Frost to produce Dream Lover musical
John Frost [pictured], Managing Director of The Gordon Frost Organisation, has announced that he has acquired the rights for a new un-produced musical written by John-Michael Howson and Frank Howson, titled Dream Lover.
Dream Lover tells the story of Bobby Darin, the singer, songwriter, actor and entertainer whose sensational career spanned the 1950’s and 60’s. Young Walden Robert Cassotto overcame a life threatening illness and a poor background to become one of the great entertainers of the mid-20th century. His marriage to movie star Sandra Dee was a match made in heaven until the clouds rolled in. Bobby’s fight to reach the top of the entertainment world before his death at 37 is an emotional and triumphant story. The music of Dream Lover is composed of the songs of Darin and others, including ‘Splish Splash’, ‘As Long as I’m Singin’, ‘Mack the Knife’, ‘The Sea’, ‘Inka Dinka Doo’ and ‘Mammy’.
John Frost has acquired the rights from John and Barbara Gilbert of Gilbert Theatrical, and will workshop Dream Lover and then produce the World Premiere in Australia, in association with John and Barbara Gilbert, before possible international productions.
Frost is one of Australia’s most successful theatrical producers, currently producing four shows on Australian stages: Wicked (in Sydney), Chicago (in Perth), Calendar Girls (in rehearsal, opening in Brisbane in April) and Fame the Musical (in rehearsal, opening in Melbourne in April).
John and Barbara Gilbert entered the world of entertainment in 2006 as co-producers of the successful Australian musical of Dusty, written by John-Michael Howson, David Mitchell and Melvyn Morrow. They have since been co-producers in the revival of Shout and in the Australian season of Guys and Dolls in 2008 (Melbourne) and 2009 (Sydney), and are involved in John Frost’s production of Fame the Musical.