Dusty - The Original Pop Diva
Encyclopedia
Dusty - The Original Pop Diva is an Australian jukebox musical
based on the life of Dusty Springfield
. The book of the musical was written by John-Michael Howson
, David Mitchell and Melvyn Morrow
. Dusty received its world premiere on 12 January 2006 at the State Theatre of the Victorian Arts Centre
, Melbourne
, Australia.
based on the life of Johnny O'Keefe
. The book writers and SHOUT! producer Dennis Smith "wanted to produce another biographical musical based on the life of a major musical star, but this time [...] believed the star should be either English or American and someone who had enjoyed international and not just local fame." A number of singers were considered before Springfield was selected after Mitchell read Dancing With Demons, a biography co-written by former Springfield manager and confidante Vicki Wickham.
The first draft of the script was written by early 2002 and John Gilbert came forward as sole investor after which a workshop was held in March 2004. The workshop cast included Tamsin Carroll, Trisha Noble, Mitchell Butel and Todd Goddard, who all went on to appear in the world premiere production co-produced by Dennis Smith and John and Barbara Gilbert. The writers approached and received input to the script from Vicki Wickham (although the musical's book is not directly based on Wickham's book).
An earlier Australian dramatisation of Springfield's life, entitled I only wanna be with you, was first performed in Melbourne in 1995. Written by Terry O'Connell, it incorporated 35 songs performed by Wendy Stapleton with three female back-up singers referred to as "The Stayawhiles". The show subsequently toured Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. A cast recording, featuring fifteen songs from the show, has also been released. Stapleton, whose physical and vocal resemblance to Springfield is uncanny, has since portayed her again in touring productions of Girls Girls Girls and Dusty, Doris & Me.
In the 1960s Dusty Springfield takes the entertainment world by storm with a score of hits, a top TV show and a legion of fans. But the success she wanted is hollow and real happiness eludes her. Driven by her sense of perfection, Dusty takes on the world even as she discovers a desperate need to be loved in a way that could cause her career to crash. At the pinnacle of international success, with triumphs in Britain and America, Dusty finds the pressure unbearable. Unable to be what other people expect, and finding the spotlight's heat can burn, she retreats from the world into a dark place.
Finding strength in adversity, Dusty returns to soar to the top. With the world applauding again, she has one more battle to fight.
Act II
, Melbourne
, Australia. Seasons at the Lyric Theatre at Star City
, Sydney and the Lyric Theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre
(from 29 August 2006) followed.
The Australian tour closed on 21 September 2006 after 253 performances with close to 400,000 audience members having attended the show.
A London West End production was discussed but has not yet eventuated.
Major cast members included:
Major creatives included:
A production at the Australian Institute of Music
, featuring the Music Theatre Students, opened on 3 September 2009.
Dunedin Operatic Society, in Dunedin, New Zealand, is due to stage the New Zealand premier of 'Dusty' in April 2010.http://www.dunedinoperatic.org.nz/dusty
, including two nominations in the "Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical" category, and won three:
Jukebox musical
A jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score. Usually the songs have in common a connection with a particular popular musician or group — either because they were written by, or for, the artists in question, or were at least...
based on the life of Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
. The book of the musical was written by John-Michael Howson
John-Michael Howson
John Michael Howson OAM, born in Melbourne, Australia in 1936, is an Australian writer, reporter and entertainer and 3AW commentator...
, David Mitchell and Melvyn Morrow
Melvyn Morrow
Melvyn Morrow is an Australian playwright.He co-wrote "Shout! The Legend of the Wild One" and "Dusty - The Original Pop Diva" with John-Michael Howson and David Mitchell....
. Dusty received its world premiere on 12 January 2006 at the State Theatre of the Victorian Arts Centre
The Arts Centre (Melbourne)
The Victorian Arts Centre is a performing arts centre consisting of a complex of theatres and concert halls in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, located in the inner Melbourne suburb of Southbank in Victoria, Australia....
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia.
