Tickets to DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Preview Performances at Sydney's Theatre Royal Now on Sale

Producers Stephen Doorey and George Youakim from James Anthony Productions today announced a week of previews at the special price of $69 for their upcoming production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the devilishly cheeky, fun-filled Broadway musical. Previewing at Sydney's Theatre Royal from 17 October and opening on 24 October, it will play a strictly limited season. Previews will go on sale from September 16.

Leading the cast will be Tony Sheldon as Lawrence Jameson and Matt Hetherington as Freddy Benson. Sheldon is returning to Australia to play this role following his huge success on the West End and Broadway in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Christine Colgate, the naive American heiress targeted by Lawrence and Freddy, will be played by Amy Lehpamer, while John Wood plays Lawrence's "bodyguard" Andre Thibault. Two of the women conned by the pair, Muriel Eubanks and Jolene Oakes, are played by musical theatre favourites Anne Wood and Katrina Retallick.

Zoe Coppinger, Rodney Dobson, Xander Ellis, Jillian Green, Matthew Hamilton, Glenn Hill, Vincent Hooper, Zoe Jarrett, Annabel Knight, Nadia Komazec, Phillip Lowe, Stephanie Morrison, Lisa Sontag, Darren Tyler, Caleb Vines, Jake Walasek and Sophie Weiss complete the cast.

This all new Australian production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will be directed by Roger Hodgman, musically directed by Guy Simpson and choreographed by Dana Jolly, with sets by Michael Hankin, costumes by Teresa Negroponte and lighting by Nicholas Rayment. The plot is based on the highly successful and much loved 1988 film with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and book by Jeffrey Lane, and centres around the two con men, Lawrence Jameson and Freddy Benson, on the French Riviera.

When Freddy threatens to expose Lawrence's operation, Lawrence begrudgingly agrees to take him under his wing and tutor him in the 'art of the con'. The pair join forces and successfully work the Riviera until Freddy, frustrated by his apprentice 'monkey boy' role, abandons the partnership and starts to compete with Lawrence. It soon becomes apparent that the small French town of Beumont sur Mer isn't big enough for the two of them. They agree on a bet - the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female 'soap' heiress, Christine Colgate, wins and gets to stay. The other must leave town forever. A hilarious battle of 'cons' ensues that will keep audiences laughing, humming and guessing right to the end!

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and 10 Drama Desk Awards. It was originally directed by two-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde). The 1988 film of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was directed by Frank Oz, and starred Steve Martin and Michael Caine.

Price: Previews $69, in season from $79.00 (transaction fees apply)

Bookings: ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 723 038

Groups 12+ Save! Call 02 8240 2290 or email groups@ticketmaster.com.au

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