In todays news producers Howard Panter and John Frost together with the New South Wales minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts George Souris have announced the lead cast for the hot musical Legally Blonde which will have its Australian Premiere at Sydney's Lyric Theatre on October 4th this year.
The coveted role of Australia's Elle Woods has gone to Lucy Durack, best know as the good witch Glinda from the blockbuster musical Wicked - which toured to Adelaide late last year. Durack's other stage credits include Sophie in Mamma Mia!, Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Miss Dorothy in the Australian Premiere of Thoroughly Modern Millie and more including Kiss Me Kate, Respect, and Oklahoma.
Playing alongside Durack are two of the leading men from the Australian musical theatre stage, Rob Mills as Warner and David Harris as Emmet. Currently hosting Young Talent Time on Network Ten, Rob Mills first came to prominence on TV's Australian Idol, and was later cast as Fiyero in the original Australian production of Wicked - a role he played for 2 years.
David Harris is best known to Australian audiences for his portrayal of Chris in Miss Saigon, and has also appeared in The Boy from Oz, Mamma Mia!, Damn Yankees, Little Women, Pajama Game, The Full Monty, Wicked and Fiddler on the roof alongside Topol.
In her musical theatre debut, international fashion model Erika Heynatz will play the role of Brooke Wyndham. Well know for television work, Heynatz was the original host of Australia's next top model and went on to win the first series of Channel 7's celebrity singing show It Takes Two - which led to a record deal with EMI Music.
Cameron Daddo returns to the Australian Stage for the first time in 20 years to play Professor Callahan. After performing in the musicals Big River and the Wizard of Oz, Daddo relocated to Los Angeles where he performed on the big screen in Big Momma's House 2 and on several television series including Boston Legal, 24 and The Mentalist.
Howard Panter, joint CEO and Creative Director of Ambassador Theatre Group said "Legally Blonde The Musical has been a roaring success on both sides of the Atlantic, critically acclaimed, getting standing ovations night after night, and record repeat business. With this stellar cast I have no doubt Australia will take take Legally Blonde into their hearts as well and have an Elle of a party at the theatre. I am thrilled to bring Legally Blonde The Musical to Australia, and that I am producing it with John Frost in our first collaboration."
John Frost is very excited with the casting of Legally Blonde. "Lucy Durack proved with Wicked she
is one of Australia's top musical theatre performers. With her fabulous voice and comic timing, Lucy is the ideal choice as Australia's Elle Woods. Rob Mills and David Harris have both rapidly become the leading men of Australian musical stage - Rob did a fantastic job as Fiyero in his first musical role, and David has an enviable list of credits. They'll both be terrific" he said.
"Ericka Heynatz blew us away in her audition. I love finding talent in unexpected places and I know she is going to make a wonderful Brooke and I'm overjoyed to be working with Cameron Daddo again after giving him his musical theatre break so long ago in Big River. This is the perfect role to bring him from LA where he has been so successful, and back to the Australian stage. I love Legally Blonde. It is 100% pure entertainment, and I know Sydney will fall in love with the show as much as I have" Frost continued.
The Australian premiere of this award-winning Broadway and West End sensation was secured for Sydney with the assistance of the NSW Government through Destination NSW and the City of Sydney.
Now in its third smash hit year on the West End and touring to 28 cities across the UK, Legally Blonde is the winner of seven major awards including the coveted Best New Musical 2011 (Olivier Awards). The all singing, all dancing romantic comedy is about knowing who you are and showing what you've got.
Based on the hit movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde The Musical is the award-winning Broadway sensation created by a top-of-their-class creative team, led by Tony Award winning director and Olivier Award nominated choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray). This funny, feel good musical comedy will be the highlight of the year.
Legally Blonde The Musical will take you from the social whirl of California Campus life to Harvard's Halls of Justice with Australia's brightest new heroine (and of course her Chihuahua, Bruiser). The verdict? This much fun shouldn't be legal.
For more information visit legallyblonde.com.au
When: Opening 4 Oct 2012
Where: Sydney's Lyric Theatre, The Star.
Bookings: 1300 795 267 or ticketmaster.com.au
