Before there was Schoolies, there was Pyjamas in Paradise and now its a musical coming to the Gold Coast Arts Centre this week!
And lining up with a cavalcade of stars, including Donna Lee, Jane Scali and Steven Tandy, is former Kingsclif High student Karen Oliver.
Her role in the Gold Coast-based musical, written by John-Michael Howson and Peter Pinne, marks Karen’s return to an Australian stage.
Karen recently returned to this country following an eight-month contract as Lead Vocalist with Princess Cruises.
The musical just happened to correspond with Karen’s quick trip back home before she takes off to tour Australia in October as back-up vocalist for American singing sensation Taylor Dayne.
But between gigs, Karen is very excited to be working on an original Australian production in ‘Pyjamas in Paradise’ and is hoping the show meets with the success it deserves.
Karen is well known for her powerful vocals and roles such as ‘Eliza Dolittle’ in last year’s production of My Fair Lady at Twin Towns and ‘Mama Rose’ on the Gold Coast.
She is now working full-time as a vocalist and is available for events and functions of all occasions.
Pyjamas in Paradise is set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, long before Schoolies appeared on the scene, when pyjama parties attracted thousands of young people from all around Australia to the small resort town of Surfers Paradise.
Their popularity put Surfers on the map.
Follow the story of Bruce Large – retired (kind of), fast talking (always), larger than life (definitely) and his controversial dream to turn ‘Surfers’ into paradise!
Set in a time where bikinis were Itsy Bitsy, love had people Shakin All Over and everyone was desperate for a Summer Holiday, Pyjamas in Paradise is a hilarious look at what life may have been like … if life was a musical and Meter Maids were backup singers for the Supremes!
From the co-writer of Dusty – The Original Pop Diva and Shout!, John-Michael Howson and Peter Pinne. Directed by Tony Bartuccio. Original Music and Lyrics by John Michael Howson, Ashley Irwin and Peter Pinne. Arrangements and orchestrations by Ashley Irwin.
World premier season, The Arts Centre Gold Coast, Friday to Saturday, September 2 – 10, 2011.
