A trifecta of Broadway musical theatre productions will open in Sydney, Australia, over the next two years.
The long-running, Tony-winning revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s Chicago will open at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in 2019; the international hit musical Saturday Night Fever, which opened on Broadway in 1999, will play the Capitol Theatre in 2019; and the Australian premiere of Waitress, featuring a score by Sara Bareilles, will open at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in 2020.
“I am so excited to bring these three wonderful, diverse productions to light up Sydney stages and thrill audiences,” said Australian theatre producer John Frost. “Waitress has become a huge hit on Broadway and across the US, receiving four Tony nominations and six Drama Desk nominations. With music by Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles, Waitress has quickly become the new ‘must see’ musical.
“Chicago is one of my favourite musicals of all time, with one of the best Kander and Ebb scores. I can’t wait to sit in the audition room to find Velma and Roxie for a new generation. Since it debuted in the West End and Broadway, the musical adaptation of Saturday Night Fever has set pulses racing around the world. The music is infectious and defined the distinctive disco era for a whole generation. Australia will love this new reimagined version of the iconic story with its high-octane dancing and glorious collection of Bee Gees hits.”
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Now in its third year on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Waitress, inspired by the film of the same name, tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker who dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage. Waitress is the first Broadway musical in history to have four women in the four top creative team spots, with a book by Jessie Nelson, a score by five-time Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro, and direction by Tony winner Diane Paulus.
Chicago, which is based on the 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, has a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by Kander, and lyrics by Ebb. It has been seen by over 30 million people worldwide in 36 countries and is the winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, and a Grammy Award. Chicago continues on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre.
Paying homage to the 1977 movie classic starring John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever is the story of Tony Manero and his quest to break free of conformity and become dance king. The show is packed with disco classics, including the Bee Gees' “Stayin' Alive,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “Night Fever,” “Tragedy,” and “More Than A Woman.” This brand-new production premiered recently in Paris.
