The
countdown is on! Wicked opens in....
|
This is her
moment: Amanda ready to fly
When Amanda Harrison takes to the stage as Elphaba on July 12 at the opening
night of Wicked, it will be almost three years to the day since she gave new life
to the almost-there musical Leader Of The Pack at the Palms At Crown Melbourne.
It was July 14, 2005 and after a Sydney season a couple of years earlier that
didn't go down all that well, Leader Of The Pack tried its luck in Melbourne, and
Harrison gave it the knockout punch it so desperately needed.
Moments like that, however, have littered the career of Amanda Harrison. They are
moments that have proven to audiences, critics and producers that she was something out of
the ordinary; something very special.
The Sydney-born Talent Development Project graduate made her professional stage
debut as a teenager as Jenny in Aspects Of Love. It was 1993, and while her name
might not have been on everyone's lips back then, a journey had begun.
And what a journey it has been.
Ironically, Harrison's emergence was almost stunted when she was accepted into the
Western Australian Academy Of Performing Arts (WAAPA). She was at WAAPA for six weeks and
then left after landing the role of Betty in Sunset Boulevard. She hasn't looked
back since - roles in Les Miserables, The Journey Girl, Mame, The Boy From Oz and
Guys and Dolls followed, before the UK beckoned.
Abroad, she starred in a host of shows and also managed to meet the man who would
eventually become her husband, and the father to her only daughter.
When she returned to Australia, the role of Oz in We Will Rock You became
her own - it was a stellar performance that gave her newfound respect within the industry,
and led to bigger and better things.
The birth of her first child, a solo cabaret show and a few other roles followed,
before she landed Elphaba in Wicked - one of the most powerful female roles in
musical theatre.
As Amanda Harrison readies for opening night, there is very little doubt that her
journey is far from over - indeed, it's just beginning.
Wicked opens at the Regent Theatre on July 12. Bookings: 132 849. |
 Corin makes full-length debut
 B Sharp will welcome
performer, producer and now playwright, Tahli Corin and her first full-length play, Bumming
With Jane to the Belvoir Street Downstairs Theatre next month. [more]
STAR THEATRE "NOT CLOSING"
Star City denies it has a plan to close the Star
Theatre, despite speculation that the new venue could be dumped within a year of its
opening. The theatre is currently hosting a revival of The Rocky Horror Show.
WICKED TV SPECIAL TO AIR
Foxtel's W Channel will air An Audience With The
Cast Of Wicked this Saturday night, featuring exclusive interviews with the cast as
well as some rare and intimate performances.
GRANDISON GOES SOLO
We Will Rock You and Company star
Pippa Grandison will make her solo cabaret debut later this month when she performs What's
Happening To Clementine? at Sydney's Bar Me. |
|
Adding Machine
World Premiere Recording
New from PS classics, the critically-acclaimed new musical by Joshua
Schmidt and Jason Loewith based on Elmer Rice's 1923 play. Featuring Cyrilla Baer, Joel
Hatch, Amy Warren, Daniel Marcus,Niffer Clarke, Roger E. DeWitt, Adinah Alexander, Jeff
Still and Joe Farrell
[buy
it now]
|
Below are the latest news items that
relate to AussieTheatre.com.
Rising Star Finalists
AussieTheatre.com has
announced its finalists for the 2008 Rising Star competition. They are Lauren Paul, Chris
Scalzo, Celeste Notley-Smith, Alana Tranter and Erin Cornell. More.
New reviewer joins the team
David Crofts, an experienced journalist and reviewer, has joined
our Melbourne editorial team. David will primarily focus on musical theatre productions in
the Victorian capital. Welcome aboard David! More.
AussieTheatre.com ends an era
AussieTheatre.com has announced that the Hannah Hearsay column,
after nearly three years online, will come to an end. More. |
|
|
