Underground Opera goes back to Broadway for 10th season
As Brisbane’s Underground Opera (UOC) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, the company is launching its original season, West End to Broadway, touring the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Rockhampton in February and March. The season will star Dale Pengelly with theatre credits, The Boy From Oz (Australian Tour), Hot Shoe Shuffle (West End) and Singin’ in the Rain and Chicago (Singapore, Hong Kong).
The show themed, The Movie Musicals will also star Louise Dorsman, Lionel Theunissen, with debutante Pia Frangiosa and accompanist Brendan Murtagh.
Dale Pengelly, who performed with UOC around eight years’ ago said he was excited to return, pleased to see how the company had grown since Founder and Director Bruce Edwards made the bold decision to start the venture in 2007.
Pengelly has a number of theatre credits to his name; he understudied Todd Mckenney’s Peter Allen in the Australian tour of The Boy From Oz, performed in London’s Hot Shoe Shuffle and in the Asian tours of Saturday Night Fever, Singin’ in the Rain and Chicago.
“Nothing really compares to the unique spaces where the Underground Opera Company performs - although, I have performed in some exceptional locations,” Pengelly said.
“One of my career highlights was being part of the first show to launch the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay in Singapore, known as ‘The Durian’. I was performing as Don Lockwood, Gene Kelly’s character, in Singin’ in the Rain. My dressing room was like the Hilton – it was sensational!”
UOC Director Bruce Edwards said the season would feature a number of incredible solo, duet and ensemble renditions of showstoppers from the golden years of Hollywood, to the modern musical blockbusters.
“We held two seasons of West End to Broadway – In the Reservoir in 2016 and because of its popularity, we decided to tour a new version to the Sunshine Castle and Capricorn Caves, having previously brought Opera in the Castle and Opera in the Caves to these venues for more than seven years,” he said.
“It’s going to be a fun season and it’s great to welcome back Dale who, with his dance experience, has certainly added his touch to a few choreographed numbers. Joining him is UOC regular Louise Dorsman (Opera Q; Victorian Opera) and Lionel Theunissen who recently performed as Pontius Pilot for Gateway Theatre Productions’ Jesus Christ Superstar on the Sunshine Coast.
“We’re also debuting Pia Frangiosa who performed in Wax Theatre Productions’ Carrie at the Brisbane Powerhouse and numerous Queensland Conservatorium shows. Our world-class lineup will be accompanied by Brendan Murtagh.”
West End to Broadway in the Castle begins February 3 – 6 at Bli Bli’s Sunshine Castle. West End to Broadway – in the Reservoir will follow at the Spring Hill Reservoir from February 10 – 26, while West End to Broadway – in the Caves will be held at Capricorn Caves from March 3 – 5.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster; www.ticketmaster.com.au. For more information visit www.undergroundopera.com.au.
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