Whitehorse Performing Arts Program - 2021 Professional Theatre Season (Part 2)

WHITEHORSE PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM

Fresh SEASON 2021

PART 2

A NEW YEAR A Fresh START

WELCOME BACK,

We are keeping it fresh Celebrate the arts with this wonderful line-up of shows to bring joy to your life.

Become a Season Subscriber and take advantage of our priority booking period to secure the best seats in the house by Tuesday 8 June.

See you at the theatre!

Part 2

Whitehorse presents Skunkworks Productions’

Friday 9 July 8pm Saturday 10 July 2pm 2 hrs (including interval) Venue: One Community, Blackburn Patron advice: substance abuse

“KEEGAN’S ABILITY TO INHABIT THE VOICE AND PERSONA OF GARLAND IS MAGICAL.” CLASSIC MELBOURNE

With Liane Keegan and Andrew Broadbent Writer Bill Farr Director Lauren McKenna Musical Director Philipa Edwards In 1964, legendary entertainer Judy Garland came to Australia and experienced the triumph and tragedy that epitomised her life.

In Sydney, Garland was in full flight, her performances thrilling the 10,000-strong capacity crowds. The critics raved. In Melbourne, her Festival Hall event was a disaster. Alcohol, fatigue and a lifetime of personal problems had taken a heavy toll. She arrived 70 minutes late, and could not win over her restless audience.

In Judy Australia 1964, operatic contralto Liane Keegan becomes the iconic star, and takes us on a journey that recreates one of the most controversial episodes in Australian entertainment history. Backed by a seven-piece showband, Keegan is spellbinding as she performs many of the most loved of Garland’s songs, written by some of the great composers of the 20th century.

Whitehorse presents in association with Theatre Works and Iron Lung Theatre

WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING WRITTEN BY ANDREW BOVELL Wednesday 4 August 2pm & 8pm (post-show Q & A) 2 hrs 10 mins (no interval) Venue: One Community, Blackburn

Directed by Briony Dunn With Heather Bolton, Lucie Chaix, Esther van Doornum, Francis Greenslade, Darcy Kent, Margaret Mills, Alex Pinder Crew and Creatives Clare Springett, Greg Clarke, Betty Auhl, Darrin Verhagen, Natasha Marich, Julia Landberg Alice Springs. 2039. A fish falls from the sky – it still smells of the sea.

When the Rain Stops Falling unfolds like a puzzle to be solved – told through the interconnected stories of two families over four generations; between a prediction in London 1959 and its outcome in Australia eighty years later.

It follows the journey of Gabriel Law – from a small flat in rainy London to the scorched heart of the Australian desert – and his attempt to solve the mystery of his father’s disappearance.

Writer Andrew Bovell (Lantana, After Dinner, Anthem) has created an epic and powerful piece of magic realism that asks the question: do we have the capacity to address the damage of the past in the future?

Whitehorse presents Melbourne Chamber Orchestra’s

YOUNG MOZART Thursday 9 September 8pm 2 hrs (including interval) Venue: One Community, Blackburn

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra Artistic Director William Hennessy AM Piano Hoang Pham If a composer didn’t see their 36th birthday, is it right to talk about them as anything other than “young”?

We’ll make the exception for Mozart, who in his teens and early twenties was writing symphonies and concerti that his mature contemporaries could only be envious about.

In this concert, MCO performs the Symphony No 28 and the Piano Concerto No 9, two works of youth that epitomise the elegance of the classical period.

The concerto soloist is leading pianist Hoang Pham, praised by the Sydney Morning Herald for his “pervasive lyricism”.

The program also features music by Mozart’s friend and contemporary Salieri; and MCO audience favourite Calvin Bowman, in a new work commissioned by the people of Daylesford.

Whitehorse presents Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA’s

EVERY BRILLIANT THING

BY DUNCAN MACMILLAN WITH JONNY DONAHOE Friday 24 September 8pm (post-show Q & A) Saturday 25 September 2pm 1 hr 15 mins (no interval) Venue: One Community, Blackburn Patron advice: References to self-harm and suicide, suitable for 12+ years.

Director Adam Mitchell Composer/Sound Designer Melanie Robinson With Luke Hewitt Performed in-the-round, Every Brilliant Thing is an experience of exalting, life affirming humour. This international sensation throws audience members into the story – as fathers, lovers, friends and allies – following one person’s life in the shadow of mental illness.

With his mother in hospital, a young boy constructs a list of little things to help her find a way to happiness.

It starts with ice cream, Kung Fu movies and Christopher Walken impersonations. This raw and interactive work runs the gamut from misery to ecstasy, encouraging laughter and reflection on what makes life worth living.

