The special date is drawing ever slightly closer in the far off land of QPAC, and the guest list to a certain royal ball continues to grow. Next to walk the staircase into the grand ballroom is Nicholas Hammond, who Crossroads Live Australia and Opera Australia have today confirmed will be taking on the role of Lord Chancellor, Sebastian, for the Brisbane and Sydney seasons of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. An actor and writer, Nicholas Hammond is best known for his roles as Friedrich von Trapp in the film The Sound of Music and as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the 1970s television series The Amazing Spider-Man. His many film and TV appearances include Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Love Boat, Magnum PI, Murder She Wrote and recurring roles on Falcon Crest and Dallas, as well as The Challenge, Fields of Fire and Farscape in Australia.
This news also comes as tickets for the QPAC season go on sale, with pre-sales starting from today and general public sales available from Friday 25 March 2022. Tickets are available via the QPAC Website or via the team at QTIX on 136 246. Perhaps you will get to experience the dazzling sights, love bloom, and what is described as a “fresh new take on the beloved tale”. More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. A spirited young woman with savvy and soul, she not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realise his dreams too.
Hammond will be joined on-stage at QPAC alongside Shubshri Kandiah as Ella (Cinderella), Ainsley Melham as Prince Topher, and Silvie Paladino as Marie, the Fairy Godmother. Matilda Moran and Bianca Bruce will play Ella’s stepsisters Gabrielle and Charlotte. Daniel Belle will be Lord Pinkleton, while Josh Gardiner is Jean-Michel, the poor revolutionary who is in love with Gabrielle. They are all joined alongside an ensemble cast consisting of William Brougham, Danielle Evrat, Luke Haberecht, Matthew Jenson, Lauren Jimmieson, Leah Lim, Kassie Martin, Rubin Matters, Joshua Russell, Greta Sherriff, Lewis Shilvock, Suzanne Steele, Tom Struik, Daniel Szesiong Todd, Alexis van Maanen, Dean Vince, Daniel Wijngaarden, Erica Wild and Emily Wood.
We’re so excited to bring this Broadway favourite to Brisbane,” they said. “Cinderella is one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s greatest scores and this production with beautiful orchestrations, magnificent costumes and sets, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love from the classic story, will have audiences clamouring for more.
We’re also thrilled that Nicholas Hammond has agreed to tread the boards again in his first stage musical to play Sebastian in Brisbane. With an extraordinary list of credits, we know audiences will be delighted to see Nicholas on stage once more.
John Frost (Crossroads Live Australia) and Lyndon Terracini (Opera Australia) – Producers of this season
