Dusty - The Original Pop Diva
| Dusty The Original Pop Diva |
|
|---|---|
| Music | Songs recorded by Dusty Springfield |
| Book |
John-Michael Howson David Mitchell Melvyn Morrow |
| Productions | 2006 Australia |
Dusty – The Original Pop Diva is an Australian jukebox musical based on the life of Dusty Springfield. The book of the musical was written by John-Michael Howson, David Mitchell and Melvyn Morrow. Dusty received its world premiere on 12 January 2006 at the State Theatre of the Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
Howson, Mitchell and Morrow had collaborated on SHOUT!, a successful Australian jukebox musical based on the life of Johnny O'Keefe. The book writers and SHOUT! producer Dennis Smith "wanted to produce another biographical musical based on the life of a major musical star, but this time [...] believed the star should be either English or American and someone who had enjoyed international and not just local fame." A number of singers were considered before Springfield was selected after Mitchell read Dancing with Demons, a biography co-written by former Springfield manager and confidante Vicki Wickham.
The first draft of the script was written by early 2002 and John Gilbert came forward as sole investor after which a workshop was held in March 2004. The workshop cast included Tamsin Carroll, Trisha Noble, Mitchell Butel and Todd Goddard, who all went on to appear in the world premiere production co-produced by Dennis Smith and John and Barbara Gilbert. The writers approached and received input to the script from Vicki Wickham (although the musical's book is not directly based on Wickham's book).
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC-TV) made a documentary series of 8 x 26 minute episodes titled "Dusty - Little By Little" which followed the creation of the musical from its genesis in 2004 to opening night in 2006. The series was first broadcast in Australia during March and April 2006.
Dusty - The Original Pop Diva is not the only time Springfield's life has been dramatised on stage and the musical should not be confused with other adaptations such as the 2005 American play with music A Girl Called Dusty by Susann Fletcher or the 2000 British musical Dusty: the Musical by Paul Prescott.
An earlier Australian dramatisation of Springfield's life, entitled I Only Wanna Be with You, was first performed in Melbourne in 1995. Written by Terry O'Connell, it incorporated 35 songs performed by Wendy Stapleton with three female back-up singers referred to as "The Stayawhiles". The show subsequently toured Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. A cast recording, featuring fifteen songs from the show, has also been released. Stapleton, whose physical and vocal resemblance to Springfield is uncanny, has since portrayed her again in touring productions of Girls Girls Girls and Dusty, Doris & Me.
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