media kit - Georgy Girl

Transcription

THE MUSICAL EVENT OF THE SUMMER!
MEDIA KIT
GEORGY GIRL – THEGEORGY
SEEKERS MUSICAL
GIRL
WORLD PREMIERE IN MELBOURNE THIS DECEMBER
OPENING IN SYDNEY IN APRIL 2016
CAST ANNOUNCED
The Australian cast of the brand new production Georgy Girl - the Seekers Musical,
has been announced today with members of The Seekers in attendance. The much
anticipated cast announcement was made 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!
Officially launched today by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, the
musical will have its world premiere in Melbourne on Tuesday December 22 at Her
Majesty’s Theatre, with previews commencing December 15 for a strictly limited
season of 14 weeks. Tickets go on sale on Thursday August 27 from Ticketek. This
will be followed by a 9-week season at the State Theatre in Sydney next April.
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.
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.”
GEORGY GIRL – THE SEEKERS MUSICAL MEDIA KIT AUGUST 2015
GeorgyGirlTheMusical.com
Starring as Judith Durham, lead singer of The Seekers, 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.
Phillip Lowe joins the cast as Keith Potger, the band’s 6 and 12-string guitarist.
Appearing in the original Australian production of Crazy For You, Phillip has gone
on to star in Show Boat, Cabaret, The Producers, Dusty – The Original Pop Diva,
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, will play 6-string guitarist, Bruce Woodley. Mike
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.
Playing Athol Guy, The Seekers’ double bass player, Glaston Toft appeared
in Shout! and 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.
Acclaimed actors also joining the cast include 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.
Celebrating one of Australia’s most loved groups, Georgy Girl - the Seekers
Musical will tell the remarkable story of legendary pop group The Seekers, the first
Australian band to achieve international success.
Opening in Melbourne on Tuesday December 22, Georgy Girl - the Seekers Musical,
features all their 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 Oscarnominated Georgy Girl. These classic songs have been enjoyed by generations
of music lovers around the world, and particularly by Australians, for whom The
Seekers are part of their musical DNA.
The popular quartet was the first Australian act to achieve major chart success in
the UK and US, and they became the first group ever to reach number one on the
UK charts with their first three singles, I’ll Never Find Another You, A World of Our
Own, and The Carnival is Over, which outsold The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Influential UK music magazine New Musical Express voted The Seekers 1965’s
‘Best New Group’ and the following year, Georgy Girl became the first number one
song for an Australian group in America.
In 1967, The Seekers made a triumphant return to their hometown, drawing a
record-breaking crowd of more than 200,000 people to Melbourne’s Sidney Myer
Music Bowl. In 1968, the group members were named joint “Australians of the Year”
for 1967 – the only group to be honoured with this award, and were each awarded
the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
In July 1968, Judith announced she was leaving The Seekers to pursue a solo career
and the group disbanded. The Seekers’ Greatest Hits album was released and
spent 17 weeks at number one in Australia, and six weeks on top of the UK charts
(remaining in the UK Top 40 for 125 weeks).
Georgy Girl – the Seekers Musical spans the decades from selling millions of
records and topping the charts around the world, breaking up in 1968 and eventually
reuniting in 1993, when they reformed for their ‘25 Year Silver Jubilee Reunion
Celebration’ tour, and to a sold-out UK tour last year for their 50th anniversary
‘Golden Jubilee’ tour (including two capacity concerts at London’s Royal Albert
Hall) - and as of today, almost 14 million YouTube views of their classic I’ll Never
Find Another You footage from 1968.
Written by Patrick Edgeworth with script consultant Graham Simpson, Georgy Girl
- the Seekers Musical tells the incredible story of one of the country’s true national
treasures. A band whose modest beginnings at a café in South Yarra took them to
the concert stages of the world. It’s a journey full of laughter, a few tears, but most
of all, featuring the magnificent songs we all know and love.
And so the carnival continues with Georgy Girl - the Seekers Musical having its
world premiere in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday December 22.
This strictly limited season of 14 weeks is followed by a 9-week season at The State
Theatre in Sydney, opening early April 2016.
Georgy Girl - the Seekers Musical is directed by Gary Young with musical
supervision by Stephen Amos.
