Gutenberg! The Musical!

Director: Neil Gooding
Musical Director:  Bev Kennedy (Peter Rutherford for Parramatta season)
Choreographer:  Nathan M Wright
Lighting Designer: Martin Kinnane
Assistant Director:  Nick Christo
Dialect Coach: Jennifer White
Producers:  Neil Gooding, Ian Stenlake & James Millar

2 Men, 1 Piano, 30 Characters, More hats than MY FAIR LADY – And 1 Massively Misguided Dream!

In 1450 Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press.  In 2008 Bud and Doug wrote a show about it.  No, not just a show...a big, splashy musical!  Now they just need $10 million or so to put it on….

In this inspired two-man spoof, the pair of aspiring playwrights perform a backers audition for their new project…for you, the audience…and some big Broadway producers!  With an unending supply of enthusiasm Bud & Doug sing all the songs and play all the parts in their silly historical epic.

GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! was the first Off-Broadway transfer for the acclaimed Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where it was originally developed in 2003 and showcased in 2005 at the New York Musical Theatre Festival as part of the Comedy Series. The show's critically acclaimed world premiere followed, opening at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London in January 2006. These performances featured authors Scott Brown and Anthony King in the starring roles of Bud and Doug.

In September 2006, the U.S. premiere of GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! was presented as part of the third annual New York Musical Theatre Festival, where it received three NYMF Awards, including Excellence in Musical Theatre Writing (Book) for Scott Brown and Anthony King. A limited engagement followed the festival at 59E59 Theater in December 2006. GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL! then transferred to The Actors Playhouse in Greenwich Village in January of 2007, followed by a season in Chicago.

Now, Neil Gooding Productions, Ian Stenlake and James MIllar bring Gutenberg to Australia! This production has been nominated for 2 Helpmann Awards in 2009, 3 Green Room Awards and 1 Glug Award.

Following the Australasian Premiere in Sydney in February 2009, Gutenberg has also played a season at Chapel Off Chapel in Melbourne in March 2009.  In June 2009, Gutenberg played 3 performances at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival before returning to the Seymour Centre in Sydney for a 2 week season from the 14th till the 25th of July, 2009 as well as a a season at the Riverside Theatre

AWARDS

Nominated for Helpmann Award 2009: Best Direction Of A Musical - Neil Gooding

Nominated for Helpmann Award 2009: Best Choreography In A Musical - Nathan M. Wright

Nominated for Green Room Award 2009:  Best Direction Of A Musical - Neil Gooding

Nominated for Green Room Award 2009: Best Musical Direction - Bev Kennedy

Nominated for Green Room Award 2009: Best Male Artist In A Leading Role In A Musical - James Millar

Nominated for Glug Award 2009: Best Male Artist In A Leading Role In A Musical - James Millar

REVIEWS

"It is theatresports meets Forbidden Broadway meets madcap Mel Brooks.The script is replete with puns, homilies and poor-taste gags, and clever formulaic songs with silly lyrics that would do Monty Python proud. Economic, Vigorous and entertaining production" Bryce Hallett, Sydney Morning Herald

 "This first Australian production is blessed with two terrific performers in Harris and Millar. They know their business inside out, sing like angels and have the comic timing of a pair of Swiss watches on laughing gas.  Neil Gooding (director), Nathan M Wright (Choreographer), Jennifer White (Dialect Coach) and Martin Kinnane (Lighitng Designer) complete a creative a team that has produced one of the most polished, convinced and convincing comedy-musical spectaculars ever in the history of the entire universe including the first production in 1455" Diana Simmonds, Stagenoise.com

"The humour is often silly, bad jokes abound, and major artistic licence is taken regarding historical accuracy and timing. It's tremendous." Sandra Bowden, Reviewer

For those who think the form of Musical Theatre is not real theatre - this is JUST the show for you. For the rest of you who have a heartbeat and a brain, go get Gutenberged! Will Conyers, JoyFM

"A delicious riot!...Seriously funny...it is a showbiz delight. Harris and Millar are superb and gloriously strut their stuff."
Lynne Lancaster, Arts Hub

Original Sydney production, Melbourne season and Riverside Season:
David Harris - Bud Davenport
James Millar - Doug Simon

Return Sydney production & Adelaide Cabaret Festival:
David Somerville - Bud Davenport
Simon van der Stap - Doug Simon