Superb cast announced for Australian Premiere.
The Producers of Ghost The Musical have today announced that after an exhaustive casting process by Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, a superb cast has been assembled. The supernatural power of love will explode onto the Australian stage on 7 January 2016 headed by Rob Mills as ‘Sam Wheat’, Jemma Rix as ‘Molly Jensen’ (Wicked fans will be overjoyed), Alex Rathgeber as ‘Carl Bruner’ (direct from his Helpmann Award Winning performance in Anything Goes) and introducing remarkable British theatrical and television actress Wendy Mae Brown as ‘Oda Mae Brown’ (the role made famous by Whoopi Goldberg).
Matthew Warchus, director of Matilda, and Australian born choreographer Ashley Wallen, Kylie Minogue’s personal choreographer, are delighted to announce that the Australian tour cast also includes, Ross Chisari as Willie Lopez; Blake Appleqvist, David Denis, Nicholas Eaton, Xander Ellis, Simon Fairweather, Samantha Hagen, Childi Mbakwe, Joshua Mulheran, Justine Puy, Elenoa Rokobaro, Monique Salle, Drew Weston as well as Lydia Warr and Evette White direct from the US and Asian tour productions.
Set in modern day New York City, Ghost The Musical is a timeless fantasy about the power of love. Walking back to their apartment one night after a romantic dinner, Sam and Molly are mugged, leaving Sam dead on a dark street. Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly, whom he learns is in grave danger. With the help of Oda Mae, a phony storefront psychic, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving and protecting her.
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film in 1990, Ghost became a blockbuster hit and an instant classic, winning numerous awards worldwide. The film starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg and was directed by Jerry Zucker. Bruce Joel Rubin’s script won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown.
The musical features book and lyrics by Academy Award winner Bruce Joel Rubin and original music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winners, Dave Stewart (half of the multi-Grammy Award-winning Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror and Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill). The score also includes the iconic song Unchained Melody, written by Hy Zaret and Alex North and famously performed in the film by The Righteous Brothers.
Employing special effects never before seen in an on-stage musical, Ghost The Musical features an incredible array of illusions; Sam, as a ghost, walks through a solid door; inanimate objects take on a life of their own; spirits ascend to the heavens; subway passengers are thrown in the air; and people disappear and reappear right before your eyes.
Ghost The Musical premiered in Manchester in 2011 before transferring to the West End and later Broadway. It has been enjoyed by over a million people worldwide and nominated for numerous awards including five Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards.
The Adelaide season will run at the Festival Theatre from the 7th to the 31st of January. Bookings can be made through Bass.
ADELAIDE
Venue: Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, King William St, Adelaide
Dates: Thursday 7 January to Sunday 31 January, 2016
Press Night Saturday 9 January at 7pm
Times: Evenings: Tuesday 7pm, Wednesday to Saturday 8pm
Matinees: Wednesday 1pm, Saturday 2pm, Sunday 3pm
(Sunday 31 Jan 1pm & 6pm)
Prices: Adults from $74.90 to $129.90, Concession from $64.90 to $99.90
Groups 6+ from $84.90
Transaction and payment processing fees apply
Bookings: BASS 131 246 or bass.net.au
More info: ghostthemusical.com.au
Other national dates:
Regent Theatre, Melbourne from Friday 5 February 2016
Theatre Royal, Sydney from Friday 18 March 2016
Crown, Perth from Saturday 21 May 2016