Tickets on sale Thursday August 27 from Ticketek.
www.ticketek.com.au/georgygirl or 132 849
Waitlist for tickets in Sydney now at www.ticketmaster.com.au/georgygirl
JOIN THE CONVERSATION • #GEORGYGIRL
Website:
Facebook: Twitter:
Instagram:
facebook.com/ggthemusical
@GeorgyGirlStage
@GeorgyGirlStage
HIGH RES EPK FOOTAGE CAN BE DOWNLOADED AS BELOW:
http://georgygirlthemusical.com/media • Password: georgy2015
MELBOURNE & NATIONAL MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Vicky Iliopoulos • [email protected] • 03 8866 8336 or 0410 551 388
Linda Freedman • [email protected] • 03 8866 8339 or 0403 212 161
SYDNEY MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Bruce Pollack, Pollack Consulting • [email protected] • 02 9331 5276
Amanda Buckworth, AB Publicity • [email protected] • 0413 949 140
A MESSAGE FROM THE SEEKERS
“We are absolutely delighted that the story and the music of The Seekers is being
brought to the stage as a musical. The idea of a musical based on the story of our
group was first raised over four years ago by someone very familiar to us - Patrick
Edgeworth, the talented scriptwriter is Judith’s brother in-law, and knows our story
well. He consulted with Graham Simpson, who has been part of our team for many
years, and wrote Judith’s life story in his best-selling book ‘The Judith Durham
Story - Colours of My Life’.
“In August 2014, Richard East and Dennis Smith asked us to be part of an invited
industry audience at a workshop presentation of the musical. The response from
the audience was amazing - a standing ovation. It was everything we could have
wanted and more.
“We hope you will share and continue to enjoy our journey, as our story comes to
life as a brand new Australian musical.”
– Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Keith Potger & Bruce Woodley, The Seekers
TICKETING
MELBOURNE • ON SALE THURSDAY 27 AUGUST AT TICKETEK
VENUE:
DATES:
Her Majesty’s Theatre
From 15 December 2015 – strictly limited season – 14 weeks only
TIMES:
Tuesday:
PRICE:
BOOKING:
Friday:
8pm
Wednesday: 1pm & 7pm
Saturday:
2pm & 8pm
Thursday:
Sunday:
3pm
7pm
8pm
Tickets from $60.00*
www.ticketek.com.au/georgygirl • 132 849
Groups 10+ Save! Call Ticketek Group Bookings 1300 364 001
or email [email protected]
*Additional fees may apply. Subject to availability. Prices and performance schedule subject to change.
SYDNEY • WAITLIST NOW AT TICKETMASTER
from April 2016 at the State Theatre
Waitlist for tickets in Sydney now at www.ticketmaster.com.au/georgygirl
FULL CAST LIST
Pippa Grandison
Judith Durham
Phillip Lowe Keith Potger
Mike McLeish Bruce Woodley
Glaston Toft Athol Guy
Adam Murphy Ron Edgeworth
Ian Stenlake John Ashby
Sophie Carter Bev
Stephen Wheat
Eddie Jarrett
Todd Goddard
Alex Gibson-Giorgio
Father / Male 1
Photographer / Male 2
Cameron MacDonald
Graham Kennedy / Male 3
Lachlan Martin
Male 4
Alex Given Simon / Male 5
Rubin Matters
GI / Male 6
Kirsten King
Hazel / Female 1
Loren Hunter
Mitzi /Female 2
Alana Tranter
Waitress / Female 3
Madison Green
Female 4
Michelle Smitheram
Dusty / Female 5
Madeleine Mackenzie
Female 6
Matt Hamilton
Swing
Brenton Wilson Swing
Shaye Hopkins
Swing
CREATIVE TEAM
Patrick Edgeworth Graham Simpson
Gary Young Writer
Script Consultant
Director
Stephen Amos
Musical Supervisor,
Arranger and Orchestrator
Michael Ralph Choreographer
Shaun Gurton
Set Designer
Isaac Lummis
Costume Designer
Trudy Dalgleish
Lighting Designer
Julian Spink
Sound Designer
Stephen Gray
Musical Director
Lynne Ruthven
Casting Director
Brian Downie
Sue Farrelly
Technical Director
Executive Producer
Produced by Richard East and Dennis Smith
CAST
PIPPA GRANDISON • Judith Durham
Born and raised in Perth, Pippa moved to Sydney in her late teens to pursue
acting. Her career has spanned nearly three decades and has seen her performing
extensively in film, television, theatre and musical theatre throughout Australia and
overseas. Pippa currently resides on NSW’s beautiful Central Coast.
