Celebrating their 19th Season, The Production Company (TPC) have announced their 2017 Season, to be presented at Arts Centre Melbourne, that features one of the most enduring musicals of all time, a global phenomenon rock masterpiece, and a romantic Broadway classic.
“Hello, Dolly! and Brigadoon are two of the greatest Broadway musicals and Hollywood musical movies of all time. From the legendary Jerry Herman, and Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe respectively, they showcase the music and storytelling that makes musicals so great. Jesus Christ Superstar is nothing short of a global phenomenon,” says The Production Company’s Jeanne Pratt AC.
Hello Dolly!
Playhouse – Arts Centre Melbourne: 27 May to 11 June 2017
One of the most enduring musicals of all time, Hello, Dolly! bursts with humour, romance and high energy dancing. Dolly Levi, the irrepressible matchmaker from Yonkers, New York has an idea for the perfect match – the tight-fisted, local merchant Horace Vandergelder and herself!
Dolly Levi has been played by a bevy of stars from Carol Channing to Bette Midler. Now Marina Prior takes on the title role. Marina’s real-life husband Grant Piro, who last starred with Marina in The Production Company’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, returns to play Horace Vandergelder.
The superb score by Jerry Herman includes the smash hits Hello, Dolly!, Put On Your Sunday Clothes and It Only Takes a Moment. Helpmann Award winning director Gary Young (Georgy Girl, Singin’ in the Rain) returns to The Production Company with a superb creative team to recreate this great Broadway classic.
Jesus Christ Superstar
State Theatre – Arts Centre Melbourne: 29 July – 6 August 2017
When Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar exploded onto the stage in 1971, it changed the world of musical theatre forever. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s brilliant score includes Jesus Christ Superstar, Heaven On Their Minds, What’s the Buzz? and Mary Magdalene’s Everything’s Alright and I Don’t Know How to Love Him.
This, the greatest story ever told, is based on the last week of Jesus’s life, the plot highlights the political and personal struggles between Jesus and Judas. TPC favourite Gale Edwards is directing this rock masterpiece. She has directed Jesus Christ Superstar on London’s West End and on Broadway. And in 2000, Gale won an Emmy Award for the televised recording of her production.
Rob Mills (Ghost, Wicked) joins The Production Company for the first time in the title role of Jesus. Helpmann Award winner Alinta Chidzey (Curtains, Show Boat) is Mary Magdalene and Zoy Frangos (Les Miserables, South Pacific) is making his TPC debut as Judas.
Brigadoon
State Theatre – Arts Centre Melbourne: 28 October to 5 November 2017
Brigadoon is the story of two young American tourists lost in the Highlands of Scotland, who stumble upon a mysterious village called Brigadoon. Tommy (Rohan Browne), one of the tourists, meets and falls in love with Fiona (Genevieve Kingsford), a feisty young woman. But Tommy discovers that magically, Brigadoon only appears for one day every one hundred years.
Lerner and Loewe, who created Gigi, My Fair Lady and Camelot, created some of their best loved standards for Brigadoon – Almost Like Being In Love, I’ll Go Home With Bonnie Jean and The Heather on The Hill.
Genevieve Kingsford, making her debut with The Production Company is in the role of Fiona, and Rohan Browne plays Tommy, the role made famous by Gene Kelly. Nancye Hayes stars as Brigadoon’s much loved matriarch, Mrs Forsythe. Helpmann Award winner Elise McCann (Miss Honey in Matilda) plays Meg Broke. Director Jason Langley and Musical Director Michael Tyack, who created Dusty last season, return for Brigadoon.
Subscription packages are now available, with single ticket sales available from 18 April 2017. For more information, visit: www.theproductioncompany.com.au for details.
Image: courtesy of The Production Company