Marina Prior and Rodney Dobson join Dream Lover cast

Producer John Frost today announced the casting of the principal roles in Melbourne’s summer musical Dream Lover – The Bobby Darin Musical, which plays at Arts Centre Melbourne from December 29th for a strictly limited season.

Returning to the show for its debut Melbourne season will be David Campbell and Hannah Fredericksen in the roles of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee, Darin’s wife. Marney McQueen and Martin Crewes will also reprise the roles of Nina (Darin’s sister) and Steve Blauner, Darin’s oldest friend, biggest fan and longtime manager.

New to the company are musical theatre stars Marina Prior and Rodney Dobson

Prior will play the dual roles of former showgirl Polly, Bobby Darin’s mother, and the ambitious, cut throat Mary Douvan, Sandra Dee’s mother. This role was performed by Caroline O’Connor in the Australian premiere season.

Fresh from the Australian tour of My Fair Lady, Rodney Dobson will play Charlie, the partner of Nina, a warm father figure to Darin. Most recently Rodney also featured in Singin’ in the Rain and Les Misérables as well as having starred in many Australian theatre productions including Wicked, Annie, Sunset Boulevard, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Moonshadow, Sweeney Todd, Buddy and South Pacific.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing Dream Lover to Melbourne as the first in the new annual summer musical presentation at the Arts Centre. Audiences in Sydney were awe-struck by the incredible performance of David Campbell as Bobby Darin and we are delighted Hannah Fredericksen will return as the stunning Sandra Dee. We are also very excited to welcome the one and only Marina Prior to the cast along with Rodney Dobson who join other returning principal cast Marney McQueen and Martin Crewes. We cannot wait for Melbourne audiences to be blown away by this magnificent cast and to experience this awe-inspiring production.”  John Frost said on behalf of his co-producers John and Barbara Gilbert.

An extraordinary story that goes far beyond the song, Dream Lover – The Bobby Darin Musical reveals the amazing life of this legendary American singer, songwriter and actor. An intimate and epic story of an all-round entertainer adored by his fans, Bobby Darin, together with his movie star wife Sandra Dee, provided the iconic soundtrack to a generation. The musical captures the glamour and passion of the big band era, the Rat Pack in Vegas and the Golden Age of Hollywood, a time of trail-blazing stars, knock-out fashions and life-changing events.

Based on an original concept and stage play by Frank Howson and John-Michael Howson, and adapted for the stage by Frank Howson with Simon Phillips and Carolyn Burns, the show includes 34 great hits from the 50s and 60s.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 23rd June at dreamlover.com.au