Blue Saint Productions to Present VIOLET

Blue Saint Productions are thrilled to announce a highly desired Melbourne premiere season of VIOLET to be presented at Chapel off Chapel from March 3-20, 2016.

VIOLET is a musical from Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline or Change) with a libretto by Brian Crawley (The Little Princess). Featuring show-stopping anthems ranging from gospel to soul to bluegrass, it follows a truly original young woman (Violet Karl) who on her quest across America (from North Carolina to Oklahoma) for divine intervention finds a very different kind of salvation. If Chekhov, Lena Dunham and Aretha Franklin conspired to write a musical, this would be it.

VIOLET is currently performing to enthralled audiences in Sydney where this Australian production premiered at the Hayes Theatre last week. The critics were unanimous in their praise for this work:

"First-time director Mitchell Butel's staging of Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley's Violet is up there with the best productions the Hayes has produced to date. Sam Dodemaide shines in a title role of considerable complexity." - Sydney Morning Herald

"The show is a fine ensemble piece. The characters Violet meets on the road - in the bus and during a stopover in Memphis in a Beale Street bar - are played and sung with great energy by a very lively cast." - The Australian

"This is the perfect piece - contemporary, intimate, intelligent and slickly entertaining." - Daily Review

"Butel's sharp direction brings focus and clear intent to every moment. The cast all deliver and fulfill the demands of a show of such emotional stakes, bringing joy and soul to this production." - AussieTheatre

"If you care (or are even curious) about the future of the musical in Australia, you should book a ticket before it sells out its short run." - Limelight

"Violet is a heartwarmingly beautiful journey of healing and enlightenment." - Broadway World

Three-time Helpmann Award winner Mitchell Butel directs VIOLET, with musical direction by Lucy Bermingham (Strictly Ballroom, Guilty Pleasures), choreography by Amy Campbell (Guilty Pleasures, SYTYCD), costume design by Lucetta Stapleton (High Society), set design by Simon Greer (Man of La Mancha) and lighting design by Ross Graham (Sweet Charity, Avenue Q).

The Melbourne cast will include Samantha Dodemaide (Anything Goes, Sweet Charity), Steve Danielsen (Wicked, Legally Blonde), Barry Conrad (X Factor), Damien Bermingham (Chicago, Strictly Ballroom), Katie Elle-Reeve (Hair), Ryan Gonzalez (Strictly Ballroom, Legally Blonde) and introducing Luisa Scrofani as Young Violet.

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