Callea swaps living room for Lyric Theatre in 'Grease'
Natalie Bochenski March 26, 2013
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| Anthony Callea is taking on the role of rock ‘n’ roll Rydell High student Johnny Casino in a new production of Grease. Photo: Supplied |
Anthony Callea says his grandparents are to blame for his love of Grease.
“When they used to baby sit us as kids, they put on either Grease or The Sound of Music to entertain us,” he said.
Later this year, Callea will swap the living room for the Lyric Theatre, as he takes on the role of rock ‘n’ roll Rydell High student Johnny Casino in a new production of Grease.
He'll sing classics like Those Magic Changes and Tears on My Pillow in his first stage show since Wicked in 2008.
“I haven’t really jumped at a lot of shows, and I’m not going to do it just for the sake of doing it, but this one I really wanted to do,” he said.
“It’s great the pieces have fallen together and I can do it.”
Callea came to fame as runner-up in 2004’s Australian Idol competition, with his debut single The Prayer selling over 280,000 copies.
He recorded the albums Anthony Callea and A New Chapter, before splitting with label Sony and recording 2012 EP Last to Go as an independent artist.
Next month, he’ll release his third album, Thirty, recorded with ABC Universal.
Callea said he wanted to put together an album that reflected the musical tastes and influences of his life so far.
“Because I recently turned 30, not that I look it, I know,” he joked.
Callea said he had a clear vision of how he wanted the project to go, including which covers he would sing along with original material.
“I haven’t had to fight for one thing, which is a beautiful thing, they’ve been great to work with.”
“It’s been the most enjoyable experience that I’ve ever done,” he said.
Callea said he’s worked hard since his Idol break, but admitted that the show ? which also uncovered his Grease co-star Rob Mills ? gave him the chance to work hard.
“There’s not one minute I ever regret walking into that audition room,” he said.
“It taught me a lot, and I wouldn’t be able to do what I do these days without that launchpad.”
Another one of Callea’s co-stars is Bert Newton, whom he worked with during Wicked.
Newton will play smooth-talking disc jockey Vince Fontaine ? despite undergoing quadruple heart bypass surgery only four months ago.
“I was actually hanging out with Patti last week, and she said ‘Bert will never stop working!’” said Callea.
“I said ‘You just need to go on a holiday’ and she said ‘Please, I don’t know what that word means!'"
Callea described Newton as “cheeky”, but a true professional.
“He was very cool to share a dressing room with ? I think I was more of a diva than him!”
