Matthew Robinson’s songs sing on
Touching and inspiring, Sing On Through Tomorrow is a new musical revue featuring the most acclaimed songs from the decade-long career of multi-award winning composer/lyricist Matthew Robinson.
The young and talented, Hollie Andrew (The Sapphires), Kate Maree Hoolihan (A Little Night Music, Little Women), Shaun Rennie (Cats, Mamma Mia!) and Matthew Robinson (The Pirates of Penzance) bring to life the beautifully wistful show from Thursday, 4 August for 9 performances only at Sidetrack Theatre, Sydney.
Using songs from his critically acclaimed first musical Metro Street, as well as his hit cabaret shows, right through to his latest musical in development Happy People, Sing On Through Tomorrow tells the story of four thirty-somethings who must travel back in time to rediscover their reason to dream on.
“Sing on Through Tomorrow is a revue of some of my dearest work but also tells the story of four young adults in their mid thirties who must travel back in time to find their inspiration and spirit. It’s a beautiful and emotionally charged journey,” said Writer/ Performer Matthew Robinson.
The show was originally work-shopped and given a closed presentation in Melbourne in 2010, with a cast including Simon Gleeson (currently playing Raoul in Love Never Dies), Kellie Rode, Sophie Carter and Matthew Robinson. Since then, further development has occurred, with Robinson replacing several songs with other material in preparation for the upcoming rehearsal period. Final refinement of the material will take place when the show begins rehearsals soon, and choices on included material will be settled.
Producer/Director Neil Gooding is full of praise for Robinson, saying:
“I’m so excited about investigating the unchartered possibilities of this new show. Matthew Robinson is Australia’s answer to Jason Robert Brown, he is tremendously talented and I’m fortunate enough to be collaborating on this wonderful project with Musical Director, Peter Rutherford and a dynamite cast made up of Hollie Andrew, Kate Maree Hoolihan and Shaun Rennie.”
Sing on Through Tomorrow walks a fine line between traditional musical and ‘stand and sing’ concert. For want of a better term, the show could be considered a ‘staged song revue’.
“Characters are placed in specific situations and locations as opposed to simply standing at microphones.”, says Gooding.
Matthew Robinson is certainly a talented young man and one to watch over the next few years. He was the youngest ever recipient of Australia’s richest theatre-writing award, the Pratt Prize for Music Theatre. His winning musical, Metro Street, received its World Premiere in April 2009 starring Nancye Hayes and Debra Byrne. Metro Street has since been nominated for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, five Helpmann Awards and won the South Australian ATG Award for Best Musical.
Robinson most recently won the 2011 UTAS Stephen Schwartz Songwriting Award for his show-stopping number ‘Dignity’, featured inSing On Through Tomorrow.
With Hollie Andrew, Kate Maree Hoolihan, Shaun Rennie, Matthew Robinson
Director Neil Gooding
Musical Supervisor Matthew Robinson
Musical Director Peter Rutherford
Lighting Designer Ross Graham
Producer Neil Gooding