The 7 Sopranos: Songs from Stage and Screen

The Seven Sopranos Songs from Stage and ScreenThe 50s has never been so much fun! Songs from Stage and Screen, the brand new Australian musical featuring The 7 Sopranos will transport audiences back to the era of Hollywood glamour as they throw off their classic opera gowns for 50s pin up looks, to perform a concert dedicated to popular hits.

The story rewinds to 1956 – radio broadcasters predict that television will be the death of radio. For five years the voices of Australia’s favourite singing group The 7 Sopranos have seduced listeners across Australia. The race is now on to transform from radio stars to TV stars. Will they succeed?

Living up to their reputation as the ‘showgirls of opera’, The 7 Sopranos’ Songs from Stage and Screen draws on classic songs including I Got Rhythm, Big Spender and Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend – in a deliciously cheeky performance celebrating sisterhood, the power of transformation and flirtatious fluttering petticoats.

Songs from Stage and Screen is a triumphant blend of harmonies, incredible musicianship and spine-tingling arrangements from acclaimed composers such as Rodgers & Hammerstein, Gershwin and Mancini. In a stage show like no other, The 7 Sopranos channel audiences inner Doris Day, Marilyn Monroe or Rita Hayworth, intoxicating the senses with a world overflowing with nylons, killer heels and eye-poppin’ lipstick!

Songs from Stage and Screen was inspired by the success of The 7 Sopranos latest album Popcorn – Songs from Stage and Screen, and is written and directed by accomplished Australia opera singer Tarita Botsman, with choreography by Joseph Simons, and musical direction by Glenn Amer – who also plays the role of Maestro Harry Harris, the tinkler of the ivories, singer, radio announcer and conductor.

With a distinguished background as an opera singer, Tarita Botsman is the artistic director of The 7 Sopranos. She followed her professional operatic debut as Papagena in The Magic Flute (Opera Queensland) at the age of 22 with study in Italy, Germany and Australia. She went on to perform over twenty major operatic roles for companies across Europe and Australia and performed as an actress for all the major state theatre companies in Australia.

In Europe, Tarita made her debut at Teatro Il Tempietto in Rome. She is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Opera Course, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and QUT. Her many awards include Young Australian of the Year and Young Queenslander of the Year. In addition to Songs from Stage and Screen, Tarita returns to Opera Q as Assistant Director for the semi-staged production of Peter Grimes for the 2018 Brisbane Festival, and will also be directing Opera in the Gardens in Brisbane.

Director: Tarita Botsman Featuring: Simone Brown, Claire Candy, Cait Gregor, Marcia Penman, Rachel Pines, Deborah Rogers, Kate Yaxley Musical Director / Pianist: Glenn Amer Choreographer: Joseph Simons Lighting Designer: Daniel Anderson

Songs from Stage and Screen will be presented at the Byron Theatre, Byron Bay (12 April); Jetty Memorial Theatre, Coffs Harbour (13 April); Glasshouse, Port Macquarie (14 April); Manning Entertainment Centre, Taree (15 April); Cessnock Performing Arts Centre (17 April); The Concourse Theatre, Chatswood (18 – 20 April); and Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra (21 April). For more information, visit: www.the7sopranos.com for details.

Image: The Seven Sopranos (supplied)