Moulin Rouge! The Musical is thrilled to announce Melbourne’s own Bert LaBonté will join the glittering world of bohemians and aristocrats for the production’s much-anticipated return Melbourne season, stepping into the role of Montmartre artiste Toulouse-Lautrec.
One of Australia’s leading men, Bert LaBonté’s career spans three decades across theatre, television and film. LaBonté received the coveted Helpmann Award and Sydney Theatre Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2012 for his performance in An Officer and a Gentleman (Gordon Frost Organisation), and was nominated in 2005 for Spelling Bee (Sydney Theatre Company) and again in 2017 for The Book of Mormon (Gordon Frost Organisation).
LaBonté’s theatre credits include Fences (Sydney Theatre Company), Richard III (Melbourne Theatre Company), The Grenade (Sydney Theatre Company), Cloudstreet, Jesus Christ Superstar (UK tour for Really Useful Group), and Guys and Dolls (Ambassador Group).
His screen credits include Five Bedrooms (Networks Ten), Pieces of Her (Netflix), Lie With Me (Fremantle), FISK (ABC), Jack Irish (ABC), Wentworth (Foxtel), Upper Middle Bogan (ABC), Tomorrow When The War Began (ABC). Film credits include Animal Kingdom (Porchlight Films) and The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (Kathy Morgan International).
LaBonté joins Des Flanagan as bohemian dreamer Christian, who stars opposite sparkling diamond Alinta Chidzey who plays Satine. Simon Burke AO plays legendary club impresario Harold Zidler, James Bryers is The Duke and Montmarte’s other resident artiste will be played by Ryan Gonzalez as Santiago.
The club’s famed entertainers known as the ‘Lady M’s’ will be played by Samantha Dodemaide as Nini, Olivia Vásquez as Arabia, Chaska Halliday as La Chocolat, and Christopher J Scalzo as Babydoll.
The Return Melbourne season in August 2023 marks a full-circle moment for the production, which premiered to stellar reviews at the Regent Theatre in 2021. Melbourne was the first international city to host the 10-time Tony Award winning show after its dazzling Broadway debut, with the season also coinciding with the 20th anniversary year of Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film.
The sold-out premiere season commenced at the end of the last Melbourne lockdown, and since opening around Australia the production has welcomed nearly one million Australian theatregoers with sold out seasons in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. The Brisbane season is also on track to be a complete sell out.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Lyric Theatre – QPAC, Cultural Precinct, South Bank (Brisbane)
Season: 16 May – 27 July 2023
Bookings: www.qpac.com.au
Regent Theatre, Collins Street, Melbourne
Season: 20 August – 12 November 2023
Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au
For more information, visit: www.moulinrougemusical.com for details.
Image: Bert LaBonté – photo by Daniel Boud