Heading to Perth after a sell-out season off Broadway, Black Swan State Theatre Company presents the Australian premiere of Clinton: The Musical at the Heath Ledger Theatre from 27 August 2016.
Following Bill Clinton throughout his turbulent presidential career, Clinton: The Musical presents a no-holds-barred approach to political satire, dragging every scandalous skeleton out of the Clintons’ closet for the world to see! Things are going well early in the presidency. With WJ firmly in charge, approval ratings are high and the country is running smoothly.
All that changes, however, when Billy lays eyes on history’s most infamous intern: Monica Lewinsky. From that moment on, Billy wants to run the White House and that sets the stage for an outrageous power struggle between the two, contradicting and combating each other with a series of cabaret-style songs. While all this is going on, Hillary Clinton quietly plots to turn this to her eventual advantage…
With a book by brothers Paul Hodge and Michael Hodge, and music & lyrics by Paul Hodge, Black Swan gained the Australian rights to stage the musical, reuniting the creative team from last year’s sell out musical Next to Normal – director Adam Mitchell (Death of a Salesman, When the Rain Stops Falling), Musical Director David Young (Wicked), Set & Costume Designer Bruce McKinven, and Choreographer Claudia Alessi. Joining them will be Mark Howett (Lighting Designer) and Ben Collins (Sound Designer).
“Clinton: The Musical is shameless bawdy fun. Not that I am against fun, but this is outrageous,” said Black Swan Artistic Director, Kate Cherry. “It is also fabulous because it was written by two boys from Brisbane who took their production over to the Edinburgh Fringe to great acclaim and sold out houses. Then it was taken to off Broadway in New York, where it sold out to great acclaim, and now to Perth where it will make its Australian debut.”
Clinton: The Musical features two versions of the former President: WJ Clinton the wholesome, intelligent statesman played by Simon Burke; and the other a randy, charming troublemaker, Billy, played by Mix 94.5 Breakfast presenter/comedian/actor Matt Dyktynski (Extinction, Boundary Street).
The Musical will also see the Black Swan debut performances of 2015 music theatre graduate, Megan Kozak as Monica Lewinsky, local cabaret performer Clare Moore (Covergirls) as Eleanor Roosevelt, and music theatre star Lisa Adam (Jersey Boys, The Rocky Horror Show) as Hilary Clinton, who also trained at WAAPA with fellow cast member and regular Black Swan performer Brendan Hanson (Next to Normal, As You Like It) as Kenneth Starr, and Luke Hewitt (A Perfect Specimen, Glengarry Glen Ross) as Newt Gingrich.
Clinton: The Musical may just be the antidote we need in the lead up to yet another US presidential election drama.
Director: Adam Mitchell Featuring: Lisa Adam, Simon Burke, Matt Dyktynski, Brendan Hanson, Luke Hewitt, Megan Kozak, Clare Moore Musical Director: David Young Choreographer: Claudia Alessi Sound Designer: Ben Collins Lighting Designer: Mark Howett Musical Director: David Young Set & Costume Designer: Bruce McKinven
Clinton: The Musical
Heath Ledger Theatre – State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, 174 William Street, Perth
Season: 31 August – 11 September 2016 (previews: 27 – 30 August)
Information and Bookings: www.bsstc.com.au
Image: Black Swan State Theatre Company presents Clinton: The Musical (supplied)