All hail theatre legend Nancye Hayes, who has been gracing Sydney’s stages, and particularly shaking it in musical theatre extravaganzas, since the ‘60s. She’ll take to the stage that’s literally named after her, Elizabeth Bay’s Hayes Theatre, for a feel-good theatrical experience you won’t want to miss.
She’ll appear alongside an all-star cast of wow factor including Gabrielle Chan (Chimerica), Dolores Dunbar (Funny Girl), Stefanie Jones (Muriel’s Wedding), Chaska Halliday (Pippin) and Donna Lee (Oklahoma) in new musical Half Time. Opening April 1, tells the true story of ten seniors who refuse to grow old quietly, instead aiming to land a plum gig performing hip-hop at half time for a major league basketball team. It has been adapted from the Tribeca Film Festival hit doco Gotta Dance by filmmaker Dori Bernstein. Bernstein, who produced Broadway sensations Legally Blonde and Thoroughly Modern Millie quickly realised the story had legs, adapting it for the stage.
The show is directed by Helen Dallimore, who played Glinda in the West End production of Wicked, plus Jessica Manning on musical direction and Madison Lee on choreography. A bit of a dream team, we can’t wait to see this one, and to bow down once more to HRH Hayes. “What a thrill to be back on stage at the Hayes in a show about not acting your age,” Hayes says. “Especially as I will be joined by some friends with whom I last performed in the original production of Chicago 40 year ago, in Dolores Dunbar and Joy Miller.”
