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Ghost The Musical To Haunt Melbourne In August 2013

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Submitted by Simon Parris on Thursday, 17th Nov 2011

 The smash hit West End musical Ghost is set to have its Australian premiere in Melbourne in 2013.

 

 

Producers today announced for the wildly successful musical to open at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s  Theatre in August 2013. Producer Louise Withers (pictured left) introduced Co-Producer Michael Coppell (pictured right) as well as Minister for Tourism and Major Events Lousie Asher (pictured below). Composer Dave Stewart (of The Eurythmics fame) was on hand to discuss his experience in bringing the hit show to life.

 

Ghost opened less than five months ago in London’s West End. Whilst reviews were mixed, the special effects were uniformly praised. A Broadway season, to begin in March 2012 was recently announced. Ms Asher said that for Melbourne to follow in quick succession means that the show is now set for three theatre capitals of the world and that is how the Victorian Government believes it should be. Having access to major musicals like this adds to the character of Melbourne as a highly liveable city.

Success with technical effects will come as no surprise to anyone who saw the magical 2007 West End musical version of Lord of The Rings, also directed by Matthew Warchus. Warchus won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for God of Carnage. His joyous, highly creative staging of the 2002 jukebox musical Our House, featuring the songs of Madness, has cult status amongst anyone  lucky enough to have seen it (check out the dvd).

Mr Stewart (pictured below) described the effects as so amazing that even when he has been on stage up close to the effects he still cannot see how they are done!

 

Ghost is based on the hit 1990 movie starring Patrick Swayze as doomed Wall St worker Sam and Demi Moore as his loving artist girlfriend Molly. Whoopi Goldberg won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her hilarious turn as the outrageous medium Oda-Mae Brown.

Casting  for the Australian premiere is set to commence in late 2012. Who do you see in these high profile roles?

Keep Reading:

Ghost Trailer

Theatre People Ghost Review

Ghost Production Photos

Photos: Simon Parris

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About the Author

Simon has appeared in about 40 productions over the past thirty years. Favourite roles include Eugene Fodor in Crazy for You, Mr Fox in Mack and Mabel, Max in The Sound of Music, Freddy in My Fair Lady, Julio in Paint Your Wagon, Marcellus in The Music Man and Grantaire in Les Miserables. Simon has directed several school productions. He choreographed Urinetown and Little Shop of Horrors for St Michael’s Grammar School, then went on to direct Hot Mikado and the Australian premiere of 13 for St Michael’s. Simon served on the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Committee for five years as Treasurer and is currently on the Board of The Opera Studio Melbourne. He is also a keen audience member, having seen 51 shows in six weeks on a recent trip to London/Europe. Simon also reviews for the Sunday Herald Sun.