 |
| Cast of Tootsie |
There are opening nights, and then there are opening nights that feel like you are witnessing something special being born.
Attending the Opening Night and Red Carpet Australian premiere of Tootsie at the new 300-seat Teatro Theatre at The Italian Forum in Leichhardt, Sydney, was one of those memorable experiences that felt far bigger than the size of the theatre itself.
The theatre foyer buzzed with excitement. The audience packed the venue, conversations flowed, cameras flashed, and anticipation filled the air as Sydney welcomed the Australian premiere of this acclaimed Broadway musical.
This was not simply another musical opening. It was the arrival of a major production in one of Sydney’s newest and most ambitious performing arts venues.
Based on the beloved 1982 movie starring Dustin Hoffman, Tootsie first became a Broadway musical sensation in 2019. The stage adaptation features a book by Robert Horn, with music and lyrics by David Yazbek, combining sharp comedy, memorable songs and heartfelt storytelling into a fast-moving theatrical experience.
A Musical Within a Musical Full of Comedy, Chaos and Heart
 |
| Andrew Bevis |
Frustrated by constant knockbacks and limited opportunities, Michael adopts an entirely new identity — Dorothy Michaels — and auditions as a woman. Suddenly, doors begin opening.
As Dorothy, he lands the role of a nurse in a fictional musical called Juliet’s Curse. Dorothy becomes so wildly popular that the production itself is renamed Juliet’s Nurse.
It is clever, chaotic and wonderfully funny because Tootsie is essentially a musical within a musical.
For me, the storyline reflected something deeper about the complexity of life itself. As we try to navigate our way through life, things can sometimes become even more complicated. Yet if we keep working through the confusion with honesty and persistence, the end result can bring a happier outcome for ourselves and the people around us.
Outstanding Cast Brings Tootsie to Life
 |
| Andrew Bevis |
Switching seamlessly between identities, he balanced comedy, vulnerability, theatrical bravado and emotional honesty with impressive skill.
The principal cast surrounding him was equally strong.
Elenoa Rokobaro brought warmth and sincerity to Julie Nichols. Alana Tranter was excellent as Sandy Lester, Brendan Irving provided plenty of comic energy as Max Van Horn, Tyran Stig impressed as Jeff Slater, Donna Lee added commanding presence as Rita Marshall, Chris Huntley-Turner was highly entertaining as Stan Fields, and Lachlan O’Brien completed the principal cast as Ron Carlisle.
The ensemble added enormous vitality and momentum to the production: Sam Austin, Lisa Callingham, Katie Green, Maximillian Macdonald, Jessica Parris, Jamie Reisin, Julian Seguna, Nicole Vella, Arthur Lees and Paloma Renouf.
As I sat watching the performance unfold, it struck me how much precision, teamwork and trust are required to make a musical of this complexity work successfully.
Songs, Dancing and Imaginative Stagecraft
 |
| Tootsie |
Yet the humour is only one part of the equation.
The songs and music propel the story beautifully, while the dancing and movement keep the production energetic and visually engaging.
Director and choreographer Cameron Mitchell shaped the production with confidence and flair, delivering a show that moved briskly while allowing emotional moments to land effectively.
The visual presentation also deserves praise.
Dan Potra’s set design made imaginative use of four vertical rotating panels at the rear of the stage. Through movement, colour and illumination, these transformed effortlessly into New York skylines, abstract patterns and scene-specific backdrops.
Lighting by Peter Rubie added mood, atmosphere and theatrical polish throughout the evening.
The 12-piece orchestra, expertly directed by Nicholas Till, remained unseen but certainly not unheard. Their musical contribution filled the theatre with rich sound and energy.
Angela White’s costumes beautifully captured the look and feel of the 1980s setting, while Helen Thatcher’s wigs completed the production’s visual transformation.
Teatro: Sydney’s New Creative Home for Musical Theatre
 |
| Andrew Bevis & Nathan M. Wright |
Located within The Italian Forum in Sydney’s Inner West, Teatro is rapidly emerging as a vibrant new home for musical theatre, creativity and artistic training.
Co-founders and co-artistic directors Nathan M. Wright and Andrew Bevis are not only producing ambitious shows; they are actively investing in the future of theatre education and creative development.
Teatro encourages the creative arts through multiple pathways.
Its six-week Theatre Bridge intensive programs support emerging musical theatre artists, alongside dedicated programs for children and teenagers.
The venue also operates a nine-month professional Residency musical theatre training program, and will launch a dedicated musicians program called Overture next year.
This commitment to nurturing talent gives Teatro a sense of purpose extending well beyond the stage.
Community and Collaboration Shone Through Opening Night
What struck me most strongly was his emphasis on community and collaboration among everyone involved in bringing Tootsie to life for its Australian premiere.
Later, when I sat at home reading through the program, I was struck by how many people had contributed to the production.
Actors. Musicians. Designers. Choreographers. Technicians. Production teams. Creatives. Support staff.
The sheer scale of collaboration behind a production like Tootsie became beautifully apparent.
And perhaps that was one of the most powerful takeaways from my evening at Teatro — the reminder that great theatre is never created alone.
It is built through shared vision, trust, creativity, hard work and community.
My recommendation is simple: do yourself a favour and see Tootsie at Teatro Theatre before this outstanding production ends its season on 21 June.It is funny, energetic, musically rich, thoughtfully performed and thoroughly entertaining. More than that, it is a celebration of theatrical collaboration, creative courage and the joy of live performance.
Teatro Theatre at The Italian Forum
23 Norton Street, Leichhardt NSW, SydneyWebsite: https://www.teatroitalianforum.com.au
No comments:
Post a Comment