Genevieve Lemon and More to Star in New Musical ANTARCTICA at Theatre Royal Hobart

Antarctica, a new musical will make its world debut at Hobart's Theatre Royal this October. Tasmanians will be the first in the country to experience this tale about ordinary people in an extraordinary place. Audiences will be transported to the great southern continent through a story set in one of the most extreme yet beautiful environments on earth. Exquisite songs and puppetry will truly bring this tale to life.

Today the cast was revealed, including some of the biggest names on stage and screen in Australia.

GENEVIEVE LEMON is a legend of Australian theatre, film and television. Genevieve played Mrs Wilkinson in both the Australian and West End Productions of Billy Elliot, and created the role of Shirl in Priscilla Queen of the Desert alongside countless other theatre credits. She is a familiar face on Australian television with major roles in Neighbours, Prisoner, The Young Doctors and more recently Rake, Top of the Lake and The Secret River. She was most recently seen in the Australian hit film, The Dressmaker alongside Kate Winslet and Liam Hemsworth.

BOBBY FOX played the lead Tap Brother in the anniversary season of Hot Shoe Shuffle and Frankie Valli in the Australian production of the smash hit musical Jersey Boys. Other Australian musical productions include Blood Brothers, High Society and Mamma Mia. He is a four times World Irish Dance champion, and toured with Riverdance and other dance productions. He is also a cabaret star, appears regularly on Australian television and recorded a duet with supermodel Miranda Kerr on his album, The Fantastic Mr Fox.

IMOGEN MOORE, after appearing in Avenue Q, Disney Under The Stars, and Opera Australia's Anything Goes she will return to her home town for her first leading role in a large scale musical, appearing as the shows lead character, Birdie. She has also recently shared the stage with the likes of David Hobson and Lisa McCune in the concert version of Stephen Sondheim's Follies and has been touring regional Australia as the female lead in sold out shows of A Fine Romance; the Magic of Fred Astaire. "I am thrilled to be coming back to Hobart for the world premiere of Antarctica," Imogen said.

Joining the production are pillars of Tasmanian stage and song, JOHN X, JEFF
MICHEL and KARISSA LANE. John recently returned to Hobart to star in Rock of
Ages, after reprising his role of Pumbaa in the recent Australian production of The
Lion King. Jeff Michel is hot from his one-man show Pedalling Back while Karissa
starred in Wheelers Luck earlier this year and is currently reprising her role as
Honey in the sold out shows of Tasmanian Theatre Company's Who's Afraid of
Virginia Woolf. The talent behind the puppetry will be MELISSA KING and BRYONY GEEVES who will bring life size penguins, giant petrels, wandering albatross and other creatures to life for the audience. Both are well known from leading puppetry roles in Terrapin Puppet Theatre.

The show also presents two of the hottest names in Australian musical theatre, VINCENT HOOPER and BRENTON COSIER. Vincent is best known for his current touring role in the musical Heathers and the recent GFO's production of The Rocky Horror Show while Brenton, was recently the star in John and Jen and also Rent at Chapel Off Chapel. Brenton also made his feature film debut this year in the upcoming Mormon Yankees: The Spirit of the Game and can be seen alongside Ronny Chieng in his ABC program International Student.

Director Terence O'Connell said, "I am delighted to be working with Genevieve and Bobby again and am so pleased to present this outstanding cast."

Isolation and adversity will bond a small group of expeditioners working in Antarctica for one extraordinary year. Be part of Birdie's story, a young scientist whose life will never be the same following her time in one of the most extreme yet beautiful environments on Earth. Everything she knows will be questioned as she is forced to find courage in the face of impending disaster.

Tickets available from the Theatre Royal box office or by visiting show website: www.antarcticamusical.com.