New musical Dubbo Championship Wrestling will receive developmental readings in New York City as part of the Amas Musical Theatre Lab. The readings will take place on 24 & 25 March 2025, under the direction of Will Nunziata, with music direction by Andy Peterson.
Written by Australian’s Daniel Cullen and James Cullen, the rock musical tells the story of a high schooler who, after picking the wrong fight at school, is sent back to her rural hometown and into a battle to save her family’s struggling professional wrestling business. The piece explores themes of resilience, identity, and the dramatic spectacle of wrestling, blending comedy and drama in a unique musical theatre experience.
Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer of Amas Musical Theatre, highlighted the synergy between the show’s subject matter and the theatrical form. “Professional wrestling and musical theatre go together like a horse and carriage,” she said. “They are both full of comedy and drama and a lot of fun. Dubbo Championship Wrestling was chosen by the entire finalist jury as the winner of the Eric H. Weinberger Emerging Librettist Award. We are grateful to continue to commemorate Eric’s memory and are looking forward to the further development of this piece.”
The cast for the readings includes Stacie Bono, Natalie Joy Johnson, David Josefsberg, Susie Mosher, Analise Scarpaci, Marty Thomas, and Cole Thompson.
Daniel Cullen, one of Australia’s leading musical theatre writers, drew inspiration from his childhood experiences watching wrestling in Dubbo, where a wrestler once smashed a keyboard over his opponent’s head, scattering keys into the audience. Cullen’s career has included mentorship by Broadway composer Eddie Perfect, and Dubbo Championship Wrestling has already received recognition, winning the Eric H. Weinberger Award and New Musicals Australia.
Director Will Nunziata brings extensive experience across theatre, film, and television, with recent projects including Figaro: An Original Musical at The London Palladium and White Rose: The Musical at the Marylebone Theatre in London. Music Director Andy Peterson, a Broadway veteran, has worked on Suffs, A Beautiful Noise, and Tootsie.
The show had an initial run in Australia in 2022.
Dubbo Championship Wrestling The Musical runs from 24 & 25 March 2025 at Amas Musical Theatre Lab, New York.
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