Pippa’s recent career highlights include the role of Barbara in Michael Gow’s Europe
at the Seymour Centre, Mrs Braddock in The Graduate alongside Jerry Hall, the
role of Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins for Disney/Cameron Mackintosh (Australia/NZ
tour), Small Time Gangster for Boiler Maker Burburry Entertainment and the role of
Elphaba for the Sydney season of the Broadway smash hit Wicked for the Gordon
Frost Organisation.
In musical theatre Pippa has also starred in Kookaburra’s production of Company,
Michael Coppel’s We Will Rock You, The Production Company’s The Pajama Game,
Jacobsen Entertainment’s The Witches of Eastwick, The Ensemble’s production of
Mary Bryant and the Sydney Theatre Company’s Into the Woods and A Little Night
Music.
Other theatre credits include: Bell Shakespeare’s Just Macbeth, which played at
Sydney Opera House and Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010, STC’s Waikiki Hip and
Black Rock, Company B’s The Threepenny Opera, Company B and Hair of the Dog’s
production of The Misanthrope and The Vagina Monologues by BCHM.
Her television credits include Home and Away, Mr & Mrs Murder, Underbelly: Razor.
Magical Tales, All Saints, Balmain Boys, South Pacific, Twisted Tales, Water Rats,
E Street, GP, Brides of Christ, Golden Fiddles, A Country Practice and Come in
Spinner.
Pippa has also appeared in features films including Mr Accident, A Change of Heart,
Hotel de Love, Dating the Enemy, Muriel’s Wedding and Over the Hill.
PHILLIP LOWE • Keith Potger
Originally from South Australia, Phillip studied music theatre at the Western
Australian Academy of Performing Arts before moving to Sydney to join the original
Australian cast of the musical Crazy For You. He has since gone on to appear in
other musicals including Show Boat, Cabaret, The Producers, The Sunshine Club,
Eurobeat, Dusty, No Way to Treat a Lady, Mary Poppins, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,
Beyond Desire, Blood Brothers and most recently as Mr Klemmer in GFO’s
production of Legends.
Phil is about to appear in High Society in the role of Chester for the Hayes Theatre.
In addition to appearing in numerous TV commercials Phillip’s television credits
include roles in McLeod’s Daughter’s, All Saints, Home and Away, the CBS miniseries Blonde, Crownies, Anzac Girls and the documentary Australia: The Story
of Us. Phillip’s film credits include Thank God He Met Lizzie, Black and White and
The Honourable Wally Norman.
MIKE McLEISH • Bruce Woodley
Mike is best known to Australian audiences for his portrayal of Paul Keating in Casey
Bennetto’s hugely successful production of Keating The Musical. Since Keating,
Mike has appeared in Eddie Perfect’s Shane Warne: The Musical and Chunky Move’s
Two Faced Bastard. He has performed with renowned musical improvisation
troupe Spontaneous Broadway and subversive cabaret trio The Beautiful Losers, as
well as forming a musical comedy partnership with Rusty Berther (ex-Scared Weird
Little Guys) and collaborated with his wife, actor and writer Fiona Harris, on a range
of diverse projects for stage and screen. Mike also co-starred in the recent revival
of Nick Enright and Max Lambert’s Miracle City at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney,
and in the world première of Big hART’s Blue Angel as part of the Tasmanian
International Arts Festival. Off stage, Mike has appeared in television guest roles
on Utopia, Offspring, The Librarians, Bed of Roses, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries
and Lowdown. Mike was also employed as a songwriter, music adviser and actor in
both series’ of the ABC drama, The Time of Our Lives.
GLASTON TOFT • Athol Guy
Glaston graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2005.
Prior to WAAPA, he studied Classical Voice at the Queensland Conservatorium. He
performed in the musical Jersey Boys as Four Seasons member Nick Massi for more
than four years and 1300 performances. Recently he was seen in Sondheim’s Passion
at the Melbourne Arts Centre, Assassins, Guys and Dolls and West Side Story for
The Production Company, The Consul for Gertrude Opera, and Blood Brothers at
Chapel Off Chapel. In 2008, he appeared in TML Enterprises’ production of Shout!
and the national tour of Opera Australia’s My Fair Lady. His other performance
highlights include Little Me and Camelot for The Production Company.
IAN STENLAKE • John Ashby
Ian has starred in many successful theatrical musicals including Guys and Dolls, The
School of Arts (Queensland Theatre Company), The Pyjama Game (The Production
Company), Oklahoma! (The Production Company), Cabaret (IMG Entertainment),
Charters Towers (QLD Musical Festival) Eureka as well as Songs for a New World
(Adelaide Cabaret), They’re Playing Our Song (The Production Company), Music
Hall (Royal Shakespeare Theatre), and Angry Housewives (La Boite, Seymour).
