What happens when you mix musical theatre and nightclubbing? Club Broadway!
Imagine a dance party where the likes of Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris are replaced with Sondheim and Lloyd Webber. Believe it or not, that very concept is the latest rage on the international club scene. Musical Theatre Raves in the UK and Broadway Rave in the US are such examples and have inspired DJ Dan Murphy and DNA writer Gary Nunn, to create our own Aussie version – Club Broadway.
In what seems a reversal of the Jukebox musical, Club Broadway is exactly as it sounds – a nightclub specialising in show tunes.
Photograph: Gary Nunn
“It all started after I saw some TikTok posts of similar events in the UK and USA,” says Murphy.
“My friends were sending videos to Gary and me saying we should do it in Australia. When I saw the clip of an entire nightclub singing along to Defying Gravity from Wicked, I got chills and tears! It just looked incredible, and right up my alley.”
“It’s hilarious that I’ve spent twenty years pumping out house music, and now I’m playing Liza and Lloyd Webber!”
Murphy contacted his friend Gary Nunn to get the ball rolling on their first event which took place at Ginger’s nightclub on Oxford Street – selling out in 24 hours. Since then, other events have taken place at the Imperial in Erskineville and Sircuit Bar in Fitzroy Melbourne.
“In my initial meeting with Gary, I thought we were on to something special,” says Murphy.
“In twenty years of DJ’ing, I’ve never had such a strong reaction. People were stopping us in the street to ask about it and we’ve been inundated with requests from drag performers and singers to be involved.”
Photograph: Gary Nunn
Guest performers at the events have included Jacqui Dark (Opera Australia) and local drag queens such as Coco Jumbo, Leasa Mann and Little X. Popular performer Vybe kicked off the first event. Uniquely Club Broadway is also a rare chance for drag performers to belt out numbers not in their regular repertoire.
“I’d love it to grow big enough to do a special event at Mardi Gras.”
Unlike regular dance music, Club Broadway songs are not remixes but original cast recordings, including film soundtracks. There are old-school numbers from The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady, as well as blockbusters like Les Miserables, Chicago and RENT. Then there’s a modern twist with Six, Dear Evan Hansen and of course, Hamilton.
Photograph: Gary Nunn
“Being able to connect with like-minded show tune-lovers in a safe space, and judgement-free has been particularly special,” says Murphy.
“We’ve had so many lovely messages from our guests, mostly saying how fun and unique it is singing their hearts out to show tunes. It doesn’t take long for them to end up on stage doing impromptu numbers.”
“When you see someone singing their heart out to a song you also love, there’s an instant connection,” says Murphy.
“Being able to connect with like-minded show tune-lovers in a safe space, has been particularly special.”
“The ice is already broken because everyone’s there for the same reason. People have turned up solo and they’re welcomed into groups straight away. There’s so many moments that I’m in tears during the events because it’s so heart-warming.”
Photograph: Gary Nunn
Another attraction to Club Broadway is the chance for patrons to dress in costume which is being braced wholeheartedly.
“We’ve had guests arrive as Ursula, Ariel and Sebastian from The Little Mermaid,” says Murphy.
“One guest came dressed as Mrs Lovett from Sweeney Todd – complete with a pie that she’d made from clay! Gary Nunn is always a favourite coming dressed – as a nun. But I think we’ve only just scratched the surface for costumes. I’m waiting for someone to turn up in full green Elphaba makeup!”
Photograph: Gary Nunn
While Broadway Rave continues to tour America, as does Musical Theatre Raves in the UK, Murphy sees Club Broadway following a similar trajectory in Australia.
“The response has been so big and fast, that our venues have doubled in size,” he says.
“We’re looking at involving more cities and joining the Sydney Fringe Festival in September. That will be at The Ivy and is slated to be our biggest event yet. In fact, I’d love it to grow big enough to do a special event at The Enmore Theatre for Mardi Gras.”
For the seasoned DJ cum musical theatre aficionado and his business partner Nunn, Club Broadway is not unlike a musical plot itself, where the character’s fantasy is realised.
“I’ve always loved musicals, so to play these tunes on a massive club sound system and see the entire venue singing along is a dream come true,” says Murphy.
“I think it’s hilarious that I’ve spent the past twenty years pumping out house music, and now I’m playing Barbra, Liza and Lloyd Webber!”
For more: AU: clubbroadway.co
UK: musicaltheatreraves.co.uk USA: broadwayrave.com
