The Boy from Oz
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| The Boy From Oz | |
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| Original Broadway Poster | |
|---|---|
| Music | Peter Allen |
| Lyrics | Peter Allen |
| Book | Nick Enright (original) Martin Sherman |
| Productions | 1998 Sydney 2003 Broadway 2006 Australia |
The Boy From Oz is a jukebox musical based on the life of singer/songwriter Peter Allen and featuring songs written by him. The book is by Martin Sherman with the original book by Nick Enright.
The show premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, on March 5, 1998 and toured Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, playing to over 1.2 million theatre patrons. It ran for a total 766 performances over two years.[1] The production starred Todd McKenney as Peter Allen.
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[edit] Later productions
- Broadway
The Boy From Oz was the first Australian musical to reach Broadway.[citation needed] It started previews at the Imperial Theatre on September 16, 2003, opened on October 16, 2003 and closed on September 12, 2004, at the end of Hugh Jackman's contract. Directed by Philip William McKinley, with choreography by Joey McKneely, it starred Jackman as Peter Allen, Isabel Keating as Judy Garland, and Stephanie J. Block as Liza Minnelli. Jackman won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, and Keating won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. The show also received nominations for four other Tony Awards, including Best Musical.[2]
- Australian arena tour
The Boy From Oz returned to Australia from 3 August 2006 to 10 September 2006 in a new production especially designed for the arena stage (audiences of over 10,000 people), called Boy From Oz Arena Spectacular. Directed by Kenny Ortega, Hugh Jackman reprised his New York role as Peter Allen. He was joined by Australian actresses Chrissy Amphlett and Angela Toohey, reprising their roles as Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. Rarmian Newton and Joshua Waiss Gates, both of whom later starred in Billy Elliot the Musical, were two of the four boys who played young Peter Allen in the Australian production. Peter's mother, Marion, was played by Colleen Hewett.[3] [4]The show had a support cast of 40 singer-dancers and a 25-piece orchestra.[citation needed]
The show also featured the vocals of Australian girls' high school choirs from Penrhos College[citation needed] when in Perth, and, while in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane, it featured the vocals of 100 girls from the Australian Girls Choir. [5]
- Amateur premiere
The amateur premiere of The Boy from Oz will be performed by Miranda Musical Society (Sydney, Australia) in April 2008. The production stars Gavin Leahy as Peter Allen, Robyn Lassman as Judy Garland, Cheryl O'Brien as Marion Woolnough and Penny Dunn as Liza Minelli. The show is directed by Brett Russell. Musical Direction is by Peter Hayward and Sonia Benson serves as choreographer.[6]
- Victorian Non-Professional Premiere
The Victorian non-professional premiere of The Boy From Oz will be staged at the Alexander Theatre, Monash University, Clayton Victoria from May 9th to 25th, 2008. Presented by Melbourne's leading non-professional theatre company "CLOC Musical Theatre".[7]
[edit] Plot synopsis
In the 1950s, the young boy Peter Allen started performing and playing the piano. As an adult, Peter is in various early concerts in Australia with his partner. He is introduced to Judy Garland, who hires him for her show. Peter and Judy's daughter Liza soon become romantically involved and marry. Peter appears in New York City with the Rockettes. As time progresses Peter develops a relationship with a man and his marriage ends.[8]
[edit] Song list
All songs written by Peter Allen except as noted in parentheses Source:Internet Broadway Database
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