ACCLAIMED ROCK DRAMA: ROLLING THUNDER VIETNAM to open nationwide tour in Queensland next month
Vietnam thunder roll
A stellar Australian cast will star in the highly anticipated 2023 nationwide tour of mighty rock drama Rolling Thunder Vietnam. The hand-picked ensemble includes Brittanie Shipway, Tom Oliver, Christian Charisiou, Jerrod Smith, Imogen Moore and Sam Richardson. The show opens its three-month, 14-stop Gold Coast tour on April 15.
Described by producer Rebecca Blake as “a stellar cast of up-and-coming young stars and exciting theatrical talent”, the performers will perform alongside some of Australia’s most renowned rock musicians in the acclaimed production’s biggest tour yet. .
Since its world premiere in 2014 at QPAC in Brisbane, Rolling Thunder Vietnam has introduced a number of new talents to audiences across Australia. “The show is an original Australian work and I’m delighted that we once again have such an exceptional cast,” said Rebecca Blake. “Some names are already familiar, others are newcomers, and I can’t wait for our audiences to see them light up the stage in this uplifting and moving rock drama.”
Original actor Tom Oliver (Velvet, The Marcia Hines Band, director of Wynnum Fringe) reprises the role of country soldier Johnny – a lively and endearing character he’s made his own since the production’s first triumphant tour. He will be joined by rising young stars Brittanie Shipway (A Letter for Molly, The Sapphires, Big Fish) and Jerrod Smith (Heathers the Musical), who are currently appearing in Laura Murphy’s uplifting new Australian musical, The Lovers for Bell Shakespeare. at the Sydney Opera House. In Rolling Thunder Vietnam, Brittanie will play Sarah, Johnny’s girlfriend, a loyal and loving peasant who becomes an anti-war protester, while Jerrod plays American sailor Thomas.
With a number of theatrical hits under his belt, including Cry Baby at the Hayes Theater Co and, most recently, his breakout role as Robbie Hart in the hit touring production of The Wedding Singer, Christian Charisiou plays the soldier Australian draftee Andy in Rolling Thunder Vietnam. His big musical numbers include Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower and Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, both listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Rounding out the cast are Imogen Moore (Frozen the Musical, The Rocky Horror Show, Muriel’s Wedding) and Sam Richardson (Frozen the Musical, Next to Normal), who perform pivotal supporting roles in the unique theatrical experience combining rock songs classics from the ’60s and ’70s, a passionate love story of courage, nostalgia and resilience, and stunning video footage, set in the midst of the tumultuous Vietnam War.
The 2023 National Tour opens in mid-April and plays Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Maryborough, Caloundra, Wollongong, Western Sydney, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Bendigo, Frankston and Melbourne.
Rolling Thunder Vietnam is inspired by the true stories of many Vietnam veterans and their family members, extensive research and actual letters. Written by journalist-writer Bryce Hallett, directed by David Berthold and with brilliant musical arrangements by Chong Lim AM, the moving production includes songs by Steppenwolf, The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Curtis Mayfield, Gladys Knight, Billy Thorpe, Edwin Starr and Paul Simon. They include Magic Carpet Ride, Fortunate Son, The Letter, Black Magic Woman, Help Me Through the Night, War, People Get Ready, Killing Me Softly With His Song and Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Dr Brendan Nelson, the former Director of the Australian War Memorial, is Patron of the 2023 National Tour, which proudly supports Soldier On, a non-profit organization that provides integrated and holistic support services to personnel of the Australian Defence, to contemporary veterans and their families.
TOUR LOCATIONS AND DATES – 2023
GOLDEN COAST
The Theater of Stars
Saturday April 15 – 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
TOOWOOMBA
Empire Theater
Tuesday April 18 – 7:30 p.m.
BRISBANE
Concert Hall, QPAC
Friday April 21 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday April 22 – 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
MARYBOROUGH
Brolga Theater
Wednesday April 26 – 7:30 p.m.
CALOUNDRA
Events Center
Saturday April 29 – 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
WOLLONGONG
Wollongong Entertainment Center
Thursday May 4 – 7:30 p.m.
WEST SYDNEY
Sydney Coliseum Theater
Saturday May 6 – 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
NEWCASTLE
civic theater
Friday May 12 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday May 13 – 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
PERTH
Perth Concert Hall
Friday May 19 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday May 20 – 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
ADELAIDE
Her Majesty’s Theater
Friday May 26 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday May 27 – 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
SYDNEY
State Theater
Friday, June 2 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday June 3 – 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
BENDIGO
UlumbaraTheater
Tuesday, June 6 – 7:30 p.m.
FRANKTON
Frankston Center for the Arts
Thursday, June 8 – 7:30 p.m.
MELBOURNE
Palace Theater
Saturday June 10 – 7:30 p.m.
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