The Boy from Oz

by Nick Enright

The Boy From Oz is a jukebox musical based on the life of singer/songwriter Peter Allen and featuring songs written by him. The book is by Nick Enright. The production had its world premiere, directed by Gale Edwards, at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, Australia, on 5 March 1998 and toured Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, playing to over 1.2 million theatre patrons. It ran for a total 766 performances over two years.[1] The production starred showman Todd McKenney as Peter Allen and The Divinyls lead singer Chrissy Amphlett as Judy Garland and introduced 8 year old Mathew Waters as Young Peter Allen. Mathew played Peter Allen again in the BCCT production of The Boy From Oz from July 9, 2010 until July 17, 2010.

Production History

Australia

World premiere at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, Australia, on 5 March 1998 and toured Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, playing to over 1.2 million theatre patrons. It ran for a total 766 performances over two years.

Broadway

The Boy From Oz was the first Australian musical to reach Broadway. It started previews at the Imperial Theatre on 16 September 2003, opened on 16 October 2003 and closed on 12 September 2004, at the end of Hugh Jackman’s contract. It was adapted for the American audience by playwright Martin Sherman, who removed some of the Australianisms (such as ‘jackaroo’) and expanded the role of US characters Garland and Minnelli. The show played 32 previews and 365 performances. Directed by Philip William McKinley, with choreography by Joey McKneely, it starred Jackman as Peter Allen, Isabel Keating as Judy Garland, Stephanie J. Block as Liza Minnelli, Beth Fowler as Marion Woolnough, Jarrod Emick as Peter’s AIDS-stricken lover Greg Connell, and John Hill as Mark Herron (Judy’s Husband). Jackman won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, and Keating won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. The show also received nominations for four other Tony Awards, including Best Musical.[3]

Despite the accolades, Ben Brantley of The New York Times panned the show, calling it an “indisputably bogus show” [4]

Australian Arena Tour

The Boy From Oz returned to Australia from 3 August 2006 to 10 September 2006 in a new production especially designed for the arena stage (audiences of over 10,000 people), called Boy from Oz Arena Spectacular. Directed by Kenny Ortega, Hugh Jackman reprised his New York role as Peter Allen. He was joined by Australian actresses Chrissy Amphlett and Angela Toohey, reprising their roles as Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. Shardyn Fahey-Leigh played the role of Young Peter Allen with Dylan Speedy. Rarmian Newton and Joshua Waiss Gates, both of whom later starred in Billy Elliot the Musical, were understudies in the Australian production. Peter’s mother, Marion, was played by Colleen Hewett.[5][6] The show had a support cast of 40 singer-dancers and a 25-piece orchestra.[7]

The show also featured the vocals of Australian girls’ high school choirs from Penrhos College[citation needed] when in Perth, and, while in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane, it featured the vocals of 100 girls from the Australian Girls Choir.[8]

Melbourne 2011

The Production Company presents The Boy From Oz Summer Season 2011 TODD MCKENNY IS THE BOY FROM OZ! Nancye Hayes directs a new spectacular concert version of The Boy From Oz, the musical celebration of the life and work of the legendary Peter Allen. With musical director by John Foreman and choreographer Andrew Hallsworth, this show is not to be missed. Jan 5 – Jan 16 2011

Musical Numbers Broadway Version

Act One

Act Two

The Lives of Me – Peter AllenWhen I Get My Name in Lights – Boy and EnsembleWhen I Get My Name in Lights (Reprise) – PeterLove Crazy – Chris Bell, Peter and Ensemble (Allen & Adrienne Anderson)Waltzing Matilda – Peter and Chris (in Mandarin)All I Wanted Was the Dream – Judy GarlandOnly an Older Woman – Judy, Peter, Chris and Mark HerronBest That You Can Do – Peter and Liza Minnelli (by Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Allen & Christopher Cross)

Don’t Wish Too Hard – Judy (music by Allen, lyrics by Sager)

