Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Jane Russell – a cavalcade of Hollywood stars peppered the life of legendary Hollywood choreographer and father of jazz dance, Jack Cole.
Based on the extraordinary life of Jack Cole, Good-bye Miss Monroe is a portrait of a brilliant and innovative choreographer, whose influence is still felt today, and sadly has largely been forgotten.
Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend, Heatwave and The Beale Street Blues are some of the biggest dance hits in Hollywood Film. And Jack Cole created them all.
“His influence was and is profound’, says Director, Liam de Burca. “He trained several of the most sought-after dancers in Hollywood and on Broadway and he infused dance with a range of influences and a smoldering sexuality that persists today.”
Considered the father of jazz dance, Cole developed his jazz technique on the 1930’s nightclub circuit which culminated in appearances at the prestigious New York’s Rainbow Room. Landing in Hollywood he was snapped up by Columbia Pictures to create dances for some of the biggest Hollywood stars including Gene Kelly, Rita Hayworth, Mitzi Gaynor, Betty Grable, Jane Russell, Donald O’Connor, Ann Miller and of course Marilyn Monroe.
Written and directed by Liam de Burca, Good-bye Miss Monroe is a this two-hander dance play starring two of Australia’s most versatile actors: Matt Young as Jack Cole and Anna Burgess as Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, and…..well, everybody else.
Liam de Burca graduated from the Australian Ballet School and danced briefly with The Australian Ballet then went to London to study at the Actor’s Centre. He was soon performing supporting roles on the West End and joined Tap Dogs which took him to New York’s Off-Broadway.
After receiving his Green Card in the Artist category he landed his first job on Broadway where he became an assistant choreographer to Susan Stroman (The Music Man, Contact, A Christmas Carol, The Producers). During his performing career he worked for some of the biggest names in dance including Graeme Murphy, Garth Welch, Gideon Obarzanek, Gillian Lynne, Wayne Cilento, Mercedes Ellington, Dein Perry and Susan Stroman.
Liam received the Richard Porter Leach Fellowship to study Creative Writing at State University of New York and has since written for Timeline Films (L.A.). He recently directed two new plays by Rom Watson for the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP) at the University of Southern California, and his first play The Tall Poppies received a reading at The Old Vic Theatre, London.
Good-bye Miss Monroe
Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Season: 29 April – 4 May 2014
Bookings: (03) 8290 7000 or online at: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au
For more information, visit: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au for details.
Image: Matt Young and Anna Burgess – by Belinda Wright BWP Studios