Categories: News

Caroline O’Connor returns to Oz for Production Company’s Gypsy

Image by Pamela Raith

It was announced today that Australia’s international music theatre star Caroline O’Connor will be returning home this year to perform the coveted role of Mama Rose in Gypsy as part of The Production Company’s 2013 season.

Singin’ In The Rain – Rohan Browne and Alinta Chidzey

O’Connor performed the role to critical acclaim in the United Kingdom last year, and Australian audiences will have the chance to see her reprise the character in a new production directed by Gale Edwards this July.

The production is scheduled to open at Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre on July 10 and play for 6 shows only. Choreography will be by Andrew Hallsworth and returning to the Production Company’s team this year is Guy Simpson as musical director.

Also featured in The Production Company’s 2013 season will be the classic musical Singin’ In The Rain starring Alinta Chidzey, Matt Lee and Rohan Browne (21 – 25 August) and Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance starring Gareth Keegan, Wayne Scott Kermond Adam Murphy, Brent Hill and Virginia Gay (30 October – 3 November).

In launching the 15th Anniversary season, Chairman of The Production Company Jeanne Pratt emphasised the company’s mission to provide “quality entertainment at the best prices”.

“Our gift to you in 2013 is a 50% discount on full price individual tickets for anyone under the age of eighteen. No ifs, no buts, no catches! We simply want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy our musicals. This means that anyone under 18 pay as little as $23 a ticket”, she said.

“It is hard to believe that it’s fifteen years since I started this company. My dream in 1999 was twofold: to provide professional opportunities for local artists and to entertain Melbourne audiences with the best shows from Broadway and beyond. Our success has been beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you, Melbourne!”

For more information on The Production Company’s 15th Anniversary season, visit theproductioncompany.com.au

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).