Dream Lover for Melbourne

Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical

David Campbell to Reprise Role at Melbourne’s Summer Musical Season

Melbourne Arts Centre will once again welcome a musical to their traditional summer arts lineup with the announcement that Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical will play this upcoming summer season.

“In days gone by, Melbourne audiences looked forward to enjoying lavish musicals during their summer holidays. Shows like Hello Dolly, The Secret Garden and The King and I opened in late December at the State Theatre and played though January and February,” said leading theatre producer John Frost and Chief Executive Officer of Arts Centre Melbourne, Claire Spencer.

David Campbell will reprise his role of Bobby Darin in *Dream Lover* the musical in Melbourne this Summer.

The first musical which will celebrate the return of the summer musical at Arts Centre Melbourne will be Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical. This new production had its world premiere at the Sydney Lyric Theatre late last year and audiences fell in love with this new Australian hit. David Campbell will return to star as the Grammy award-winning singer and Oscar nominated actor, Bobby Darin, in the Melbourne summer season, with further cast members to be announced shortly.

“We were blown away by the audience response to Dream Lover in Sydney, with standing ovations at every performance and universal five star reviews by audience members on social media,” commented John Frost, on behalf of his co-producers John and Barbara Gilbert. “Audiences were awe-struck by the incredible performance of David Campbell, and the energy of Simon Phillip’s thrilling production. We’re excited to be able to bring Dream Lover to Melbourne as the first in the new annual summer musical presentation at the Arts Centre.”

An extraordinary story that goes far beyond the song, Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical reveals the amazing life of this legendary American singer, songwriter and actor. An intimate and epic story of an all-round entertainer adored by his fans, Bobby Darin, together with his movie star wife Sandra Dee, provided the iconic soundtrack to a generation. The musical captures the glamour and passion of the big band era, the Rat Pack in Vegas and the Golden Age of Hollywood, a time of trail-blazing stars, knock-out fashions and life-changing events.

Dream Lover – The Bobby Darin Musical is a big show with a big score and a big heart. Based on an original concept and stage play by Frank Howson and John-Michael Howson, and adapted for the stage by Frank Howson with Simon Phillips and Carolyn Burns, the show includes 34 great hits from the 50s and 60s including Mack The Knife, Beyond the Sea, Splish Splash and the multi-million-seller Dream Lover.

Audiences and media acclaimed the premiere season of Dream Lover. The Sunday Telegraph said, “Turning in a phenomenal performance, (David) Campbell is the charismatic heart and anchor of Dream Lover … Brian Thomson’s glittery black set, studded with arching lights, puts the superb 18-piece big band on stage. Tim Chappel’s wonderful costumes capture the period, as does Andrew Hallsworth’s snappy, inventive choreography. Simon Phillips’ slick direction keeps things moving seamlessly and he is well served by a terrific cast.”