How a new Aussie musical made a quiet debut in Sydney

A new Australian musical made a quiet but important debut in Sydney on Monday night.

A new Australian musical made a quiet but important debut in Sydney on Monday night.

In A Pink Tutu opened at the Seymour Centre in Sydney as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival, and will close this weekend.

Best described as South Park meets Spelling Bee with a touch of Into the Woods thrown in, this hilarious black comedy tells the tale of what happens when a chaotic group of ballet students murder their ballet teacher.

It’s dawn at Ms. Travelle’s Ballet School and a class of keen, yet unskilled, students arrive to face their strict tutor. Ms Travelle, played by Chloe Dallimore, can at times be mean, victimising and aggressive but she is completely unaware that her misdeeds may have horrifying consequences.

Underneath the pink tutus of the students lies not innocence but a hatred for authority and a madness that leads them to commit unthinkable acts.

“Musical Director Christopher Harley has composed a superb contemporary score for In a Pink Tutu,” said Director, Peter Ross.

“Christopher writes songs that are very actor-driven, in the same way Jason Robert Brown does, and the result of watching this material in the hands of great performers is dynamite.  I’m so excited to work with this wonderful material and such a talented cast.”

In a Pink Tutu’s stellar cast of Australian musical stars includes Chloe Dallimore, Brad Carroll, Amelia Cormack, Chrystal De Grussa, Luke Joslin, Giverny Lewis, Tyran Parke, Brett O’Neill, Rohan Seinor and Kathryn Sgroi.

Ross is one of Australia’s leading directors. His directorial credits include Resident Director for Boy from Oz, which starred Hugh Jackman, Debbie Does Dallas, and Tell Me on a Sunday, which starred Jolene Anderson.

Musical Director, Christopher Harley is a Newcastle-based composer, writer, musical director and performer. In a Pink Tutu marks his first musical.

Choreographer, Cameron Mitchell has worked as a guest choreographer on Channel Ten’s So You Think You Can Dance. His dance credits include Moulin Rouge and appearances on Hey, Hey it’s Saturday. Mitchell has worked with Australian musical theatre star, Caroline O’Connor and children’s entertainment sensation Hi-5.

The important local musical, which has been years in the making, features such a stellar cast that its quiet and subtle premiere on Monday night is somewhat surprising.

The show plays until Saturday night.

To book, call (02) 9549 1100.