ONCE: The Musical

Kiwi singer-songwriter Lisa Crawley makes her musical theatre debut in the internationally acclaimed new Broadway musical ONCE which will capture the spirit of a gloriously gritty Irish pub from June 27 at the ASB Waterfront Theatre. This exhilarating almost-love story is the only show on Broadway to have music that won the Academy Award®, Grammy Award®, Olivier Award and Tony Award® - making it one of the most celebrated modern musicals in the world.

Set in modern-day Dublin, this is the story of a Dublin busker who gave up on his music – and his love – and the Czech musician who inspires him to dream again. In the space of a week their lives will change forever, as they take a gamble on this thing called life. It’s an “invisible” love story about change and identity, jumping across borders and barriers.

Achingly beautiful, joyously uplifting, ONCE is based on the critically-acclaimed breakout independent film of the same name. Written and directed by John Carney, it won the 2007 Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film and sold out indie cinemas worldwide for months on release. Following up his blazing debut as guitarist Outspan Foster in the cult film The Commitments, singer-songwriter Glen Hansard starred opposite Markéta Irglová. They composed and performed the film’s original songs. These magical songs, which include the Oscar-winning Falling Slowly, are heart-on-sleeve folk-rock tunes that ripple with melancholy and rue, conveying a beautiful shimmer of might-have-been regret and how hard it is to find the real thing. Hansard is also known for his long stint in The Frames and last toured to our shores as part of the Auckland Arts Festival in 2013.

ONCE is a musical like no other. We hear a lot of talk about triple-threats – people who can sing, dance and act. In ONCE, the 12-strong local cast actually go further, doing everything. An extraordinary cast of actor-musicians which also include NZ icon Jackie Clarke, Priya Sami and multi-instrumentalist Adam Ogle will sing, dance and accompany themselves live onstage. The result is breath-taking and has dazzled audiences across the world with its originality and unashamed theatricality. The uniqueness of its proposition and boldness of its invention has seen top-shelf talent such as Ronan Keating and Doctor Who’s Arthur Darvill play the leading role of Guy internationally.

Director Jesse Peach has campaigned for five-years to secure the New Zealand rights to this legendary show. He returns home from London to join forces with producer Mark Kelliher, who has worked in London and New York; to make this once in a lifetime production.

Winning a total of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album and the Academy Award for Best Original Song, Once strikes an unforgettable chord in audiences.

Powerful, lyrical, true: a show like this only comes along ONCE.

ONCE - THE MUSICAL plays:
June 27 – July 14
ASB Waterfront Theatre
Ticket sales open on Thurs 28th Feb

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