Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini AM and Australian theatre producer John Frost AM have announced the final lead cast member and the ensemble cast for their new production of Cole Porter’s smash-hit musical comedy Anything Goes, which will tour Australia this year.
Bartholomew John, who played Captain Brackett in the OA/John Frost production of South Pacific in 2013, will play Ivy league Wall Street banker Elisha J. Whitney, joining previously announced principal cast including Caroline O’Connor as evangelist turned nightclub singer Reno Sweeney; Todd McKenney as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh; and Alex Rathgeber as young Wall Street broker Billy Crocker.
Claire Lyon will be American debutante Hope Harcourt; Carmen Duncan in her musical theatre debut as Evangeline Harcourt; Alan Jones as Captain of the S.S. American; Wayne Scott Kermond will play second-rate gangster Moonface Martin; and Debora Krizak as Moonface’s girlfriend Erma.
The Anything Goes ensemble will comprise Aljin Abella, Annie Aitken, Spencer Bignell, Jan Di Peitro, Samantha Leigh Dodemaide, Xander Ellis, Josh Gates, Alex Gibson-Giorgio, Bridget Hancock, Nicholas Kong, Evan Lever, Hayley Martin, Suzie Melloy, Imogen Moore, Glen Oliver, Natasha Paramor, Nathan Pinnell, Jordan Pollard, Ashleigh Rubenach, Mason Schaube, Greta Sherriff, Ashlee Smith and Lyndon Watts.
“We’re thrilled with the stellar lineup of amazing performers we have assembled, both leads and ensemble,” said John Frost and Lyndon Terracini.
For decades, Anything Goes has captivated millions with its delightful story of madcap antics aboard the S.S. American. When the ocean liner embarks from New York to London, etiquette and convention get tossed out the portholes as two unlikely pairs set off on the course to find true love… proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of singing sailors, an exotic disguise and some good old-fashioned blackmail.
This dazzling musical celebration features a hilarious tale of topsy-turvy relationships, mistaken identities and foiled plots, peppered with some of musical theatre’s most memorable standards including You’re The Top, De-Lovely, I Get A Kick Out Of You and the title song, Anything Goes.
Winner of three Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival and Choreography during its most recent Broadway run, Anything Goes is a stunning nautical favourite, will dock in Melbourne in May, Brisbane in July and Sydney in September. For more information, visit: www.anythinggoesmusical.com.au for details.