Lola Montez the Musical returns to the stage for 60th anniversary concert

If I was to ask you “What is the most commercially successful Australian musical with an original score?”, I doubt you would guess “Lola Montez”, but the musical (originally produced in 1958) has enjoyed sold-out seasons in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, chart-topping songs on the Aussie hit parade (which outsold Elvis Presley), was adapted for television AND the cast album was the first stereophonic recording ever made in Australia.

Lola Montez was the talk of the town for years and in 2018 – 60 years later – a new generation is about to experience Lola Montez.

Produced by Diadem Productions (Stephen Helper and Meredith O’Reilly) in association with Riverside Theatres Parramatta, this little Aussie gem will be presented for a one night only concert boasting a stellar cast.

Debora Krizak (Cabaret, Anything Goes, A Chorus Line) takes on the titular character of Lola and will be joined on stage by Scott Irwin, Joel Granger, Stefanie Jones, Peter Cousens, Red Symons, Caitlin Berry, Luke Joslin, Kaeng Chan, Genevieve Lemon, Josie Lane and Brendan Xavier.

Debora Krizak will play the titular role of Lola Montez
Debora Krizak will play the titular role of Lola Montez

With original toe-tapping music by the late Peter Stannard, lyrics by Peter Benjamin and a book by Alan Burke, the musical tells the outrageous true story of the powerful femme fatale, Lola Montez, during her visit to the goldfields of Ballarat in 1854.

Unhappy as a lower middle class young Irish woman married to a military man, she declared her independence, reinvented herself as a Spanish Dancer extraordinaire, and as ‘Lola Montez’, took on the world. A great beauty of her time, Lola’s famous lovers included writer Alexandre Dumas, pianist/composer Franz Liszt and King Ludwig I of Bavaria with whom she lived at court, was made a Countess and practically ran Bavaria for two years!

Her Spider Dance performance caused a sensation throughout Europe, the USA and, yes, Australia. When the critic of Ballarat Times dared to give her a bad review, she got out her whip and attacked him in the street in broad daylight! A strong, sensuous, highly intelligent woman, Lola Montez was nobody’s fool and subservient to no man. She joins the ranks of other remarkable women like Florence Nightingale, Eva Perón, Madonna and Lady Gaga who refused to conform to societal beliefs that women were of lesser value than men.

Lola was a truly independent 21st century woman, 160 years ago.

Venue: Riverside Theatres Parramatta
Date: Saturday 2 June, 8pm
Price: $74.90 / $68.90 (concession)
Bookings: riversideparramatta.com.au or 8839 3399
TICKETS ON SALE 28 MARCH

For more information about the show visit: Lolamontez.com.au

Matt Edwards

Matt is a past owner of AussieTheatre, working as digital director from 2011 to 2019. He is also a performer, most recently appeared in the Australian tour of Mamma Mia! and previously in the Australian/NZ tour of CATS and Enda Markey's acclaimed production of Blood Brothers. As well as performing Matt keeps himself busy in the digital side of the arts working with web design agency Emptyhead Digital

Matt Edwards

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