Swing Back to the 60s with DUSTY
Melbourne & Adelaide Seasons
This week sees DUSTY – the musical story of the life of sixties singer Dusty Springfield kick off its Melbourne season and will then move to Adelaide from December 31. DUSTY The Musical is presented by The Production Company and is the creation of Australian writers John-Michael Howson, David Mitchell and Melvyn Morrow.
Fresh from the her lead role in The Sound of Music, Amy Lehpamer stars as Dusty with Todd McKenney playing the role of Rodney, her loyal hairdresser and long time confidant. Elenoa Rokobaro makes her Production Company debut in the role of Reno; and the other main cast are Virginia Gay as Peg, Anne Wood and Tyler Coppin are Dusty’s parents Kay and Gerard O’Brien. In the role of the young Dusty (Mary O’Brien) is Baylie Carson, who makes her professional debut in this role. The role of Rodney will be played by John O’Hara (covering for Todd McKenney) on Nov 18&19 and Dec 2&3.
Additional cast include: Ella Burns, Nicole Melloy, Luke Alleva, Joshua Mulheran, Chidi Mbakwe, Ruvarashe Ngwenya, Emma Hawthorne, Loren Hunter, Nicholas Kyriacou, and Rubin Matters.
This new production is directed by award winning director, Jason Langley, conducted by Michael Tyack and choreographed by Michael Ralph.
DUSTY the musical is the extraordinary story of the life and music of Dusty Springfield, one of pop music’s greatest female stars. For more than fifty years, Dusty’s music has reached out to all ages. Her legendary life is a riveting story of highs and lows and triumph and tragedy.
In the 1960s, Dusty Springfield took the world by storm with her unique, sensual soul singing and a score of hits including I Only Want To Be With You, Wishin’ And Hopin’, The Look Of Love, You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me, I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself and Son Of A Preacher Man. DUSTY the musical features these hits and many more!
It’s the story of the shy, young Londoner, Mary O’Brien who transforms herself into the pop-icon Dusty Springfield, the legend who, as the blonde with the beehive in the shimmering gowns, came to symbolise the swinging 60s.
The iconic singer is held in high esteen by industyry veterans. Sir Elton John said of Dusty Springfield: “To me she was as good as Aretha Franklin… and completely timeless… she was the greatest”. Sir Cliff Richard said she was the best female singer to come out of Britain – a white woman who had this amazing black influence. Elvis Costello called her voice unique and precious with a sense of longing that demanded your attention. Bette Midler said her voice was haunting, husky, full of secrets and promises … she never sang a false note. Rolling Stone magazine described her as “Britain’s best ever popsinger… whose voice simultaneously embodied Sixties pop elegance and seemed luminously timeless”.
