Australia's OFFICER & A GENTLEMAN Musical Gets Revamp for U.S. Tour?

Deadline.com reports that producers of the current Australian production of AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN: THE MUSICAL plan to "make changes and relaunch the musical ahead of a possible tour of the U.S." 

The A6.2 million production opened at Sydney's Lyric Theatre on May 18 to an opening night audience made up of many U.S. theater producers and owners. The show will conclude its run on July 1, allowing producers John Frost and Cooper Cohen to "go back into development". The musical was originally scheduled to tour Melbourne and Brisbane following the Sydney run but those plans have since been canceled.

A spokesman for Frost revealed to Deadline that “there has been serious interest from overseas and there are ongoing discussions about the next step.” He added, “The priority is to get the show right, then look at other options.” Frost is a successful Australian producer whose credits include Fame, Wicked, Annie and the Broadway production of Hairspray.

Douglas Day Stewart adapted his 1982 movie for the stage along with Sharleen Cooper Cohen. An Officer And A Gentleman: The Musical is directed by Simon Phillips (Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert: The Musical). Ken Hirsch and Robin Lerner composed the music and lyrics. The show follows working class heroes Zack Mayo and Paula Pokrifki, as they overcome their upbringing and personal obstacles to achieve their dreams.

Reviews for the current production have been mostly negative, including that of Australia's Deborah Jones who called it, “surprisingly dull despite its noisiness.”  

Photo credit: Photo: Brian Geach

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