I Will Survive – New Australian TV program set to discover a music theatre star

If you are a male over 21; if you can sing, dance and act; and if you want to do it all on national television, you could be in for the ride of your life! 

It was announced today that Network Ten and FremantleMedia Australia will be bringing a new entertainment program to the small screen this year (as reported on AussieTheatre recently) with aims to catapult one exceptional Australian performer to Broadway.

Nationwide auditions commence in Brisbane on April 19 for I Will Survive – the search for an Australian Triple Threat (SINGER, DANCER, ACTOR) to undertake the journey of a lifetime, and (in this first series at least) ultimately land a role in the blockbuster Australian Musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Broadway.

Male theatre performers from all walks of life who are gifted in singing, dancing and acting are being asked to audition for the series, which is understood to be of a similar format to various programmes of a similar nature overseas.

“I Will Survive is an exciting prospect for TEN. This is big, broad family entertainment with the unique backdrop of iconic locations in our own backyard” said Network Ten Chief Programming Officer, David Mott.

“The format is one that has captured the imagination of critics and audiences alike overseas, and we’re thrilled to bring it to Australian viewers for the first time.”

Onboard the famous Priscilla bus, this first series of I Will Survive will draw on iconic movie and stage show Priscilla Queen Of The Desert as its theatrical backdrop. Successful auditionees will be invited on a road-trip of a lifetime through Australia’s breathtaking outback which will retrace the steps of the box-office smash movie, from Sydney to Alice Springs, performing at various venues along the way.

Judges, mentors and industry professionals will challenge, train and critique the finalists, with the field slowly being whittled down. The final four contestants will be flown to New York City to rehearse the lead role of Tick, one of the toughest roles in theatre – a character made famous by Hugo Weaving in the original Aussie movie and played by Jeremy Stanford in the Original Australian theatrical premiere in 2006.

Despite the endgame playing out on Broadway this time around, FremantleMedia Australia Director of Television, Tim Clucas is sure that the appeal will be widespread throughout Australia.

“Although it ends up on Broadway, I Will Survive is so much more than a musical theatre casting show”, he said.

“The winner will have impressed our big name judges in every performance skill – singing, dancing and acting. They will be the ultimate performer. The entertainment world will be theirs for the taking whether it be television, live theatre or Hollywood.”

Chookas to all our talented young men auditioning around the country!

Thinking ahead – will the next season of I Will Survive cast a female role in an Australian musical? Now, wouldn’t that be something else!?

AUDITIONS

Thursday 19 April

BRISBANE

Registration: 11am-6pm
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Playhouse Studio 1, via Playhouse Theatre Entrance
Corner of Russell Street and Grey Street, Southbank QLD 4101

Saturday 21 April

SYDNEY

Registration: 9am-3pm
Australian Technology Park
Bay 8, Locomotive Workshop
Henderson Road, Eveleigh NSW 2015 

Monday 23 April

PERTH

Registration: 11am-6pm
His Majesty’s Theatre
825 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000
(entry via the main Hay Street doors)

Friday 27 April

ADELAIDE

Registration: 11am-6pm
Adelaide Festival Centre
King William Road, Adelaide SA 5000 

Sunday 29 April

MELBOURNE

Registration: 9am-3pm
Ministry of Dance
Level 1
64 Sutton Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051