Brown Stars in 'Surround Sound' Sisterella, Melbourne, Mar. 7 Chelsea Brown, one of the stars of TV's Laugh In,, has joined the cast of Sisterella, which is in rehersal for a March 7 opening at Melbourne's Regent Theatre.
Larry Hart's musical will play in Melbourne and Sydney before planned seasons in Los Angeles (where it had it's premiere in 1996), Chicago and New York.
Brown will play the role of the Queen six performances a week, and also the larger role of Dahlia two shows per week. Dahlia will be played by New Zealander Tina Cross at all other performances.
Brown came to Australia 25 years ago and has based herself in Sydney working in television and cabaret, as well as on stage in Nunsense and Steaming. Apart from her 60's TV stint alongside Lily Tomlin and Goldie Hawn, Brown also appeared in the movie version of Sweet Charity.
According to spokespersons at the Lee Solters Company (Feb. 17), also in the cast are Tina Cross (as Dahlia), Donny Rae Evins (Prince Jean-Luc), Wanda Houston (Magnolia), Greg McKinnon (King), Delia Miles (Ella), Richard O'Brien (Dr. Cranium), Billie Stapleton (Chrysanthemum) and Keith Wright (Babaloo). Australian TV comic Red Symons plays Lord Monty Grubman; creator Hart himself plays Abassador Indursky. Hart said in a statement that the show had auditioned "approximately 2,900 people," which producer Kevin Jacobson says he narrowed down to "a melting pot of world-class performers from Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Europe."
Sisterella's advertising is boasting 'surround sound'-a first for live shows. This innovation means the show's soundtrack has been prerecorded along with backing vocals and only a small number of musicians will play live at each performance. The shows producers admit the original budget for the show has ballooned from $5 million (Australian) to $6.5 million, and that ticket sales have been poor, but they believe they have an international hit on their hands.
Sisterella opens at the Regent Theatre Melbourne, March 7. Tickets through Ticketek Agency 132849.
--By Peter Ford, Australia Correspondent
Sydney, Australia and David Lefkowitz
