Booeing-Boeing, a comedy of matchmaking and mayhem, received rave reviews and played to sell-out houses during its recent season in the West end. the same production, with an all-Australian cast on board is set to touch down in Australia for a national tour from 7 June.

Boeing-Boeing originally opened in the mid 1960s and was one of the most successful comedies of its time, running for an impressive seven years in London's West end, 19 years in Paris, and was a hit when it toured Australia.

This stylishly new retro production, which opened in London last February and is due to premiere on Broadway in May, will be directed in Australia by award-winning English director and dramatist Matthew Warchus (well-known for directing the international hit Art). Boeing-Boeing has been described as one of the most enjoyable and mischievously funny shows in the West end for years and puts a seriously sexy and funny twist on classic comedy.

Bernard (Shaun Micallef, currently starring in Newstopia on SBS) is a successful architect living in Paris happily juggling three airhostess fiancées - a German flying with Lufthansa (Sibylla Budd from channel 9's Sea Patrol), an Italian in the air with Alitalia (Rachel Gordon from Home & Away) and an American with TWA (Helen Dallimore, direct from London where she starred as Glinda in Wicked) who don't know of each other's existence. it's all a question of airline timetables, steered with the assistance of his reliable, long suffering housekeeper Bertha (Judi Farr), who has reluctantly taken on the role of romantic air-traffic controller.

When old school friend Robert (played by Helpmann award winner Mitchell Butel) arrives, Bernard relishes the chance to show his wide-eyed visitor his first-class romantic operation at work. Unfortunately, schedules change, flights are delayed and a new turbo-charged Boeing aircraft is introduced: chaos ensues in this hysterical whirlwind.

Sonia Friedman of Sonia Friedman Productions, one of the originating West end producers said "it has been a joy to produce Boeing-Boeing and bring back life into a wonderful comedy that has filled theatres with riotous laughter and thrilled audiences for years. i am delighted that audiences in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth will have the opportunity to see this new hit West end production".

"This production already has a track record of success in London and soon will in new York. I am sure that Australian audiences will love every minute of this hysterical comedy" said Paul dainty of dainty consolidated entertainment, co-Australian producer.

Rodney Rigby of New Theatricals, Australian co-producer said "this production of Boeing-Boeing is one of the funniest plays I have ever seen in London and what a sensational cast we have for Australia. Who would have thought that we would get all these stars together in one show!"

Cast Biographies

SHAUN MICALLEF

Shaun began his tV career as a writer for aBc's THE BIG GIG and FULL FRONTAL where he created a wide range of memorable characters. television credits include the satirical Newstopia on SBS, Micallef Tonight, Welcher & Welcher, host of the 2001 logies, The Micallef Program (i, ii & iii), for which received logies for Best comedy Program (Series i & ii), and Seachange. film credits include The King, Aquamarine, Through My Eyes, The Extra, Bad Eggs and The Honourable Wally Norman. Shaun is currently hosting VeGa radio's breakfast program on weekdays and presenting the second season of Newstopia on SBS.

SIBYLLA BUDD

Sibylla's theatre roles include The Memory of Water (Melbourne theatre company), Ray's Tempest (company B) and The Emperor of Sydney (Griffin theatre). She starred in the popular drama series The Secret Life of Us and has appeared in other television series such as Kath and Kim, Something in the Air, The Farm and All Saints. Most recently, she starred in the popular television series Sea Patrol and in the upcoming Canal Road. Sibylla's film credits include September, The Bank, anna Kokkinos's The Book of Revelation and The Bet, for which she was nominated for an australian film industry award (Best australian actress).

HELEN DALLIMORE

Helen's theatre credits include david edgar's Pentecost, Unlikely Prospect of Happiness, andrew upton's The Hanging Man and Gale edwards' production of Up for Grabs (Sydney theatre company). film and television credits include leading roles in the movies The Extra and Mr. Accident and in the tV movies Secret Bridesmaid's Business and Day of the Roses. Helen moved to england where she appeared on television in Midsomer Murders and has recently returned to australia after making her West end debut as the good witch ‘Glinda' in Wicked.

RACHEL GORDON

rachel graduated from nida in 1996 at age 20 and is most recognised for her role in the long running australian police drama Blue Heelers as detective Senior constable amy "foxy" fox, for which she was nominated for a tV Week logie (Best new female talent). in 2007, rachel appeared in the long-running soap Neighbours (network 10) as villain, dr. charlotte Stone. this was quickly followed by her role in Home and Away (7 network).

MITCHELL BUTEL

Mitchell appeared as Woof in Hair, for which he received the 2002 Green room award (Best featured actor in a Musical) and a Mo award nomination. He has received two Helpmann award nominations for Best Supporting actor in a Musical (Summer Rain in 2006 and The Republic of Myopia in 2004), the 2005 Helpmann award for Best actor in a Musical (The Venetian Twins), the 2000 Green room award for Best featured actor in a Musical (Piaf) and two australian film industry award nominations for Best Supporting actor in a feature film (Strange Fits of Passion in 1999 and Gettin' Square in 2003). in 2006 Mitchell appeared in Dusty and he recently appeared opposite Magda Szubanski in The Madwoman of Chaillot (Melbourne theatre company).

JUDI FARR

Judi first came to prominence through two high-profile television roles - rita in My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? (1967-68) and thelma in Kingswood Country (1980-82). other film and television credits include The Year My Voice Broke (1987),flirting (1991), Oscar and Lucinda (1997), Changi (2001), Walking on Water (2002), Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars, The Alice, Thunderstruck , Go Big (all 2004) and florence Broadhurst in Gillian armstrong's Unfolding Florence (2006), which received a Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance film festival. theatre credits include Cloudstreet, Death of a Salesman, Lettice and Lovage and Angels in America. awards include a theatre critics award (Women of Troy in 1992) and an australian film industry for Best Supporting actress (Walking on Water in 2002).

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