marketing pack

mark e t i n g pack
“ C O M E Q U I C K LY ,
I ’ M TA S T I N G
T H E S TA R S ! ”
DOM PERIGNON
"A damn go o d t i me"
– T i meOu t Sydney
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE PRESENTS THE STRUT & FRET PRODUCTION OF
C O N C E I V E D & D I R E C T E D B Y Scott Maidment
C H O R E O G R A P H Y & C O - C R E A T I V E D I R E C T I O N B Y Kevin Maher
S E T & L I G H T I N G D E S I G N Philip Gladwell
M U S I C A L D I R E C T O R Steve Toulmin
F E A T U R I N G T H E M U S I C O F Kenneth Bager
A D D I T I O N A L M U S I C Christophe Filippi
C O S T U M E D E S I G N James Browne
C R E A T I V E C O N S U L TA N T & P E R F O R M E R Spencer Novich
M A Î T R E D ' & P E R F O R M E R Monsieur Romeo
P E R F O R M E R S Dominique Domingo, Emma Maye Gibson,
Jaimi Luhrmann, Laura New, Jérôme Sordillon,
Shun Sugimoto, Masha Terentieva
#BLANCSHOW
SYDNEYOPERAHOUSE.COM
@SYDOPERAHOUSE
SYDNEYOPERAHOUSE
BOOKINGS@ SYDNEYOPERAHOUSE.COM
THE BUBBLES BURST,
BABBLE, WHISPER,
BUT NEVER FADE…
W E L C O M E TO T H E PA R T Y
You've found your place – where the champagne sparkles, eyes glimmer,
the sensual and salacious combine for an evening of breathless abandon.
Blanc de Blanc serves a blend of vintage glamour, high-end spectacle and titillating
acts to infatuate, illuminate and delight. It brings the finest cabaret and acrobatic
talent from around the world into a wild, shimmering night - expect big moves,
great tunes, lots of skin, and more than a few surprises.
It's the perfect crowd, a night of lavish laughs and immersive, naughty fun.
From the acclaimed creative minds behind festival sensations LIMBO and Cantina,
this brand new production elevates the seductive summer experience you've come
to expect from Sydney Opera House.
Blanc de Blanc offers bright top notes followed by rich textures,
a smooth body and an utterly unexpected finish.
FANCY A TIPPLE?
Media
"I f Baz Lu hrm a nn m a de a n i g h tc lub, i t woul d be th i s"
– T i meOut Sydney
"a u n i qu e e x p e r i e n c e th at was th ri ll i ng a nd
ex h i larat i ng "
– T h e atre Peo ple
" Bu bble s, bare f l e s h a n d b reath ta ki ng ac robat i c s "
– B roadway World
" Fl e sh , fl i p s, s p i n s a n d a r i d i c ulous a moun t o f c h a m pag ne. . . a
comm i ngl i ng o f b u r l e s qu e a nd c abare t s t y l e d ac ts i nf use d
w i th c i rcu s t r i c k e ry"
– T h e AU Re v i e w
THE CAST
MONSIEUR ROMEO
SPENCER NOVICH
DOMINIQUE DOMINGO
Monseur Romeo is Blanc de
Blanc's debonair maître d',
a French-born, high-fashion
model turned entertainer.
Spencer Novich is the
pale-faced harlequin who
induces laughs and gasps with
his original mix of mime and
contortion. The award-winning
clown has performed all over
the globe, with credits including
Cirque du Soleil's colossal KÀ in
Las Vegas and Spiegelworld's
darkly decadent cabaret,
Vegas Nocturne.
Dominique Domingo is the
California girl with the killer
dance moves.
Since being the first male
performer at the Crazy Horse
Paris with his James Bond duet,
Monsieur Romeo has toured
the world with the queen of
burlesque Dita Von Teese,
performed with Beyoncé, Kylie
Minogue and Lady Gaga, and
modeled for Giorgio Armani,
Vivienne Westwood and
Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Most recently, Spencer was
the Comedy Designer in Strut
& Fret's dining and cabaret
spectacular, Fear & Delight at
the 2015 Garden of Unearthly
Delights and Brisbane Festival.
