STAGE TUBE: KING KONG's Esther Hannaford Performs 'A Simple Prayer'

Esther Hannaford, who plays Ann Darrow in Australia's musical spectacular KING KONG, performed one of the original songs from the show on Australian TV on Monday. "A Simple Prayer" has not been seen outside the show before. Get a first listen below!

"A Simple Prayer" is composed by Marius de Vries with lyrics by Daniel Kramer, Michael Mitnick and Marius de Vries.

KING KONG also picked up five 2013 Helpmann Awards (the Australian equivalent of the Tonys) on Monday night, for Best Costume Design - Roger Kirk (he is also a former Tony Winner 1996 for King and I, 2001 nominee for 42nd Street); Best Scenic Design - Peter England; Best Lighting Design - Peter Mumford; Best Sound Design - Peter Hylenski (was nominated for a Tony this year); and Outstanding Theatrical Achievement - The Design, Creation & Operation of King Kong.

The new stage musical KING KONG is currently playing at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the show is already casting its eye towards Broadway, with a hopeful launch as early as 2014. The production, which was originally slated to run through July 28, has extended again through October 6.

The principal cast features Esther Hannaford (Hairspray) as Ann Darrow, newcomer Adam Lyon as Carl Denham, Chris Ryan (Thyestes) as Jack Driscoll, veteran stage actor Richard Piper as Captain Engelhorn and the queen of musical theatre and cabaret, Queenie van de Zandt as Cassandra.

One of the world's great modern myths about an enormous creature and his battle for survival in New York City, KING KONG has gone back to the source - the novella of the original film by Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace - in this world-first adaptation as a large-scale musical. Featuring a cast of 49 actors, singers, dancers, circus performers and puppeteers; a crew of 76; and arguably the most technologically advanced puppet in the world - a one-tonne, six-metre giant silverback - KING KONG will be an epic and dazzlingly original theatrical experience.

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