Durack, Cousens and Wood will star in Strange Bedfellows

john wood peter cousens strange bedfellows
John Wood and Peter Cousens

They’re close mates, but not that close!

AussieTheatre.com is excited to report that Instinct Entertainment in association with McLaren House has officially announced that the new, all Australian musical, Strange Bedfellows will open at The Princess Theatre, Melbourne on 19 October 2011. Tickets will go on sale from July 11 through Ticketmaster.

John Foreman’s new musical Strange Bedfellows is based on the hit 2004 film of the same name that starred Paul Hogan and Michael Caton.

Boasting a stellar cast including John Wood (Blue Heelers) and Peter Cousens (Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon) as Ralph and Vince, the unlikely couple, Lucy Durack (Wicked, MAMA MIA!), Melissa Langton (Les Misérables, The Fabulous Singlette’s) and Kevin Harrington (Underbelly, Neighbours, SeaChange).

“Being a Melburnian, it is very exciting to start this show here at the iconic Princess theatre. We are very proud of the cast we have assembled and in particular being able to introduce many people to the brilliant comic timing of John and Peter. This show is something special and we can’t wait for audiences to see it.”, said Producer, Spencer McLaren.

Writer/Producer, Dean Murphy added, “When originally writing the movie Strange Bedfellows, we fantasised about it one day being the basis for a musical. But I don’t think in my wildest dreams I would have envisaged it coming together with such incredible music, an amazing crew and a cast to die for. The show is really something”.

Directed by Roger Hodgman (MTC, Guys & Dolls, City Homicide) with Musical Direction by Kellie Dickerson (Wicked, Dr Zhivago) and Choreography by Dana Jolly (We Will Rock You, The Producers), Strange Bedfellows has the potential to follow in the footsteps of other great all-Australian musicals like The Boy From Oz and Priscilla Queen of the Desert – both of which have played on Broadway.

Australian audiences are keen to embrace their stories told with humour, warmth and a little dose of razzle dazzle – and with any luck, the show may just make it to Broadway for the Australian musical hat trick!

Details of the full 22 person cast will be announced soon.

www.strangebedfellows.com.au

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

Erin James

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