Show revisits Judy Garland's ill-fated Australian tour


Former Age art director Bill Farr has turned a lifelong fascination with the life and music of Judy Garland into a compelling new stage show.

“Judy - Australia - 1964” tells the story of the Hollywood legend’s ill-fated Australian tour which began with two triumphant concerts in Sydney and ended in disaster when she turned up 70 minutes late to Melbourne’s Festival Hall and was booed off the stage.

The show features the celebrated opera singer Liane Keegan performing the songs of Judy Garland.

Farr decided to write the show after several years ago producing an exhibition of artworks inspired by dramatic news photographs taken during the 1964 tour.

During his career at The Age, Farr won two Walkley Awards and three MPC Quill Awards for his work as a designer and illustrator.

He also beautifully recounts the whole sorry affair for The Age, in a piece titled Rainbow's end.

The show will be performed at Melbourne’s Atheneum2 Theatre from July 4 to July 6.

Purchase your tickets here.

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