Producers Opera Australia’s Lyndon Terracini and John Frost have announced the principal cast for the Melbourne season of Lerner & Loewe’s My Fair Lady directed by Julie Andrews, at The Regent Theatre from May 2017.
Joining the cast in Melbourne is acclaimed theatre, film and television actor Charles Edwards, as Professor Higgins. Most recently Edwards appeared in the widely acclaimed television series Downton Abbey and the feature film Diana. He has played leading roles on Broadway and the West End and his theatre credits include The 39 Steps, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the lead role of Bertie in the original stage play of The Kings Speech.
The Melbourne cast also includes the outstanding principal performers currently playing to packed houses in Sydney: young star Anna O’Byrne as Eliza Doolittle, Reg Livermore will play the role of Alfred P. Doolittle, Robyn Nevin will play Mrs. Higgins and Mark Vincent will play Freddy Eynsford-Hill. The role of Colonel Hugh Pickering will be played by Tony Llewellyn-Jones and Deidre Rubenstein will play Mrs. Pearce.
This beloved musical which took the world by storm, tells the tale of a Cockney flower girl named Eliza Doolittle whose world was forever changed by the brilliant and demanding phoneticist, Henry Higgins. The clash of cultures sparks some of theatre’s most witty dialogue and wonderful songs including Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?, On The Street Where You Live, I Could Have Danced All Night and Get Me to the Church on Time.
Associates of the original design team joined together to help bring the stunning sets by Oliver Smith and glorious costumes by Cecil Beaton to life again. Contributing to the creative team is Tony-award winning choreographer Christopher Gattelli, costume recreation John David Ridge, musical director Guy Simpson, lighting design by Broadway and West End legend Richard Pilbrow and sound design by Michael Waters.
Currently playing at the Sydney Opera House until 5 November 2016, My Fair Lady will play Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from 12 May 2017. Tickets for the Melbourne season go on sale Monday 10 October 2016. For more information, visit: www.myfairladymusical.com.au for details.
Image: Charles Edwards to play Professor Henry Higgins in the Melbourne season of My Fair Lady