The Boy from Oz
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| The Boy From Oz | |
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| Original Broadway Poster | |
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| Music | Peter Allen |
| Lyrics | Peter Allen |
| Book | Nick Enright (original) Martin Sherman |
| Productions | 1998 Sydney 2003 Broadway 2006 Australia |
The Boy From Oz is a jukebox musical based on the life of singer/songwriter Peter Allen and featuring songs written by him. The book is by Martin Sherman with the original book by Nick Enright. The production had its world premiere at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Australia, on 5 March 1998 and toured Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, playing to over 1.2 million theatre patrons. It ran for a total 766 performances over two years.[1] The production starred Todd McKenney as Peter Allen.
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[edit] Plot synopsis
In the 1950s, the young boy Peter Allen started performing and playing the piano. As an adult, Peter is in various early concerts in Australia with his partner. He is introduced to Judy Garland, who hires him for her show. Peter soon becomes romantically involved with Judy's daughter Liza, and they marry. Peter appears in New York City with the Rockettes. As time progresses Peter develops a relationship with a man and his marriage ends.[2]
[edit] Later productions
[edit] Broadway
The Boy From Oz was the first Australian musical to reach Broadway.[citation needed] It started previews at the Imperial Theatre on 16 September 2003, opened on 16 October 2003 and closed on 12 September 2004, at the end of Hugh Jackman's contract. The show played 32 previews and 365 performances. Directed by Philip William McKinley, with choreography by Joey McKneely, it starred Jackman as Peter Allen, Isabel Keating as Judy Garland, Stephanie J. Block as Liza Minnelli, Beth Fowler as Marion Woolnough, Jarrod Emick as Peter's AIDS-stricken lover Greg Connell, and John Hill (actor) as Mark Herron (Judy's Husband). Jackman won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, and Keating won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. The show also received nominations for four other Tony Awards, including Best Musical.[3]
[edit] Australian arena tour
The Boy From Oz returned to Australia from 3 August 2006 to 10 September 2006 in a new production especially designed for the arena stage (audiences of over 10,000 people), called Boy From Oz Arena Spectacular. Directed by Kenny Ortega, Hugh Jackman reprised his New York role as Peter Allen. He was joined by Australian actresses Chrissy Amphlett and Angela Toohey, reprising their roles as Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. Rarmian Newton and Joshua Waiss Gates, both of whom later starred in Billy Elliot the Musical, were two of the four boys who played young Peter Allen in the Australian production. Peter's mother, Marion, was played by Colleen Hewett.[4][5] The show had a support cast of 40 singer-dancers and a 25-piece orchestra.[6]
The show also featured the vocals of Australian girls' high school choirs from Penrhos College[citation needed] when in Perth, and, while in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane, it featured the vocals of 100 girls from the Australian Girls Choir.[7]
[edit] Song list (Broadway version)
All songs written by Peter Allen except as noted
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- Original Australian Cast Album track list
- Continental American
- When I Get My Name In Lights
- Pretty Keen Teen
- All I Wanted Was the Dream
- Only an Older Woman
- Don't Wish Too Hard
- Sure Thing Baby
- Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage
- I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love
- (I've Been) Taught by Experts
- Not the Boy Next Door
- (When) Everything Old is New Again
- (Arthur's Theme) Best That You Can Do
- Love Don't Need a Reason
- She Loves to Hear the Music
- I Honestly Love You
- I Still Call Australia Home
- Don't Cry Out Loud
- Tenterfield Saddler
- I Go to Rio
- The Lives of Me
- Love Crazy
- Come Save Me
- Bi-Coastal
- If You Were Wondering
- You and Me
- Once Before I Go
[edit] Awards and nominations
- Best Musical – Produced by Ben Gannon, Robert Fox (nominee)
- Best Book of a Musical – Book by Martin Sherman; Original book by Nick Enright (nominee)
- Best Actor in a Musical – Hugh Jackman (winner)
- Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Beth Fowler (nominee), Isabel Keating (nominee)
- Mitchel David Federan (winner)
- Hugh Jackman (winner)
- Isabel Keating (winner)
- Outstanding Actor in a Musical – Hugh Jackman (winner)
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical – Mitchel David Federan (nominee)
- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical – Isabel Keating (winner)
[edit] References
- ^ audiomastermind article
- ^ Curtain Up review, Oct. 22, 2003
- ^ Internet Broadway Database listing for "The Boy From Oz"
- ^ ABC.net review, Sept. 4, 2006
- ^ "Variety" review, Aug. 6, 2006
- ^ Hernandez, Ernio."Hugh Jackman The Boy From Oz Tour Gets New Director, Cast and Dates for Oz Return", playbill.com article, Feb. 13, 2006
- ^ "Variety" article, Aug. 6, 2006