History
Howson, Mitchell and Morrow had collaborated on SHOUT! a successful Australian jukebox bio musicalJukebox musical
A jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score. Usually the songs have in common a connection with a particular popular musician or group — either because they were written by, or for, the artists in question, or were at least...
based on the life of Johnny O'Keefe
Johnny O'Keefe
John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...
. The book writers and SHOUT! producer Dennis Smith "wanted to produce another biographical musical based on the life of a major musical star, but this time [...] believed the star should be either English or American and someone who had enjoyed international and not just local fame." A number of singers were considered before Springfield was selected after Mitchell read Dancing With Demons, a biography co-written by former Springfield manager and confidante Vicki Wickham.
The first draft of the script was written by early 2002 and John Gilbert came forward as sole investor after which a workshop was held in March 2004. The workshop cast included Tamsin Carroll, Trisha Noble, Mitchell Butel and Todd Goddard, who all went on to appear in the world premiere production co-produced by Dennis Smith and John and Barbara Gilbert. The writers approached and received input to the script from Vicki Wickham (although the musical's book is not directly based on Wickham's book).
Other stage versions of Dusty Springfield's life
Dusty - The Original Pop Diva is not the only time Springfield's life has been dramatised on stage and the musical should not be confused with other adaptations such as the 2005 American play with music A Girl Called Dusty by Susann Fletcher or the 2000 British musical Dusty: the musical by Paul Prescott.An earlier Australian dramatisation of Springfield's life, entitled I only wanna be with you, was first performed in Melbourne in 1995. Written by Terry O'Connell, it incorporated 35 songs performed by Wendy Stapleton with three female back-up singers referred to as "The Stayawhiles". The show subsequently toured Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. A cast recording, featuring fifteen songs from the show, has also been released. Stapleton, whose physical and vocal resemblance to Springfield is uncanny, has since portayed her again in touring productions of Girls Girls Girls and Dusty, Doris & Me.
Synopsis
In the 1950s a star-struck, plain and dumpy London schoolgirl imagines she could become a glamorous movie idol. Her parents tell her that her fantasies will never come true and not to dream the impossible dream. But nothing deters her, and blessed with an amazing voice and talent, she sets out to become a singer and star. Soon, plain Mary O'Brien has transformed herself into the blonde pop icon, Dusty Springfield. But while Dusty, the gorgeous blonde star, is the image the world sees, it is an illusion behind which little Mary O'Brien still lives; the alter ego from which Dusty can never escape and who remains with her throughout her life.In the 1960s Dusty Springfield takes the entertainment world by storm with a score of hits, a top TV show and a legion of fans. But the success she wanted is hollow and real happiness eludes her. Driven by her sense of perfection, Dusty takes on the world even as she discovers a desperate need to be loved in a way that could cause her career to crash. At the pinnacle of international success, with triumphs in Britain and America, Dusty finds the pressure unbearable. Unable to be what other people expect, and finding the spotlight's heat can burn, she retreats from the world into a dark place.
Finding strength in adversity, Dusty returns to soar to the top. With the world applauding again, she has one more battle to fight.
