Grease the Musical coming to Adelaide’s Her Majesty’s Theatre in September
A musical based on the beloved film starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta is rolling into Adelaide later this year.
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A new high-octane production of Grease The Musical is set to roar into Adelaide later this year.
The show, based on the famous film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, is heading to Her Majesty’s Theatre for a limited season in September.
The cast for Adelaide is yet to be confirmed, but the production enjoyed a successful run in Melbourne in January with big names such as Marcia Hines and Patti Newton lighting up the stage.
Many of the classic songs from the original movie, including Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted to You, You’re The One That I Want, and Grease is the Word, will feature in the stage show, which includes a new set and eye-catching costumes.
An Adelaide waitlist is open now at greasemusical.com.au
ICONIC PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF DESERT BUS FINDS A NEW HOME IN SA
She may not have had a speaking part, but wheels are in motion to restore the titular star of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to her former glory.
Yes, the bus named Priscilla, which appeared alongside Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving and Terence Stamp, in the Australian cinema classic is getting a makeover.
It comes three decades after the release of the movie which was a driver in creating a more inclusive and LGBTIQA+ friendly world.
The History Trust of South Australia took a shine to Priscilla, a 1976 Hino Freighter bus, all but lost to history.
It has bought the bus, which was discovered in a paddock of a property in the NSW town of Ewingar, where she had been residing for the past 16 years.
And now the History Trust, with support from the State Government, Blair Boyer MP and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert director, Stephan Elliott, is going to make her sparkle again.
Once restored, Priscilla will make herself at home in Birdwood’s National Motor Museum, as part of an immersive exhibition on the film’s cultural and social impact.
Posing for a fun pic with Kaboobie aka Troy-Anthony Baylis, History Trust chief executive Greg Mackie said Priscilla still had an important story to tell Australians and international visitors.
“It was first released into a world still grappling with the impact of HIV/AIDS, and it immediately became a symbol of survival, the importance of love and respect, and ofembracing of difference,” he said.
“The History Trust of South Australia intends to restore Priscilla to roadworthy condition for special outings, and to authentically render to its interior the glamorous over-the-top camp of the 1994 movie.”
For more information about how to contribute to the restoration, visit history.sa.gov.au/priscilla
– Anna Vlach
MAKING MOVIES – DIRE STRAITS’ GUITAR HERO KNOWS THE SCORE
Much-loved cult cinema classic The Princess Bride’s struck a chord with Adelaide Guitar Festival artistic director Slava Grigoryan.
The 1987 fairytale fantasy film starred Robin Wright in the titular royal role as Buttercup, played for our photo by Meral Nieman.
With an adapted score by Mark Knopfler performed live to the movie by a full orchestra and Grigoryan on guitar, The Princess Bride in Concert plays the Festival Theatre on September 28 and 29.
“I have loved The Princess Bride since I was a child and, of course, Mark Knopfler has always been a big hero of mine,” Grigoryan said.
Legendary flamenco guitarist Paco Pena is also bringing his Requiem for the Earth to Her Majesty’s Theatre on September 12. The Adelaide Guitar Festival runs September 12 to 29. Tickets on sale now.
YOUNG ELVIS IS IN THE BUILDING
It’s no wonder Adelaide’s Nemanja Ilic loves The King’s Jailhouse Rock – he’s got the key to a very bright future after his star turn in Elvis: A Musical Revolution.
The nine-year-old who shines as Young Elvis in the stage show alongside Rob Mallett as The King received a standing ovation for his opening night performance.
There were also rave reviews from seasoned theatre critics, including The Advertiser and Sunday Mail’s Peter Burdon who noted the musical’s “show-stealing debut as Young Elvis from Nemanja Ilic, complete with a gold-record grin”.
Alternating in the role of Young Elvis with Harrison Thomas and Oscar Harrison, Nemanja has been dancing since he was two and dreams of taking his talents all the way to Broadway.
“It’s really cool to say that I’ve started my career at nine,” he said.
“The show’s really spectacular – the props and the lighting are really good. The crowd were very good with all the cheering – I thought it was great.”
Elvis: A Musical Revolution is on at Her Majesty’s Theatre until April 28.
– Anna Vlach
COME TO THE ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL
An exclusive performance by the daughter of Nina Simone and a musical tribute to Olivia Newton-John headline this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Dame Lisa Simone will honour her legendary singer-songwriter mother in Keeper of the Flame, a one-night only show at the Festival Theatre on June 22.
The legacy of the late Newton-John will be remembered in Hopelessly Devoted, with artists including David Campbell and Christie Whelan Browne, alongside the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, performing her timeless classics.
New artistic director Virginia Gay said she was thrilled with her debut program, which will showcase world-class singers and storytellers over 12 nights from June 7-22, including 17 world premieres and 13 Australian premieres.
Actor Gay said Newton-John, who died in August 2022, was still a big part of the Cabaret Festival, more than a decade after she performed here in 2011.
“Who isn’t a fan of Olivia Newton John? The hits are incredible … and she was so beloved and so warmly welcomed and had such a great time here. She is a big part of our hearts and our memories of the cabaret festival,” she said.
Securing Dame Simone was a huge coup for the event, said Gay.
“The idea of hearing Nina Simone’s songs sung by her daughter … while also hearing stories of what it’s like to have Nina Simone as your mother – are you kidding me?” she said.
Gay has looked to “extend the boundaries” of cabaret with this year’s line-up, which includes a podcast recording by Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales, an episode of ABC’s The Book Club featuring live songs, plus Murder for Two, a two-person musical ‘whodunit’ at the Space Theatre.
“I was really interested in how elastic we could be with the concept of cabaret. Cabaret, in its simplest form, is stories into song,” she said.
“So let’s offer as much variety and breadth under this heading of cabaret. For me, the flavour of this festival within that is mischief, wit, sex, sass, community, celebration, excellence.”
There’s also plenty of big-name musical acts, from Kate Miller-Heidke, Missy Higgins and Mahalia Barnes, to traditional cabaret fare from Rhonda Burchmore, Johanna Allen, Mark Nadler and Catherine Alcorn.
Three-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone will bring her new concert, A Life In Notes, to the Festival Theatre on June 19.
“I’ve been a performer at three separate cabaret festivals. I’ve been a wild and enthusiastic audience member here over the last 15 years … this place is so dear to me and it’s such a special experience,” Gay said. “The festival is really, really important to me.”
Visit: adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au
– Antimo Iannella
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