The Australian company of GWB Entertainment’s Groundhog Day The Musical will welcome their first audiences this week at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre.
Direct from its record-breaking return season at London’s Old Vic, the production will play an exclusive 13-week season in Melbourne with sold-out preview performances from Wednesday 24 January, ahead of the Australian Premiere on Thursday 1 February 2024.
Set to be an unmissable experience for audiences when the curtain goes up at The Princess Theatre, Groundhog Day the Musical is the gloriously joyful and heart-warming production from the award-winning minds of Australia’s one and only Tim Minchin AM, writer of the iconic 1993 film Danny Rubin and director Matthew Warchus.
Melbourne is only the third city worldwide to host this enchanting musical comedy in which weatherman Phil Connors is trapped inside one day on endless repeat. This first-ever Australian production of Groundhog Day The Musical will be exclusive to the Princess Theatre.
“This Australian-exclusive season of Groundhog Day The Musical is set to attract visitors from far and wide to the nation’s theatre capital – providing a boost to local businesses and jobs,” said Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos. “We can’t wait for Australian audiences to fall in love with this hit show and everything on offer in Melbourne over summer.”
Leading the cast is Olivier Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated star Andy Karl. Acclaimed for originating the role of Phil Connors at London’s Old Vic and reprising it on Broadway, Karl brings his unmissable performance to the Melbourne stage. Critics in London and New York have hailed Karl’s performance as “bewitching” (The Guardian UK), “suburb” (Financial Times) and “outrageously inventive” (The New York Times).
“I truly love this show and I’m grateful the Melbourne production is welcoming me back to the role of Phil Connors,” said Andy Karl. “It’s always such a joy to join a new production and watch everyone’s talent be put to work with comedy and heart.”
“I love that moment when everyone discovers how special Groundhog Day is, I watch the lightbulb go off in everybody’s head and that makes me very happy. It’s very unique and I’m lucky to live this show over and over… and over. I can’t wait to perform with this tremendous Australian Cast.”
Joining Andy Karl in this classic rom-com is Elise McCann as the quick-witted and kind-hearted television producer Rita Hanson. Completing the company are 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).
Groundhog Day The Musical is a Whistle Pig production, produced in Australia by GWB Entertainment, supported by Victoria’s Tourism and Major Event fund, Visit Victoria. Groundhog Day The Musical was originally produced in partnership with The Old Vic.
Groundhog Day The Musical
Princess Theatre, Spring Street, Melbourne
Season: 1 February – 7 April 2024 (previews: 24 – 31 January)
Information and Bookings: www.groundhogday.com.au
Image: Elise McCann, Tim Minchin and Andy Karl at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre – photo by Carmen Zammit