Melba A New Musical
Adapted from the book “Marvelous Melba” by Ann Blainey
Presented by Hayes Theatre Co and New Musicals Australia
Director Wayne Harrison
Musical Director Michael Tyack
Production Designer Mark Thompson
Lighting Designer Trudy Dalgleish
Sound Designer Caitlin Porter
Production Manager Di Misirdjieff
Executive Producer Kerry Comerford
Starring Emma Matthews as Melba, Annie Aitken, Michael Beckley, Caitlin Berry, Andrew Cutcliffe, Blake Erickson, Genevieve Lemon and Samuel Skuthorp
A marriage, a scandal, a lost child.
Dame Nellie Melba was the most celebrated singer of her generation. Lauded on more than three continents as a phenomenon, her life was the stuff that dreams are made of, but her journey to the top was not always untroubled.
From humble beginnings as Nellie Mitchell in Melbourne, to the stages of opera houses across Europe, MELBA charts the life of a woman who was determined to be the best in a conservative world. Melba’s life was filled with triumph and tragedy, stardom and shame; a story that is little known beyond her stellar career.
Blending contemporary music theatre with operatic arias, MELBA brings to life a woman we know so well, yet not at all.
Hayes Theatre Co and New Musicals Australia are thrilled to present this new Australian work, which was previously developed as part of the New Musicals Australia program. Directed by internationally acclaimed director, Wayne Harrison with musical direction by Michael Tyack and starring one of Australia’s most popular opera stars, Emma Matthews as Dame Nellie Melba.
Also featuring Annie Aitkin (The Sound of Music, Anything Goes) as the young Nellie Armstrong making her way from Australia to Paris and the world stage, Michael Beckley (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, A Little Night Music), Caitlin Berry (Jekyll & Hyde, Doctor Zhivago), Blake Erickson (Les Misérables, Grey Gardens), Adam Rennie (Big Fish, Love Never Dies) and newcomer Samuel Skuthorp.
Performances: From 11 August 2017
Mon 6.30pm | Tues – Sat 7.30pm | Wed & Sat 2.00pm
Running time: Approximately 2 hours and 20 mins (with interval)