Overview
If you're just a hunk, a hunk of burning love for the one and only Elvis Presley, and you live in Australia, you've been having quite the year or so. For four months in 2022, a massive exhibition dedicated to the king of rock 'n' roll hit Bendigo. Since June, Baz Luhrmann's AACTA-winning and Oscar-nominated biopic Elvis has been wowing fans at festivals, then in cinemas, then also at home. And now, when the middle of 2023 hits, a new Presley-focused stage musical will start doing the rounds across the country.
Called Elvis: A Musical Revolution, this brand-new production will feature more than 40 of the singer's hits, because there's just that many songs to include. Expect all of the favourites to be worked into the biographical musical, which means everything from 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Hound Dog', 'That's All Right' and 'All Shook Up' through to 'Suspicious Minds', 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Burning Love' and 'Blue Suede Shoes'. 'Good Rockin' Tonight', 'Earth Angel', 'Don't Be Cruel' and 'Are You Lonesome' are also set to get a whirl as well, as are 'Blue Moon of Kentucky', 'See See Rider', 'Can't Help Falling in Love' and 'A Little Less Conversation'.
That's what you'll be hearing. As for what you'll be seeing — what'll make the musical one for the money, naturally — the show's action will tell Elvis' tale from his childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi through to his triumphant '68 Comeback Special. If you've seen the aforementioned Elvis, none of it will be new news, but expect Elvis: A Musical Revolution to work its hip-swinging magic anyway.
Exact dates haven't yet been revealed, or a full list of cities that'll get this musical in their buildings. But the show will get started at Sydney's State Theatre in July, and also head to Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from September. Cross your fingers for more stops afterwards.
The cast hasn't been unveiled yet either, with a national talent search set to be held to find the right actor to slip into the blue suede shoes. Yes, following up Austin Butler's Oscar-nominated efforts will be a huge task.
Elvis: A Musical Revolution hails from David Venn Enterprises, which has also been behind Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, The Wedding Singer and Bring It On: The Musical — and arrives via a partnership with Authentic Brands Group, the owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Also behind the scenes, the musical's book comes courtesy of David Abbinanti and Sean Cercone — who have Saturday Night Fever: The Musical and Ghost: The Musical on their resumes — with Abbinanti also composing the orchestrations, arrangements, and additional musical and lyrics.
"We are honoured to be tackling one of the world's greatest icons through a Broadway musical. Elvis' life is such fervent ground for this medium from his epic concerts to his unprecedented meteoric rise to fame. There was no roadmap, no guide, and no limit on what could be created. His journey, from dirt-poor shotgun shack Tupelo, Mississippi to a singular name, Elvis has fascinated generations and we're excited to have him tell it in his own way," said Abbinanti and Cercone.
ELVIS: A MUSICAL REVOLUTION 2023 AUSTRALIAN DATES:
From July 2023 — State Theatre, Sydney
From September 2023 — Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne
Elvis: A Musical Revolution will start touring Australia from July 2023. Head to the show's website for further details, and to join the ticket waitlist — with seats on sale from Wednesday, March 1.