Alex Rathgeber and Amanda Harrison, stars of Anything Goes, at Raheen

For the thirteenth consecutive year, Jeanne Pratt opened her home, Raheen, to the media, sponsors and patrons of The Production Company to announce the company’s new season.

“Broadway classics from three very different eras comprise this new season,” said Jeanne Pratt. “They are Anything Goes, Kismet and the Australian premiere season of Grey Gardens. We are most excited to presenting these three very contrasting musicals.”

The season opens in the Arts Centre’s State Theatre on July 20 with a new staging of Cole Porter’s 1934 sensation, Anything Goes. This is one of the most popular of all the Broadway classics and co-incidentally it is also in preview for a new production opening on Broadway next month.

Long regarded as the perfect musical, Anything Goes stars Amanda Harrison (Elphaba in Wicked) as Reno Sweeney, Alex Rathgeber (The Boy From Oz) as Billy Crocker and Anne Wood (Follies) as Evangeline Harcourt.

Andrew Hallsworth (The Boy From Oz) returns from Broadway to co-direct and choreograph. Dean Bryant (Next to Normal) co-directs and Australia’s pre-eminent musical director, Peter Casey conducts all performances.

For the past four years the musical our subscribers have most requested is Kismet. This enchanting musical opened on Broadway in 1953. With an exquisite score based on the music of Alexander Borodin, our staging will feature three artists making their debuts with the company. Janet Todd (The Magic Flute), Josh Piterman (West Side Story) and Jose Carbo, whom US critics describe as “superb, immensely theatrical, vivid physically and handsome to boot…”

Returning to the company in the role of The Wazir is the double Helpmann Award winner, Mitchell Butel. Terence O’Connell directs this new production with Peter Casey as musical director.

Jose Carbo, Janet Todd & Josh Piterman, stars of Kismet, at Raheen

An Australian premiere is our third musical. Grey Gardens opened on Broadway in 2006 and was named by Time Magazine as the Number One show of 2006. It was nominated for 10 Tony Awards in 2007, winning three. AFI Award Winner, Pamela Rabe returns to the company to perform the virtuoso roles of Edith Bouvier Beale and ‘Little’ Edie. Helpmann Award Winner, Nancye Hayes plays the role of the aged Edith.

Based on the 1975 documentary of the same title by Albert and David Maysles, Grey Gardens has a cult following.

Roger Hodgman directs this new production, which will be in the Arts Centre’s Playhouse.
The Production Company is a not-for-profit organisation and totally privately funded. The company’s major sponsors in 2011 are The Pratt Foundation, Star City and Ernst and Young.

SEASON 2011 DATES

ANYTHING GOES
STATE THEATRE
20 – 23 July at 7.30pm, Saturday 23 July at 2pm and Sunday 24 July at 3pm

KISMET
STATE THEATRE
17–20 August at 7.30pm, Saturday 20 August at 2pm and Sunday 21 August at 3pm

GREY GARDENS
THE PLAYHOUSE
24 – 26 Nov at 7.30pm, 29 Nov – 3 Dec at 7.30 pm, matinees at 2 pm on 26 Nov and 3 Dec, at 1 pm on 30 Nov, and 3pm on 27 Nov and 4 Dec.