Since her first big break in Missy
Elliot's Lose Control music video,
her dancing feet have taken
her around the world and back
again performing with artists
such as Shakira, The Wanted,
and Pitbull; and can be seen in
Season 3 of TV's Hit the Floor.
She also found Billboard chart
success as part of American
girl group BG5, co-managed
by Keeping Up with the
Kardashians' Kris Jenner.
THE CAST
E M M A M AY E G I B S O N
J’AIMIME
JÉRÔME SORDILLON
Sydney's own feminist
performance artist Emma Maye
Gibson, better known in certain
circles as her queer burlesquing
contagion Betty Grumble is an
obscene beauty queen, surreal
showgirl and sex clown. Emma
Maye challenges perceptions
of the womans body with her
special brand of high camp
performance and unleashes a
new character upon the Blanc
stage this summer. Performance
highlights include: Day for Night
(Performance Space) : Block 9
(Glastonbury) ; ArtBar (MCA)
; La Traviata (Belvoir Theatre
& The Sisters Grimm) and an
ongoing curatorial role as DJ
and atmosphere enhancer at
Sydney's infamous underground
nightclub Tokyo Sing Song.
Juggler, mime artist, clown –
there's nothing this passionate
performer can't do.
Jérôme Sordillon is the chiseled
acrobat on the aerial straps.
Jaimi and Scott Maidment
(Director) first worked together
10 years ago, when she was a
student at Brisbane's Flipside
Youth Circus. Jaimi has since
graduated from the National
Institute of Circus Arts and has
been travelling the globe with
a suitcase full of tricks. Always
ready to go on stage, Jaimi
has performed at the Festival
Mondial Du Cirque De Demain
(Paris), Woodford Folk Festival,
Adelaide Fringe, Coffs Harbour
Busking Festival and crossed
the International Date Line on
numerous occasions performing
on cruise liners.
Originally from Lyon - France,
now living in Montreal - Canada,
Jerome is a graduate of
Montreal’s acclaimed National
Circus School.
Jérôme has most recently
toured internationally with
the acclaimed Cirque Éloize
and amongst his many
accomplishments won a medal
for his straps routine at the 35th
Festival Mondial du Cirque de
Demain.
His unparalleled muscular
control and strength sees pulses
soar wherever he performs.
THE CAST
MASHA
SHUN
LAURA NEW
Masha Terentieva was born in
St Petersburg to a journalist/
writer mother and a clown
father, Nikolai Terentiev.
Shun Sugimoto bends the
boundaries of dance, literally.
Combining breakdance with
contortion and the aesthetics of
other athletic artforms such as
yoga, he has won international
circus awards, including at the
prestigious Festival Mondial du
Cirque de Demain in France.
Laura is the bubbly blond that
sets corks popping.
For Masha, danger has been
no stranger having toured
extensively in Cirque du
Soleil's Dralion and Zarkana
as an aerial contortionist.
A graduate of Montreal's
acclaimed National Circus
School she has also appeared
in the watery circus show
Soap and the Broadway
musical Pippin.
What she can do with a
hotel luggage cart will leave
heads spinning.
Living between Tokyo and
London, Shun has performed
solo shows across Europe and
Asia and with his contorsion
dance team, Kinetic Art.
Laura returns to her home
of Sydney having made Los
Angeles her base for several
years. Laura is a trained
Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet
and Hip Hop dancer. Her
dancing career as seen her
continually touring the world
with performances on The Voice,
MTV music awards, Pitbull,
LMFAO, Black Eyed Peas, and
Dancing with the Stars.
Laura was also recently seen
on the 2015 season of Americas
Got Talent where she performed
all the way to the finals with
Freelusion. You can also watch
Laura in the upcoming movie
Wild for the Night.
F I L L E D W I T H FOA M , B U B B LE S A N D F RI VO L I T Y "
– TheATRE PE OPLE
Social Media
"If you're going to Sydney, you Must must go to Blanc de blanc"
- D. Dimaggio
"Such a fun, crazy good show."
- j. Marisko
"#breathtaking had the most amazing night... the #Blancshow gang were
stunning"
- @joecandyriando
"the best show, an absolute must see."
