Tony Award winner Roger Bart will reprise his role as Dr Emmett Brown in the Australian premiere season of Back to the Future: The Musical, opening at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from 26 September 2025. Bart originally originated the character in the musical adaptation of the film series in 2020 and has since performed the role in Manchester, the West End, and on Broadway, earning a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal.
Bart is best known in musical theatre circles for originating the role of Carmen Ghia in The Producers, earning both Tony and Drama Desk nominations, and winning both awards for his portrayal of Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. His other stage credits include Young Frankenstein, Disaster!, The Frogs, Triumph of Love, King David, and Big River. He also originated the role of Hades in the Public Theater production of Hercules, a role connected to his earlier work as the singing voice of Young Hercules in Disney’s animated film. Outside of the theatre, Bart has appeared in numerous television series including Desperate Housewives, 30 Rock, Good Trouble, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. His film credits include Trumbo, American Gangster, Law Abiding Citizen, and The Stepford Wives.
Australian producer John Frost said they were excited to welcome Bart to Sydney:
We are thrilled to have the esteemed and brilliant Roger Bart join our incredible Australian cast for the Australian premiere season in Sydney. Roger has enthralled West End and Broadway audiences, so we can’t wait for Aussies to have the pleasure of witnessing his interpretation of ‘Doc’ on our shores.
Other confirmed members of the inaugural Australian tour’s cast include Ashleigh Rubenach as Lorraine Baines, Emma Feliciano as Jennifer, Thomas McGuane as Biff, Javon Smith as Goldie Wilson and Marvin Berry, Ethan Jones as George McFly, and Anton Berezin as Strickland. Troy Sussman will serve as the standby for Doc Brown. Joining the ensemble and swing cast are Jay Johns, Isabella Roberts, Jacob Steen, Sienna Embrey, Alexandra Cashmere, Celine Cleveland, Jack Coyne, Kara Sims, Taye Grant, Davy Harris, Joshua Spiniello, Emily Wood, Bronson Pfeiler, Charlotte Page, and Dwayne Mitchell. Meanwhile, the leading role of Marty McFly is expected to be announced in June 2025.
Back to the Future: The Musical is being presented in Australia by producers John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia and Colin Ingram for Colin Ingram Ltd, along with the original film’s creators, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale.
Commenting on the (almost) complete casting announcement, Director John Rando added:
I was blown away by the level of local talent that came through our audition room doors in Sydney. Back to the Future is a pop culture sensation, steeped in nostalgia and beloved by millions of fans worldwide, and I couldn’t be more confident that we have chosen a local Australian cast that will do the story justice, whilst inspiring a new generation of fans.
The casting announcement has been welcomed by the New South Wales Government, with Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper commenting:
I’m thrilled Roger Bart has landed the iconic role of Dr Emmett Brown for the Australian premiere season and can’t wait to watch him and the full cast bring this much-loved movie to the Sydney Lyric stage in September. By changing the rules around the hours after dark and investing in Australian premieres of world-class productions like Back to the Future: The Musical, the NSW Government is bringing vibrancy back to the future of our city, creating unforgettable experiences in Sydney along with the hundreds of jobs they support in the creative and visitor economies.
Tickets to the Australian tour’s first leg at the Sydney Lyric Theatre can be purchased via the official Back to the Future the Musical Australia website.
