Elvis is back in the building!

THE KING AND ME a musical comedy by Dave Warner

Director: Emily McLean. Cast Caitlin Beresford-Ord, Dave Warner Musician Sam Musca.

Composers: Dave Warner and Martin Cilia.

Venue: THE SHAMBLES Perth Cultural Centre (Tue Jan 26 – Sun Jan 31 @ 6pm)

Runtime: 65 mins.

Elvis is back in the building!

The hottest ticket to get at last year’s Fringe World is back – with the same fabulous team and all the great tunes Elvis would have made famous if only he had lived long enough to record them.

Perth’s legendary Suburban Boy, Dave Warner, re-unites with the high-octane Caitlin Beresford-Ord in the return season of The King and Me, the audacious musical about a man, his dreams, and his BFF – Elvis Presley.

Craig Nelson is a cabaret performer going nowhere except down. Yet he still loves the music, he still burns to follow in the blue suede footsteps of his idol.

One night, a mysterious young woman turns up at Craig’s door saying she can help him win the high-profile “Soul of Elvis” competition and reclaim his life. But there’s much more to the woman than Craig could possibly imagine.

The King and Me is about performers and creators, the threat of losing self-belief that all performers face, and their need to persist. And it’s about the moment when inspiration comes knocking, telling you to Shake, Rattle and Roll.

Dave and Australia’s greatest Living Surf Guitarist, Martin Cilia (Atlantics, Mental as Anything), have written the original songs that rock Craig’s story.

“Some are country-rock songs Martin and I had been looking for the perfect home for, some are brand new for the show. I like to think it’s all material the King would have made taken to the top of the charts, if he hadn’t, you know…”, says Dave.

Warner, recently honoured as a “WA Living Treasure”, says playing Craig last year was one of the most demanding and exciting things he has ever done.

“We’ve refined the show since last year, trimmed a few minutes and have it purring. If you loved it last year, come again. You’ll like it even more the second time around” he says.

A lot has happened for Warner in the last twelve months, with the publication of his latest novel Before it Breaks and a number of tours with various music formats, but he is looking forward to being Craig again, and working with Beresford-Ord and Mclean.

“Caitlin’s performance is outstanding and Emily’s direction a bullseye”, Dave says.

“Most of all, finding out that something you’ve written works, seeing the audiences really getting into it, is the greatest thing. I’m looking forward to having that thrill again!”

Director: Emily McLean

Emily McLean trained at WAAPA and is a founding member of Red Ryder Theatre Company. She has directed for Black Swan State Theatre Company, Perth Theatre Company, Deckchair Theatre, Red Ryder, WAAPA, Curtin University, Downstairs at the Maj, Shanghai Lil, Longwood Productions, Little y and the Moxie Collective.

In 2013, Emily was Assistant Director on Other Desert Cities and Shrine for Black Swan and, in 2014, is a Resident Artist for Black Swan and directed the world premiere of Dust by Suzie Miller. In the last eight years she has directed ten new Australian works. Emily won the Perth Equity Award for directing in 2006, for Dealer’s Choice, and in 2007 for The Mozart Faction.

Writer/composer/performer: Dave Warner

An award winning novelist and songwriter, Dave Warner has written for all arms of popular entertainment.   His feature films include Cut, starring Molly Ringwald and Kylie Minogue, and Garage Days for I Robot director, Alex Proyas.

Dave has written for many TV shows including Packed to the Rafters, Rescue Special Ops, Wild Boys, McLeod’s Daughters and Sea Patrol. He is also a popular author having written six non-fiction books as well as number of adult and children’s novels. Dave won the WA Premier’s Award for his novel City of Light.

As well as a working behind the scene as a writer Dave has worked in the trenches as a performer. Dave began his creative life as a musician/songwriter, most notably with his ground-breaking band Dave Warner’s From the Suburbs. Bob Dylan once nominated Dave as his favourite Australian songwriter. He has also done stand-up and sketch comedy, on-screen acting, and been a radio commentator for the Sydney Swans.

Dave was named a WA Living Treasure in 2015.

Caitlin Beresford-Ord

Caitlin graduated from WAAPA in 1999 and works as an actor, singer, writer, director and Arts Educator. Professional theatre credits include: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for QTC and BSSTC, Checklist for an Armed Robber and Lonely Hearts Club – Deckchair Theatre. Caitlin’s Cabaret trio, The CoverGirls performed A Rhapsody in Red, written, directed and choreographed by Caitlin, for the Cabaret Soiree Carnivale season at His Majesty’s Theatre, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Deckchair Theatre, Fremantle Arts Festival and the 2013 Fringe World Festival at De Parel Spiegeltent. Caitlin co-starred in Dave Warner’s The King and Me for The Fringe World Festival 2015. Film Credits: Blue Dog. TV credits: The War That Changed Us (ABC), White Collar Blue, Home and Away and Life Support. Awards include Best Supporting Actress 2012 for Cat On a Hot Tin Roof and 2007 Members Choice Award for The Mozart Faction.

In 2013 Caitlin was an AiR Grant recipient with a 2 Term residency at Yule Brook College as an Artist in Residence. She is currently a Teaching Artist at Murdoch University as part of the AiR Grant Program and is a sessional lecturer at both Curtin University and WAAPA.

Sam Musca

Sam Musca is seasoned guitarist and musician.  He has played in countless Perth Bands and teaches guitar at five Perth Schools as well as having students at his own studio.  Sam is currently the lead guitarist of the Australian Santana Experience, XES and Carbon Taxi.  He is a capable and experienced guitarist able to play and teach all genres of music. Sam has also played guitar in the Play the King and Me which features the music of Dave Warner.