Dream Lover – The Bobby Darrin Musical
Lights! Music! Action! I haven’t had so much fun since I was a showbiz showoff working in the TV industry.
Brought to you by Nuffnang and Dream Lover
It’s so exciting to get behind the scenes of a musical, to literally smell the greasepaint and feel the lights, to be swirled away by the music, singing and dancing.
David Campbell sings at the press launch of Dream Lover, and the paparazzi are loving it.
Look, the kids school plays are always a laugh, but a brand new Australian musical with a superstar cast and production team does steal the limelight.
Chatting to David Campbell in the flesh, and meeting the writers, producer and director of the new musical Dream Lover at its press launch, was a massive treat.
Now the name Bobby Darin might not be immediately recognisable to you. But this massive star of the 50s and 60s had huge hits that you will know:
Dream Lover
Mack The Knife
Beyond The Sea
Splish Splash
‘I started to sing the songs of Bobby Darin when I was working in New York in 1996. I loved the range of music he could play, I felt a personal affinity with his story. For me, he’s a real musical champion.”
David Campbell
You will definitely know the name of the superstar actress Bobby Darin married, Sandra Dee.
She was a child actor of sweet sixteen when they met and married.
Hannah Fredericksen stars as Sandra Dee
The lives of these stars of the past make incredibly passionate, tragic and compelling theatre today. Terrible childhood traumas, eating disorder, serious medical conditions, love, hate, sex and death; it’s all here.
And star of the show David Campbell can relate to a great deal of it. Like Bobby Darin, he was brought up believing his birth mother was his sister and his grandmother his mother.
This lived drama is brought to the role, but thank goodness David doesn’t also share the serious heart condition which meant that Bobby Darin knew his life would be very short.
He died aged just 37.
‘He had a real rogue quality, he was a bit of a rebel.’
David Campbell
Sandra Dee’s life was almost as extraordinary as Bobby’s was. She did live longer, and, poignantly, always said that Bobby had been the love of her life.
‘This musical is a backstage pass to what was happening behind the scenes in their marriage. It’s heartbreaking, thrilling and wonderful.”
The Hon. Stuart Ayres, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events
Is Dream Lover A Family Show?
There are many very serious topics in the show, its drama comes from life’s biggest issues like alcoholism, love, sex and illness.
There are also issues very pertinent to older children and teens, especially the eating disorder suffered by Sandra Dee.
While the show is recommended for kids 13 and over, David Campbell does think that younger children could come too.
‘These are the big issues in life. I think if you can talk these things through before the show, then younger children will enjoy it too.’
Dream Lover is certainly a show for all the generations. I can really see grandparents bringing their grandchildren as well as their adult children.
For many baby boomers, this show features the soundtrack of their youth and they’ll adore it.
The music of Dream Lover is iconic and crosses the generations just as it has survived the decades since it was first performed.
More On The Show
Award-winning producer, John Frost has assembled a marvellous cast and crew. Simon Phillips is director, best known for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,
Showbiz veterans John Michael Howson and Frank Howson are the writers.
There are 40 performers on stage and a big band of 18 musicians play the songs of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
It’s fabulous to see an entirely home grown Australia musical making its worldwide premiere here in Sydney.
As David Campbell said:
‘We’re punching above our weight here in Australia, we have some of the best creative in the world. And they’re all working on this show!’
Dream Lover premiers at the Sydney Lyric Theatre at the Star Casino in September.
Dream Lover website here
Dream Lover Ticket Giveaway – Has Ended
I’ve been given three double passes to the Dream Lover preview performance in September 2016 to give away to blog readers.
To enter, simply leave a comment on this post answering these questions:
Who would you like to bring along to watch Dream Lover and why?
Open only to email subscribers of the blog, to subscribe fill in the subscribe box on the sidebar.
Entries close April 28th 2016.
Winners will be emailed and must respond within 24 hours.
Winners’ names will be posted on the Hello Sydney Kids Facebook page.
Terms and conditions here.
Good luck!
I’m very lucky to have been given two tickets to the show as well, so maybe I’ll see you there.
Seana xx
PS Do your ears and soul a favour and listen to the music on this advertisement for the show.
And here’s another fab show tune: