The Man From Snowy River: Arena Spectacular
Encyclopedia
The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular, which was based on Banjo Paterson
Banjo Paterson
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, OBE was an Australian bush poet, journalist and author. He wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing particularly on the rural and outback areas, including the district around Binalong, New South Wales where he spent much of his childhood...

's poem The Man from Snowy River, was a very popular musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...

 production which toured Australian capital cities twice during 2002.

Kevin Jacobsen
Kevin Jacobsen
Kevin George Jacobsen OAM is a well-known Australian entertainment entrepreneur.Along with his brothers Colin and Keith, he was a member of prominent Australian 1960s band, The Joy Boys....

 and David Atkins
David Atkins
David Atkins, OAM was recognised in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours with a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the entertainment industry and is Australia’s most awarded producer, choreographer and director, and CEO of David Atkins Enterprises, a major-events production...

 were the executive producers for the show.

David Atkins and Ignatius Jones
Ignatius Jones
Ignatius Jones is an Australian actor and former lead singer of punk cabaret band Jimmy And The Boys.With David Atkins, he was the creative force behind the Opening Ceremony of Shanghai 2010 World Expo and the Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games...

 were co-directors and co-writers. Extra dialogue was written for the show by Jonathan Biggins
Jonathan Biggins
Jonathan Biggins , is an Australian actor, singer, writer and comedian. He has appeared on film, stage and television, as well as in satirical sketch comedy television programs...

 and Phillip Scott
Phillip Scott
Phillip Scott , is an Australian actor, singer, pianist, writer and comedian.He has appeared on film as well as in sketch comedy television programs...

.

All poetry narrated in the musical was written by Banjo Paterson
Banjo Paterson
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, OBE was an Australian bush poet, journalist and author. He wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing particularly on the rural and outback areas, including the district around Binalong, New South Wales where he spent much of his childhood...

, including the lyrics to the songs "Waltzing Matilda
Waltzing Matilda
"Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most widely known bush ballad. A country folk song, the song has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia"....

" (with music written by M. Cowan), and "As Long As Your Eyes Are Blue" (the music to which was "Clancy's Theme", which was written by Bruce Rowland
Bruce Rowland
Bruce Rowland is a well-known Australian composer. He composed the soundtrack for the 1982 movie "The Man from Snowy River", as well as the soundtrack for its 1988 sequel "The Man from Snowy River II"...

 for the film The Man from Snowy River).

The screen images, photographed by Ross Dunstan, were provided by Australian Geographic Pty Ltd
Australian Geographic
The Australian Geographic is a quarterly geographical magazine-style journal created by Dick Smith in 1985. It focuses mainly on stories about Australia, or about Australian people in other countries...

 and are featured in their book The Snowy Mountains.

The 'crack riders' (expert riders) in the musical wore Akubra
Akubra
Akubra is an Australian brand of bush hat, whose wide-brimmed styles are a distinctive part of Australian culture, especially in rural areas. The name is believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word for head covering....

 hats and Driza-Bone
Driza-Bone
Driza-Bone, originating from the phrase "dry as a bone", is a trade name for the company making full-length waterproof riding coats and apparel. The company was established in 1898 and is currently Australian owned and manufactures its products in Australia...

 riding coats.

Awards

  • Winner: ARIA
    Australian Recording Industry Association
    The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...

     award for his score for The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular (Original Cast Recording) for Best Original Cast / Show Album (2002)

  • Winner: Bruce Rowland
    Bruce Rowland
    Bruce Rowland is a well-known Australian composer. He composed the soundtrack for the 1982 movie "The Man from Snowy River", as well as the soundtrack for its 1988 sequel "The Man from Snowy River II"...

     for his score for The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular (Original Cast Recording) in 2003


Green Room Awards
Green Room Awards
The Green Room Awards are peer awards which recognise excellence in cabaret, dance, drama, fringe theatre, musical theatre and opera in Melbourne....

