GHOST THE MUSICAL TO OPEN IN MELBOURNE 2013

The Minster for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher today joined Co- Composer and Co-Lyricist Dave Stewart to announce that Ghost The Musical will open in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre in August 2013.
Ms. Asher said, “Once again Melbourne has been chosen to host an Australian premiere season and we are delighted to announce that Ghost The Musical will play at London’s West End and on New York’s Broadway before coming to Melbourne,” Ms Asher said. “Securing the premiere seasons of major theatre productions helps to reinforce Melbourne’s status as one of the world’s most liveable cities, and provides employment and investment opportunities”.

A current smash-hit in London’s West End, Ghost The Musical will open on Broadway in April 2012 and the Australian Production is the second international production to be announced.
Based on the blockbuster film of the same name, Ghost The Musical is directed by Tony Award winner Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests, Boeing-Boeing) and choreographed by UK based Australian, Ashley Wallen (The X Factor, Kylie Minogue). Ghost The Musical is created by a team of Grammy and Academy Award winners, and features a brand new, original score by Dave Stewart (half of the multi-Grammy Award winning Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s Man In The
Mirror, Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill). Bruce Joel Rubin (Ghost, Jacob’s Ladder, The Time Traveler’s Wife) has adapted his Academy Award winning original screenplay for the stage. The score includes the iconic song “Unchained Melody,” famously performed in the film by The Righteous Brothers. Ghost The Musical features ground-breaking technology and spectacular illusions by Paul Kieve, whose credits include Magic Consultant for the film of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Set and costume designs are by Rob Howell, with musical supervision and arrangements by Christopher Nightingale, lighting design by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Bobby Aitken, and projection design by Jon Driscoll. Ghost The Musical is a timeless fantasy about the power of love. Walking back to their apartment one night, Sam and Molly are mugged, leaving Sam murdered on a dark street. Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly, who he learns is in grave danger. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving and protecting her.
Casting is scheduled to commence in late 2012 and ticketing information will be announced at a later date.

Ghost The Musical will be produced in Australia by Colin Ingram Productions Limited and Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle, Adam Silberman; Michael Coppel, Louise Withers, Linda Bewick and Donovan Mannato in association with Paramount Pictures Corporation.
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film in 1990, Ghost became a blockbuster hit and an instant classic, winning numerous awards worldwide. The film starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Tony Goldwyn and Whoopi Goldberg and was directed by Jerry Zucker. Bruce Joel Rubin’s script won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown.

Ghost The Musical opened in London’s West End at the Piccadilly Theatre on July 19, 2011 and has moved audiences to cheers and tears nightly ever since.
Photo: Sean Ebsworth