Share House The Musical
Fairfax Studio, May 16-19 2024
Multi-award winning singer, songwriter and comedian Jude Perl presents the premiere of Share House: The Musical at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio for a limited season from 16 – 19 May 2024. Featuring a 15-piece orchestra, the comedy-musical is based on Perl’s solo show Roommates: The Musical (winner of the Green Room Award 2018 for Best Original Songs).
Share House: The Musical navigates the gruelling (and sometimes comical) complexities of house-sharing. Joining Perl on stage is Isabelle Davis, together they star as Lucy and Jane, childhood friends and long-term roommates. Anita Mei La Terra joins the cast as Alice, a new third housemate whose persistent optimism grates on the pessimistic Jane and threatens to derail the delicately balanced household equilibrium.
Building on the success of the 2017 solo show, Share House: The Musical adds four more cast-members. Perl, Davis and Mei La Terra are joined by Jasmine Tuvey and Amie Zwag as Young Lucy and Young Jane. With musical direction from Brendan Tsui, the 15-piece Share House Orchestra™️ will also make their debut on the Fairfax Studio stage in May.
“When I write solo shows, I always imagine it in my head as being a fully-fledged production with a band and a cast. Even though it’s usually just me at the piano. I use pre-recorded disembodied voices for the other characters and just hope the audience can use their imagination and fill in the blanks of what isn’t physically there.
Turning a solo show I wrote into an actual musical with a cast, and an ORCHESTRA is beyond what I would even let myself imagine in my wildest dreams. Getting to perform your songs with so many incredibly talented musicians is such an enormous privilege… But more importantly, having 15 musicians on stage will hopefully really make it feel like the cramped share house experience so many of us have had,” said Perl.While her original 2017 solo show explored the challenges of managing inner-conflict, with the different roommates representing the different contrasting parts within yourself, Share House: The Musical takes this one step further.
“What’s really exciting to me about the newly developed version of the show, is that those symbolic characters from Roommates: The Musical are now actual characters, being brought to life by real (incredible) human actors. The story has shifted to highlighting the value of being around people who think and live differently to you. And what better setting to talk about tolerance and acceptance than a dilapidated Melbourne share house!”
Texas born, but Melbourne bred; Perl has created a name for herself by writing and performing hilarious, yet brutally honest, stream-of-consciousness style lyrics, set to undeniably catchy and well-crafted songs. Jude has written and performed six solo comedy shows, winning three Green Room Awards for Best Original Songs. Her fifth show I Have A Face won her a fourth Green Room Award for Cabaret Artiste as well as Best Cabaret at Melbourne Fringe 2018.
In 2023, Jude made her main-stage debut in Melbourne Theatre Company’s A Very Jewish Christmas Carol both as a cast member and musical director.
Share House: The Musical is presented by Arts Centre Melbourne as part of its commitment to supporting upcoming Australian talent.
“The pathway for creatives from the fringe circuit to the mainstage is rarely an easy one. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be collaborating with Jude whose work we have been following closely for years. We can’t wait to share the magic of Jude’s lyrical and hilarious songs intertwined with Brendan’s sweeping orchestrations in a uniquely Australian setting. This collaboration promises to be an unforgettable blend of talent and atmosphere and a must see for anyone who has ever lived in a share house” said Stephen Armstrong Arts Centre Melbourne’s Director of Programming.
