Shannon Noll to star in classic musical

By Michael Gadd

May 09, 2007 03:39pm

SHANNON Noll will make his theatrical debut in a musical version of The War of The Worlds, which has just completed a sell-out season in Britain.

Australian Idol's first season runner-up has been enlisted for a starring role in an Australian tour of the stage musical and multimedia production of Jefff Wayne's 1978 album, which was based on the 1898 science fiction novel.

The production will reach Perth on September 8 before moving on to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

The Australian tour will feature cast members from the British production, including Justin Hayward from band the Moody Blues and Chris Thompson of Manfred Mann fame.

Noll, who recently won the MTV Australia male artist of the year award, will fill the role of Parson Nathaniel played in the original recording by Phil Lynott, frontman for Thin Lizzy.

"I can't wait, it's definitely something different for me," Noll said today.

Noll said he had always wanted to try his hand at a musical, but he always thought it would be something a bit lighter, such as his favourite Grease.

"I reckon I could be Danny (the leading man in Grease played in the movie by John Travolta) but this is an amazing and challenging show with so much to learn," he said.

Unlike most retellings of the HG Wells story, such as the modernised feature film starring Tom Cruise, Wayne prides himself on the fact his version is based entirely on the literary version.

Set in Victorian England, The War of the Worlds tells a tale of Martians invading Earth.

Pink Floyd set designer Jonathan Park brings the battle to life on stage with special effects and a 9m Martian fighting machine that fires "heat rays" at the audience.

Other Australian additions to the cast include acclaimed theatrical performer Rachael Beck and the star of Ben Elton's Queen musical We Will Rock You, Michael Falzon.

And the late acting legend Richard Burton will have a starring role - in the form of a hologram - playing George Herbert, the journalist.

Wayne himself will conduct the 10-member Black Smoke Band and a 40-piece string orchestra.

The three Australian performers have spent the past week with Wayne in a Sydney studio becoming familiar with the show.

Since the release of his album in 1978, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds has charted in 22 countries and reached No.1 in 11 countries.

It has sold 15 million copies around the world.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...5005961,00.html