Cast Announced for Australian Premiere of Off-Broadway Musical THE VIEW UPSTAIRS

Invisible Wall Productions and Sugary Rum Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co have announced cast members of the Australian Premiere of the hit Off-Broadway musical, The View UpStairs. As part of the Mardi Gras Festival, this provocative new musical, written by Max Vernon, is being performed at Hayes Theatre Co from 8 February 2018.

Playing the lead role of Wes, a young fashion designer who embarks on this exhilarating journey, will be Henry Brett (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spring Awakening) while the role of Willie, an UpStairs regular and flamboyant queen of a certain age, will be played by the fabulous Madison McKoy (Miss Saigon, South Pacific). Previously announced cast member Stephen Madsen (Rent, Heathers), who is currently appearing in Muriel's Wedding The Musical, will be playing Wes' love interest, Patrick. Fresh from the hit Kinky Boots is Ryan Gonzalez (Strictly Ballroom), who will play Freddie, a Latino drag queen who overcomes shame to achieve self-actualization.

Rounding out the cast are Markesha McCoy (Rock of Ages - Las Vegas, The Bodybag The Panto) as Henri, Martella Hammer (Blue Heelers) as Freddie's mother, Inez, and David Hooley (Fiddler On the Roof) as Dale, with the remaining roles to be announced at a later date.

The View UpStairs draws you inside the UpStairs Lounge, a vibrant '70s gay bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. This forgotten community comes to life in all its gritty, glam rock glory when Wes, a young fashion designer from 2017, buys the abandoned space, setting off an exhilarating journey of seduction and self-exploration that spans two generations of queer history. While Wes gets to know the joys and struggles of this exuberant and flamboyant community, he too learns about his place in the world.

Inspired by one of the most significant yet all-but-ignored attacks against the American LGBTQI community, The View UpStairs examines what has been gained and lost in the fight for equality, and how the past can help guide all of us through an uncertain future.

Following the popular and critical success of Only Heaven Knows earlier this year, Shaun Rennie returns to Hayes Theatre Co to direct this sensitive, original piece. Set and costume designer is Isabel Hudson (One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest) while Hayes Theatre Co favourite Cameron Mitchell (Calamity Jane, High Fidelity) is the choreographer. Trent Suidgeest (Muriel's Wedding the Musical), also from the Only Heaven Knows team, returns as lighting designer as does Neil McLean (Xanadu, Only Heaven Knows) as sound designer.

From the opening piano chords of this Off-Broadway sensation, the five-piece band and cast of ten blasts into the glam rock world of the 1970s. In our ever-changing world, The View UpStairs looks at the then and now to explore our ideas of love, regret, defiance and resilience. With a 'badass' goose bump-raising score, the story induces both laughter and tears. See why Ru Paul said the show was "FABULOUS! It was fantastic."

Tickets for The View UpStairs are now available online at hayestheatre.com.au or by calling the Hayes Theatre Co box office during business hours on (02) 8065 7337. More information is available about the original Off-Broadway run at www.theviewupstairs.com. The Original Cast Album on Broadway Records is available on iTunes, Amazon and www.broadwayrecords.com.

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IF YOU GO:

Presented by Invisible Wall Productions and Sugary Rum productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co

THE VIEW UPSTAIRS
Book, Music and Lyrics by Max Vernon

Directed by Shaun Rennie
Set and Costumes Design by Isabel Hudson
Choreography by Cameron Mitchell
Lighting Design by Trent Suidgeest
Sound Design by Neil McLean

Venue: Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point

Season: 8 February - 4 March 2018

Times: Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 3pm

Price: $65 Adult, $60 Concession, Preview $60Bookings: hayestheatre.com.au | (02) 8065 7337

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Invisible Wall Productions is a Production Company founded and run by New York based, Sydney born and bred Jenny Ainsworth. It was nominated for a Tony Award as a co-producer of the recent Spring Awakening Revival, and was the producer of the Lortel, Drama Desk and Off-Broadway Alliance nominated original Off-Broadway production of The View UpStairs.

Sugary Rum Productions is run by Gus Murray, Australian actor and producer who is currently starring in Miracle City at the Sydney Opera House.

Hayes Theatre Co is a dedicated music theatre and cabaret venue in Potts Point. Named for Australian musical theatre legend, Nancye Hayes AM, Hayes Theatre Co honours and builds on the vast history of Australian Musical Theatre and its practitioners. This not-for-profit venue is managed by Independent Music Theatre, a collaborative partnership focusing on providing a permanent home for small-scale musical theatre and cabaret. By providing venue space to newly mounted productions, Hayes Theatre Co, will be a presenting partner together with independent producers and artists. Hayes Theatre Co is made possible through the City of Sydney's Accommodation Grant Program.

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