In 2013 Ian reprised the role of Curly in Harvest Rain Theatre Company’s production
of Oklahoma! before starring again in Harvest Rain’s production of Guys and Dolls
in 2014. Ian then starred in Darlinghurst Theatre Company’s production of Daylight
Saving, Hayes Theatre Company’s production of Truth, Beauty & A Picture of You
and most recently Leader Entertainment’s production of An Audience with Smoky
& Herb.
Ian’s film credits include Dingles Down Under, Diana & Me, Trapped, as well as a
role in The Godfather III. Television credits include Sea Patrol, Stingers, Children’s
Hospital and Dance Academy 2.
Ian is a two time Green Room Award Winner for Best Male Artist in a Leading Role
in 2004 (They’re Playing Our Song) and again in 2006. He also received three
Green Room nominations for Best Male Actor in a Musical for Oklahoma!, Cabaret
and Eureka.
ADAM MURPHY • Ron Edgeworth
Adam has appeared in various productions for Melbourne Theatre Company,
including True Minds, His Girl Friday and The Drowsy Chaperone (for which
he received Helpmann and Green Room Award nominations for Best Supporting
Actor in a Musical) and Urinetown. Adam also appeared in The Graduate and
Horrible Histories.
His musical stage credits include the role of Jake Houseman in the national tour of
Dirty Dancing, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (John Frost), the
Australian tour of Mary Poppins (Disney Theatrical), Angelique (Victorian Opera),
Guys and Dolls (Donmar Warehouse), Mamma Mia! (Dainty Consolidated) and
The 10th Anniversary Tour of Les Misérables (Cameron Mackintosh).
Adam has also appeared in The Production Company’s Guys and Dolls, The Pirates
of Penzance, Crazy For You, Mame, 42nd St, Little Me, Thoroughly Modern Millie,
The Pajama Game, Kiss Me Kate, Annie Get Your Gun, Carousel, They’re Playing
Our Song, The Gilbert and Sullivan Show and Call Me Madam.
Screen credits include the feature film Sucker, Mychonny Moves In (webisode),
The Weatherman, Utopia, House Husbands, City Homicide, Eugenie Sandler, Halifax
f.p., Neighbours, Blue Heelers, The Trivia Company (NZ), Shortland Street (NZ) and
short feature film, The Forest.
Adam co-wrote and performed the cabaret Beautiful Losers, which won two
Green Room Awards for Best Cabaret Ensemble and a Fringe Festival Award for
Best Cabaret.
THE SEEKERS – NOTHING BUT THE FACTS!
Judith Durham, Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce
Woodley are joint ‘Australians of the Year 1967’
The Seekers celebrated their 50th birthday on 4th December 2012 (1962 - 2012)
The only surviving chart-topping band from the ‘60s, anywhere
in the world, with all the original founding members … and
still performing and recording after half a century!
The first group ever to reach No.1 on the UK charts with their first 3
singles ... not even Michael Jackson or Madonna achieved that.
The first Australian group to reach No.1 in USA (Georgy Girl)
... not even Little River Band or AC/DC can claim that!
The first Australian group to reach No.1 in UK (I’ll Never Find Another You)
... not even The Easybeats or INXS can claim that!
The first Australian group ever to reach No.1 in UK with
a debut record (I’ll Never Find Another You) ... not even
the Rolling Stones or The Beatles achieved that!
The Carnival is Over (No.1 Hit):
Outsold everyone including the Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
No.7 in ‘Top Ten UK Hits of the 60’s’
No.30 in ‘Top 100 Best Selling Singles of all Time’
No.34 in ‘UK Million Selling Singles of all Time’
I’ll Never Find Another You (No.1 Hit):
Currently 14 million + hits on YouTube
Georgy Girl (No.1 Hit):
Nominated for an Academy Award ‘Best Original Song’
Quadruple Platinum for their ‘25 Year Reunion Celebration
– Live In Concert’ video 1994 ... It knocked Michael Jackson’s
Thriller 10th Anniversary video off the number one spot!
The only concert artists to ever draw a crowd of more than 200,000 people
to a concert in the southern hemisphere ... It’s in the history books!
