Hayes Theatre Co's First Five 2023 Shows Announced
The Hayes Theatre Company have announced the first five shows that will be playing at the Potts Point theatre as part of their 2023 season.
The season includes an outrageously hilarious social commentary on municipal politics and musical theatre itself; a raucous and unashamedly queer take on a sparkling Hollywood classic; a 90s-flavoured drag mixtape for Sydney WorldPride; the premiere of an innovative new adaptation of a iconic sci-fi epic; and a vital new Aussie musical for ALL Aussies. Prepare to be transported by these exceptional shows at the intimate and electric Hayes Theatre Co.
URINETOWN
Music by Mark Hollmann, Lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, Book by Greg Kotis
Presented by Heart Strings Theatre Co in association with Hayes Theatre Co. Winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and two Obie Awards, Urinetown is a musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics and musical theatre itself.
CAST & CREATIVES Starring Petronella Van Tienen, Joel Horwood, Karen Vickery, Natasha Vickery, Deanna Farnell, Max Gambale and Joe Dinn
Director Ylaria Rogers Musical Director Matthew Reid Choreographer Cameron Mitchell Costume Designer Helen Wotjas Production Supervisor Derek Walker Assistant Stage Manager Sebastian Xavier
Performances from 11 January 2023 Tues - Sat 7:30 pm Wed & Sat 2:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm
Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes – including interval
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES
Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Leo Robin, Book by Anita Loos and Joseph Fields, Adapted from the novel by Anita Loos.
Presented by Hayes Theatre Co in association with Sydney WorldPride “It’s not compensation, it’s self-preservation…” Before Muriel and Rhonda; before Elphaba and Glinda; there was Lorelei and Dorothy.
Jump aboard the luxury cruise liner The Ile De France as we sail across the Atlantic in the company of two of musical theatre’s most dazzlingly charismatic heroines. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes tells the raucous and subversive story of Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw – two smart young single women with a burning desire for experiences that aren’t supposed to be available to them within the laws and conventions of the 1920s. Armed with only their vitality, ambition, quick wits, and above all their unshakeable friendship – these thoroughly modern women play the men at their own game, and live life to the full. Champagne? Check. Diamonds? Check. Sex? Check, check, check. And as for the consequences? They’ll worry about those when the ship docks.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes made stars of Carol Channing onstage and Marilyn Monroe on film, and this new production for WorldPride Arts, part of the Sydney World Pride festival, sees a queer Australian team serve up a ship-sized slice of high-femme camp. Featuring songs like Bye Bye Baby, I’m Just a Little Girl From Little Rock, and Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend, prepare for a wet and wild voyage of self-discovery through a queer lens. And remember – in international waters, all the usual rules are suspended – indefinitely.
This production reunites the acclaimed team of director Richard Carroll (Calamity Jane, Once, Godspell) and musical director Victoria Falconer (Once, Lizzie, Godspell) at Sydney’s most celebrated and intimate musical theatre company.
Performances from 16 February 2023 Mon 6:30 pm Tue - Sat 7:30 pm Thurs 1:00 pm Sat 2:00 pm
Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes – including interval
I WANT IT THAT GAY
Presented by Pride Amplified in association with Hayes Theatre Co
A Sydney WorldPride 2023 Event Written by and starring Cara Whitehouse and Anna Gambrill
I Want it That Gay is a queer comedic cabaret featuring popular music hits from the 1990’s and 2000’s – with a rainbow twist!
Audience reviews from debut performance at Red Rattler Theatre, Marrickville in June 2022:
“You’re saying everything that’s been in my head, that I’ve never said out loud.” – Cyber Prince (Sydney-based Drag King)
“5 stars! I laughed til my hernia hurt.” – J Starr (Sydney-based Drag King)
“I learnt so much about gender that I didn’t know. I was challenged, super entertained whilst feeling safe and included.” – Scott (straight white male)
Performances on Sun 26 Feb & Sun 5 Mar 2023 Sunday 6.30pm
Approximately 75 minutes – no interval
METROPOLIS
Devised by Julia Robertson & Zara Stanton
Presented by the Little Eggs Collective in association with Hayes Theatre Co
Director Julia Robertson Assistant Director Natalie Low Musical Director Zara Stanton Set & Costume Designer Nick Fry
The basis for Fritz Lang’s 1927 file, Thea Von Harbou’s masterpiece of atmosphere and expressionism illuminates parts of the story lost on the cutting-room floor.
In 2023, the Little Eggs Collective will turn one of the most influential science fiction novels of all time into a live theatre experience. With a brand new, completely original score, a cast of ten will premiere this adaptation in April/May 2023.
Performances from 21 April 2023 Tue - Sat 7:30 pm Sat 2:30 pm Sun 5:00 pm
Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes – with interval
THE LUCKY COUNTRY
Music and Lyrics by Vidya Makan in collaboration with Sonya Suares
Presented by Hayes Theatre Co
CAST & CREATIVES Director Sonya Suares Musical Director & Orchestrator Heidi Maguire Starring Joseph Althouse and Vidya Makan
The Lucky Country is a rollicking chamber musical that digs deep into the idea of Australia, identity and belonging.
We meet Joseph, a 13-year-old Thitharr Warra boy, whose youthful optimism is dashed when he clashes with his teacher’s notion of ‘our shared history’. It sparks a journey of self-actualisation that leads him back to Country and a moment of truth.
While Joseph is grappling with the fault-lines in our national story, his totem bird – a sea eagle – introduces us to a collection of all-Aussie characters: grey nomads who find love on a Contiki tour; a Chinese Australian restauranteur who dreams of life as a Byron Bay nudist; a young refugee in Mingoola; a WW2 veteran; an aspiring actress, and an all fake-Russian choir, to name but a few.
The Lucky Country is a bold and timely new work that gives a voice to those typically marginalised in our conversations about Australian identity and history. Cathartic, heartfelt and hilarious in turn, this is a powerful 75 minutes of theatre featuring an ensemble of six exceptional performers and a five-piece band (including yidaki – didgeridoo), illuminated and amplified by audiovisual design.
A celebration of a new vision for who we can be as Australians.
Performances from 26 May 2023 Mon 6:30 pm Tue - Sat 7:30 pm Thur 1:00 pm Sat 2:00 pm
Approximately 75 minutes – no interval
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