The Boy from Oz

Infobox Musical
name= The Boy From Oz


caption=Original Broadway Poster
music=Peter Allen
lyrics=Peter Allen
book=Nick Enright (original)
Martin Sherman
basis=
productions= 1998 Sydney
2003 Broadway
2006 Australia
awards=

"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 Martin Sherman with the original book by Nick Enright.

The show premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Australia, on March 5, 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. [ [http://www.audiomastermind.com/detail-the_boy_from_oz-14567.html audiomastermind article] ] The production starred Todd McKenney as Peter Allen.

Later productions

;Broadway "The Boy From Oz" was the first Australian musical to reach Broadway.Fact|date=February 2008 It started previews at the Imperial Theatre on September 16 2003, opened on October 16, 2003 and closed on September 12 2004, at the end of Hugh Jackman's contract. 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, and John Hill (actor) 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. [ [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=13424 Internet Broadway Database listing for "The Boy From Oz"] ]

;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. Rarmian Newton and Joshua Waiss Gates, both of whom later starred in "Billy Elliot the Musical", were two of the four boys who played young Peter Allen in the Australian production. Peter's mother, Marion, was played by Colleen Hewett. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/stories/s1732659.htm ABC.net review, Sept. 4, 2006] ] [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931239.html?categoryid=33&cs=1 "Variety" review, Aug. 6, 2006] ] The show had a support cast of 40 singer-dancers and a 25-piece orchestra. [Hernandez, Ernio. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/97912.html "Hugh Jackman The Boy From Oz Tour Gets New Director, Cast and Dates for Oz Return",] playbill.com article, Feb. 13, 2006]

The show also featured the vocals of Australian girls' high school choirs from Penrhos CollegeFact|date=February 2008 when in Perth, and, while in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane, it featured the vocals of 100 girls from the Australian Girls Choir. ["Variety" article, Aug. 6, 2006]

;Amateur premiereThe amateur premiere of "The Boy from Oz" was performed by Miranda Musical Society (Sydney, Australia) in April 2008.The premiere Adelaide amateur production will commence on 23rd of October at the Arts Theatre, Angus Street.

Plot synopsis

In the 1950s, the young boy Peter Allen started performing and playing the piano. As an adult, Peter is in various early concerts in Australia with his partner. He is introduced to Judy Garland, who hires him for her show. Peter and Judy's daughter Liza soon become romantically involved and marry. Peter appears in New York City with the Rockettes. As time progresses Peter develops a relationship with a man and his marriage ends. [ [http://www.curtainup.com/boyfromoz.html Curtain Up review, Oct. 22, 2003] ]

ong list (Broadway version)

"All songs written by Peter Allen except as noted in parentheses""Source: [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?id=13424 Internet Broadway Database] ";Act 1
*The Lives of Me - "Peter Allen"
*When I Get My Name in Lights - "Boy and Ensemble"
*When I Get My Name in Lights (Reprise) - "Peter"
*Love Crazy - "Chris Bell, Peter and Ensemble" (Allen & Adrienne Anderson)
*Waltzing Matilda - "Peter and Chris" (Trad.)
*All I Wanted Was the Dream - "Judy Garland"
*Only an Older Woman - "Judy, Peter, Chris and Mark Herron"
*Best 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)

;Act 2
*Bi-Coastal - "Peter and Trio" (written by Allen, David Foster & Tom Keane)
*If You Were Wondering - "Peter and Greg Connell"
*Sure Thing Baby - "Dee Anthony, Greg, Peter, Trio and Male Ensemble"
*Everything 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 - "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:

*1. Continental American
*2. When I Get My Name In Lights
*3. Pretty Keen Teen
*4. All I Wanted Was the Dream
*5. Only an Older Woman
*6. Don't Wish Too Hard
*7. Sure Thing Baby
*8. 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 Reason

*15. She Loves to Hear the Music
*16. I Honestly Love You
*17. I Still Call Australia Home
*18. Don't Cry Out Loud
*19. Tenterfield Saddler
*20. I Go to Rio
*21. 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

Awards and nominations

;Tony Award
*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

External links

* [http://www.theatre-musical.com/boyfromoz.html The Lives of Me - The Boy from Oz]
* [http://www.mirandamusicalsociety.com.au/ Miranda Musical Society]
* [http://www.cloc.org.au/ CLOC Musical Theatre in May 2008]
* [http://www.tms.org.au/ Tamworth Musical Society November 2008]
* [http://www.theatrepeople.com.au/review_articles/2008/may/review_cloc_boyfromoz.htm Review of CLOC Musical Theatre's Production on Theatrepeople]