Natalie Abbott will make her professional debut as Muriel Heslop in the Australian remounting of Muriel’s Wedding The Musical, which will play Melbourne and Sydney next year after 2017 world premiere at Sydney Theatre Company.
A recent graduate of the Australian Institute of Music, Abbott steps into the role originated on screen by Toni Collette in the 1994 dark comedy about an awkward social outlier who heads to Sydney in pursuit of the wedding—and the dress—she’s always wanted. Joining Abbott is Elizabeth Esguerra as Muriel’s best friend Rhonda.
Read: MURIEL’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL SETS MELBOURNE PREMIERE PRIOR TO SYDNEY ENCORE
Muriel’s Wedding will begin performances March 12, 2019, at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne prior to a June 28 arrival at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.
The remounting features the work of the original design team, including director Simon Phillips, who is joined on the creative team by set and costume designer Gabriela Tylesova, choreographer Andrew Hallsworth, lighting designer Trent Suidgeest, sound designer Michael Waters, music supervisor Guy Simpson, and musical director Isaac Hayward.
Original screen writer P.J. Hogan adapted and updated his script for the stage production that incorporates classic ABBA hits from the 1994 film into an original score by Kate Miller and Heidke and Keir Nuttall.
A premiere Australian cast recording was released in 2018.
Tickets are now on sale. Visit murielsweddingthemusical.com.
