NEW MUSICALS AUSTRALIA – NEW SHORTLIST FOR DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCED

Following a hugely successful inaugural workshop season earlier this year, New Musicals Australia has announced the next round of works shortlisted for development in late 2011.
“New Musicals Australia was bowled over and the panel’s deliberation on the shortlist made tough by the high calibre of work submitted. New Musicals Australia’s is committed to uncovering the gems of musical theatre in Australia that need the attention and resources to grow and this robust round of submissions has yet again demonstrated the incredible talent and potential we have,” said Director of New Musicals Australia, Kris Stewart.
New Musicals Australia is an initiative dedicated to the production of original Australian musical theatre. All works submitted were read by members of the New Musicals Australia advisory panel and all shortlisted works will now receive further consideration by NMA artistic staff, representatives of the Australia Council Music Board and other industry professionals. From this shortlist, works are selected to receive workshopping opportunities within the New Musicals Australia initiative. Advisory panel members who read submitted works included Peter Casey, Will Conyers, Kellie Dickerson, Rodney Dobson, Neil Gooding, Roger Hodgman, Karen Johnson Mortimer, Guy Noble, Jennifer Murphy, Peter Ross and Darren Yap.
The shortlisted works are:
The Bridge
By Boyd Wilson & Louise Helfgott
This musical traces the life of a 15 year old girl who runs away from her middle class home to seek refuge on the streets.
Artemisia
By Paul Keelan& Gary Young
A story of the passion and power of a woman’s fight against the odds to be recognized and respected as an artist.
Crack Hardy
By Keith Potger & Stephen Dando-Collins
A musical based on true stories of war from the letters and diaries of family members.
Der Mensch Als Instrument
By Chris Beasley &Jayde Kirchert
A musical about surgery, individuality and trying to change the world.
Do Good and You Will Be Happy
By Phillip Johnston & Hilary Bell
Drawing on our heritage of Australian vaudeville and music hall, enter the fanciful world of Edward William Cole.
NED
ByAdam Lyon&Marc McIntyre
A New Australian folk-rock musical based on Australia’s anti-hero Ned Kelly.
Soul Music
By Marcus Cowora, Stephen Lloyd Helper and Leeroy Bilney
The story of Jim, an indigenous man who tries to climb the corporate ladder.
Sugartown
By Katie Weston, Dean Gourley& Katy Roose
The dealer, the drug lord, the undercover cop and the rest of Sugartown all lead sweet but sour lives.
The Good Fight
Music by David King, book and lyrics by Nick Enright, with further material by James Millar
Set against the background of the 1st World War, The Good Fight concerns the life of legendary boxer Les Darcy and his meteoric rise and fall.
The Singer
By Paul Suter, Michael Alexander, Karen M. Cohen, Calvin Miller & Lynn Suter
The Singer is an adaptation for the stage from a poetic narrative by Calvin Miller.
Transport
By Larry Kirwan &Thomas Keneally
Transport tells a universal story of immigration, loss, hope and redemption and the Irish Diaspora to the Australian penal colony.
Truth, beauty and a picture of you
ByTim Freedman & Alex Broun
The fascinating and tragic story of the three original members of the Whitlams.
New Musicals Australia has three key workshop initiatives. They are The Musical Snapshot, which presents a twenty to forty minute extract of the musical in concert, alongside other new works. The Developmental Reading sees a new work rehearsed and performed in concert, and the Workshop Presentation allows a musical to be rehearsed and performed book-down with staging and some production elements. New Musicals Australia also supports a variety of other initiatives targeted at developing new works, establishing networks and providing support for independent writers.
Selection from the Short List will be announced soon
For more information on New Musicals Australia
www.newmusicals.com.au