- @emmascanlan
"one of the best shows ive ever watched! I highly recommend it to
everyone who wants to have a fun night."
- @mateusdinali
"#blancshow was subversive fun doused in champagne. Go see it!"
- @pennysharpemlc
"absolutely recommend a must see. divine. run, don't walk!"
- @lizjalexander
"Titilating, tipple-inspired, nipple-desired show de shows. Blanc de blanc
is a bit of a riot"
- @daisydumas
" De l i c i ou s , sal i c i ou s an d tee m i n g
w i t h h i g h - e n d s pe c tacle"
– artsre v i e w.c om
T H E C R E ATO R S
SCOTT MAIDMENT
DIRECTOR
Founding director of Strut & Fret Production House, Scott has worked
in the performing arts and events management industry for over 24
years.
No stranger to Sydney Opera House, Blanc de Blanc is Strut & Fret's
sixth presentation of an original work in The Studio. Past productions
have included Daredevil Opera Company's Rocket and Roxy's
Untimely, Tragic and Fiery Death Stunt Show, The Happy Sideshow, Le
Gateau Chocolat, Tom Tom Crew and Feasting on Flesh.
Scott's work frequently combines theatre, circus, aerial and spectacle.
His internationally acclaimed creation LIMBO recently celebrated
its 600th performance at the Melbourne International Arts Festival.
Scott's other directing credits include The Secret Death of Salvador
Dali, Cantina, and Fear & Delight.
Scott has produced major events and precincts for Sydney Festival,
Brisbane Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival,
Kermezzo(o) (Brussels), Adelaide Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe.
Most recently, Scott was part of the creative team for Madonna's Rebel
Heart World Tour, was invited to curate and direct entertainment for
Madonna’s 2015 birthday party in the Hamptons.
KEVIN MAHER
C H O R E O G R A P H E R & C O - C R E AT I V E D I R E C T I O N
Choreographer Kevin Maher was born in Hollywood, California
where he studied Architecture and Design until age 18. He then moved
to New York City to pursue his education in the arts and began his
career dancing with artists such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston,
Cyndi Lauper, Missy Elliott, Jennifer Lopez, Eve and George Michael.
He has choreographed music videos, television performances
and tours for Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer
Lopez, Nick Jonas, Kelly Clarkson, The Backstreet Boys, Jason Derulo,
Becky G, Selena Gomez and Fifth Harmony. His resume also includes
Creative Director and Choreographer credits for six top 10 selling tours
of New Kids on The Block.
Kevin has worked closely as a choreographer for Madonna for several
years and you can see his work in her current Rebel Heart World Tour.
T H E C R E ATO R S
PHILIP GLADWELL
LIGHTING DESIGNER
JAMES BROWN
COSTUME DESIGNER
STEVE TOULMIN
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Set and Lighting designer Philip
works predominantly in theatre.
He has worked on productions
including: The World of Extreme
Happiness, Love The Sinner
(National Theatre); The Ritual
Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas,
No Quarter, Oxford Street,
Before The Party (Almeida);
The King and I (UK Tour);
Frauleine Julie (Schaubühne,
Berlin); A Midsummer Night's
Dream (Bristol Old Vic/USA);
Further than the Furthest Thing
(Dundee Rep, Winner CATS Best
Design) The Boy Who Fell into a
Book, Overspill, HOTBOI, Tape
(Soho); Ciara, (Traverse/fringe
1st Edinburgh) I'm With The
Band, The Arthur Conan Doyle
Appreciation Society (Traverse).
James graduated from the
Western Australian Academy
of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
in 2001 with a degree in Set
and Costume Design before
attending the Australian Film
Television and Radio School
(AFTRS) in Art Direction. He has
designed in all facets of the field
in theatre, film and events.
Steve Toulmin is an
accomplished composer
and designer. His theatrical
composition and design credits
include Jasper Jones, Ivanov,
La Traviata, Blue Wizard,
Radiance, Is This Thing On?,
20 Questions, The Baulkham
Hills African Ladies Troupe,
The Seed, Scorched (Belvoir);
Little Mercy, Edward Gant's
Amazing Feats of Loneliness
(Sydney Theatre Company);
The Bleeding Tree, Beached,
A Hoax (Griffin Theatre
Company); Great Falls, Liberty
Equality Fraternity, Circle Mirror
Transformation (Ensemble);
That Face (Queensland Theatre
Company); Tender Napalm,
Julius Caesar and Hamlet (La
Boite Theatre Company).