Record holders for Australian television ratings ... a 67 rating
for their 1967 TV spectacular, The Seekers Down Under.
ARIA Hall of Fame inductees 1995
‘Key to the City’ of Melbourne presented to The Seekers 2006
Awarded their own Australia Post ‘Legends of
Australian Music’ postage stamp 2013.
In the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours, the four members of The Seekers were
each awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division.
GEORGY GIRL – THE SEEKERS MUSICAL
Background
Four years ago, highly credited film, TV and stage writer Patrick Edgeworth,
began work on a stage musical based on Judith Durham and The Seekers. Never
before told for the stage, Georgy Girl - the Seekers Musical is the story of Australia’s
iconic and most internationally successful group, The Seekers. Patrick Edgeworth
was ideally placed to write the story as his brother Ron was married to Judith
for twenty five years.
Judith Durham, a shy, insecure, over weight teenager with a golden voice joins a
folk group, The Seekers: Athol Guy the wheeler-dealer, Bruce Woodley the aspiring
songwriter and Keith Potger the cool guitarist. After finding success locally, they
travel to Britain, where thanks to Athol’s marketing skills, they get a foot in the door
and, despite knockbacks, soon burst on to the international Pop Scene.
Judith, unprepared for stardom, struggles to slim down, find love, and work out
what her future should be. The Boys just enjoy the party while musically delivering
the goods. There’s laughter and tears, highs and lows. Keith marries, Bruce becomes
a hit songwriter, Judith has her heart broken and Athol takes all in his stride. Four
years on, the group breaks up when Judith decides to go home and resume her
solo career - and marries Ron Edgeworth, the love of her life. Twenty five years
later, in an emotional reunion, The Seekers set off on their Silver Jubilee tour. A
staggering success, it turns out to be one of many. But their Golden Jubilee tour
was destined to be the biggest success of them all.
In 2011 Patrick was working with producer Richard East on a feature film and told
him he had another project. It was a musical based on Judith Durham’s life with The
Seekers and would he have a read? As Richard was one of the originating producers
of the ABBA musical Mamma Mia! he had seen numerous scripts of musicals and
was happy to take a look. Richard felt it definitely had potential. After nearly two
years of various changes and drafts, the musical became not just about Judith but
all The Seekers. Patrick and Richard felt the piece was strong enough to share and
Richard suggested to Patrick that his friend Dennis Smith, who had great success
with Dusty – The Original Pop Diva based on the life of Dusty Springfield, would be
a good person to become involved. Dennis knew all The Seekers and he and Athol
Guy were close friends as they had worked together in television in Melbourne
before The Seekers were even formed. Patrick invited Dennis to a reading of the
script at his home which Judith also attended. Dennis liked the script and it was
after this that Richard and he agreed to co-produce Patrick’s musical.
In July 2013 Gary Young directed, along with Musical Supervisor Stephen Amos,
a table top reading of the script with a group of top musical theatre performers.
Richard and Dennis felt the reading was successful enough to take the next step
which was the production of a workshop presentation. This was done in August 2014
and the response from the audience at the presentation was extremely favourable.
Convinced by this reaction and subsequent feedback, Richard and Dennis decided
to proceed with the production of Georgy Girl - the Seekers Musical and it will
have its world premiere in The Seekers home town of Melbourne at Her Majesty’s
Theatre in December, followed by a season at the State Theatre in Sydney.
CREATIVE TEAM
PATRICK EDGEWORTH • Book
Patrick’s first stage play, Boswell for the Defence was a hit for Leo McKern in
London’s West End and Australia-wide. A film version has recently been announced
starring Steve Coogan. A second play Love Julie starring Millicent Martin and Anne
Charleston toured England to rave reviews. This was followed by productions in
the U.S. and South Africa. Retitled Girl Talk, it had a sell-out seven-month tour
throughout Australia with Jacki Weaver. There are plans for a rebooted version to
open in Melbourne in the next twelve months.
Patrick has also written for numerous Australian TV shows. He co-produced and
wrote most of the award-winning series Cash and Company and Tandarra for the
Seven Network which sold worldwide.
Movies made from his scripts include Raw Deal, which he also co-produced,
A Sting in the Tale and the hit children’s feature BMX Bandits starring Nicole Kidman.
Movie scripts currently optioned include his historical romantic comedy Amorous
Intrigue and a thriller, Bad Blood.
Patrick is a recipient of a Logie and an AWGIE award.
