It's like 42nd Street but with ZOMBIES"
Musical Theatre more popular than ever in Sydney. And new original musicals are breaking more new ground than ever before. And we are not only in the lucky city with specialist musicals Hayes Theatre Co. but Sydney is also being treated to this new work.
Laura Murphy’s (The Lovers, The Dismissal) WORLD PREMIERE new musical ZOMBIE The Musical is currently in rehearsals and opens this week at Hayes Theatre Co. from 8 March.
“If there ever was a dream cast - alive or dead - I could have in my rehearsal room, I have found them,” said Director Darren Yap… “We have nine wonderful, talented, and creative souls ready to bring the undead to life. watch out Sydney - Zombie! The Musical is ready to bite.”
What is ZOMBIE The Musical about?
Sydney, Australia. It’s the turn of the 21st century, and a dedicated community theatre troupe are frantically rehearsing in the final hours before their big opening night. Little do they know that beyond the walls of the theatre, a highly infectious disease is rapidly spreading through the city - turning its victims into full-blown zombies. Will humanity take its final bow, or can the power of musical theatre save the friggin’ world?
Zombie! The Musical follows an ambitious starlet, an optimistic understudy and an ol’ hoofer (who thought she’d seen it all) as they’re faced with an impossible dilemma - what role to play in humanity's final act? They discover that impending doom has a funny way of revealing our true character. Grab your torch, your pitchforks, and your headshot. The apocalypse begins in 5, 6, 7, 8...
ZOMBIE'S CAST
Natalie Abbott (she/her) is the star of ABC TV’s Aftertaste, Natalie has played Muriel in Muriel’s Wedding won multiple awards for her part in the smash Laura Murphy musical The Lovers and is soon to be seen in Rebel Wilson’s new film The Deb.
Tamsin Carroll (she/her) is a legendary musical theater performer who was last seen in Sydney as the Witch in 2023 production of Into The Woods at Belvoir.
Chelsea Dawson (she/her) is a recent Musical Theatre graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.
Nancy Denis (she/her) played the titular role in Clyde’s for The Ensemble Theatre other productions include Blithe Spirit and A Raisin in The Sun for Sydney Theatre Company.
Adam Di Martino (he/him) was last seen at Hayes in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and as Frank Capra in Mack and Mabel.
Ryan Gonzalez (they/them) performed the role of Roy in Sydney Theatre Company’s Production of Fun Home, appeared as Gabriel in Melbourne Theatre Company’s Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 2019 Ryan starred as Frankie Valli, in Jersey Boys. Other credits include Usnavi in In The Heights at Hayes.
Stefanie Jones (she/her) has recently finished a national tour of Mary Poppins as Mary Poppins. Other credits include Rhonda in the National Tour of Muriel’s Wedding The Musical, Liesl von Trapp in The Sound of Music, and Giulietta in Aspects of Love at Hayes Theatre Co.
Drew Livingston (he/him) most recently starred in Mamma Mia! in 2023, playing the role of Harry. Other Theatre credits include: Bank Manager in Once for Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Rick Simpkins in The Deb for ATYP and Tony in the 10th anniversary production of Billy Elliot.
Monique Sallé (she/her) has starred in three world premiere Australian musicals, Puck in The Lovers for Bell Shakespeare, Janette in The Deb for ATYP, and played Queen Elizabeth II/Billy Sneddon/Tirath Khemlani in The Dismissal at the Seymour Centre. Most recently, Monique played Flo in The Swell for Akimbo + Co at The Old Fitz Theatre.
From the creator of The Lovers, and the composer lyricist of The Dismissal, this brand-new Australian musical wields a genre-blending original score and a fast-paced, farcical script that combines two of the most subtle forms of storytelling: traditional musical theatre and cult-classic zombie films.
“Hayes Theatre Co is a place where artists are given the rare opportunity to push the boundaries of this little art form we call musical theatre,“ said composer Laura Murphy. “It’s such an incredible honour that Zombie! is in the innovative, ambitious and passionate hands of Hayes Theatre Co.”
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Laura Murphy
Director Darren Yap
Musical Director Damon Wade
Choreographer Chiara Assetta
Set Designer Nick Fry
Costume Designer Esther Zhong
Lighting Designer Verity Hampson
Sound Designer David Grigg
Fight Director Tim Dashwood
Intimacy Coordinator Chloë Dallimore
Performances from 8 March 8 – 6 April 2024
Post show Q&A - Monday 18 March
Captioned performance Wednesday 27 March
