Anna O’Byrne cast as Australia’s Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady

Anna O'Byrne

After many months of anticipation, Opera Australia and John Frost have announced the cast for their upcoming recreation of My Fair Lady.

Anna O’Byrne at the My Fair Lady launch, Sydney

Dame Julie Andrews will be directing Australian musical theatre leading lady Anna O’Byrne (Love Never Dies) in the coveted role of Eliza Doolittle, while UK actor Alex Jennings will star as Professor Higgins.

Reg Livermore, who played the role of Professor Higgins in the previous Opera Australia production in 2008, will take on the role of Alfred P. Doolittle, theatre stalwart Robyn Nevin will play Mrs Higgins and Mark Vincent will play Freddy Eynsford-Hill.

Rounding out the principal cast are David Whitney as Karpathy, Tony Llewellyn-Jones as Colonel Pickering and Deidre Rubenstein as Mrs Pearce.

Rehearsals commence for the production in late July ahead of an opening night at Sydney Opera house on September 6.

The production will be musically directed by Guy Simpson and choreographed Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli and the full ensemble will comprise of an impressive cast: Octavia Barron-Martin, Andrew Broadbent, Deborah Caddy, Elisa Colla, Zoy Frangos, Josh Gates, Alex Given, Matt Heyward, Glen Hogstrom, Matt Holly, Kate Maree Hoolihan, Georgina Hopson, Erin James, Hollie James, Todd Keys, James Lee, Vanessa Lewis, Allyce Martins, James Maxfield, Julia Mcrae, Holly Meegan, Joel Parnis, Jackie Rees, Greta Sherriff, David Sirianni, Sophie Viskich, Paul Whitely, Katherine Wiles and Karlis Zaid.

Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Deidre Rubenstein, Mark Vincent, Anna O’Byrne, Robyn Nevin and Reg Livermore. Principal cast of My Fair Lady at the official cast launch in Sydney

More information, visit myfairladymusical.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