Come Save Me – Liza and Peter

Continental American – Peter and Ensemble (music by Allen, lyrics by Sager)

She Loves to Hear the Music – Liza and Ensemble (music by Allen, lyrics by Sager)

Quiet Please, There’s a Lady On Stage – Peter and Judy (music by Allen, lyrics by Sager)

I’d Rather Leave While I’m in Love – Liza and Peter (music by Allen, lyrics by Sager)

Not the Boy Next Door – Peter and Marion Woolnough (music by Allen, lyrics by Dean Pitchford)

Bi-Coastal – Peter and Trio (written by Allen, David Foster & Tom Keane)If You Were Wondering – Peter and Greg ConnellSure Thing Baby – Dee Anthony, Greg, Peter, Trio and Male EnsembleEverything Old is New Again – Peter and The Rockettes (music by Allen, lyrics by Sager)Everything Old is New Again (Reprise) – Marion, Dee and Greg (music by Allen, lyrics by Sager)Love Don’t Need a Reason [1] – Peter and Greg (by Allen, Michael Callen & Marsha Malamet)I Honestly Love You – Greg (by Allen & Jeff Barry)You and Me – Liza and Peter (music by Allen, lyrics by Sager)

I Still Call Australia Home – Peter and Ensemble

Don’t Cry Out Loud – Marion (music by Allen, lyrics by Sager)

Once Before I Go – Peter

I Go To Rio – Peter and Company (by Allen & Anderson)

Original Australian Cast Album Track List

Act One

Act Two

1.Continental American2.When I Get My Name In Lights3.Pretty Keen Teen4.All I Wanted Was the Dream5.Only an Older Woman6.Don’t Wish Too Hard7.Sure Thing Baby8.Quiet Please, There’s a Lady on Stage

9.I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love

10.(I’ve Been) Taught by Experts

11.Not the Boy Next Door

12.(When) Everything Old is New Again

13.(Arthur’s Theme) Best That You Can Do

14.Love Don’t Need a Reason15.She Loves to Hear the Music16.I Honestly Love You17.I Still Call Australia Home18.Don’t Cry Out Loud19.Tenterfield Saddler20.I Go to Rio21.The Lives of Me

22.Love Crazy

23.Come Save Me

24.Bi-Coastal

25.If You Were Wondering

26.You and Me

27.Once Before I Go

1.
The Boy from Oz (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
With – Hugh Jackman, Jarrod Emick, Beth Fowler, Isabel Keating , Stephanie J. Block
2.
The Boy From Oz (1998 Original Australian Cast)
With – Jill Perryman, Lisa Callaghan, Robyn Arthur, Todd McKenney, Chrissie Amphlett, Murray Bartlett

Video

Awards and Nominations

Tony Awards:

Best Musical – Produced by Ben Gannon, Robert Fox (nominee)

Best Book of a Musical – Book by Martin Sherman; Original book by Nick Enright (nominee)

Best Actor in a Musical – Hugh Jackman (winner)

Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Beth Fowler (nominee), Isabel Keating (nominee)

Theatre World Award

Mitchel David Federan (winner)

Hugh Jackman (winner)

Isabel Keating (winner)

Drama Desk Award

Outstanding Actor in a Musical – Hugh Jackman (winner)

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical – Mitchel David Federan (nominee)

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical – Isabel Keating (winner)

References

1. Audio Mastermind article

2.Curtain Up review, Oct. 22, 2003

3.Internet Broadway Database listing for “The Boy From Oz”

4. The New York Times.com Theater Review

5. ABC.net review, Sept. 4, 2006

6. “Variety” review, Aug. 6, 2006

7. Hernandez, Ernio.”Hugh Jackman The Boy From Oz Tour Gets New Director, Cast and Dates for Oz Return”, playbill.com article, Feb. 13, 2006

8.”Variety” article, Aug. 6, 2006

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