July 5th, 2024Maureen Andrew stars in The Boy from Oz
Prolific independent musical theatre company Theatrical is presenting The Boy From Oz, playing for a limited season at the National Theatre, St Kilda from July 6-21.
And among those taking part in one of the lead roles is former Daylesford and Creswick resident, and accomplished performer, Maureen Andrew.
Maureen has had an exceptional and ongoing career in music theatre, film, stage and television with over 50 years’ industry experience as an actor, singer, dancer, producer and director.
Her first touring gig was with the original cast of Hair in 1971 travelling throughout Australia and New Zealand. Then there’s been Elton John, Billy Elliot The Musical, Calendar Girls, Hugh Jackman’s Boy From Oz, Cabaret, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Saturday Night Fever, Grease the Mega Musical, Sunset Boulevard and Scrooge the Musical.
Television credits include Neighbours, My Brother Jack and Blue Heelers. And many Central Highland music fans would have seen Maureen’s tribute cabaret shows including Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Bette Midler, Shirley Bassey, and Marlene Dietrich.
In The Boy from Oz, Maureen plays Peter Allen’s mother Marion Woolnough. “It’s a marvellous role, so emotional and pivotal to Peter’s life. I am so pleased I finally got to do it. And the cast are all wonderful people who are very passionate about performing.
“I am realising the longer I last in it (performing), there is a certain insanity performers are born with, and that includes artists, writers, anyone who has a creative endeavour, there is something passionate in us from an early age and we just keep going. I still think I am 16.”
Also starring in the musical is Peter Allen tribute artist Matthew Hadcraft, who has been performing his own Peter Allen show across Australia since 2015.
“There is no one quite like Peter Allen. His infectious energy, love for his audiences, free-wheeling enthusiasm and sense of fun is still so captivating decades after his death. He’s a true Australian icon, and I feel very lucky that I get to play him and perform his legendary songs,” says Matthew.
“Peter came out as bisexual, and although it’s not explicit (he always talks about you/me/us and never used gendered pronouns), you can hear his coming out journey through some of the lyrics in his songs.”
The Boy From Oz has a true ‘Peter Allen in concert’ feel to it. The biographical musical follows his fascinating global career and life with Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli in bars, nightclubs and concerts across the world.
From Australia to Asia, to winning an Oscar and selling out performances at Radio City Music Hall in New York, The Boy From Oz showcases Peter Allen’s one-of-a-kind gift as a musical storyteller with hits like I Still Call Australia Home, I Go To Rio, I Honestly Love You and the biographical Tenterfield Saddler.
Tickets: www.theatrical.com.au
Words: Donna Kelly
