Full Cast Announced for Classic Western Musical
Joining Virginia Gay in the Lead
Legendary frontierswoman; notorious daredevil; profane storyteller; unwomanly radical – CALAMITY JANE is one of the most immediately recognisable figures of the old American West.
Joining Virginia Gay starring as CALAMITY JANE will be Laura Bunting as the charming Katie Brown, Anthony Gooley as Wild Bill Hickock, Sheridan Harbridge as Miss Adelaide Adams and Susan, Rob Johnson as Francis Fryer, Matthew Pearce as Lt Danny Gilmartin and Tony Taylor as Henry Miller.
This new production was borne from a successful revival of the old musical by Neglected Musicals in August 2016, which also starred Virginia Gay.
From the famous 1950s Doris Day movie musical to the HBO series Deadwood, the courageous individuality of Calamity Jane has delighted audiences for decades. With a fierce disregard for gender expectations and cultural limitations that was centuries ahead of her time, there’s no better time to re-visit and re-examine this remarkable woman.
This stripped-back, rough-and-ready reimagining shucks off the buckskin and brings a barrelful of dirt and grit to the classic musical. Directed by Richard Carroll (Side Show), the production stars Virginia Gay (as the magnetic, masculine heroine – joined by a ragtag band of acclaimed comedic actors and musicians who share all the other roles. Audiences will be immersed in the world of the Golden Garter Saloon – alive with whores, gamblers, and habitual jeopardy – and can expect an unruly and unpredictable ride. Performed with piano and a grab bag of other instruments, this production injects a raucous spontaneity into the uniquely intimate Hayes Theatre Co.
“Virginia is a sensational actress, and audiences will fall head over heels for her bold, charming, and unconventional embodiment of this beloved role,” said producer and director Richard Carroll. “I’m really excited to use the Hayes space in a new and inventive way for this stripped-back, no-holds-barred interpretation of Calamity Jane with a group of wonderfully ingenious and resourceful actors. Getting up close to the audience will give this classic show a whole new lease of life. Expect the unexpected!”
Featuring timeless standards such as The Deadwood Stage, Just Blew In From The Windy City, Black Hills of Dakota, and Secret Love.
Table seating is available for this production. Knock back a beer in the Golden Garter saloon, and be a part of the action!
