Hit songs through the ages
THE new musical, From Genesis to Broadway is billed as a journey from the forbidden apple to the Big Apple, filled with popular songs through the ages.
And for Jewish audiences, there’s a smorgasbord of famous numbers, including the Hebrew hymn Adon Olam, klezmer and Ladino music, and classic hits by composers such as George Gershwin and Oscar Hammerstein.
Musical director, arranger and pianist Warren Wills is responsible for creating the musical, which was originally staged as a concert version in London a few years ago.
“This is the world premiere of a full-blown music-theatre show. I’m very excited about it,” he says.
From Genesis to Broadway opened at Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran, Melbourne this week. For Wills, it is also a thrill to stage the show in Melbourne, the city where he was born and educated.
In 1982, at the age of 20, Wills left for Europe and lived in Israel for 18 months before making London his base. About seven years ago he bought a house in Spain and began commuting between Britain and Spain.
“In recent years, I have done more work in Hong Kong, Australia and New York,” he says.
“With family and ageing parents in Melbourne, I am here much more often and it makes sense to be doing shows here.”
From Genesis to Broadway stars Fem Belling (who performed in Hairspray and The Boy From Oz ) and Andrew Dunne (The Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies), with a script by Frank Howson, who is also directing the production. It is being produced by Aaron Zaitman.
“It’s a show of wall-to-wall showstoppers, with the best music from the past 2000 years!” says Wills.
Wills has been musical director on more than 50 productions and is nearing completion of a 25-album deal with Prestige Records.
For the past 10 years in London, Wills has done voluntary work with troubled teenagers at the Haringey Shed Theatre Company.
“Two years ago La Trobe University commissioned me to do a similar program in Shepparton with Aboriginal kids and African refugees.
“My grandparents came to Australia from Poland before World War II and settled in Shepparton with other Jewish families, so this project was hugely rewarding for me,” he says.
From Genesis to Broadway is at Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran from December 11-16. Bookings: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au.
REPORT by Danny Gocs
PHOTO of composer Warren Wills (left) with singers Fem Belling and Andrew Dunne.
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