Fantastic news for Sydney: The Fantasticks comes to Hayes Theatre Co

If you had to hazard a guess as to the longest running musical in the world, which should would you choose? CATS? The Phantom of the Opera? Les Miserables? Chicago? 

Martin Crewes will star in The Fantasticks at Hayes Theatre Co. Image by Marnya Rothe
Martin Crewes will star in The Fantasticks at Hayes Theatre Co. Image by Marnya Rothe

No, no, no and no. Actually, it’s a beautiful boutique musical with a poetic book and a breezy, inventive score which has been performed all around the globe – The Fantasticks. The show’s original off-Broadway production ran a total of 42 years and 17,162 performances, making it the world’s longest-running musical, and now it’s heading to Sydney for a new life in our hottest new boutique theatre.

Wooden Horse Productions recently presented the Australian musical LOVEBiTES at Hayes Theatre Co and now in 2016 they will team up with Hayes Theatre Co in to bring an exciting new interpretation of The Fantasticks to the stage with director Helen Dallimore (High Society) at the helm.

Featuring an exquisite cast led by Martin Crewes, who returns to the Hayes Theatre Co stage for the first time since his Helpmann Award nominated performance in Sweet Charity, the show also stars Laurence Coy (High Society, The Drowsy Chaperone), Garry Scale (Hairspray, The Boy From Oz) and recent graduates Bobbie-Jean Henning (WAAPA) and Jonathan Hickey (QLD Conservatorium).

Whimsical, poignant and romantic, The Fantasticks focuses on two young lovers, their meddling fathers, and the journey we all must take through adolescent thrills, the growing pains of hurt and betrayal, the highs of passion, the challenges of distance and the agonies of heartbreak to discover how to truly love.

Playing at Hayes Theatre Co from January 11, featuring hit songs such as ‘Try to Remember’ and ‘Soon It’s Gonna Rain’, this is the perfect boutique musical to bring Hayes Theatre Co into its third glorious year!

THE FANTASTICKS

Venue: Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point

Season: 11-31 January 2016 (opening night Wednesday 13 January)

Performance Times: Tue – Sat at 7.30pm, Wed* + Sat 2pm and Sun 5pm

hayestheatre.com.au or (02) 8065 7337


Hayes Theatre Co is a dedicated music theatre and cabaret venue in Potts Point. Named for Australian musical theatre legend, Nancye Hayes OAM, Hayes Theatre Co honours and builds on the vast history of Australian Musical Theatre and its practitioners. This not-for-profit venue is managed by Independent Music Theatre, a collaborative partnership focusing on providing a permanent home for small-scale musical theatre and cabaret. By providing venue space to newly mounted productions, Hayes Theatre Co, is a presenting partner together with independent producers and artists.

Hayes Theatre Co is made possible through the City of Sydney’s Accommodation Grant Program.

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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