GRAHAM SIMPSON • Script Consultant
Journalist, author and music historian Graham Simpson spent seven years as
editor of Australia’s longest-running weekly music publication, Juke, and several
years as a radio commentator. He has worked as Australian correspondent for the
Hong Kong Standard and for London’s World Entertainment News Network, was
editor of both The Video Age and National Tattler, and has been a metropolitan
daily newspaper columnist. Graham spent 19 years as a writer and interviewer with
Australia’s leading radio syndication company MCM.
He has worked with The Seekers since 1993 over which time he has designed and
authored souvenir programmes for all of The Seekers tours, and sleeve notes for
The Seekers albums since 1995. The group’s CD box set Treasure Chest, featuring
Graham’s interview with The Seekers, was certified gold. In 1994, Graham’s bestselling authorised biography The Judith Durham Story – Colours Of My Life - was
published for the first time. It has been republished five times since. He later edited
From The Word Go – Forty Years Of Network Ten Melbourne, by Mal Walden, and
2015 sees the publication of his coffee table book – co-authored with Christopher
Patrick – about the 50 year recording history of The Seekers.
GARY YOUNG • Director
Gary wrote and directed the new Australian work Sideshow Alley with composer
Paul Keelan, winning the 2007 Helpmann Award. He won the Aussie Theatre Award
for direction. He was also nominated for a Helpmann Award for his direction of
Menopause the Musical. He directed the National tour of The Mousetrap. For The
Production Company he has directed Carousel, Funny Girl, Call Me Madam, Mame,
The Boyfriend and Singin’ in the Rain. He directed Crusade for the Edinburgh
Festival, Guys and Dolls for Adelaide Festival Theatre, A Little Night Music, The
Merry Widow, Tea With Oscar, Cry Me A River and Fully Committed. He was
Associate Director for the 10th Anniversary Productions of Les Misérables and
Miss Saigon, as well as Aspects of Love, Scrooge, Tales of Hoffmann and the
Australian and Asian tours of Mamma Mia!
His original works include Ship Of Fools, A Woman’s Eyes, Black Widow, Tea With
Oscar, Artemisia, Bim Bom and Wombat Stew. Gary is also the author and illustrator
of The More Than Two books.
STEPHEN AMOS • Musical Supervisor, Arrangements and Orchestrator
Born in New Zealand, Stephen studied at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
before working on the Australian premiere production of The Phantom of the
Opera. Since then, he has been Assistant Musical Director for Into The Woods,
South Pacific, Cats, The Secret Garden, My Fair Lady, Sunset Boulevard and The
Sound of Music.
As Musical Director Stephen’s credits include Grease, West Side Story, the
10th anniversary production of Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Kiss Me Kate for
The Production Company, Fiddler on the Roof with Topol, Hairspray, War Horse
and Billy Elliot for which he won a Helpmann award. Stephen was Musical
Director, Arranger and Orchestrator for the world premiere of the Cat Stevens
musical Moonshadow and is currently the Australian Associate Music Supervisor
for Matilda The Musical.
MICHAEL RALPH • Choreographer
Michael Ralph is one of Australia’s rising young choreographers who is sought
after for his dynamic, unique style and fresh take on musical theatre story telling.
Michael originally studied fulltime dance at Dance World Studios and acting at the
Victorian College of the Arts – combining a performing career with his passion for
choreography.
Michael’s choreographic credits include Loving Repeating (Vic Theatre Company),
Our House (Workshop – Storyboard Entertainment), Georgy Girl (Workshop Backstage Productions), Pacific Overtures (Watch This Productions), My Fair Lady
(Footlight Productions), Pippin, Milk and Honey, Flinders Street, and Happy People
(Magnormos). TV credits include, So You Think You Can Dance? (Channel Ten).
Cabaret credits: The Petticoat Soiree, Yummy and Triage (The Butterfly Club).
Dance credits include, Mood Swing (People’s Choice award 2011) and Project Elvis
(Best Choreographer 2012) for Short & Sweet Dance. His two self-devised dance
shows Now & Then (2013) and Hollywood Honky Tonk (2014) both played sell-out
seasons at Melbourne’s Gasworks Theatre. His performing stage credits include
the roles of Skimbleshanks and Pouncival in Cats (RUG), Dance swing / role cover
in Fame the Musical (GFO), and the world premiere production of Moonshadow
(Yusuf Islam / Cat Stevens).
Most recently he performed in Singin’ in the Rain and Pirates of Penzance (The
Production Company). As a teacher of Broadway style he is in high demand
teaching and choreographing for many institutions all over Melbourne.
