Dust off your sequins, polish up your Charleston and get ready for a toe-tapping good time with fabulously fun musical comedy THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, opening for The G&S Society at

Alana Shepherdson as Millie. Photography by Thomas Wiedenmann of Timeless Wedding & Event Photography

Adelaide’s Arts Theatre on September 29.

Based on the Academy Award winning 1967 film starring Julie Andrews in the title role, this bright and funny re-write scored rave reviews on its 2002 Broadway debut, winning six Tony Awards including Best Musical.

It’s 1922, the throbbing heart of the jazz age, and Millie Dillmount (Alana Shepherdson) is a small town girl with big dreams fresh off the train in New York city. Her plan is simple: find a job as a secretary for an eligible bachelor, marry him and become a “thoroughly modern” gal.

But it doesn’t take long for Millie’s plans to go awry. Not only is her wealthy boss Trevor Graydon (Buddy Dawson) entirely uninterested in her flirtations, she falls head over heels for Jimmy (Mitchell Smith), a handsome city slicker without a penny to his name.

And then there’s the small problem of Millie’s evil landlady Mrs Meers (Pam O’Grady), who appears to be behind the mysterious disappearance of several bright young things from the Hotel Priscilla for Single Women. Have they been kidnapped? Will Millie be next, or will she get the thoroughly modern life she’s always dreamed of?

Featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, the multi-award winning composer behind recent Broadway hit Fun Home, and lyrics by Tony nominated writer Dick Scanlan, Thoroughly Modern Millie is a modern classic with an old-fashioned heart.

Director David Sinclair says audiences of all ages will fall in love with “Millie”.

“Millie is a top notch, toe-tapping, riotous romp through the roaring ’20s,” he says. “It’s got sweeping romance, gasp-worthy drama, pretty young things being corrupted by wicked villains, and plenty of razzle dazzle. You’ll laugh, you’ll cheer, you’ll want to dance!”

New York Film Academy graduate Alana Shepherdson as Millie heads up a talented young cast for the G&S Society, including Mitchell Smith as Jimmy, Emily Wood as Millie’s friend Dorothy, and Sam Francis as glamorous cabaret singer Muzzy.

Also starring are Buddy Dawson as Millie’s boss Trevor Gradyon, Nadine Wood as his overbearing office manager Miss Flannery, and South Australian theatre veteran Pam O’Grady as the conniving Mrs Meers, reprising the role for which she won an Advertiser “Oscarts” Award for Best Comic Performance in 2007.

Filled with toe-tapping songs, dazzling costumes and spectacular dance numbers by one of the largest young casts ever assembled in Adelaide, Thoroughly Modern Millie is a bright, funny and charming two-step into the glitz and glitter of 1920s New York.

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE runs in a limited season of just 10 performances at The Arts Theatre, 53 Angas St Adelaide, from September 29 to October 8.

September 29 to October 1 and October 5-8 at 7.30pm
Matinees October 1 and 8 at 1.30pm, and October 2 at 3.30pm.

Tickets: $38 adult, $33 conc., $25 child, special discounts for groups 10+
Book here or call 8447 7239 or go to BASS.net.au

International praise for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE:

“Fun, fabulous flapper chic and lighthearted camp,” – The New York Times

“‘Millie’ provides those old-fashioned pleasures of tapping feet, happy-ever-afters and smiles for days,” – Variety

“Intoxicatingly uplifting!” – The Telegraph UK

“Kick-up-your-heels entertaining. A colourful, fluffy confection,” – CurtainUp

Mitchell Smith as Jimmy, Alana Shepherdson as Millie, Buddy Dawson as Graydon

Millie

Jimmy and Millie