‘Here Lies Love’ to open in Sydney in May 2015

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Andrew Stoner, recently announced that the NSW Government has secured the Australian premiere of the stage musical Here Lies Love, the acclaimed award-winning New York production. It will open in Sydney in May 2015 as the theatrical centrepiece of the Vivid Festival.

Penned by Talking Heads founding member David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, and directed by Alex Timbers, Here Lies Love retraces the astonishing journey of Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos from her meteoric rise to power to her descent into infamy after the People Power Revolution.

Here Lies Love is neither a period piece nor a biography, neither a play nor a traditional musical, but instead it is an immersive theatrical event combining adrenaline-fueled choreography, songs influenced by four decades of dance music and a remarkable 360-degree scenic and video environment, which goes beyond Imelda’s near-mythic obsession with shoes to explore the tragic consequences of the abuse of power.

The world premiere production of Here Lies Love is playing at New York’s famed Public Theater and opens soon at the National Theatre in London.

New York critics have hailed it as “ingenious” (The New York Times) and have said: “Finally – a new musical that’s so exhilarating and such a great time that it’s easy to recommend it without hesitation” (New York Daily News.)

Producer Rodney Rigby of Newtheatricals said, “Here Lies Love is unlike any musical previously staged in Australia – it is a transformative experience with unique and immersive staging by director Alex Timbers, where actors perform on platforms and moving catwalks, creating a club-like environment whilst forging a special relationship between the actors and the audience.”

Auditions for the cast of Here Lies Love will commence this month. Rigby said, “We are seeking female and male actors in their 20s and 30s reflecting the multiple ethnicities that are found throughout the population of the Republic of the Philippines, from the migrant arrivals from China, Spain, Korea and Southeast Asia, among other nations.”

All actors must have great pop singing voices and must move well, stated the official casting brief.

The Sydney preliminary auditions will be held between Monday, October 20 and Thursday, October 23. The Melbourne preliminary auditions are set for Friday, October 24 to Sunday, October 26. Final auditions with members of the New York creative team will take place in November.

Rehearsals will begin in Sydney in late March 2015 and the Sydney season is open ended. For further information concerning auditions, visit herelieslove.com.au.