ONE NIGHT ONLY – THE BEST OF AUSTRALIAN WRITTEN MUSICALS

OzMade Musicals, the annual celebration of Australian musical theatre and the all singing, all dancing stars who put the razzle in its theatrical dazzle makes a glittering return to the Comedy Theatre on Monday 15 November, hosted by Rhonda Burchmore.
Presented by Magnormos, OzMade Musicals shines the spotlight on established and upcoming Australian musicals. With OzMade Flashbacks showcasing highlights of recent productions and On the Drawing Board providing audiences with a sneak peak of what’s new and upcoming in Australian musical theatre writing, OzMade Musicals is a night of song and celebration of home grown talent
performed by stars of the Australian musical theatre community.
An initiative of Magnormos, OzMade Musicals celebrates and supports Australian writing and provides a development channel for new work. Each selected On the Drawing Board work receives developmental assistance and a two-week workshop in preparation for its showcase on stage at OzMade Musicals.
“OzMade Musicals is the backbone of Magnormos and has been an exciting part of Melbourne’s theatrical calendar for almost a decade,” says Magnormos Artistic Director Aaron Joyner. ” We have supported over 50 Australian musicals since 2003, and now with the support of Marriner Theatres we are looking forward to presenting our most exciting concert yet at the Comedy Theatre. Magnormos has pioneered a new wave of development opportunities for Australian musical theatre writing, and OzMade Musicals is always an evening of surprise and delight.”
OzMade Flashbacks: The evening takes a trip down memory lane with songs from five celebrated Australian productions: Once We Lived Here by Mathew Frank and Dean Bryant (winner of the 2008 Green Room Award for Best New Australian Musical), Grand Central by David Reeves (composer of Seven Little Australians), The Hatpin by Peter Rutherford and James Millar (following successful
seasons in Sydney and New York starring Caroline O’Connor), Moses – The Spirit of Freedom by Peter Wyllie Johnston (gala performances in London and New York), and the musical by Craig Christie (Eurobeat) Hey Florence!, which premiered in Nashville USA, was workshopped in New York and is under negotiation for a national tour of the USA but yet to be seen in Australia.
The ‘flashback’ performers include Esther Hannaford (currently appearing in Hairspray as best friend
Penny) in her Green Room Award-winning role, as well as performances by Sally Bourne (Shane Warne the Musical), Christie Whelan (Sugar, Drowsy Chaperone), Frankie Arena (Eurobeat) and rising star Rose Sejean.
On The Drawing Board: From a 1940’s war-time love story and a slave’s quest to exact revenge, to the forbidden passion of a cinema legend and a contemporary pop parable, audiences will delight in the journey the four debuting musicals take them, each of which is showcased in a 15 minute fusion of scene and song.
The four works, The Effect of Alchemy, Flinders Street – A Swing Dance Musical, La Creole and Lottie – The Musica,l were selected from a national submission process overseen by the selection panel of Tony Sheldon (performer/director), Stuart Hendricks (Australian licensing manager for one of the largest musical theatre collections in the world), Peter Fitzpatrick (director and AFI Award winning writer), Dr. Peter Wyllie Johnson (composer/academic/journalist), Aaron Joyner (Magnormos Artistic Director), David King (Composer/Musical Director and head of Music Theatre at WAAPA), and Ellie Nielsen (dramaturg/playwrite and actor).
Two of Australia’s most promising young writers Anthony Costanzo (Life’s A Circus) and James Miller (The Hatpin) have united to create a modern pop musical The Effect of Alchemy. This contemporary parable fuses a tale of adventure, self-fulfilment and romance which spans the globe. Directed by Scott Hendry, the cast is includes Laura Fitzpatrick ([title of show]), Cameron MacDonald (Mamma Mia!), Chris Parker (Crazy for You) and Lisa-Marie Parker (Cats) with Musical Director Anthony Costanzo.
Renowned Melbourne musician Brian Fitzgerald has created a love story set in the war-time heyday of Melbourne’s buzzing night-life with Flinders Street – A Swing Dance Musical Incorporating a score that evokes the 1940’s era this production provides the platform for some wonderful dance routines! Directed by Thern Reynolds with Musical Director Ben Kiley, the cast includes Lyndon Keenan (42nd Street) and Phoebe Coupe (High School Musical on Stage).
Rising talents Julia Plummer and Nicholas Gentile approached historical novelist Cheryl Sawyer with
the idea of turning one of her novels into a musical, and together they have created La Creole. This passionate and dramatic love story, which is set in 1755, is about a slave from Martinique who escapes and seeks revenge on her cruel master. Directed by Shaun Kingma with Musical Director, Cameron Thomas, the cast includes Chris Buchanan (Mamma Mia!), Jessica Enes (Flora the Red Menace) and Jensen Overend (Saturday Night).
For a brief moment in time, the Australian film industry was at the forefront of the world, and leading the charge were cinema legends Raymond Longford and Lottie Lyell. Lottie – The Musical by Aleathea Monsour and Katy Forde is a historical tale of the creators of such classics as The Sentimental Bloke, and the forbidden passion that threatened to drive their careers apart. Bryce Ives directs the cast including Laura Burzacott with musical direction by Nathan Gilkes
About Magnormos & OzMade Musicals: Established in 2002 by Aaron Joyner, Magnormos is a dynamic producer of musical theatre with a unique focus on Australian writers. Magnormos has received critical acclaim and industry commendations for its work including three 2009 Green Room nominations for Life’s A Circus. Other Australian premieres include The Thing About Men, Saturday Night, and Archy & Mehitbel as well the recent hit [title of show] and the successful, A Sondheim Triptych which celebrated the 80th birthday of Stephen Sondheim at Melbourne Recital Centre.
OzMade Musicals 2010
WHEN: Monday 15 November, 8pm
WHERE: Comedy Theatre, 204 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
TICKETS: Adult: $33.50 Conc/Group: $28.50
BOOKINGS: www.ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 111 011
INFORMATION: www.magnormos.com