‘Direct From Broadway’ kicks off in Adelaide

Anthony Warlow, Australia’s leading star of musical theatre and one of the world’s most renowned stage performers, returns home this June with Tony-Award winner Faith Prince for an exclusive concert event titled Direct From Broadway. The Australian tour will premiere at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival on June 10, before going on to Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

For the first time in almost a decade, Australian audiences can experience the magic that only “Australia’s first man of music theatre” can bring to the stage. Warlow will be accompanied by Faith Prince, his Broadway co-star who played Miss Hannigan in the critically acclaimed U.S. production of Annie, and a magnificent 30-piece orchestra under the musical direction of Alex Rybeck and the direction of Dan Foster.

This unique concert will feature music from some of musical theatre’s greatest productions, including My Fair Lady, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Sweeney Todd, Guys and Dolls and Man of La Mancha. 

Warlow’s “exquisite falsetto” voice will seamlessly combine with Prince’s compelling tones, described by The New York Times as “one-in-a-million.” Direct From Broadway will likely be an unforgettable evening of music with two of musical theatre’s brightest international stars.

“I had a glorious time performing on Broadway and it is wonderful to be home and bring some of the Broadway magic back to Australia,” said Anthony Warlow. “Faith Prince was a wonderful co-star in Annie, and I can’t wait to join her on stage and sing all our Broadway favourites.”

Blessed with a thrilling voice, Anthony Warlow’s versatility has enthralled Australian audiences ever since his 1981 debut with the Australian Opera at the age of 19 in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Recently making his Broadway debut as Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks in Annie, his lengthy stage credits include creating the role of Dr Yurii Zhivago in the Australian premiere production of Doctor Zhivago: The Musical (2011), the Australian tour of Annie (2000 and 2012), performing the title role of The Phantom of the Opera (1990 and 2007-2008), creating the role of Enjolras in the Australian production of Les Miserables (1988), and his musical theatre debut in 1985, playing the role of Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at the National Theatre in London.

Faith Prince established herself as a Broadway star with her portrayal of Miss Adelaide in the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls, a role for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical. Since then, she has also been nominated for Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her portrayal of Ella Peterson in the 2001 revival of Bells Are Ringing, and her feature in the 2008 Broadway musical A Catered Affair. Prince has also had an extensive film and television career with numerous appearances including Spin City, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, Faith, House, Medium, Monk and Law and Order.

Kate Ceberano, the artistic director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, said, “I’m thrilled that Daddy Warbucks himself, Anthony Warlow, is joining the CabFest family for 2014 – he’s the consummate performer and his beautiful voice will bring a touch of Broadway flair to the Festival Theatre. And to have Faith Prince – musical theatre royalty – joining him for this show is the cherry on top! We’ve got so many more superb artists lined up for this year’s festival and I can’t wait to let the secrets out – stay tuned for the full program reveal in early April!”

For more information, visit www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.