Philip's opera and ballet credits
include: Rigoletto and La Wally
(Opera Holland Park); After
Dido (ENO); Cosi Fan Tutte
(WNO); Awakening & Another
America: Fire (Sadler's Wells);
II Tabarro, Sour Angelica and
Gianni Schicchi (Opera Zuid);
Falstaff (Grange Park Opera).
He has designed the sets for
the Love Cooking Festival
in London as well as Jamie
Oliver and Rick Stein's live
shows. Event designs include
the Prague Castle for the Visa
Board Dinner, Netball World
Cup, Socceroos Anniversary
Gala, Netflix Australia Launch
and various floats in the Sydney
Mardi Gras Parade.
James has worked on television
shows such as Survivor, All
Saints, Australian Idol and
was both the costume and
production designer on The
Horizon television pilot, directed
by Stephan Elliott (Adventures
of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert).
James was the associate
designer on Graeme Murphy's
AIDA for Opera Australia and
Stuart Maunder's SHOUT!
and his set for Reg Livermore's
TURNS (national tour) was
nominated for the 2012
Greenroom Awards.
As a songwriter and music
producer Steve has worked with
the likes of Megan Washington,
Ricki-Lee Coulter and
Samantha Jade.
"A FA B U LOU S LY FUN CE LE B RATION OF EXTRAVAGANCE
- BROADWAY WORL D
THE PRODUCERS
STRUT & FRET PRODUCTION HOUSE
Strut & Fret is a vibrant and passionately creative company that develops and delivers theatrical
performances, events, venues and festival precincts throughout Australia and internationally. With
almost twenty years of experience, Strut & Fret is renowned for its unique 'catch your breath' style.
Strut & Fret's director and company founder Scott Maidment was the creator of the award winning
productions Cantina and LIMBO, as well as other international sensations including, Tom Tom Crew,
Feasting on Flesh, Fear & Delight, and The Secret Death of Salvador Dali. The company also manages
independent artists such as Le Gateau Chocolat, Men of Steel and Kaput whilst co-producing the
internationally recognised festival precinct The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Adelaide.
Innovative entertainment, high-flying spectacle, explosions of stunts, nu-circus, extreme theatre,
dynamic music and quality management collide to make Strut & Fret's work unmistakable
and respected within the industry.
WWW.STRUTNFRET.COM
CREDITS
PRODUCERS
Sydney Opera House
Strut & Fret Production House
A S S O C I AT E P R O D U C E R S
Jess Rankin & Sarah Stewart
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Sonya Curry
C O M PA N Y & S TA G E M A N A G E R
A s s i s ta n t S ta g e M a n a g e r
RIGGER
PRESS
Programme Design
PHOTOGRAPHY
Grace Benn
Clare Todorovitch
Finton Mahoney
bridgesPR
Novel Creative
Damien Bredberg, Chrissie Hall,,
Ken Leanfore, Daniel Boud
SET CONSTRUCTION
WA R D R O B E
Wild Sets Fabrellas Industries
Emma Paul & Matt Schubach
S YDNEY OPERA HOU S E
SENIOR PRODUCER
A S S O C I AT E P R O D U C E R
G A M PA I G N M A N A G E R
M A R K E T I N G A S S I S TA N T
P R O G R A M M I N G A S S I S TA N T
PRODUCTION MANAGER
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Chris Twite
Alexandra Hirst
Claire Hargreave
Alexander Kirk
Nick Phibbs
Renier Jansen van Vuuren
Jessica Boudville
S TRUT & FRET PRODUCTION HOU S E
C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R
ARTISTIC MANAGER
Scott Maidment
Sarah Stewart
PRODUCER
Natalie Lidgerwood
PRODUCER
Geoffrey Masters
MARKETING MANAGER
M A R K E T I N G A S S I S TA N T
Emily Gates
Michelle Cheung
#BLANCSHOW