Short & Sweet - Australia and the world’s biggest short play festival – launches the brilliant new string to its bow: SHORT, SWEET & SONG!With Artistic Direction from NIDA teacher and Australian cabaret doyen, Avigail Herman, musical director Bev Kennedy and a full band, the extraordinary collection of ten original short musicals runs at the Parade Studio Theatre (NIDA) 6-11 February.
It is an all-star affair, alright!
PALACE WHORE - by David Mitchell & Melvyn Morrow (Shout, Dusty, Hotpants and more), and West End MD and film score composer Ray Cook (Careful He Might Hear You, Rebel) - with Opera Australia’s Stuart Maunder as director - is a night in the museum with a sexy twist... or three! Set in Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, it tells the story of “The Jersey Lilly” – Lillie Langtree, famed mistress of the Prince of Wales, later to become Edward VII. Her journey from Jersey girl to actress and royal mistress is told in song featuring: Lucy Durack (Mama Mia, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Karaoke the Musical and – shortly - Respect) and Trisha Noble (Dusty, Shout, Footloose and scores of TV and film credits) as the young and the older Lillie respectively; Wayne Scott Kermond (STC’s Urinetown and Jonah Jones) as James Whistler, Jack Webster as Oscar Wild, Gerry Connolly (Urinetown, Summer Rain, Side by Side by Sondheim, Tomfoolery among scores of stage and screen roles) as Prince Edward, Zac Jardine, Elise McCann, Shondelle Pratt, Jennifer Peers as Sarah Bernhardt and Nate Butler as Jack the Ripper!
THE VON TRAPP HERESY – by Peter Fyfe (Waking Blind) is directed by Andrew Davidson (Boyband, Callas Bitch) and stars US MAC award-winner, Namibian-born Natalie Gamsu as The Vicar. It threatens to put the fun back into fundementalism!
LIFE’S A CIRCUS by Anthony Costanzo – twice shortlisted for the Pratt Prize for music theatre writing - is directed by sought-after WAAPA grad Jason Langley. The show walks the tightrope of sexuality, love and betrayal against the backdrop of a circus! It features Sun Park (Mama Mia, The Jammed) who is the newest member of kids’ TV sensation Hi-Five! Her co-stars are Nick Simpson-Deeks – about to take up the prestigious Mike Walsh Fellowship with a fulltime course of study at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago; and Vincent Hooper.
VINCENT OF THE FIELDS by Canadians Maree Teychenne and Dr Steven J Capaldo features the direction of Maarten Mourik, star of European theatre and music theatre scene now a popular director in Australia and teacher at NIDA, UNSW and the Con. It tells the story of Vincent van Gogh’s suicidal last day and the surprise visitors he receives. With Zac Jardine and Ross Philip.
A4 TO A3 (“Love in a photocopy store”), directed by Hayden Tee with Jane Miskovic as choreographer, boasts a cast of Joe Main with Kaye Tuckerman plus an ensemble of Crystal Hegedis, Andrew Benson, Stephen Anderson and When Will and Emma June Curik
BUILDING A WING starring Paul Whiteley (Opera WA) and Nick Christo (Titanic, Fiddler on the Roof) is based on the Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus – a father and son musical that truly takes off. Director Neil Gooding (Back to the ‘80s).
ALPHA FEMALES by Pete Greenaway and the late Clyde Carnegie* sees four women muse (musically) on men, life and love. Staring Sarah Crose, Angela Scundi, Jodie Harris, Roanna Dempsey and Tom Morley. Director Jacinta Legge-Wilkinson.
* Pete and Clyde part wrote a musical about 10 years ago but it was not completed before Clyde died. When Pete heard about SS&S, he dug out the old songs chose the best 3, and wrote a story around them to suit the 10-minute format!
Plus 3 more amazing mini musicals:
"Captain Potential" book, music & lyrics Samantha G. Marsden, Melbourne, director Steven Rassios.
It is summer, the season for flirting; 3 girls set their sights on the captain of the swim team, not expecting last year’s ugly duckling would become this years hot property
"When will ...?" book & lyrics Joanna Harte, music Annie Smart, Glasgow, dir Danielle O'Keefe
A peek into a 10 minute train journey, lives, loves & hopes; and
"Little Mirrors" book, music & lyrics Joanna Weinberg, director Steven Rassios
4 Sydney soccer parents share secret thoughts about their kids as they watch the final match
Short, Sweet & Song - Sydney 2007
Venue: Parade Playhouse
Dates: 6 - 11 February
Times: Tue - Sat 7.30pm Sat 2pm Sun 5pm
Bookings: Ticketek Box Office 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au