 (2002)
  • Winner: David Atkins
    David Atkins
    David Atkins, OAM was recognised in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours with a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the entertainment industry and is Australia’s most awarded producer, choreographer and director, and CEO of David Atkins Enterprises, a major-events production...

     and Ignatius Jones
    Ignatius Jones
    Ignatius Jones is an Australian actor and former lead singer of punk cabaret band Jimmy And The Boys.With David Atkins, he was the creative force behind the Opening Ceremony of Shanghai 2010 World Expo and the Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games...

     for Direction and Staging
  • Winner: Conrad Helfrich for Musical Direction in a Musical Production
  • Winner: Morris Lyda for Technical Design
  • Nominee: Peter Milne for Projections/Set/Designs
  • Nominee: Wyn Milsom for Sound Design
  • Nominee: Martin Crewes
    Martin Crewes
    -Early life:Crewes was born in London. He moved to Australia when he was 10 years of age, and attended the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, in Perth. Other notable graduates of WAAPA include Hugh Jackman, Lisa McCune and Frances O'Connor...

     for Male Artist in a Leading Role

Cast members

  • Georgie Parker
    Georgie Parker
    Georgina "Georgie" Parker is an Australian television actress. She grew up in the suburb of St. Ives.-Personal life:...

     as Kate Conroy (John Conroy's daughter)
  • Steve Bisley
    Steve Bisley
    Steve Bisley is an Australian film and television actor, who attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art .-Acting career:...

     as Banjo Paterson
  • Charles "Bud" Tingwell as John Conroy (the owner of the property)
  • Lee Kernaghan
    Lee Kernaghan
    Lee Kernaghan OAM is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He was the 2008 Australian of the Year.-Honours:Kernaghan received the Order of Australia Medal in 2004....

     as the Balladeer
  • Martin Crewes
    Martin Crewes
    -Early life:Crewes was born in London. He moved to Australia when he was 10 years of age, and attended the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, in Perth. Other notable graduates of WAAPA include Hugh Jackman, Lisa McCune and Frances O'Connor...

     as Jim Ryan (The Man)

  • Simon Westaway
    Simon Westaway
    Simon Westaway is an Australian actor who has appeared in many television series, films and theatre productions. He is most remembered as portraying Domenic "Mick" Gatto in the crime series Underbelly. He currently hosts Channel Seven's Surf Patrol. He has three children: Jackson, Bella and Ruben...

     as Dan Mulligan, the leading hand
  • John Brady
    John Brady (showman)
    John Brady is an Australian whip cracking expert. He has performed on five continents – in leading shows, fairs and special events – and has appeared in many television shows and films, including Holywood films, as a showman who is both excellent at rope tricks and whip cracking.John Brady performs...

     as Saltbush Bill (also tricks with whips and ropes)
  • Steve Jefferys
    Steve Jefferys
    Steve Jefferys , was the lone rider in the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony. He galloped into the stadium on his 7 year old Australian Stock Horse "Ammo", which reared, and then Jefferys cracked his whip to signal the beginning of the Opening Ceremony...

     as the Breaker
  • James Rutty as McGinness McGee
  • Deb Mitchelmore as John Brady's whips and ropes assistant


For the full cast list see The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular (film)

Plot

On John Conroy's property, the 2-year-old colts and fillies are mustered and brought to the homestead for horse breaking. Two of the colts are of very good stock, especially the beautiful and spirited colt from the famous racehorse "Regret" (John Conroy says that the colt is worth a thousand pounds (£1000) and that he wants the colt to eventually be the stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...

 horse for the property).

Jim Ryan arrives at John Conroy's property following the death of his father. When he and Conroy's daughter, Kate, see each other, it is love at first sight for them both.

Jim, however, finds resentment at his presence at the station
Station (Australian agriculture)
Station is the term for a large Australian landholding used for livestock production. It corresponds to the North American term ranch or South American estancia...

, both from John Conroy, the owner of the property, and the station's stockmen and station hands, with Dan Mulligan (the leading hand), disdainfully commenting "We don't want any swagmen
Swagman
A swagman is an old Australian and New Zealand term describing an underclass of transient temporary workers, who travelled by foot from farm to farm carrying the traditional swag...

 here". Saltbush and McGinness McGee also make disparaging remarks about Jim Ryan's horse, with Saltbush sarcastically asking Jim if he bought his horse from a Mark Foys
Mark Foys
Mark Foys was a department store in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, founded by Francis Foy and his brother Mark Foy and named after their father Mark Foy ....

 catalogue, and McGinness McGee commenting that it was more likely that the horse had been saved from a glue factory
Animal glue
An animal glue is an adhesive that is created by prolonged boiling of animal connective tissue.These protein colloid glues are formed through hydrolysis of the collagen from skins, bones, tendons, and other tissues, similar to gelatin. The word "collagen" itself derives from Greek κόλλα kolla, glue...