BRILLIANT. A RAW BUT HEART FELT LIVE THIS IS A MUST-SEE ARTS REVIEW AFFIRMING PLAY. ARTS LIMELIGHT SHOW. ARTSHUB Image: Richard Jefferson

Whitehorse presents HIT Productions’

WALLFLOWERING

BY PETA MURRAY Friday 1 October 8pm (post-show Q & A) Saturday 2 October 2pm 1 hr 30 mins (no interval) Venue: One Community, Blackburn

“WALLFLOWERING LEAVES US WITH THE FEELING THAT LOVING IN AN ORDINARY WAY MAY BE QUITE AN EXTRAORDINARY GIFT AFTER ALL.” THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

Producer Christine Harris & HIT Productions Director Denny Lawrence Wallflowering is a delightfully amusing and poignant play about the nature of marriage, the pursuit of happiness and the perfect foxtrot!

The play revolves around the lives of Peg and Cliff Small, an ordinary, suburban, middle-aged couple who were once prize-winning ballroom dancers. Their story is interspersed with ballroom dancing by a younger couple, who represent not only Peg and Cliff in their glory days, but also the older couple’s romantic, idealised view of themselves.

While Cliff now has dreams of becoming a writer, Peg is no longer content to quietly and unquestioningly follow her husband. She wants to lead and sees the possibilities and excitement in change. Suddenly they become out of step with each other and these changes threaten their marriage.

There is great comedy and pathos in the exploration of Cliff and Peggy’s ‘ordinary’ lives. In the swish of a taffeta skirt and slide of patent shoes across the floor, the audience are transported to a glorious and romantic vision of our champions as perfectly synchronised, beautiful and extraordinary people.

Whitehorse presents Winding Road Productions’

ANNE WOOD IN

FEVER! THE SONGS OF PEGGY LEE

Saturday 6 November 2pm & 8pm 1 hr 35 mins (including interval) Venue: One Community, Blackburn

With Anne Wood and Mark Jones leading a swinging little four piece band – The Big Spenders Fever! is a tribute to the queen of sassy, sexy, sophisticated swing – Peggy Lee. Although probably best remembered for her finger-snapping style as she sang us the story of Romeo loving Juliet, she is so much more than just the woman who gave us Fever!

Peggy Lee was also an Academy Award nominated actress and a hit songwriter who consistently topped the charts in the 50s and 60s with classic swingers like: Why Don’t You Do Right?, Black Coffee, Big Spender, The Lady Is A Tramp and Hallelujah, I Love Him So! Music Theatre star Anne Wood (Mamma Mia, Wicked and Beautiful) is a long-time Peggy Lee fan and is no stranger to sassy, sexy sophistication herself! She’ll be bringing back ‘50s cool’ as she slips on her vintage kitten-heel pumps and counts in her swinging little four piece band for an evening of sultry swing, sly comedy songs, heartbreaking ballads and a whole lot of that Latin a la Lee! Hallelujah, You’ll Just Love Her So!

Fresh REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE!

A Special Treat Season 2021 is in two parts, so double the fun!

Your subscription package for Part 2 can be four, five or six shows.

It’s Great Value Become a subscriber and save. The more shows you see, the more you will save.

Choice of Seats Be first in line for the best seats and jump the queue with the priority booking period ending on Tuesday 8 June.

Pay in Instalments An instalment program means you only pay when you see the show. That’s right, no up-front payment. We also understand that your plans can change and if you need to swap a performance it’s at no cost to you.

Treat Your Friends Add your friends’ tickets to your booking form so you can see the show together.

Whitehorse presents a Monkey Baa Theatre Company production

Based on the book by Jackie French & Bruce Whatley.

Adapted for the stage by Eva Di Cesare, Sandra Eldridge & Tim McGarry.

Tuesday 6 July 11am & 1pm 50 mins (no interval) Venue: Box Hill Town Hall Recommended: 4-9 years

Adapted by Monkey Baa in 2014 from the picture book by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley, with foottapping music and lyrics by Phil Scott and comedic direction by Jonathon Biggins, Pete the Sheep is a lively and mischievous award-winning musical for young audiences and their adults.

Shaun isn’t like the other Shearers in Shaggy Gully… he’d rather be styling than shearing and instead of a ‘sheep-dog’, he has a ‘sheep-sheep’ named Pete. After being rejected by the shearers and their dogs, Shaun and Pete set up their own Shearing Salon in town and before long word is out and they are inundated with woolly clients and maybe a Ringer or two!