SHAUN GURTON • Set Designer
Shaun has designed nationally and internationally since 1973. From 1990-94 he
was associate director/designer for the State Theatre Company of South Australia.
Recent designs include Melbourne Theatre Company productions of Pennsylvania
Avenue, Glengarry Glen Ross, Ghosts, The Mountaintop, The Other Place, Red,
Hamlet, Richard III and the national tours of Mother and Son and Yes Prime Minister.
He has also designed Cheech, Romeo and Juliet for Centaur Theatre Montreal Canada
and The Forrest for The Shanghai Peoples Theatre, China. Secret Bridesmaids
Business, Talking Heads, Kay McLean Productions. Equus, Taking Liberty for the
Perth Theatre Company. Red Dog for Black Swan Theatre Company. Guys and
Dolls, Chess, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Boy From Oz for The Production
Company. Diving for Pearls, It’s My Party, Cosi, A Stretch of the Imagination for
Hit productions. For Opera Australia Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, Mer De Glace,
Otello. For Victoria State Opera, The Flying Dutchman, Fly, The Consul.
Shaun has won Green Room Awards for Best Design for Steaming, Master Class,
Rivers of China, Festen and Richard III.
In 2004 he was presented with the John Truscott Award for Excellence in Design.
He has been nominated for a Helpmann Award in design for Inheritance (2004)
and King Lear (2005).
ISAAC LUMMIS • Costume Designer
Isaac graduated in 2005 from Curtin University with a Bachelor’s degree in
Fashion and Textile design. Since 2008, Isaac has been the resident costume
designer and wardrobe coordinator at the DET Performing Arts Unit. Whilst with
the Performing Arts Unit Isaac has designed the costumes for the 2008, 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 Victorian State Schools Spectaculars as well as their 2009
production of Barnum.
Most recently Isaac designed the costumes for the 2015 Asian Cup Opening
Ceremony. His other costume design credits include Show Boat and Promises, Vinyl
Viagra for Rhonda Burchmore, My Life in the Nude for Maude Davey, Rush Hour for
Victorian Opera, La Cage Aux Folles for Quirky Productions, Melbourne Loves the
Burlesque Hour, Glory Box and Caravan Burlesque for Finucane & Smith, Waltzing
the Willara for Yirra Yaakin, The Greeks - Electra & Orestes for NIDA Open Program,
Down Pour for A4 Circus, Oliver! and Anything Goes for WTG, As You Like It and
Memmie LeBlanc for Deckchair Theatre and Dash, Powder Monkey and KissXX for
STEPS Youth Dance Company. Isaac has also worked as a maker and art finisher on
other projects such as Irene in Concert for Peach Productions, Strange Bedfellows
– A New Musical for Instinct Entertainment and McLaren House, Singin’ in the Rain,
The King & I and The Boy from Oz for The Production Company, The Drover’s Wife
for Steamworks Productions, Velveteen Rabbit for Spare Parts Puppet Theatre and
The Odyssey for Malthouse Theatre and Black Swan Theatre.
TRUDY DALGLEISH • Lighting Designer
Trudy Dalgleish studied technical production at NIDA and has won numerous
awards including the 2001 Helpmann Award for White Devil, 2002 ‘Entech’ Award
and the John Truscott Design Award for Excellence and Best Lighting Design for
Eureka and in 2010 Hairspray at the Green Room Awards.
Recent lighting credits include: Rapture Blister Burn, The Act (Ensemble Theatre);
Moonshadow; Annie (GFO); And The World Goes Round (LaSalle, Singapore);
Hairspray, the Opening of the Arab Games in Doha (DAE); Certified Male and
Eurobeat in the West End (Glynn Nicholas Group); Orlando, Sweeney Todd, Manon,
HMS Pinafore, Trial by Jury, Pirates of Penzance, My Fair Lady (OA); City of Friends
(Millennium Entertainment) in Bergen, Norway; Sid’s Dancing Masquerade and
Inuk2 (SDC); Dead Man Walking; King and I (Broadway, Asia); Dusty – The Original
Pop Diva; Shout, The Boy From Oz. Trudy was also Associate Lighting Designer for
Driving Miss Daisy, Dirty Dancing, Once and Grease for Gordon Frost.
JULIAN SPINK • Sound Designer
Julian joined System Sound in 1993 as Head Sound Engineer for productions
including Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard, West Side Story and Five Guys Named
Moe. He had toured extensively as mix-engineer for a host of local and international
artists including Split Enz, Crowded House, Little River Band and The Seekers.
