Passing Strange A rock musical

Antipodes Theatre Company proudly presents the Australian premiere of

Passing Strange

Book and Lyrics by Stew

Music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald

Created in collaboration with Annie Dorsen

By Arrangement with Music Theatre International (Australasia) on behalf of Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

The universe is a toy in the mind of a boy. And life is a movie too, starring you.

A rock musical about a young African American's artistic journey of self-discovery, Passing Strange takes us from black middle-class America to Amsterdam, Berlin and beyond on a journey towards personal and artistic authenticity.

From singer-songwriter and performance artist Stew this Australian premiere season gifts Melbourne audiences a daring musical; journeying across boundaries of place, identity and theatrical convention. The story of a young bohemian who charts a course for "the real" through sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, Passing Strange is a multi-award-winning musical loaded with soulful lyrics, and overflowing with passion.

Running this June/July at Melbourne's much-loved Meat Market Stables, Antipodes Theatre Company invites you to come and experience the show Time Out New York heralded as "One of the most exciting new musicals in years".

Launching in 2019, Antipodes Theatre Company seeks to provide a collaborative and inclusive environment for producing independent theatre in Melbourne. They strive to maintain an inclusive and safe workspace, with productions that have a dedicated focus on working with women, ethnically diverse artists, people with disability, trans and non-binary people, seniors, and other members of historically or culturally marginalised communities who are not well represented on stage.

WINNER - Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (2008)

WINNER - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical (2008)

WINNER - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics (2008)

WINNER - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music (2008)

NOMINATED - Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Orchestrations, Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical (2008)

"Call it a rock concert with a story to tell… Call it a sprawling work of performance art… Call it whatever you want, really. I'll just call it wonderful" - The New York Times

"… truly unlike anything you've seen on Broadway" - USA Today

Director: Dean Drieberg (He/Him)

Performers: Zahrah Andrews (She/Her), Tier Ataing (He/Him), Guillaume Gentil (He/Him), Asha Khamis (She/Her), Gabriela van Wyk (She/Her), Theo Williams (He/Him) and Grant Young (He/Him)

Associate Director / Equity and Inclusion Support Officer: Cessalee Stovall (She/Her)       

Musical Director / Conductor / Keys: Marissa Saroca (She/They)

Text / Dialect / Vocal Coach: Mark Wong (He/Him)

Set and Costume Designer: Bianca Pardo (She/Her)

Lighting Designer: Sam Wylie (He/Him)

Sound Designer: Evan Drill (He/Him)

Stage Manager: Annie Gleisner (She/Her)

Casting by Evolution Casting

Casting Director: Rhys Velasquez (They/She)

Publicist: Eleanor Howlett (She/Her, Sassy Red PR)

Producer/Production Manager: Brandon Pape (He/Him)

24 June to 10 July, 2022

Mon - Sat 7:30pm (no show Tuesday), Sat - Sun Matinee 3pm

Opening night: Saturday 25 June, 7:30pm

Auslan Interpreted Performance - Friday 1 July, 7:30pm

Audio Described Performance and Tactile Tour - Saturday 2 July, 3pm

BLACK OUT Performance (for Bla(c)k-Identifying individuals) - Saturday 2 July, 7:30pm

Tickets: $58 Full, $48 Concession and Previews, Early Bird discount ($10 off) until 1 June

Bookings: online only via www.antipodestheatre.com

Enquiries: info@antipodestheatre.com

Venue: Meat Market Stables - 2 Wreckyn St, North Melbourne

www.antipodestheatre.com

Runtime: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one interval

Recommended for audiences: 13+, parental discretion is advised

Warnings: Coarse language, discussion of sexual acts, implied drug use, racism and racial slurs, death and dying

This is a COVIDSafe event as per Victorian Government stipulations