This hilarious show, imaginatively told by four performers playing shearers, dogs and sheep explores the challenges and rewards of being an individual and will be a lasting tribute to honouring your own spirit and strength, whilst working with the flock.

Whitehorse presents

WOLFGANG’S MAGICAL MUSICAL CIRCUS Thursday 30 September 11am 60 mins (no interval) Venue: Box Hill Town Hall Suitable for children 3+

“MANIC AND MAGICAL.” THE GUARDIAN Image: Damien Bredberg

BY CIRCA

Created by Yaron Lifschitz with Benjamin Knapton and the Circa Ensemble Straight from the score and onto the stage, the man known as Mozart appears amid a storm of powder, tumbling and twirling, as musical mayhem and movement fuse in this family show with a circus twist. To those who know him, he is Wolfgang, the dart-playing ratbag. To those who are watching and listening, he is the wigged genius Mozart.

Wolfgang’s Magical Musical Circus reinvents the composer’s magical music in a skilful and illuminating show featuring Circa’s dexterous daredevil artists and a live accordionist. Watch as the notes are physically lifted off the page as performers bring the renowned compositions to life amidst powder, tumbles and crashes, all under the eccentric swirl of the conductor’s baton.

Commissioned by The Art House Wyong. Circa acknowledges the assistance of the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Circa respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work and live paying respects to Elders past, present and future.

MIDWEEK MATINEES

KINGS OF THE HIGH Cs

Wednesday 21 July 11am Venue: Stairway, Vermont Tickets: $20 / Group (10+) $18 Morning tea served from 10am In this brand new production dedicated to the ‘Big 3’ – Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras – the outstanding Roy Best and Alison Jones perform the classic hits that made them the most successful tenors ever. Narrated by Chris McKenna, the production will be packed with classics such as O Sole Mio and Nessun Dorma, right through to Broadway hits such as Be My Love, Strangers In Paradise, Some Enchanted Evening and many more.

RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN Wednesday 20 October 11am Venue: Stairway, Vermont Tickets: $20 / Group (10+) $18 Morning tea served from 10am Join us for a very special event paying tribute to the timeless music of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Featuring your favourite tunes from Carousel, The King and I, The Sound of Music and many more, this is truly an enchanted concert of exquisite songs from the golden age of musicals.

Be captivated by the beautiful music of You’ll Never Walk Alone, Younger Than Springtime, Climb Every Mountain and Oh What a Beautiful Morning, in a magical and uplifting concert.

CELEBRATE THE SOUNDS OF A WHITEHORSE CHRISTMAS Wednesday 8 December 11am Venue: Stairway, Vermont Tickets: $20 / Group (10+) $18 Morning tea served from 10am We are thrilled to welcome back The Gaslight Company with all your favourite Christmas carols along with some contemporary Christmas songs. Don’t miss this fun show laced with beautiful singing that will truly leave you in the Christmas spirit!

OTHER EVENTS AN AUGUST AFTERNOON WITH WHITEHORSE THE BAND – SHOWCASE 69 SHOWTIME 2021

PRESENTED BY CITY OF WHITEHORSE BAND Sunday 8 August 2pm Venue: Box Hill Town Hall

27 August – 4 September Venue: Box Hill Town Hall Visit whitehorsecentre.com.au for performance times and ticket prices or call 9262 6555

Tickets: Full $25 / Conc $20 2 hrs (including interval) The City of Whitehorse Band Inc. has pleasure in presenting their August Concert. The concert will feature favourites from the past including those from the big shows, popular standards and of course a couple of the brass band standards. These items will be performed by the Band, feature our star soloists and be ably led by our musical director Brian Kemp. Our guest vocalist will be Daina Jowsey, who will entertain you in her own inimitable style.

Whitehorse Showtime is a theatrical experience performed by the Scouts and Guides of the Mount Dandenong Region. Join us for all things games; from the technological world of apps, role playing and computers to board games, chess and more. Whitehorse Showtime 2021 has something for everyone. No matter how you play, what you play or when you play this is a show for the whole family!

