Singin' in the Rain Coming to NZ

A multi-million-dollar production of classic musical Singin' in the Rain is set to be staged in Auckland and Wellington next year.

Audience members in the front rows may want to wear a raincoat, thanks to a rain curtain of 12,000 litres that floods the stage at each show.

Set in 1927, it tells the story, made famous by Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds in the iconic 1952 MGM movie, of the first Hollywood musical, when the silver screen found its voice and left silent movies – and some of its stars – behind.

Bethany Dickson (who was recently in New Zealand for the hugely successful Sound of Music, playing the role of Maria) is leading the cast of 27, as wannabe actress and chorus girl Kathy. Grant Amirall is Don Lockwood, the silent movie star who has everything he could possibly want... until Hollywood changes forever with the arrival of "talkies".

For the famous Singin' in the Rain scene (which uses recycled water), half a mile of flexible pipe work, a 10 tonne water tank and a specially waterproofed show deck has been created, which allows the water to rain down from above and flood the stage.

The producers behind the stage show adaptation previously presented internationally touring stage musicals The Sound of Music, Jersey Boys, Les Miserables and Annie.

Singin' in the Rain
Wellington - 15-26 April, St James Theatre
Auckland - 1-17 May, The Civic