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From screen to stage: Sydney's New Theatre premiere


New Theatre is rounding off the year with the Sydney premiere production of Little Miss Sunshine, under the direction of Deborah Jones,who is returning to follow up her success with Nell Gwynne last year.

"Back in 2006, the film had such an impact on me," says Deb. "Dysfunctional family with a capital D. It covered all the basics - being gay, addiction, being broke, being heartbroken and to top it off being dead. I could relate!" The cast includes a bunch of actorsl making their New Theatre debuts: from Kiera Dzeparoski as Olive, and Aneke Golowenko, Ellacoco Hammer McIver and Grace Ryan as the Mean Girls, to Christopher O'Shea as Dwayne and Sarah Funari as Miss California.

Also treading the New Theatre stage for the first time are music theatre performers Gavin Leahy, Martin Grelis and Fiona Pearson, and its welcome back to Julian Ramundi and John Grinston. Set designer David Marshall-Martin, lighting designer Michael Schell, sound designer Dana Spence, costume designer Bobbi Rickards, choreographer Virginia Ferris, and musical director Laura Heuston also join the team. The plot follows the Hoover family which has seen better days. Richard, the father, is a less-than-inspiring motivational speaker; Grandpa’s been kicked out of his retirement home for bad behaviour; Uncle Frank has recently tried to kill himself after his boyfriend dumped him; moody teen, Dwayne, has taken a vow of silence; and much-put-upon mother Sheryl grits her teeth and holds it all together.

But energetic and optimistic Olive, the youngest Hoover, believes the world is full of possibilities, and enters a children’s beauty pageant.

Seeing a chance to change their luck, this dysfunctional and fractious family packs their beat-up Combi, and embarks on a cross-country journey from New Mexico to California, chasing the coveted title of ‘Little Miss Sunshine’.

The play was adapted from the Academy Award-winning film by James Lapine (Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George) and William Finn (Falsettos, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee).

Season: 12 November - 14 December. Tickets: Full $35, Concessions, Groups (6+) $30, previews, Thrifty Thursdays $20. Bookings: https://newtheatre.org.au/tickets/

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