The Australian production of Groundhog Day The Musical, hailed as a “delight again, and again, and again” (The Guardian), is now entering its final 5 weeks of performances at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. Audiences won’t get a repeat chance to see this triumphant production, which must leave Australia at the end of April.
Time is running out to see the unmissable Olivier Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated Andy Karl on stage as the cynical TV weatherman Phil Connors. Karl also starred in a record-breaking return season of Groundhog Day The Musical at London’s Old Vic, which just last week received further acclaim with a highly coveted nomination for Best Revival of a Musical ahead of the 2024 Laurence Olivier Awards.
Based on the 1993 hit ?lm and from the creatives behind Matilda (on stage and ?lm), this is a gloriously joyful, hilarious and heart-warming production from the award-winning minds of Australia’s one and only Tim Minchin AM, writer Danny Rubin and director Matthew Warchus.
Speaking to the success of Groundhog Day The Musical both here in Melbourne and overseas Tim Minchin AM said “Seven years after our existential sciuridaen rom-com won Olivier Awards for Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical on London’s West End, it finally landed in my home country, and it has been an even greater joy than I imagined. Aussie audiences just really get it,” said Minchin.
“They laugh at every joke (even the obscure ones and the dark ones and the silly puns) and cry their eyes out and leap to their feet at the curtain. I’m so proud of our world class local cast and crew, and so stoked that audiences have embraced us. Meanwhile, back in London, Groundhog Day has been nominated for another Olivier Award (this time for the 2023 remount)! Look at that sun.”
Appearing alongside Andy Karl are some of the best home-grown talent Australia has to offer, including Helpmann award-winner Elise McCann as Phil’s head-strong producer Rita Hanson. Completing the cast is Afua Adjei, Grant Almirall, Kaya Byrne, Kate Cole, Rachel Cole, Benjamin Colley, Andrew Coshan, Andrew Dunne, Madison Green, Matthew Hamilton, Matt Hourigan, Michael Lindner, Etuate Lutui, Conor Neylon, Ashleigh Rubenach, Jacob Steen, Connor Sweeney, Alison Whyte, Tim Wright and Kate Yaxley.
The production features Set and Costume by Rob Howell (Matilda The Musical, A Christmas Carol), Choreography by Lizzi Gee (Little Shop of Horrors, A Christmas Carol), Orchestration, Additional Music and Musical Supervision by Christopher Nightingale (A Christmas Carol, Matilda The Musical) and Lighting by Hugh Vanstone (A Christmas Carol, Back to the Future).
Sound by Simon Baker (A Christmas Carol, Girl from the North Country), Illusions by Paul Kieve (Matilda The Musical, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Video and Animation by Andrzej Goulding (Sylvia, Eureka Day) and additional Movement by Finn Caldwell (Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax, Life of Pi).
This Tony Award nominated and Olivier Award-winning (Best New Musical, Best Actor) musical sensation previously took the US and UK by storm and is an enchanting comedy-musical of a man trapped inside one day on endless repeat.
Groundhog Day is a Whistle Pig production, produced in Australia by GWB Entertainment and is supported by Victoria’s Tourism and Major Event fund, Visit Victoria. Groundhog Day was originally produced in London in association with the Old Vic Theatre.
Groundhog Day The Musical continues at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre until 20 April 2024. For more information, visit: www.groundhogday.com.au for details.
Image: The Australian company of Groundhog Day The Musical led by Andy Karl – photo by Jeff Busby