Cast Announced For Teatro At The Italian Forum’s Production of ‘Tootsie’

Sydney’s inner west is set to get a dose of Broadway flair, with the cast officially announced for the Australian premiere of Tootsie, landing at the Teatro at the Italian Forum this May.

Producers have confirmed a stacked line-up for the hit musical comedy, which will open on 26 May at the Leichhardt venue, marking the show’s first outing on Australian stages.

Leading the production is Andrew Bevis in the dual role of struggling actor Michael Dorsey and his alter ego Dorothy Michaels – a part made famous on screen by Dustin Hoffman. Bevis brings an extensive résumé spanning the West End and Australian theatre, with credits including Les Misérables, Romeo and Juliet, The Rocky Horror Show and Hello, Dolly!.

The principal cast reads like a roll call of local musical theatre heavyweights. Sydney Theatre Award winner Elenoa Rokobaro will take on the role of Julie Nicholas, while Alana Tranter plays Sandy Lester. Brendan Irving steps into Max Von Horn, Tyran Stig plays Jeff Slater, Donna Lee is cast as Rita Marshall, Chris Huntley-Turner as Stan Fields and Lachlan O’Brien rounds out the leads as Ron Carlisle.

They’re joined by an ensemble including Sam Austin, Lisa Callingham, Katie Green, Arthur Lees, Maximillian Macdonald, Jessica Parris, Jamie Reisin, Julian Seguna and Nicole Vella.

Directed and choreographed by Cameron Mitchell, the production promises a high-energy take on the Tony Award-winning musical. Mitchell said he was “absolutely thrilled” with the cast assembled, adding: “Every one of them has something unique and special. I cannot wait to work with them all on this exciting new show.”

Described by The New York Post as “Broadway’s funniest new musical” and by Rolling Stone as “musical comedy heaven,” Tootsie follows a talented but notoriously difficult actor who reinvents himself – quite literally – to land the role of a lifetime.

With music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Robert Horn, the show has earned major acclaim on Broadway, including a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and a total of 11 nominations.

Fast-paced and unapologetically silly, the production leans into big themes of identity, ambition and ego – all while keeping the laughs front and centre.

Tootsie will run at Teatro at the Italian Forum from 26 May, with tickets on sale now.