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Producers John Frost and Sharleen Cooper Cohen, along with NSW Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, today welcomed the full cast and crew of the new musical An Officer and a Gentleman to their first day of rehearsals, ahead of the World Premiere on 18 May, 2012 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, The Star.
The cast gathered met for the first time today to read through the script and sing the songs, together with co writer of the musical Douglas Day Stewart, composer and lyricist team Ken Hirsch and Robin Lerner, director Simon Phillips, choreographer Andrew Hallsworth and musical director Dave Skelton.
John Frost said, "Ever since the first workshop in Melbourne over two years ago, I've known we had something special here; that the story of this classic film would translate beautifully to the stage. And now we're finally in the rehearsal room with this outstanding cast and the best creative team we could have hoped for, working with the US writers of the show. Thanks to the NSW Government, Destination NSW, the City of Sydney and our other partners, our dreams have come to fruition and we're creating a new musical here in Sydney destined for world stages."
US Co-producer Sharleen Cooper Cohen said, "I began pursuing this project back in 2000 as I always believed that this moving and timeless romance, one of the most popular films of all time, would make the perfect musical. And now today we're in the rehearsal room finally bringing An Officer and A Gentleman to the stage. Sydney is the perfect place to premiere this wonderful show, and I'd like to thank everyone who has gotten us to this stage today. I can't wait to put this terrific show in front of Sydney audiences."
NSW Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, congratulated the team creating the World Premiere of An Officer and A Gentleman. "It is a major coup for Sydney to host the world premiere of An Officer and a Gentleman ahead of international musical theatre destinations like London and New York. Pursuing major events including blockbuster musicals through Destination NSW is a major part of the NSW Government's strategy to rebuild the NSW economy," Mr Souris said.
A hit across the ages, the 1982 film has become a phenomenon in cinema history, recently listed by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten love stories in cinema history. Based on the hugely successful Academy Award-winning film, this new production has been adapted for the stage by the original screen writer, Douglas Day Stewart and co-writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen, produced by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and John Frost, and directed by Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical). Featuring the iconic hit song "Up Where We Belong" and a new score by hit song writer Ken Hirsch and Grammy nominee Robin Lerner this timeless tale of struggle, success, friendship and love promises to be the musical blockbuster of 2012.
The talented cast that is bringing this timeless story to life is Ben Mingay as Zack Mayo, Amanda Harrison as Paula Pokrifki, Alex Rathgeber, Kate Kendall, Bartholomew John, Bert LaBonte, Josh Piterman, Tara Morice, Zahra Newman, Josef Brown, Bernard Angel, Elise Brennan, Bianca Baykara, Kirby Burgess, Lena Cruz, Sam Devenport, Akina Edmonds, Zoy Frangos, Sheridan Harbridge, Peter Hardy, Brendan Irving, Tanya Mitford, Thern Reynolds, Simon Roborgh, Michael Whalley and Patrick Williams.
The World Premiere of An Officer and a Gentleman will be held in Sydney at the Lyric Theatre on 18 May, 2012.
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19 March, 2012
First day of rehearsals for An Officer and A Gentleman
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Joining the principal cast of Ben Mingay, Amanda Harrison, Kate Kendall and Alex Rathgeber will be Bartholomew John (Doctor Zhivago, The Sound of Music, Titanic), Bert LaBonte (Guys and Dolls, Next to Normal, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Josh Piterman (West Side Story, The Drowsy Chaperone), Zahra Newman (Clybourne Park, The Drowsy Chaperone) and Josef Brown (Dirty Dancing, Man of La Mancha).
Bartholomew John plays Byron Mayo, Zack's father, a Navy enlisted man and whore-chasing hell-raiser determined to pass his negative legacy on to his son; as well as Admiral Worley, the by-the-book patriarch of a military family. As Sgt Emil Foley, the screen role which won an Academy Award for Lou Gossett Jnr, will be Bert LaBonte. Foley is the toughest Drill Instructor in the world; the iron-fisted nemesis of every naval candidate, he will find their weakness and press until they crumble.
Josh Piterman is cast as Ramon Guiterrez, the hot-blooded Latino recruit who Foley calls "Drama Queen". Zahra Newman plays the role of Taniya Seeger, an African American woman from the street whose chip on her shoulder and her weak upper body strength could be her undoing. And Josef Brown is Charlie Redding, a somewhat older candidate with a family trying to rise up from the enlisted ranks and become an officer.
Based on the hugely successful Academy Award-winning film, this new production has been adapted for the stage by the original screen writer, Douglas Day Stewart and co-writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen, with music and lyrics by Ken Hirsch and Robin Lerner. It will be produced by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and John Frost, and directed by Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical).
A hit across the ages, the 1982 film has become a phenomenon in cinema history, recently listed by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten love stories in cinema history. Featuring the iconic hit song "Up Where We Belong" and a new score by hit song writer Ken Hirsch and Grammy nominee Robin Lerner this timeless tale of struggle, success, friendship and love promises to be the musical blockbuster of 2012.
