It's now or never! Elvis: A Musical Revolution, receiving a world premiere in Australia later this year, has announced its full cast and creative team. With full authorization from Elvis Presley Enterprises, Elvis: A Musical Revolution is the first Presley biomusical to be licensed by his estate, including access to his vast catalog of hit songs.
Featuring more than 40 Presley songs, the musical will explore the life of Elvis Presley, from his impoverished childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi through his wildly successful 1968 Comeback Special. Elvis: A Musical Revolution will premiere at the Sydney State Theatre in July, before a Melbourne engagement in September.
After a national talent search, Tasmanian theatre star Rob Mallett (Aladdin, Les Misérables, Singin' In The Rain) will portray Elvis Presley in the premiere. He will be joined by Noni McCallum (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) as Gladys Presley, Ian Stenlake (Mamma Mia, Guys and Dolls, The Godfather III) as Colonel Tom Parker, Annie Chiswell (High Country) as Priscilla Presley, Kirby Burgess (Dirty Dancing, Grease) as Ann-Margret, Matt Heyward (The Phantom of the Opera, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder) as Vernon Presley, Sienna Embrey (Hairspray) as Dixie Locke, Ben Hall as Sam Phillips, Aian O Cleirigh as Scotty Moore, Hanlon Innocent as Bill Black, and Connor Morel as DJ Fontana.
Charly Williams will portray the Reverend and others, Joti Gore will portray Roy Brown and others, Jo-Anne Jackson will portray Sister Rosetta Tharpe and others, and Zuleika Khan will portray Betty and others. The productions ensemble will consist of Nic Collins, Lauren Jimmieson, James Mac Alpine, and Callum Marshall. Onstage swings will be Jarryd Byrne, William Motunuu, Moniquewa Williams, and Nicole Vella.
Young Elvis will be portrayed at various performances by Oliver Bosward, Rhys James Hankey, Finn Walsham, and Tommy Kent. David Cuny will serve as the Elvis alternate for to be announced select performances.
Elvis: A Musical Revolution will feature a book by Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti, as well as orchestrations, arrangements, and additional music and lyrics by Abbinanti. The creative team will feature direction by Alister Smith, choreography by Michael Ralph, music direction by Daniel Puckey, associate direction by Tanya Mitford, costume design by Isaac Lummins, lighting design by Declan O'Neill, set design by Dan Potra, sound design by Greg Ginger, video design by David McKinnon, and associate music direction by Adrian Szondy. Internationally recognized Elvis Presley impersonator Mark Andrew serves as the productions Elvis consultant.
Elvis Presley is an American cultural icon, with more than 149 songs charting on the Billboard Hot 100, including 18 Number 1s, which spent a total of 80 weeks on the top of the charts. He holds the record for record for most Top 40 hits at 114, and is the best selling solo artist of all time. "Jailhouse Rock," "Hound Dog," "That's All Right," "All Shook Up," "Suspicious Minds," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Burning Love," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Good Rockin' Tonight," "Earth Angel," "Don't Be Cruel," "Are You Lonesome," "Blue Moon of Kentucky," "See See Rider," "Can't Help Falling In Love," "A Little Less Conversation," and more have been licensed from Presley's catalog for the biomusical.
Presley-themed musicals are nothing new; the classic Strouse and Adams musical Bye Bye Birdie was based on national reaction to Presley's being drafted into the army (with the character of Conrad Birdie serving as a satirical stand-in for the singer); his music has been adapted into a non-biographical jukebox musical, All Shook Up; and Presley appears as a main character in the historical musical Million Dollar Quartet.
It is notable, however, that this is the first Presley biomusical to be licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises, as well as the first Presley biographical project to be overseen by EPE as led by his granddaughter Riley Keough, following the death of Lisa Marie Presley in 2023, and the removal of Priscilla Presley from the Presley trust.
For more information, visit ElvisTheMusical.com.au.
