Musical Theatre is Alive & Well in Melbourne...

Mark had a weekend in Melbourne in August to see three quite different but all great musicals:

1. “Kimberly Akimbo” - a co-production between Melbourne Theatre Company and State Theatre Company of South Australia, this was a new production of the original Tony-award winning Broadway production I saw in 2023, and it stood up very well by comparison. Congrats to Marina Prior, Christy Whelan Brown and the company, and director Mitchell Butel

2. “In the Heights” - the Australian production that has been touring for a while now, directed by Luke Joslin and with old acquaintance Lena Cruz (Lena played Svetlana in a production of Chess I did quite a few years ago) as the grandmother “Abuela” - great production, especially the chorey and band!

3. “Beetlejuice” - starring the composer Eddie Perfect in the title role, it was a high enerby laugh from start to finish

Of course, I highly recommend everyone to support Australian live theatre…

Love, Linda - rescheduled...

Due to cast illness, the show was postponed to July, but was a great success - raising $2,500 for Dementia Australia across five sold out performances. It was particularly satisfying to play some great Cole Porter three piece band arrangements with two outstanding young musicians - Aaron Bonduriansky & Hayden Markham-Ball.

"Love, Linda"

Mark will be musically directing a one person, Off Broadway musical called “Love, Linda” in April 2025, for D2 Productions and in aid of Dementia Australia. The show is about Linda Porter, wife of Cole Porter, and features over 20 Porter classics accompanied by a three piece band, with Mark on piano.