The World Premiere of An Officer and a Gentleman will be held in Sydney at the Sydney Lyric, The Star on 18 May, 2012. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
* DOWNLOAD MEDIA RELEASE - pdf
12 February, 2012
Producers John Frost and Sharleen Cooper Cohen today announced more lead cast members for their upcoming World Premiere of the new musical An Officer and A Gentleman
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Based on the hugely successful Academy Award-winning film, this new production has been adapted for the stage by the original screen writer, Douglas Day Stewart and co-writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen, with music and lyrics by Ken Hirsch and Robin Lerner. It will be produced by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and John Frost, and directed by Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical). The production stars Ben Mingay, Amanda Harrison, Kate Kendall and Alex Rathgeber.
Ben Mingay, currently starring as Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys, plays Zack Mayo, the role that brought a young Richard Gere to the attention of film audiences around the world. Mayo is the classic angry young man who grew up in a "sewer" and dreams of flying jets and parlaying this skill into a better life. Mingay's theatre credits include Dirty Dancing in Australia, London and North America, HAIR, South Pacific and the operas The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni.
Amanda Harrison stars as Paula Pokrifki, the young factory worker who dreams of becoming a nurse and finding a better life without selling out for it, like everyone around her. This role was played by Debra Winger in the film. Harrison has appeared in leading roles in Sunset Boulevard, Les Miserables, The Boy From Oz, Leader Of The Pack and We Will Rock You, but is most well known for originating the role of Elphaba in the Australian production of Wicked.
A hit across the ages, the 1982 film has become a phenomenon in cinema history, recently listed by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten love stories in cinema history. Featuring the iconic hit song "Up Where We Belong" and a new score by hit song writer Ken Hirsch and Grammy nominee Robin Lerner this timeless tale of struggle, success, friendship and love promises to be the musical blockbuster of 2012.
The World Premiere of An Officer And A Gentleman will be held in Sydney at the Lyric Theatre on 19 May, 2012. Tickets go on sale tomorrow for performances from May 18 onwards.
* DOWNLOAD MEDIA RELEASE - pdf
24 October, 2011
Tickets go on today for the World Premiere season of An Officer and A Gentleman at Sydney's Lyric Theatre in 2012.
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The talented cast that will bring this timeless story to life will be led by Ben Mingay, currently starring as Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys, and Amanda Harrison, star of the blockbuster musical Wicked. Ben Mingay plays Zack Mayo, the role that brought a young Richard Gere to the attention of film audiences around the world. Mayo is the classic angry young man who grew up in a "sewer" and dreams of flying jets and parlaying this skill into a better life. Ben Mingay's theatre credits include Dirty Dancing in Australia, London and North America, HAIR, South Pacific, the operas The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni, as well as his current starring role in Jersey Boys.
Amanda Harrison stars as Paula Pokrifki, the young factory worker who dreams of becoming a nurse and finding a better life without selling out for it, like everyone around her. This role was played by Debra Winger in the film. Harrison has appeared in leading roles in Sunset Boulevard, Les Miserables, The Boy From Oz, Leader Of The Pack and We Will Rock You, but is most well known for originating the role of Elphaba in the Australian production of Wicked.
Joining Mingay and Harrison as lead performers will be Kate Kendall (MTC's Next to Normal, Stingers, The Starter Wife) as Lynette Pomeroy, Paula's best friend who is determined to marry a flier to escape her dead end life, no matter what it takes; and Alex Rathgeber (The Phantom of the Opera, MTC's The Drowsy Chaperone, The Rocky Horror Show , Fiddler on the Roof ) as Sid Worley, the likeable son of a Navy Admiral who is the class "superstar" at the Naval Academy. Other cast members will be announced at a later date.
Based on the hugely successful Academy Award-winning film, this new production has been adapted for the stage by the original screen writer, Douglas Day Stewart and co-writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen, with music and lyrics by Kenny Hirsch and Robin Lerner. It will be produced by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and John Frost, and directed by Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical).
A hit across the ages, the 1982 film has become a phenomenon in cinema history, recently listed by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten love stories in cinema history. Featuring the iconic hit song "Up Where We Belong" and a new score by hit song writer Ken Hirsch and Grammy nominee Robin Lerner this timeless tale of struggle, success, friendship and love promises to be the musical blockbuster of 2012.
John Frost and Sharleen Cooper Cohen are delighted with their lead cast members. "There were hundreds of talented performers who auditioned for us. We were looking for people who could not only sing and dance, but who showed the grit and determination of these characters, and who could perform the extremely difficult physical exercises of the naval recruits on stage. Ben and Amanda will be sensational in the lead roles, and when Kate and Alex took part in the recent workshop I knew they were perfect for the roles of Lynette and Sid. I'm thrilled we have found the ideal cast."
NSW Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, has congratulated the lead performers chosen for the World Premiere of An Officer And A Gentleman. "The NSW Government is very pleased to support another world premiere musical to be produced in the harbour city of Sydney.
An Officer And A Gentleman is an exciting addition to the State's events calendar, enhancing Sydney's pre-eminent position as the city for first run stage productions in Australia. Like many others, I am looking forward to being in the audience when this wonderful production opens next year."
The World Premiere of An Officer and a Gentleman will be held in Sydney at the Lyric Theatre on 19 May, 2012.
* DOWNLOAD MEDIA RELEASE - pdf
22 September, 2011
Producers John Frost and Sharleen Cooper Cohen today announced principal cast members for their upcoming production of the new musical An Officer and a Gentleman.
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