.

John Conroy also comments that they have enough men working on the property already. Kate pleads with her father to give Jim a job at the property, and he finally relents, saying that Jim can help break the horses. John Conroy resents it when Jim Ryan says that he knows of a better way to break horses than the horse-breaking method being used at the property. However, John Conroy says that Jim could prove his expertise in horse-breaking by breaking the colt from "Regret".

During the night, the Brumby
Brumby
A Brumby is a free-roaming feral horse in Australia. Although found in many areas around the country, the best-known brumbies are found in the Australian Alps region in south-eastern Australia. Today, most of them are found in the Northern Territory, with the second largest population in Queensland...

 herd gallops close to the homestead, and the colt from "Regret" breaks free from his tethers and joins them. John Conroy is furious at the loss of his prized colt, and unfairly blames Jim for what has occurred. Conroy decides to get all the crack riders (expert horse riders) from the stations near and far to muster at the homestead and hunt for the Brumbies, offering a reward of £1000, and angrily orders Jim to leave the property first thing in the morning.

The crack riders gather at the homestead the following morning, including "Harrison" (who "made his pile" [fortune] when "Pardon" won the cup, (a reference to the President's Cup, a lesser known race held in Manindie, New South Wales) and "Clancy of the Overflow
Clancy of the Overflow
"Clancy of The Overflow" is a poem by Banjo Paterson, first published in The Bulletin, an Australian news magazine, on 21 December 1889. The poem is typical of Paterson, offering a romantic view of rural life, and is one of his best-known works.-History:...

" (who was a friend of Jim). Jim shyly turns up to join in the ride to hunt for the colt and Brumbies, but finds that, apart from his friend, Clancy, he is not wanted by anyone on the ride. Clancy convinces the others that, as both Jim and his horse were mountain-reared, they would be of great help in the ride.

The Brumbies are too quick for the riders and, when it becomes too steep and dangerous with Wombat
Wombat
Wombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately in length with a short, stubby tail. They are adaptable in their habitat tolerances, and are found in forested, mountainous, and heathland areas of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, as well as...

 holes (burrows, where a horse could break a leg), all riders stop short of the dangerous descent — apart from Jim, who continues to chase the Brumby herd - finally bringing the herd (including the colt) back to John Conroy's property.

John Conroy is delighted to have his colt back again, and gives his approval to Jim marrying Kate. A concert and country dance are then held in celebration and recognition of Jim's deed, as well as a superb equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...

 pageant, and all ends happily.

Act I

Scene 1 — Prelude
instrumental music: "Waltzing Matilda
Waltzing Matilda
"Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most widely known bush ballad. A country folk song, the song has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia"....

" (Traditional version)
poem: "Prelude" (narrated by Steve Bisley
Steve Bisley
Steve Bisley is an Australian film and television actor, who attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art .-Acting career:...

)


Scene 2 — Mustering the Colts
instrumental music: "Snowy River Suite"


Scene 3 — The Homestead
song: "Spirit of the High Country" (sung by Lee Kernaghan
Lee Kernaghan
Lee Kernaghan OAM is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He was the 2008 Australian of the Year.-Honours:Kernaghan received the Order of Australia Medal in 2004....

)
poem: "The Melting of the Snow" (narrated by Charles 'Bud' Tingwell and Steve Bisley)


Scene 4 — Jim's Entrance — The Man Arrives
song: "Southern Son" (sung by Martin Crewes
Martin Crewes
-Early life:Crewes was born in London. He moved to Australia when he was 10 years of age, and attended the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, in Perth. Other notable graduates of WAAPA include Hugh Jackman, Lisa McCune and Frances O'Connor...

)


Scene 5 — Breaking the Colts
song: "Snowy Mountains Buckjump" (sung by Lee Kernaghan)


Scene 6 — The Horse Whisperer
instrumental music: "Jessica's Theme"
song: "The Rope That Pulls The Wind" (sung by Martin Crewes)


Scene 7 — The Breakout
poem: "Brumby's Run" (narrated by Steve Bisley)
instrumental music: "The Breakout"


Scene 8 — The Confrontation — Jim's & Kate's First Kiss
song: "Kosciusko Moon" (sung by Martin Crewes and Georgie Parker
Georgie Parker
Georgina "Georgie" Parker is an Australian television actress. She grew up in the suburb of St. Ives.-Personal life:...

