Final Nick Enright Musical Revisited by New Musicals Australia

Director Rachel Moorhead and original creator, Musical Director David King are directing a presentation of The Good Fight, for the New Musicals Australia’s November/ December Developmental Reading Workshops.

Music by David King, book and lyrics by Nick Enright and with further material by James Millar, The Good Fight is set against the background of the 1^stWorld War and concerns the life of legendary boxer Les Darcy and his meteoric rise and fall and is being presented at The Concourse, the new theatre complex in Chatswood at 7.30pm on Friday, 16 and Saturday, 17 December.

The cast includes Toby Francis (Cabaret Showcase winner), Jamie Ward (Doctor Zhivago, Spring Awakening), Michelle Doake (The Hatpin), Melle Stewart (The Hatpin), Christy Sullivan (Next to Normal), Rodney Dobson (Wicked), Christopher Horsey (Tap Dogs)and Justin Smith (Billy Elliot)current WAAPA students Ross Chisari, Kerrie Greenland, Emily Hart, Nicholas Hedger, Jack O’Riley, Diana Perini and Caleb Vines.

The Good Fight, the last musical penned by Nick Enright before his death, had its premiere at WAAPA in 2002, while WAAPA’s second production of the musical in 2006 was subsequently presented at the New York Music Theatre Festival in 2007. Read our report on that production.

The November round of workshops commenced with The Writers’ Weekend, comprising of three snapshot presentations and the first workshop presentation, Transport. In addition to the Writers’ Weekend, four musical theatre works were selected to receive a Workshop and Developmental Reading Presentation, granting each project a one week rehearsal period with a professional cast and production team of which.

“New Musicals Australia’s November round of workshops has been incredibly positive. The presentations during the Writers’ Weekend played at capacity and hosted a dynamic mix of industry professionals, musical theatre lovers and curious members of the general public,” said Kris Stewart, Director of New Musicals Australia.  “Likewise our Melbourne presentation of Carnival Joeand the Sydney presentation of Tim Freedman’s Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You also generated large audiences.”

New Musicals Australia is an initiative dedicated to the production of original music theatre in Australia. The program focuses on providing writers and composers with the opportunity to have their scripts and songs workshopped by professionals and presented to high level industry peers, creative industry leaders and general audience members. New Musicals Australia also supports a variety of other initiatives targeted at developing new works, establishing networks and providing support for independent writers.  

“Whilst the focus for New Musicals Australia is the process so that these new musicals undertake so as to ensure they receive the creative support and development they need to push into the future, the audiences during the workshops were invaluable in providing responses and feedback for the work,” continued Director of New Musicals Australia, Kris Stewart. “The calibre of talent that came together to collaborate on the development of these musicals is exciting and inspiring and following this critical creative stage of development New Musicals now moves into the next phase, where the focus turns onto the challenge of moving these workshopped pieces into full productions.”

The Good Fight

Music by David King, book and lyrics by Nick Enrightand with further material by James Millar.

Friday, 16 Dec – 7.30pm

Saturday, 17 Dec – 7.30pm

Free tickets

Book tickets through

rsvp@newmusicals.com.au

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