The Songs of Ahrens & Flaherty hits The Hayes in Sydney this weekend
Following a successful Melbourne season Flourish Productions are bringing The Songs of Ahrens & Flaherty to Sydney this weekend as part of the Hayes Theatre Co.’s 2015 Cabaret Season.
The show highlights the work of long time song-writing team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty whose work includes such shows as Lucky Stiff, Ragtime, Seussical, Once On This Island, My Favorite Year and Rocky just to name a few.
The production also features a song from the brand new Ahrens & Flaherty musical, Little Dancer. This marks the first time that any music from the show has been performed outside of the recent professional workshop season at the Kennedy Centre (Washington D.C.) and only the second time the song has ever been performed worldwide.
We spoke to cast member and Flourish Productions Executive Producer, Cath Langley, about the show and what was next for the company:
What made you choose the work of Ahrens & Flaherty?
Flourish Productions was created the week after I finished Drama School. I knew all of these really talented performers that weren’t getting jobs or even auditions, so I wanted to create a vehicle that would allow them to keep working and developing but also try to get their name and skill set out there.
When deciding what show to do, Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty was an easy choice. Lynn Ahrens writes the most beautifully nuanced lyrics and Stephen Flaherty such intricately clever music that together really transport you off to another world. In addition to that, the range and diversity of their material is second to none. It’s unfortunate that their work isn’t really ever performed in Australia.
How did you manage to secure the rights to do the new material?
Asked REALLY nicely!
It was just excellent timing – we asked them just after the Kennedy Centre workshop so they were happy to let us, on the condition that the sheet music was kept top secret.
Were you always planning on bring the show to Sydney after Melbourne?
No not at all. The response the show received after its Melbourne performance made us realise that it’s something that Sydney audiences might enjoy and appreciate too. The Hayes Theatre Company were then daring enough to take a chance on programming a brand new show by a brand new company.
We’re really excited to be coming up, what the Hayes are doing is just so important to our industry and we’re pretty thrilled to have a chance to be a part of it.
Are you taking it anywhere else?
We are currently looking at doing a return season in Melbourne later in 2015.
What’s next for Flourish Productions?
The Songs of Alan Menken is next for Flourish, featuring a brand new cast of 6, singing a plethora of all the best Disney songs.
The show is on Sunday the 12th of July and Monday the 13th of July at The Toff in Town in Melbourne, featuring Josh Ellwood, Zuleika Khan, Emily Paddon-Brown, Liam J. O’Byrne, Vanessa Menjivar and Jeff van de Zandt.
Booking Details:
Saturday, 27th of June 6:30 pm
Sunday, 28th of June 2:00 pm
Hayes Theatre Co
19 Greenknowe Avenue Potts Point Sydney
Tickets Available: Hayes Theatre Co