)


Scene 9 — The Cracks Gather — Musical Ride
instrumental music: "The Man From Snowy River Theme"
song: "Boys From the Bush" (sung by Lee Kernaghan)

Act II

Musical Entrácte
instrumental music: "Waltzing Matilda
Waltzing Matilda
"Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most widely known bush ballad. A country folk song, the song has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia"....

" (Queensland version) (sung by Lee Kernaghan)
poem" "Daylight is Dying" (narrated by Steve Bisley and Charles 'Bud' Tingwell)


Scene 1 — Tall Stories
song: "Pull the Other One Mate" (sung by Lee Kernaghan, Simon Westaway
Simon Westaway
Simon Westaway is an Australian actor who has appeared in many television series, films and theatre productions. He is most remembered as portraying Domenic "Mick" Gatto in the crime series Underbelly. He currently hosts Channel Seven's Surf Patrol. He has three children: Jackson, Bella and Ruben...

, James Rutty and Steve Jefferys
Steve Jefferys
Steve Jefferys , was the lone rider in the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony. He galloped into the stadium on his 7 year old Australian Stock Horse "Ammo", which reared, and then Jefferys cracked his whip to signal the beginning of the Opening Ceremony...

)
instrumental "Eureka Creek"


Scene 2 — The Man and Kate — A Kiss for Luck
song: "As Long As Your Eyes Are Blue" (sung by Georgie Parker)


Scenes 3, 4 and 5
poem: "The Man from Snowy River" (narrated by Steve Bisley during scenes 3, 4 and 5)
Scene 3. instrumental music: "The Man From Snowy River Theme"
instrumental music: "The Departure"
Scene 4. instrumental music: "The Ride"
Scene 5. instrumental music: "The Return"


Scene 6 — The Concert
  • Country songs and country dancing
song: "You Rock My World" (sung by Lee Kernaghan)
song: "Electric Rodeo" (sung by Lee Kernaghan)
song: "Cobar Line" (sung by Lee Kernaghan)


Scene 7 — Musical Ride
song: "Southern Son'" (reprise) — (sung by Lee Kernaghan)


Scene 8 — The Finale
instrumental music: "The Man From Snowy River Theme"
song: "Spirit of the High Country" (reprise) — (sung by Lee Kernaghan)


Scene 9 — The Swagman Returns
instrumental music: "Waltzing Matilda
Waltzing Matilda
"Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most widely known bush ballad. A country folk song, the song has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia"....

" (Traditional version)
Epilogue: "A Singáer of the Bush" (narrated by Steve Bisley)

Interval entertainment

  • Woodchopping
Woodchoppers: Sean Harper, Lindsay Hewill, Mal Windley and Peter Windley

Cast album

Bruce Rowland
Bruce Rowland
Bruce Rowland is a well-known Australian composer. He composed the soundtrack for the 1982 movie "The Man from Snowy River", as well as the soundtrack for its 1988 sequel "The Man from Snowy River II"...

, who composed the instrumental music for both the 1982 film The Man from Snowy River film and its sequel 1988 film The Man from Snowy River II (American title: "Return to Snowy River"), composed special arrangements of some of his music for the musical.

Lee Kernaghan
Lee Kernaghan
Lee Kernaghan OAM is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He was the 2008 Australian of the Year.-Honours:Kernaghan received the Order of Australia Medal in 2004....

 and Garth Porter
Garth Porter
Garth Porter is an Australian musician, songwriter and record producer best known as a member of the 1970s pop group Sherbet, and for his key role as co-writer and producer for country music singer Lee Kernaghan....

 wrote the music and lyrics for the country songs
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

. Lee Kernaghan also sang some of the country songs which he had already recorded on some of his albums, during the concert scene.

The CD, which was released by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...

 in 2002, won the 2002 Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA Music Award) for Best Cast / Show Album.

DVD release

"The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular" was filmed at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Brisbane Entertainment Centre
The Brisbane Entertainment Centre is a centre, located in Boondall, a Brisbane City suburb, in Queensland, Australia.The arena has an assortment of seating plans, which facilitate the comfort of its users, subject to performance. Specific seating plans usually are allocated, depending on the...

 in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...

, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...

, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

, during its second run in Brisbane during October, 2002. The DVD, and also the VHS, recordings of the musical were released on 26 January 2003 (Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...

).

External links

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