Bryce Hallett
The Byron Supper Club is set to return and transport audiences to a magical and exciting realm akin to some of New York’s classiest cabaret rooms.
For three nights only in late January 2022 at the Byron Theatre, two of Australia’s most accomplished musical theatre stars, Michael Cormick and Rachael Beck, will again join forces to present a sparkling showcase of high-profile and emerging theatrical talent.
Performed ‘in the round’ and bringing audiences up close to the performers and musicians, the Byron Supper Club is a wonderland of seduction, stagecraft and surprise. ‘We did the first one last year and it was a big success,’ says Cormick, whose stage credits include The Woman in White, The Rocky Horror Show, Grease, Falsettos, Sunset Boulevard and, of course, Beauty and the Beast. Michael had planned to present two other events last year but his efforts were thwarted by the impact of Covid-19. ‘Many of us haven’t not worked for such a long time; we can’t wait to be among an audience again.’
‘At heart, it’s a celebration of musical theatre and creating an immersive experience. There’ll be a jazz band playing and four vignettes will happen during the night… The Supper Club is welcoming, intimate and fun, and it’s always theatrical. It’s a place for great musicians, singers and dancers, and where local talent can be discovered. That’s very important to us.’
Rachael Beck is renowned for her starring performances in Barnum, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cabaret, The Sound of Music, Singin’ in the Rain, Les Miserables and Beauty and the Beast.
Cormick and Beck first performed together in 1995 when they played the leads in the Australian premiere of Beauty and the Beast at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne. It was the first time a Disney musical had been staged outside the United States, and the production has become legendary in theatre circles, not least because it featured Hugh Jackman near the start of his career, and also the beloved entertainer, Bert Newton.
Says Cormick: ‘I feel privileged to have been part of Beauty and the Beast. It was an amazing time in my life. When Bert Newton died it really was the end of an era… Rachael and I will be revisiting the title song from the musical, with a little twist. A large part of our new show is character-based and it will flow from one musical to another, sometimes in new and unexpected ways.’ The singer-actor said the Byron Supper Club will serve up a dream cast, dazzling lights and knock-out choreography, all of which the experience demands, given that it includes numbers from The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and Broadway’s newest sensation, Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
Byron Supper Club at the Byron Theatre. Three nights only. Thursday 27, Friday 28 and Saturday 29 January.
Tickets on sale 15 December
Byron Theatre Box Office (02) 6685 6807
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