Celebrating one of Australia’s most-loved groups, Georgy Girl – the Seekers Musical, the much anticipated cast announcement was made today with members of The Seekers in attendance at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl – the scene of The Seekers’ record-breaking concert in 1967 that drew a mammoth crowd of more than 200,000 people!
Georgy Girl – the Seekers Musical follows the story of Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley, from their folk and jazz beginnings in Melbourne to their meteoric rise to world pop stardom in the ‘60s, to today. This brand new musical is produced by Richard East, an originating producer of Mamma Mia!, and Dennis Smith, producer of Dusty – The Original Pop Diva, who are thrilled to be bringing this new production to Melbourne for its world premiere.
“There is no other city in the world we could have opened this in,” said Richard East. “Melbourne is the home of The Seekers, and where it all began for Judith, Athol, Keith and Bruce in 1962 before they went on to capture the hearts and conquer the charts of the rest of the world.”
Taking on the role of legendary lead singer of The Seekers, Judith Durham, is star of stage and screen Pippa Grandison. Joining Pippa as her band mates and fellow vocalists will be Phillip Lowe as Keith Potger, Mike McLeish playing Bruce Woodley and Glaston Toft as Athol Guy.
Pippa Grandison has performed extensively in film, television, theatre and musical theatre throughout Australia and overseas, with highlights including The Graduate alongside Jerry Hall, Mary Poppins and playing the role of Elphaba in the Sydney season of the smash hit Wicked.
Appearing in the original Australian production of Crazy For You, Phillip Lowe has gone on to star in Show Boat, Cabaret, The Producers, Dusty, Mary Poppins, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and is soon to appear in the Hayes Theatre production of High Society.
Mike McLeish, best known for his portrayal of Paul Keating in the hugely successful production of Keating! The Musical, he has also appeared in Eddie Perfect’s Shane Warne: The Musical, Chunky Move’s Two Faced Bastard and recently performed at the Hayes Theatre in the revival of Nick Enright and Max Lambert’s Miracle City.
Glaston Toft appeared in Shout!, My Fair Lady, and received rave reviews for his performance in Jersey Boys as Four Seasons member Nick Massi, playing the role for more than four years and 1300 performances.
Also joining the cast is Ian Stenlake as The Seekers’ tour manager, John Ashby and Adam Murphy as narrator Ron Edgeworth. Ian Stenlake is one of the most sought after and popular performers in Australian film, television and theatre, starring in the Nine Network’s Sea Patrol and Stingers. Adam’s extensive musical stage credits include the recent role of Jake Houseman in the national tour of Dirty Dancing.
This talented lead cast will be supported by an outstanding ensemble featuring Sophie Carter, Alex Gibson-Giorgio, Alex Given, Todd Goddard, Madison Green, Matt Hamilton, Shaye Hopkins, Loren Hunter, Kirsten King, Cameron MacDonald, Madeleine Mackenzie, Lachlan Martin, Rubin Matters, Michelle Smitheram, Alana Tranter, Stephen Wheat and Brenton Wilson.
Written by Patrick Edgeworth with script consultant Graham Simpson, Georgy Girl – the Seekers Musical will be directed by Gary Young with musical supervision by Stephen Amos, and feature the hit songs including The Carnival is Over, I’ll Never Find Another You, Morningtown Ride, A World of Our Own, I am Australian and of course, the Oscar-nominated Georgy Girl.
Georgy Girl – the Seekers Musical will have its world premiere at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday 22 December 2015. This strictly limited season of 14 weeks will be followed by a 9-week season at Sydney’s State Theatre, opening early April 2016.
Tickets go on sale Thursday 27 August 27 from Ticketek. For more information, visit: www.georgygirlthemusical.com for details.
Image: Phillip Lowe, Mike McLeish, Keith Potger, Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Pippa Grandison and Glaston Toft – photo by Jim Lee