The Regals Musical Society
proudly presented
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Fri 18th |
Sat 19th |
Sun 20th |
Fri 25th |
Sat 26th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8pm | 8pm | 2pm | 8pm | 2pm 8pm |
This show was presented at The Rockdale Town Hall.
| Director | Danielle Nicholls-Fuller |
| Musical Director | Sally Quinnell |
| Choreographer | Lauren Nalty |
| Ritchie Valens | Ryan Connell |
| Big Bopper | Julian Batchelor |
| Maria Elena Holly | Jessica Shirley |
| Vi Petty | Margaret Short |
| Apollo Singer (lead) | Emma Paull |
| Apollo Musician & MC | Collin Rozario |
| Apollo Backup Singer | Melissa Quah |
| Mary Lou | Meg Day |
| Miss Santiago | Tracie Acheson |
| MC at Clearlake | Ken Dillon |
| Fourth Cricket | Phillip Wathen |
| Jack Daw | Paul Riley |
| Murray Deutch / 1st Engineer | Brad Socal |
| DJ | Geoff Duncan |
| Shirley | Lauren Churm |
| Candy | Melissa Pickering |
| Decca | Engineer Peter Kemp |
| Tommy | Adam Howard |
Ken Dillon, Nick Hart, Daniel Lupevski, Paul Riley, and Danielle Young
Geoff Duncan, Nick Hart, Peter Kemp, Daniel Lupevski, and Phillip Wathen
Chloe Aston, Lauren Churm, Meg Day, Geoff Duncan, Andrew Fabris, Jeanelle George, Nick Hart, Susan Henderson, Adam Howard, Peter Kemp, Daniel Lupevski, Kerin Mamo, Marianne Nicholls, Emma Paull, Melissa Pickering, Melissa Quah, Paul Riley, Skye Roberts, Collin Rozario, Julie Ryan, Brad Socal, Anna Stallibrass, Phillip Wathen, and Danielle Young
Buddy is a high-energy musical celebration of the legendary singer and songwriter Buddy Holly. Buddy shot to stardom in 1957, only to tragically die in a plane crash two years later alongside 17-year-old Ritchie Valens and the "Big Bopper".
With the support of local radio DJ, Hipockets Duncan, Buddy and his two friends from a Country & Western band - Buddy Holly and the Crickets - begin to carve out a career in music. After a difficult start at Decca in Nashville, they sign a contract with an up-and-coming innovative record producer, Norman Petty. Within hours, Buddy Holly and the Crickets start to churn out hits from the recording studio built in Petty's backyard, among them "That'll be the Day" which soon rockets up the charts and reaches number one within two weeks. Buddy Holly and the Crickets are suddenly the hottest act in the country and out on a national tour.
Whilst recording in New York, Buddy proposes to Maria Elena Santiago, the Puerto Rican receptionist of his record publisher, after a courtship of only five hours! Newly married and ambitious, he completely shifts focus to New York and a rift develops between him and The Crickets. After a declaration of home truths during a recording session, the band split and Buddy unexpectedly finds himself having to pursue a solo career.
Buddy joins The Winter Dance Party, a bus tour through the Midwest quenching the teenage thirst for the new music called Rock 'n' Roll. The tour is hard work, weather conditions appalling, and the performers are alternating between sleeping in the luggage racks and dropping into hospital to be treated for frostbite.
Buddy makes the fatal decision to fly, as he and the two other head-liners board a small plane and take off into the night destined for their next show. During a snow storm, in the dead of night, the plane crashes and spares no survivors.
The tragedy shocks the world, snatching the lives of three of the world's most dynamic musical talents: Buddy Holly; Ritchie Valens; and the Big Bopper. Buddy Holly's brief life is immortalised in this dynamic and heart rending stage show. It's a celebration of the man, his music and his life, which catches that unique mixture of innocence, determination, humour and charm that was Buddy Holly.
"...and the rest is just Rock 'n' Roll..."
By arrangement with Alan Janes for Theatre Partners
Exclusively licensed by Origin Theatrical Pty Ltd