The Australian production of Groundhog Day The Musical is now in its final week of performances before Punxsutawney Phil must leave Melbourne.
With only 4 performances remaining, this is the last chance to join the 99,000 audience members that have been through the doors at the Princess Theatre to experience this “musical masterpiece” (TimeOut).
Following a stellar 13-week exclusive season in Melbourne, filled with magnificent reviews and countless standing ovations, Groundhog Day The Musical will play for the last time in Australia on Saturday 20 April.
Cementing Melbourne’s status as the culture capital of the country, this Olivier-Award winning and Tony-Award nominated production has welcomed over 20,000 interstate and international visitors and over 10,000 audience members from regional Victoria since opening in February 2024.
“We are over the moon at the response that Australian audiences have given to Groundhog Day The Musical,” said Torben Brookman of GWB Entertainment.
“They’ve welcomed the show with open arms and the standing ovations night after night have been a wonderful celebration of the talented cast that have helped to create an experience many theatregoers won’t forget,” said Mr Brookman.
“Our packed major events calendar is a key driver of Victoria’s thriving visitor economy and Groundhog Day the Musical has been a cornerstone of our push to attract more visitors to experience how our State is Every bit different,” said Visit Victoria CEO, Brendan McClements.
“Visit Victoria is proud to have helped bring this delightful production to Melbourne for its first ever staging in the southern hemisphere.”
Based on the 1993 hit film and from the creatives behind Matilda (on stage and film), Groundhog Day The Musical is a gloriously joyful, hilarious and heart-warming production from the award-winning minds of Australia’s one and only Tim Minchin AM, writer Danny Rubin and director Matthew Warchus.
Olivier Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated Andy Karl plays the cynical TV weatherman Phil Connors. Appearing alongside Karl are some of the best home-grown talent Australia has to offer, including Helpmann award-winner Elise McCann as Phil’s head-strong producer Rita Hanson.
Completing the cast is Afua Adjei, Grant Almirall, Kaya Byrne, Kate Cole, Rachel Cole, Benjamin Colley, Andrew Coshan, Andrew Dunne, Madison Green, Matthew Hamilton, Matt Hourigan, Michael Lindner, Etuate Lutui, Conor Neylon, Ashleigh Rubenach, Jacob Steen, Connor Sweeney, Alison Whyte, Tim Wright and Kate Yaxley.
The production features Set and Costume by Rob Howell (Matilda The Musical, A Christmas Carol), Choreography by Lizzi Gee (Little Shop of Horrors, A Christmas Carol), Orchestration, Additional Music and Musical Supervision by Christopher Nightingale (A Christmas Carol, Matilda The Musical) and Lighting by Hugh Vanstone (A Christmas Carol, Back to the Future).
Sound by Simon Baker (A Christmas Carol, Girl from the North Country), Illusions by Paul Kieve (Matilda The Musical, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Video and Animation by Andrzej Goulding (Sylvia, Eureka Day) and additional Movement by Finn Caldwell (Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax, Life of Pi).
Groundhog Day is a Whistle Pig production, produced in Australia by GWB Entertainment and supported by Victoria’s Tourism and Major Event agency, Visit Victoria. Groundhog Day was originally produced in London in association with the Old Vic Theatre.
Groundhog Day The Musical continues at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre until Saturday 20 April 2024. For more information, visit: www.groundhogday.com.au for details.
Image: The Australian company of Groundhog Day The Musical – photo by Jeff Busby