Seminal Australian film Starstruck is set to be turned into a live musical, premiering in Sydney next year.
The 1982 comedy/drama from director Gillian Armstrong was a massive global success upon release, featuring music from the likes of Tim Finn and Phil Judd (who penned megahit Body And Soul and others), The Easybeats and more while kickstarting the careers of Jo Kennedy, Ross O'Donovan, Max Cullen, Geoffrey Rush and more.
At a press conference in Sydney today, it was announced that Starstruck would hit Parade Theatre late next year thanks to the producer behind Priscilla Queen Of The Desert and a number of “groundbreaking and extraordinary” partnerships.
“Starstruck is an Australian fairytale, a wonderfully naive film with a ‘dare to dream’ message,” RGM Productions’ Garry McQuinn said.
“It’s a neglected classic; people forget how original and influential the film was.
“Jackie Mullen strutting across the Sydney Opera House’s stage with her punk hair in her neon-lit tutu, tiara and gloves, anticipated Madonna’s Like A Virgin by two years.”
The Sydney production of Starstruck will come together in conjunction with the National Institute of Dramatic Art, with development kicking off this month and acclaimed Australian musical theatre star Mitchell Butel confirmed to write the book.
The production’s star-studded crew list also includes director Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Muriel’s Wedding), set designer Brian Thomson (Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror Show), choreographer Andrew Hallsworth (Anything Goes, Sweet Charity) and more.
With the film’s soundtrack largely composed by Mushroom artists, founder and chairman Michael Gudinski said it was “very exciting” to see Starstruck come to life again.
“It was a great movie that was ahead of its time,” Gudinski said.
“The musical will feature a lot more Mushroom songs from the era that will bring great energy to the stage.”
As its synopsis reads, Starstruck follows “loveable and quirky Jackie Mullens, a teenager who works in her mother’s failing harbour-side pub but dreams of becoming a rock star while her cousin Angus aspires to be her manager and get her on the national TV talent series, The Wow Show.”
Starstruck set a new standard for Australian filmmaking and scored three AFI Award Nominations.
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