Elvis: A Musical Revolution

A new Elvis musical is swinging its hips in Melbourne to get you all shook up about the king of rock 'n' roll.
Sarah Ward
April 03, 2023

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 few years. A massive exhibition dedicated to the king of rock 'n' roll came our way, Baz Luhrmann's AACTA-winning and Oscar-nominated biopic Elvis wowed fans, and a new Presley-focused stage musical is playing Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from Saturday, September 30.

Called Elvis: A Musical Revolution, this brand-new production features 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.

Starring Rob Mallett (House Husbands, Singin' in the Rain), 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.

Updated: Friday, October 5, 2023. Images: Ken Leanfore / Daniel Boud.

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