Marina Prior Returns to Adelaide, 23 to 25 May

One of Australia's best loved ladies of musical theatre, Marina Prior, will perform her new one-woman show Leading Lady at The Regal Theatre 275 Kensington Road, Kensington, Adelaide from 23 to 25 May at 8.00pm with a 2.00pm matinee on Saturday 25 May.

Tickets for the show are on sale now through Venuetix, The Regal Theatre & Trak Cinemas and are priced from $30.

With piano accompaniment Leading Lady traces Marina's career from her days busking with a guitar on Melbourne streets through to her rise to stardom as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera.

Marina said, 'The show takes the audience on a journey of songs ranging from the early folk pop songs of my busking days - a collection of music from the female performers of the 70s and 80s including Joni Mitchell, Wendy Matthews and Kate Bush - through to my favourite theatrical songs from such shows as The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Miserables.

Marina Prior has performed more than twenty leading roles in productions including Cats, Les Miserables, Guys & Dolls and Mary Poppins. She was named one of Australia's top 100 Entertainers of the Century.

Joint Managing Director of Republic Theatres Michael Todd said, 'Leading Lady is an opportunity to see Marina as you have never seen her before - up, close and personal - sharing music and memories from her career. The show invites patrons to share the music she grew up on, and the songs that made her who she is today. We will be offering cabaret style seating as well as traditional theatre seating and full bar service.

Marina's first professional audition resulted in her first lead role - that of Mabel in the Victoria State Opera's The Pirates Of Penzance. She was subsequently invited to perform the role of Guinevere opposite Richard Harris in Camelot.

She then went on to perform the characters of Jellylorum and Griddlebone in the Australian premiere production of Cats, Josephine in the Victoria State Opera's production of H.M.S.Pinafore, Kathy in the Lyric Opera of Queensland's The Student Prince and Adele in the Victoria State Opera's concert version of Die Fledermaus.

In 1987, Marina landed the role of Cosette in the Australian premiere of Les Miserables and at times appeared as Fantine in the same production. During this run, she took time out to play Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes.

Marina created the role of Christine Daae in the original Australian production of The Phantom Of The Opera, which she performed for three years.

Following this theatrical success, Marina has gone on to star in roles including Maria in West Side Story, Lily in The Secret Garden, Magnolia in Showboat, the title role of The Merry Widow, Jane Smart in The Witches Of Eastwick, BeLinda Blair in the hit comedy Noises Off, Mary O'Hara in Harp On The Willow, Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, Lilli Vanessi in Kiss Me, Kate, Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Elmire in The Hypocrite, Adelaide in Guys And Dolls, Muriel Eubanks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Mrs Banks in the Australian production of Mary Poppins. Marina most recently performed the role of Fran Kubelik in Promises, Promises.

A critically acclaimed Australasian concert tour with international tenor, José Carreras, remains one of the many highlights of Marina's career. Other concert engagements include performances with the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and symphony orchestras throughout Australia.

Marina is also well known to television audiences through her appearances on shows such as Carols By Candlelight and as a judge on Channel Seven's top rating It Takes Two.

Marina has recorded three CDs accompanied by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Leading Lady (which reached platinum status), Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber (which reached gold status and received an ARIA nomination) and Somewhere - The Songs of Sondheim and Bernstein. She has received numerous awards including four MO Awards, three Green Room Awards, and the Advance Australia Award for her contribution to the performing arts. In 1999, Marina was guest of honour for the television program This Is Your Life which paid tribute to her career so far.

In 2006, she was honoured with induction into Australia's 100 Entertainers of the Century.

Marina's new solo album - Both Sides Now - was released in September 2012.

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