seats released in Adelaide today, while the Melbourne season has just been extended until 5 June. Tickets to Adelaide, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Sydney are selling like Madonna records via weddingsingermusical.com.au. Get in fast to snap up the good seats before they're gone!
"When we announced an all-new national tour as Melbourne's second lockdown lifted, we were definitely crossing our fingers and toes. I can't believe the response we've had - it warms the heart to see how many Australians are supporting the return of live theatre," says Producer David Venn.
Multi-Green Room Award nominated director Alister Smith is helming this Tony nominated musical. Alister's 2018 and 2019 tours for Bring It On: The Musical received widespread acclaim including sell out seasons. He is buzzing with excitement since The Wedding Singer rehearsals began in Melbourne.
"Taking place in New York in 1985, this musical is about finding your voice and following your heart, during a decade of great change and exponential evolution. It's about self-expression, breaking away from the norm and defining your own rules. Our rehearsal room is electric - both our principal cast and ensemble are on fire; they're working together so well!" says Alister.
Michael Ralph (Georgy Girl, The Boy From Oz) is choreographing the explosive 80s spectacle, following a Green Room Award for his work on Bring It On: The Musical.
"Audiences can expect high energy dance sequences, plus plenty of fabulous, iconic 80s dance moves. Our choreography is inspired by the most iconic music videos and dance films of the 80s, which I've had a ridiculous amount of fun immersing myself in," says Michael.
His choreography is inspired by music videos from Madonna,
Whitney Houston,
Janet Jackson and
Paula Abdul and film classics like Flashdance, Footloose, Stayin Alive, Fast Forward and Breakin'.
Musical Director Daniel Puckey was formerly the Music Director for the Australian tour of Muriel's Wedding The Musical, in addition to being the Associate Musical Director and Conductor on The Book of Mormon, The Wizard of Oz, The Bodyguard Musical and The Lion King.
"The Wedding Singer musical will be an 80's dream; a neon fantasy that remembers everything we loved about the 1980s. We've got the most fantastic original score, with a couple of favourite tunes from the movie mixed in," says Daniel.
Costume Designer Kim Bishop's credits include Sweeney Todd, while he was nominated for a Green Room Award for his costume design on The Light in the Piazza (Life Like Company).
Triple threat actress
Kirby Burgess (Barnum, Dirty Dancing) has been cast in the role of Robbie's ex-girlfriend Linda, joined by dynamite talent Hollie James (Shrek the Musical, Rocky Horror Show) as Angie, and Haydan Hawkins (Miss Saigon, Into The Woods) as Sammy.
They join the previously announced lead cast including Christian Charisiou in the title role of Robbie Hart,
Teagan Wouters as Julia, Stephen Mahy as Glen, Nadia Komazec as Holly, Ed Deganos as George and celebrated character performer
Susan-Ann Walker as Robbie's naughty Grandma, Rosie (played by
Betty White in the film).
Bringing the high-impact 80s dance sequences to life will be ensemble members Annie Chiswell, Romy Vuksan, Asmara Soekotjo, Katrina Bickerton, Brittany Page, Connor Morel, Jerome Javier, Simon Fairweather, Sebastian Johnston, Max Patterson and Luke Haberecht. Amongst them, they've lit up stages for major musicals including The Wizard of Oz and Shrek the Musical, and have toured with the likes of Sneaky Sound System, Guy Sebastian and Havana Brown.
Penned by the writer of the original smash-hit movie starring
Adam Sandler and
Drew Barrymore, The Wedding Singer musical achieved a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical.
Following performances on Broadway and across the UK, this comedy features all your favourite characters and a sparkling new soundtrack that does for the 80s what Hairspray did for the 60s.
Robbie Hart is New Jersey's number one wedding singer and the life of the party. That is until his own fiancée strands him at the altar. Bitter and broken, Robbie begins to make every wedding as disastrous as his own until a warm-hearted waitress named Julia intervenes. Only trouble is, Julia's about to be-you guessed it-married! Can Robbie pull off the performance of the decade and win the girl of his dreams?
The Wedding Singer features music by
Matthew Sklar (Elf The Musical), lyrics by
Chad Beguelin (Aladdin), and a book by Beguelin and
Tim Herlihy. A long-time collaborator of
Adam Sandler, Tim wrote the classic hit films Happy Gilmore and Billy Maddison, as well as several other Sandler-starring blockbusters in addition to The Wedding Singer.
COVID Safe measures will be in place for all performances, as per government regulations. More information is available via the websites for each venue.
Come join the party and just say YES to The Wedding Singer!
Performance Dates:
Adelaide - Her Majesty's Theatre
Friday 9 April - Sunday 24 April
New seats released www.bass.net.au
Melbourne - The Athenaeum Theatre
Friday 30 April - Saturday 5 June
Season extended www.ticketek.com.au https://youtu.be/3FK2hjo5MdU
Gold Coast - HOTA, Home Of The Arts
Wednesday 16 June - Saturday 26 June
www.hota.com.au
Sydney - State Theatre
From Thursday 1 July - Strictly Limited Season
www.ticketmaster.com.au
