Ghost The Musical announces its Australian Cast

Ghost The Musical Jemma Rix and Rob MillsFollowing an exhaustive casting process by Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, Ghost The Musical has announced a superb cast for its Australian premiere in Adelaide in January 2016.

Led by Rob Mills (Grease) as Sam Wheat, Jemma Rix (Wicked) as Molly Jensen, Alex Rathgeber (direct from his Helpmann Award Winning performance in Anything Goes) as Carl Bruner, Ghost The Musical will introduce British theatrical and television actress Wendy Mae Brown as Oda Mae Brown in the role made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the film.

The Australian tour cast also includes, Ross Chisari as Willie Lopez; Blake Appleqvist, David Denis, Nicholas Eaton, Xander Ellis, Simon Fairweather, Samantha Hagen, Childi Mbakwe, Joshua Mulheran, Justine Puy, Elenoa Rokobaro, Monique Salle, Drew Weston as well as Lydia Warr and Evette White direct from the US and Asian tour productions.

Set in modern day New York City, Ghost The Musical is a timeless fantasy about the power of love.  Walking back to their apartment one night after a romantic dinner, Sam and Molly are mugged, leaving Sam dead on a dark street.  Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly, whom he learns is in grave danger.  With the help of Oda Mae, a phony storefront psychic, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving and protecting her.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film in 1990, Ghost became a blockbuster hit and an instant classic, winning numerous awards worldwide.  The film starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg and was directed by Jerry Zucker.  Bruce Joel Rubin’s script won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown.

The musical features book and lyrics by Academy Award winner Bruce Joel Rubin and original music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winners, Dave Stewart (half of the multi-Grammy Award-winning Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror and Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill). The score also includes the iconic song Unchained Melody, written by Hy Zaret and Alex North and famously performed in the film by The Righteous Brothers.

Employing special effects never before seen in an on-stage musical, Ghost The Musical features an incredible array of illusions – Sam, as a ghost, walks through a solid door, inanimate objects take on a life of their own while spirits ascend to the heavens and subway passengers are thrown in the air and people disappear and reappear right before your eyes.

The Musical premiered in Manchester in 2011 before transferring to the West End and later Broadway. It has been enjoyed by over a million people worldwide and nominated for numerous awards including five Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards.

Ghost The Musical opens in Adelaide on Thursday 7 January 2016, before playing Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from Friday 5 February, Sydney’s Theatre Royal from Friday 18 March and Crown Perth from 21 May. For more information, visit: www.ghostthemusical.com.au for details.

Image: Jemma Rix and Rob Mills to star in Ghost The Musical (supplied)