Now a senior Supervisor with System, Julian has provided or collaborated on
Sound Design for productions such as Man of La Mancha, Cabaret, Footloose,
Hair, Eurobeat, Respect, Chicago and Once. He collaborated on the Helpmann
Award -winning Sound Design for Cabaret, and was Associate Sound Designer for
Legally Blonde and Once.
He was also Sound Supervisor for the Australian productions of Rock of Ages,
The Addams Family and Jersey Boys.
A trained classical pianist, Julian has also designed many orchestral and special
events for System Sound, including the Mahler “Symphony of a Thousand” for
the Olympics Arts Festival, and currently the annual Symphony Under the Stars
concerts for The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
System Sound has engineered many productions throughout Australasia including
Cats, Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia!, Spamalot, The Producers, We Will Rock You,
Guys and Dolls, Billy Elliot, Rock of Ages, Love Never Dies, War Horse, Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins, Wicked, King Kong and currently Les Misérables,
The Phantom of The Opera, Strictly Ballroom and Matilda The Musical.
SUE FARRELLY • Executive Producer
Sue has extensive producing credits in theatre dating back to the late ‘80s with
And a Nightingale Sang, Nunsense (Australia and Dublin) and the multi-award
winning production of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes - all for Mike Walsh’s Hayden
Attractions. Other productions include: Wizard of Oz for the VAC; Neil Simon’s
Lost in Yonkers with Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company,
Cole Porter’s High Society with State Theatre Company of South Australia; Associate
Producer for the C.S. Lewis classic The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe for
Malcolm Cooke; Executive Producer Dusty – The Original Pop Diva for Shows
Management; General Manager Guys and Dolls for Ambassador Theatre Group,
Marriner Theatres and Shows Inc; General Manager West Side Story for BB
Promotion, Ambassador Theatre Group, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions
and David Atkins Enterprises. Executive Producer Moonshadow (Moonshadow
Australia Pty Ltd.) and Legally Blonde Executive Producer/General Manager
for Ambassador Theatre Group and the Gordon Frost Organization.
RICHARD EAST • Producer
A VCA graduate, he has worked extensively in the entertainment industry for more
than 35 years beginning in the music industry as a concert presenter working with
artists including INXS, Men at Work, Jimmy Barnes, Rod Stewart, Laurie Anderson,
and Ben Folds Five. Personal manager to Australian Crawl, John Farnham,
Jason Donovan, Kate Ceberano, and produced numerous video clips and TV
specials with those artists. Producer of International and Australian Music at World
Expo 88, including live TV broadcasts. In 1991 he moved to London continuing
to work with Jason Donovan including his 18-month sold-out season at London’s
Palladium Theatre. In 1994 his involvement as an originating producer of the
musical Mamma Mia! began. The show opened on the West End in April 1999
and is currently playing Broadway, London with touring and foreign language
productions continuing around the world. In 2002 he was a Tony Award nominee
for his work on Mamma Mia! As director of Arts and Entertainment for IMG Australia
he worked on numerous theatrical productions including Chicago and Riverdance.
2001-2009 trustee of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre 2008 Executive Producer
Stoned Bros an Australian feature film. 2010 Associate Producer and distributor of
the documentary aired on the ABC, The Extraordinary Life of William Buckley.
Currently developing various film and stage projects.
DENNIS SMITH • Producer
From 1970 Dennis began producing and presenting theatrical and concert
attractions in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. From 1980-1994 he was personal
manager to Barry Humphries and produced and presented Mr Humphries’
theatrical offerings worldwide with three seasons in London’s West End and
two extensive UK regional tours. Other Australian theatrical productions include
national tours of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall,
Jeffrey Archer’s Beyond Reasonable Doubt with Frank Finlay, Ain’t Misbehavin’,
Noises Off and Beehive. Dennis created and produced Dusty - the Original Pop
Diva which toured Australia in 2006 and his most recent productions include
the national tours of Shout! the Johnny O’Keefe musical and the Donmar
production of Guys and Dolls. International concert attractions include national
and international tours with Cliff Richard and the Shadows, Kenny Rogers and
Dolly Parton, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Sir Harry Secombe, Peter Allen, Cilla Black,
Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Shirley MacLaine, Roy Orbison, Dionne Warwick and
many others.

media kit - Georgy Girl

Transcription

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