OTHER EVENTS BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

CHRISTMAS WITH THE BAND

PRESENTED BY NOVA MUSIC THEATRE

PRESENTED BY CITY OF WHITEHORSE BAND

8 – 17 October

Monday 13 December 8pm

Venue: Alan Ross Centre, Mooroolbark

Venue: Box Hill Town Hall

Tickets: Full $45 / Conc $42 / Grp 10+ $39 /Child U15 $39

Tickets: Full $25 / Conc $20 2 hrs (including interval)

Gala Supper 8 Oct only – add $15 to ticket price

Visit whitehorsecentre.com.au for performance times or call 9262 6555 Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, tells story of Carole King’s rise from Brooklyn songwriter to mega-star, focusing in particular on her fruitful but rocky relationship with husband and writing partner Gerry Goffin. It features characters based on the people who surrounded Carole on her journey, including Cynthia Weil, Barry Mann, Lou Adler, and rock groups the Drifters, the Shirelles and the Righteous Brothers. An amazing 27 songs including You’ve Got A Friend, So Far Away, Take Good Care of My Baby and On Broadway, to name a few, are included in the story of Carole’s dramatic climb to fame. Beautiful began its journey in 2013 in San Francisco and was nominated for seven Tony Awards.

The City of Whitehorse Band, conducted by Brian Kemp, invite you to join them to celebrate the festive season. They welcome actor and singer Angeline Thompson as their guest singer, whose credits include Offspring, Rush and Neighbours. In addition to the standard Christmas numbers, the band will also entertain you with music to remember – including items from the big band era and recent showstoppers.

VENUES

Welcome to our new temporary home One Community, Blackburn.

The shows, the music and our friendly service continues just down the road…

ONE COMMUNITY

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184 Surrey Road, Blackburn

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OTHER VENUES STAIRWAY

BOX HILL TOWN HALL

171 Rooks Road, Vermont

1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill

Enjoy our Midweek Matinee concerts at Stairway. There is plenty of free, off-street parking at this well-appointed venue and we look forward to welcoming you there for morning tea prior to the show.

Our children’s shows are presented in the wonderful Main Hall of Box Hill Town Hall.

BOOKING INFORMATION

SEASON 2021 – PART 2 BOX OFFICE Whitehorse City Council Civic Centre Customer Service Counter 379 Whitehorse Rd Nunawading

PAY BY INSTALMENTS Choose any package and have the option to pay in instalments. Please note the following terms and conditions:

Monday to Thursday 10am – 12pm

•Y ou must be a current subscriber.

Telephone 9262 6555 Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm Email tickets@whitehorse.vic.gov.au Visit whitehorsecentre.com.au SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES Choose four, five or six shows in Part 2 to create a package and enjoy the benefits of priority booking ending Tuesday 8 June 2021. Take advantage of the instalment payment plan and free ticket exchange.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Mail Complete the booking form and mail it back to us.

Email Scan the completed form and email it to: tickets@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

$30 TICKETS (U30) If you are under the age of 30 then take advantage of this great offer of $30 tickets as part of the Season 2021 shows.

Proof of age may be required.

TICKET EXCHANGES You may exchange your • You are committed to paying ticket to a show for another the full amount of your performance of the same show package. (where available) prior to the first performance. This service • If your credit card is free for subscribers. Please (MasterCard or Visa) expires visit whitehorsecentre.com.au during the year please for full ticketing terms and contact us with your new conditions, including COVID expiry date.

Safe ticketing exchange or refund conditions.

• Scheduled instalment will appear on your credit card statement ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY as ‘City of Whitehorse’.

• One Community, Stairway and Box Hill Town Hall are accessible for patrons in ADDITIONAL TICKETS wheelchairs or with limited FOR SUBSCRIBERS mobility. If you require a Package buyers have the wheelchair space, please option to purchase additional request this when booking tickets to all shows for friends tickets. and family – simply add their tickets to your booking form.

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS Individual tickets to all Part 2 shows go on sale Wednesday 9 June 2021 and can be purchased online, in person, by phone. Please note: phone bookings incur a $4.00 handling fee and internet bookings incur a $3.00 handling fee.

•F ree and accessible parking is available at One Community and Stairway.

•P atrons with a hearing or speech impairment can call us via the National Relay Service on 133 677 then quote 9262 6333.

STAY COVID-SAFE

We all have a role to play now.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

WHAT WE’RE DOING Enhanced daily cleaning regimes of high-touch points

Stay home if you are unwell

Register for contact tracing

Handwashing facilities and sanitiser are provided

E-tickets and contactless payments

Keep your distance

Practice good hand hygiene

Carry a mask

Keep us informed

Flexible ticket exchanges if you are unwell

A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE. We want your theatre experience to be safe and enjoyable.

To view our current COVID Safe advice, visit whitehorsecentre.com.au

WHITEHORSE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

Redevelopment To stay informed about this exciting project please visit www.whitehorsecentre.com.au and sign up for our monthly eNews.

CELEBRATE

The Arts Whitehorse City Council proudly presents the 2021 Professional Season, one of the major features of its arts program.

whitehorsecentre.com.au

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