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Stage
Production
Following the success of the
film, Baz Luhrmann confirmed way back in 2002 that he was developing a Strictly Ballroom stage musical. Luhrmann
said that his company, Bazmark Live, was working on the stage production, and that he
had already started collaborating with a composer. He also hinted at possible
locations where he would like his musical to be performed, but was unsure if he
would direct. Strictly Ballroom was originally devised by Luhrmann as a play, and so it obviously has great potential as a stage musical.
Following
years of speculation (see my
Early Articles
Archive), it wasn't until September 2010 that Baz Luhrmann finally confirmed that
Strictly Ballroom would definitely be transformed into a stage
musical.
(more information below)
UPDATE: In May
2011, Baz Luhrmann confirmed that the stage musical will
premiere in Sydney. Based on his hit 1992 film, the musical will be directed
by Luhrmann, designed by his wife, Catherine Martin, and
choreographed by John ''Cha Cha'' O'Connell. It will
open at the Lyric Theatre, Star City, in Sydney in September 2013.
28 May
2011
'Strictly
Ballroom' musical to premiere in Sydney
After years of
speculation, it has now been confirmed that Baz
Luhrmann's first film, Strictly Ballroom, will be
turned into a stage musical to premiere in Sydney around
September 2013. Luhrmann has chosen Sydney above other
cities because Sydney is his home town and it's where
the journey all began. On 24 May 2011,
The Sydney Morning Herald reported:
What
wallflower? Sydney lands Strictly Ballroom
After intense
competition between producers in London and New York,
Baz Luhrmann has chosen Sydney for the world premiere of
Strictly Ballroom - the Musical in 2013.
''Opening the stage musical in my home town was a
no-brainer because it's where the little story that
engenders joy and good spirits began,'' Luhrmann said.
''When we did the workshop [for the musical] last
December, I was at home in my shorts and thongs with my
long-time collaborators and I found myself having pure,
unadulterated fun.''
Based on his hit 1992 film, the musical will be directed
by Luhrmann, designed by his wife, Catherine Martin, and
choreographed by John ''Cha Cha'' O'Connell. It will
open at the Lyric Theatre, Star City, in September 2013.
''The story and its ethos of 'a life lived in fear is a
life half-lived' is the most personal of all my shows
since I escaped into the world of competitive ballroom
dancing in my childhood,'' Luhrmann said. ''It began as
a 40-minute student play at NIDA but no one understands
what a heroic effort it was to get made into a film.''
Now the stuff of legend - it has earned more than $80
million worldwide - Strictly Ballroom has long been at
the centre of a bidding war for the stage rights,
including from Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd
Webber's Really Useful Group. The low-budget film made
stars of Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice, and featured the
late larrikin screen legend Bill Hunter.
24
September 2010
'Strictly
Ballroom' to become Stage Musical
I am very excited to announce that Baz
Luhrmann has finally decided to transform Strictly
Ballroom into a stage musical! This news has spread
quickly across the internet, thanks largely to Luhrmann
making himself available for interviews with a variety
of media outlets across the world, including the
New York Times and
Sydney Morning Herald. No opening date has been
fixed, nor is Luhrmann committed to the musical playing
in a traditional theatre. It has also been reported that
the stage show will feature a new score that
incorporates "key musical moments" from the film.
Luhrmann has said, "There will be
familiar elements and something exciting about it -
there has to be, otherwise it's not worth considering.
Dance and music will tell the story." Luhrmann
has also said, "It’s too early to
offer specifics - it's simply that we want to use the
movie as a stepping-off point to create something new
and fresh." Below are excerpts from an article by
the Sydney Morning Herald:
Ballroom's strictly
musical turn of the floor
24 September 2010
Baz Luhrmann's
1992 hit movie Strictly Ballroom is to become a
multimillion-dollar stage musical ... Luhrmann said
yesterday creative workshops would begin in Sydney in
November. The project will reunite him with the film's
co-writer Craig Pearce and the choreographer John "Cha
Cha" O'Connell. After years of Australian and
international producers angling to get the theatre
rights, Bazmark, the multimedia company founded by
Luhrmann and his wife, designer Catherine Martin, has
joined forces with Global Creatures to bring Strictly
Ballroom to the stage.
"After years of talking about making the movie into a
musical I am thrilled about our partnership with Global
Creatures, an Australian company that has made a giant
impression in live entertainment in recent years," said
Luhrmann, who will announce his next US-based film
project in six to eight weeks. Recent rumours suggest it
will be The Great Gatsby.
"As you know, we're slow; I'm not the fastest guy in
town. In addressing the challenges of a new show a lot
of the characters and the dance will be familiar but I
can see how we can take a huge leap in its theatrical
execution. My hope is to reach the stage in two years."
"Who knows what crazy ideas will pop into my head but
it's important for me to go in with an open heart and to
remain true to a story that's close to my heart. It
espouses my long-held mantra that a life lived in fear
is a life half lived. The film's enduring appeal lay in
the universality of its human struggle and how
creativity triumphs over oppression."
"There were producers, many great friends, who were
wanting to do a stage show. I thought deeply about many
of the previous offers but the time wasn't right, mainly
because of all my other interests and commitments. The
great thing about Global Creatures is that they have the
money and the resources to support our vision and it's a
joyous excuse to be back in Sydney this summer to get
the ball rolling."
Early
Articles Archive
Click on the link above to access Strictly Ballroom
articles dating back to 2002.
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