FORMER Horsham actor Alex Rathgeber will grace the Australian stage once again after landing a role in the national production of Wizard of Oz.
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Rathgeber will play the Tin Man in the show, which opens in Brisbane in November.
He said he was drawn to the show because of the other standout cast members – Anthony Warlow, Jemma Rix and Lucy Durack.
“I’ve always wanted to work with Warlow because I’ve always admired him,” he said.
“I’m so excited to watch his wizardry – literally.
“Lucy is one of my closest friends and it will be fantastic to share the stage with her, and Jemma and I were in Ghost the Musical together, so I got to know her pretty well through that show.”
Rathgeber said a friend once told him that Wizard of Oz was the most perfectly written musical.
“It was not one that I grew up watching – I don’t know how old I was when I first watched it, but it’s a show that everyone loves.
“Whenever I mention the show to people they are immediately excited because it’s such an iconic musical.
“It’s going to be great to be part of a show that everyone has a share in – it feels special.”
Rathgeber said rehearsals would start in October.
The show will go to Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide before coming to Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in May.
Rathgeber said he was looking forward to working on the show’s amazing songs.
“It’s going to be good to have uplifting, feel good songs running around in our heads all the time,” he said.
Rathgeber will try the Tin Man costume on for the first time next week.
“I imagine it will be heavy enough and it will be interesting having to paint my face silver,” he said.
Rathgeber encouraged Wimmera residents to go and see the show when it was in Melbourne.
“I’m really excited to be doing something that is so familiar to people,” he said.
“I know that will be a major incentive for people to get down to Melbourne and see it.”