Antipodes Theatre Company Presents
the Australian Premiere of
PASSING STRANGE
Book and Lyrics by STEW, Music by STEW and HEIDI RODEWALD
Created in collaboration with ANNIE DORSEN
Meat Market Stables
24 June - 10 July, 2022
#passingstrangeau | #antipodesarts
By Arrangement with Music Theatre International (Australasia) on behalf of Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
Nominated For
Five Green Room Awards
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 that journeys 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.
WINNER - Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
WINNER - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical
WINNER - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics
WINNER - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music
Running 24 June-10 July at Melbourne’s much-loved Meat Market Stables, Antipodes Theatre Company invites you to experience the show Time Out New York heralded as “One of the most exciting new musicals in years.”
Reviews
“★★★★★ One of the most emotionally resonant, vital and joyful theatrical and musical experiences in years...[Augustin] Tchantcho gives what may just be my personal favourite performance by a male artist of the year and probably years to come.”
“★★★★ Insanely enjoyable…This gloriously transcendent show is so much more than your average musical and Melbourne audiences should rush out immediately to experience this utterly captivating and unique theatrical event.””
“★★★★ A must-see piece of musical theatre…a joyous romp of rock-musical glory. Fundamentally charming, touching, and one hell of a good time.””
“Fun and exuberant…Dean Drieberg’s robust production is a spirited romp.”
“Exceptional! This incredibly delightful production combines powerful music and performance to tell a moving story of self-discovery...exudes elegance and flair and provides sheer foot stomping enjoyment. Don’t miss it!”
“Tremendous...an exciting, eclectic and heady mix of rock music with artistic temperament and existential angst.”
“Told with humour, heart, and wildly energetic music…rivals any other musical you could experience this year.”
“Sublime…a bold and brave musical. I was captivated, curious and heartbroken by the end.”
“It takes a visionary independent company to present a show that has been ignored by mainstream commercial producers. Antipodes Theatre Company has assembled an authentic company of performers and musicians to freely pour their collective energy into the vibrantly intense performance that Passing Strange both needs and deserves.”
Cast
ZAHRAH ANDREWS (she/her)
TIER ATAING (he/him)
GUILLAUME GENTIL (he/him)
SASHA HENNEQUIN (she/her)
ASHA KHAMIS (she/her)
AUGUSTIN TCHANTCHO (he/him)
GABRIELA VAN WYK (she/her)
THEO WILLIAMS (he/him)
GRANT YOUNG (he/him)
Click headshots for bios.
Band:
MARISSA SAROCA (Keys)
CHELSEA ALLEN (Drums)
WILL GILSBERS (Guitar)
CHRISTOPHER MICHIGAN (Bass)
Creative Team
Click headshots for bios.
Direction: DEAN DRIEBERG (he/him)
Associate Director / Equity & Inclusion Support Officer: CESSALEE STOVALL (she/her)
Musical Director / Conductor: MARISSA SAROCA (she/they)
Choreographer: LOREDO MALCOLM (he/him)
Dialect Coach: MARK WONG (he/him)
Set & 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 Director: RHYS VELASQUEZ (Evolution Casting) (they/she)
Publicist: ELEANOR HOWLETT (Sassy Red PR) (she/her)
Producer: BRANDON PAPE (he/him)
Social Media Manager: CHLOE TOWAN (she/her)
Sound Engineer: PJ REED (he/him)
Head Electrician: KIT CUNNEEN (she/her)
Crew:
HOLLY ANDERSON, MAX BOWYER, KIT CUNNEEN, ALEX DONNELLY, NATHAN SANTAMARIA.
Production Photos
Rehearsal Photos
Special BLACK OUT Performance
Saturday 2 July at 7:30pm
WHAT IS A BLACK OUT?
A BLACK OUT is the purposeful creation of an environment in which a Bla(c)k- and Brown-identifying audience can experience and discuss an event in the performing arts, film, athletic, and cultural spaces where they are the majority. Tickets are available for purchase using a special code.
If you would like to attend this performance, please email info@antipodestheatre.com.
A concept birthed by Slave Play playwright Jeremy O. Harris, the inaugural BLACK OUT night took place on September 18, 2019. For the first time in history, all 804 seats of Broadway’s Golden Theatre were occupied by Black-identifying audience members in communion, celebration, and recognition of Broadway’s rich, diverse, and fraught history of Black work. Based on the success of the first BLACK OUT, Slave Play hosted a second BLACK OUT on January 8, 2020, to bookend its Broadway run. Since then, other BLACK OUT events have organically taken hold. It is our hope and intention that this inspires, facilitates, and informs future BLACK OUT events and, in the words of Harris, that “this outreach will snowball into more representation of Black bodies, both onstage and off.” You can learn more at blackoutnite.com.
Venue Information:
Meat Market Stables
2 Wreckyn St, North Melbourne VIC 3051
Accessible entrance available via Wreckyn Street.