New Arts Festival to Run In Tandem with Iconic Rock Musical
Melbourne production company StageArt has announced the lineup for their inaugural StageArtXposed festival, to run concurrently with their production of HAIR at Melbourne’s Chapel off Chapel.
Artistic Directors Katherine Armstrong and Robbie Carmellotti were thrilled with the number and quality of local and national theatrical artists who responded to their call to take part in the unique stage festival. Initially slated to feature six selections, the lineup was expanded to nine sets of unique artists who will have their work presented at Melbourne’s Chapel off Chapel in February 2013.
StageArt are turning the spotlight on high caliber emerging Australian artists and new, innovative works. To leave the performers free to create their special brand of theatrical magic, StageArt will offer unprecedented support in bringing the productions to the stage. Creative support will be on hand from the festival’s Resident Artistic Director Paul Watson. Marketing, public relations and administrative support will come from the team at StageArt.
In announcing the lineup, Katherine Armstrongexpressed her delight in the response: “The talent and diversity we have attracted is extremely exciting. We want this to grow to a massive annual event – it is very much in alignment with our hopes and dreams for StageArt’s future.”
The works to be presented come from a wide range of genres, including music theatre, cabaret, comedy and dance. Stage Art feel perhaps the most exciting aspect of many of the pieces is their “workshop” status, giving audiences the opportunity to witness the electricity and passion of the birth of new material. An example of this is the new dramatic operetta MELBA, which will be workshopped by its creative team and ten music theatre professionals across a week, then presented for one night only as part of the festival.
To keep exposure at a maximum, ticket prices for StageArtXposed have been kept between $17.50 and $27.50, representing exceptional value. (Tickets for hair are priced at $46.50 and $41.50. All performances will be held at Chapel off Chapel.
StageArtXposed 2013 Season Details.
GOOD VALUE by Girls Uninterrupted: Nicolette Minster and Louise Joy McCrae.
Sketch Comedy. Theatrical, dynamic and delightfully unpredictable, GOOD VALUE follows the journey of a single dollar coin on a hilarious ride from the palms of the witty and charming to the downright desperate.
Sunday 3rd February at 6 and 8.30pm; $22.50
SUGARTOWN written by Katie Weston, Katy Roose and Dean Gourley.
Music Theatre. SUGARTOWN is a Detective/Film-Noir/Comic-Book story with a modern, “Quentin Tarantino” narrative - set sometime in the present day in a “Gotham City” style metropolis and starring a Porn Star, a Drug Dealer, an Undercover Cop, a Mistress and a Murderer.
Monday 4th February, Tuesday 5th February at 7.30pm; $27.50
WILD EAGLES FLY ALONE choreographed by Trent Harlow and Jayden Hicks.
Dance Work. WILD EAGLES FLY ALONE is a stunning new dance piece that explores the journey of women and how they define the importance of friendship when tragic circumstances unfold. Starring five of Melbourne’s hottest female dancers - Kiara Kieser, Eley May, Hayley Burdon, Pru Wilson and Kaela Brushett.
Wednesday 6th February, Thursday 6th February, Saturday 16th February at 6.30pm; $27.50
Wild Eagles Fly Alone dancers pictured left.
RUMOUR HAS IT – SIXTY MINUTES INSIDE ADELE with Naomi Price.
Cabaret. RUMOUR HAS IT – SIXTY MINUTES INSIDE ADELE marries a modern-day music legend with one of Queensland’s best-loved musical theatre imports, British chanteuse Naomi Price (pictured top). Spend an evening with the Grammy goddess, young mum, and potty mouthed everywoman.
Friday 8th February, Saturday 9th February 6.30pm and Sunday 10th February 3.30pm; $27.50
SWAN DIVE written by Julia Sutherland, directed by Paul Watson.
Play reading. SWAN DIVE is inspired by the lyrics of Leonard Cohan and Ani Difranco. Where do you go when you’ve climbed to the top, and the rules and the glass have been flipped around? What do you do when you stare out to sea…And you see that the only way free is straight down?
Sunday 10th February 1pm; $19.50
HIGH AS A KITE by Anthony Costanzo and Nicholas Christo.
Revue. HIGH AS A KITE celebrates the nights we can’t remember and the mornings we’d rather forget. The piece is a roller coaster ride exploring the joys of getting high. Strictly Adults Only.
Monday February 7.30pm; $27.50
MELBA directed by Stuart Maunder with new music by composer Johannes Luebbers and with book and lyrics by Nicholas Christo, based on the award winning biography by Ann Blainey. Dramatic operetta. Set against the backdrop of the world’s finest opera houses. MELBA takes audiences on a journey of love and sacrifice. The creative team will be conducting a weeklong workshop to refine and explore the themes within the operetta’s first act. Drawing on the exciting talents of 10 music theatre professionals, the week will culminate in a one night showing of the musical material before a live audience.
Tuesday 12th February 7.30pm; $22.50
LIFE OF PIAF Starring Dahlia Dior.
Cabaret. Dahlia Dior’s new show, LIFE OF PIAF, sees her get right into the heart of The Little Sparrow, with “famous and not so-famous songs worn together with biographical excerpts: it’s as if that little bird has confided a few secrets. 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of Edif Piaf’s death.
Wednesday 13th February 6.30pm; $27.50
CASS MITCHELL Performing Live.
Concert. Cass Mitchell (pictured right) is an amazingly beautiful songstress who graces her audiences with heartfelt original compositions that sing of the richness of connection to ourselves and to each other. Performing self-accompanied on guitar Cass has an affectionate and mesmerizing stage presence; her stories are shared intimately through her music.
Friday 15th February 6.30pm; $17.50
HAIR
StageArtXposed will run concurrently with StageArt’s production of the classic free love rock musical HAIR, playing from January 31 to February 17, a Premiere Event for the 2013 Midsumma Festival.
Director Robbie Carmellotti’s vision is to stage the show with the whole intention on the story, the words and the message. “The script and music is so powerful and passionate, I want the audience, to feel, believe and be moved by the beauty of what the show was originally written to achieve” says Carmellotti.
Executive Producer Katherine Armstrongsaid of HAIR, “We’re beyond excited to bring to Melbourne this musical, I believe the content is more relevant than ever. Equality amongst sexualities, genders and races, freedom of speech, political propaganda and adult hypocrisy is as rife and as hot a topic as it was when this ground breaking production was created.”
Paul Malek will choreograph HAIR and Cameron Thomas is Musical Director.
A percentage of EVERY ticket sold over the season of HAIR will be donated to the fantastic charity organization Learning for Life Autism Centrewhich is completely reliant on community support and does great work for children and families living with Autism.
Pictured: Renee Pope-Munro, Gina Mets & Ashley Rousetty in HAIR. Photo by Sean Higgins BOOM MEDIA
Tickets for all productions can be booked through Chapel off Chapel chapeloffchapel.com.au