List of musical numbers
Act I- Overture
- I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty
- Yesterday When I Was Young - Dusty
- When The Midnight Choo Choo Leaves For Alabam' - Mary and Tom
- Dusty Springfield - Mary
- Mama's Little Girl - Mary and Dusty
- Little By Little 1 - Mary and The Lana Sisters
- Seven Little Girls Sitting In The Back Seat - Al Saxon and The Lana Sisters
- Little By Little 2 - Mary and The Springfields
- Springfields Medley - The Springfields
- Little By Little 3 - Dusty, Rodney and Peg
- Stay Awhile - Dusty
- Nothing Has Been Proved - Dusty and Company
- Dancin' In The Street - Reno and The Nevadas
- Dancin' In The Street (Reprise) - Dusty, Reno and Company
- Wishin' and Hopin' - Dusty and Reno
- My Generation - Company
- The Look of Love - Dusty
- Stay Awhile (Reprise) - Dusty and Company
- The Look of Love (Reprise) - Reno
- Who Can I Turn To? - Dusty and Mary
Act II
- In The Middle Of Nowhere - Dusty
- I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - Dusty and Reno
- The Windmills of Your Mind - Dusty
- Son Of A Preacher Man - Dusty
- I Close My Eyes and Count To Ten - Dusty and Reno
- Soft Core - Reno and Company
- My Colouring Book - Kay
- I Think It's Going To Rain Today - Dusty and Company
- Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage - Dusty and Girls
- What Have I Done To Deserve This? - Neil Tennant and Dusty
- Heart And Soul - Dusty, Rodney and Peg
- I Close My Eyes and Count To Ten (Reprise) - Reno
- All I See Is You - Dusty and Mary
- You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - Dusty and Company
- Dusty Megamix - Company
Productions
The original production and Australian tour premiered on 12 January 2006 at the State Theatre of the Victorian Arts CentreThe Arts Centre (Melbourne)
The Victorian Arts Centre is a performing arts centre consisting of a complex of theatres and concert halls in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, located in the inner Melbourne suburb of Southbank in Victoria, Australia....
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia. Seasons at the Lyric Theatre at Star City
Star City Casino
The Star Sydney Casino & Hotel in Pyrmont, Sydney, is the second largest casino in Australia after rival Melbourne's Crown Casino. Overlooking Darling Harbour, The Star Sydney Casino features two gaming floors, eight bars, seven restaurants, 351 hotel rooms and 130 serviced and privately owned...
, Sydney and the Lyric Theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
The Queensland Performing Arts Centre is part of the Queensland Cultural Centre and is located on the corner of Melbourne Street and Grey Street in Brisbane's South Bank precinct....
(from 29 August 2006) followed.
The Australian tour closed on 21 September 2006 after 253 performances with close to 400,000 audience members having attended the show.
A London West End production was discussed but has not yet eventuated.
Major cast members included:
- Dusty Springfield - Tamsin Carroll
- Rodney - Michell Butel
- Peg - Kay Tuckerman
- Kay O'Brien - Trisha Noble
- Mary O'Brien - Alexis Fishman
- Mr O'Brien - Glenn Butcher
- Reno - Deni HinesDeni HinesDohnyale "Deni" Sharon Hines is a solo R&B artist who had chart success in the 1990s in Australia and New Zealand. She is the daughter of Marcia Hines....
Major creatives included:
- Director - Stuart Maunder
- Set and costume design - Roger KirkRoger Kirk (designer)Roger Kirk is an Australian costume designer primarily for stage and film. He won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design for The King and I and was nominated for 42nd Street....
- Choreography - Ross Coleman
- Musical arrangements, direction and supervision - Stephen 'Spud' Murphy
- Lighting design - Trudy Dalgleish
- Sound design - Michael Waters
- Executive producer - Sue Farrelly
- Producer - Dennis Smith
A production at the Australian Institute of Music
Australian Institute of Music
The Australian Institute of Music is a private not-for-profit institution originally founded in 1968 by Dr Peter Calvo, and then known as the Sydney Guitar School...
, featuring the Music Theatre Students, opened on 3 September 2009.
Dunedin Operatic Society, in Dunedin, New Zealand, is due to stage the New Zealand premier of 'Dusty' in April 2010.http://www.dunedinoperatic.org.nz/dusty
Response
The original production of Dusty was nominated for six 2006 Helpmann AwardsHelpmann Award
The Helpmann Awards recognize distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in Australia's live performing arts sectors. The recognized disciplines include musical and physical theatre, contemporary and classical music, opera, and dance, with a comedy category introduced in 2006...
, including two nominations in the "Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical" category, and won three:
- Best Musical
- Best Direction of a Musical (Stuart Maunder)
- Best Musical Direction of a Musical (Stephen 'Spud' Murphy - winner)
- Best Choreography in a Musical (Ross Coleman - winner)
- Best Female Actor in a Musical (Tamsin Carroll - winner)
- Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Deni Hines and Alexis Fishman)