Global Creatures has announced the cast for the upcoming seasons of Muriel’s Wedding The Musical at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne from March; and the Sydney Lyric Theatre from late June 2019.
The cast joining previously announced newcomers Natalie Abbott as Muriel Heslop and Elizabeth Esguerra as Rhonda in this big, bold and brash new musical are: David James (The Boy From Oz, The Sound of Music) as Bill Heslop, Pippa Grandison (Mary Poppins, We Will Rock You) as Deidre Chambers and Manon Gunderson-Briggs (Muriel’s Wedding The Musical original Sydney season) as Joanie Heslop.
Christie Whelan Browne (Muriel’s Wedding The Musical original Sydney season) will play the role of Tania Degano, with Stefanie Jones (The Sound of Music, Les Miserables) as Nicole Stumpf, Imogen Moore (Oklahoma!, Anything Goes) as Janine Nuttall and Catty Hamilton (MAMMA MIA!) as Cheryl Moochmore.
Jaime Hadwen (Muriel’s Wedding The Musical original Sydney season) will play Agnetha Fältskog with Laura Bunting (Wicked, Mary Poppins) playing Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Maxwell Simon (Green Day’s American Idiot, The Boy From Oz) as Björn Ulvaeus and Evan Lever (Anything Goes, La Cage Aux Folles) as Benny Andersson.
Brice Nobes will be played by Jared Griffiths (professional debut) with Stephen Madsen (Muriel’s Wedding The Musical original Sydney season) as Alexander Shkuratov, Dave Eastgate (Doctor Doctor, Open Slather) as Ken Blundell and Kenneth Moraleda (Muriel’s Wedding The Musical original Sydney season) as Charlie Chan.
The Muriel’s Wedding The Musical ensemble cast includes Colin Dean, Tom Sharah, Kaeng Chan, Noni McCallum, Ashleigh Rubenach, Prue Bell, David Ouch, Jan Di Pietro, Zoe Coppinger and Caitlen Quinn.
The stellar creative team behind the critically acclaimed production is led by award winning theatre director Simon Phillips, set and costume designer Gabriela Tylesova, choreographer Andrew Hallsworth, lighting designer Trent Suidgeest, sound designer Michael Waters, music supervisor Isaac Hayward and musical director Daniel Puckey.
Muriel’s Wedding The Musical is a theatrical version of PJ Hogan’s iconic hit film, updated to today by the writer himself with music and lyrics by Australian award winning songwriters Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall with additional songs by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson written for ABBA.
Winner of 5 Helpmann Awards, 7 Sydney Theatre Awards, an Awgie Award, the 2018 David Williamson Prize and an ARIA Award Nomination, Muriel’s Wedding The Musical celebrated its’ world premiere in Sydney in November 2017 and was hailed a smash hit by critics and audiences alike. The Muriel’s Wedding The Musical Original Cast Recording is also available.
Muriel’s Wedding The Musical will play a strictly limited season in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre from March 2019 before returning to Sydney in June 2019 playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. New tickets go on sale in Sydney on Wednesday 21 November and in Melbourne on Thursday 22 November. For more information, visit: www.murielsweddingthemusical.com for details.
Image: Muriel’s Wedding The Musical (original cast November 2017) – photo by Lisa Tomasetti