By Tom Cowie
Morning Melodies began in 1985 as a way of making use of empty theatres. The low entry prices reflected that midday on a Monday was not prime time for showbusiness – but it turned into a hit.
Nearly 40 years later and the appeal of a cheap ticket, particularly during a cost-of-living crunch, has not dimmed, with Morning Melodies returning to the Melbourne Arts Centre this week for a run of more matinée shows.
Lucy Durack is the first performer in a new program of Morning Melodies at the Arts Centre.Credit: Jason South
Singer Lucy Durack will kick off this year’s program at Hamer Hall on February 12 with performances at 11am and 1.30pm as part of a 2024 line-up that includes jazz group The Syncopators, vocalist Nina Ferro and the Australian Ballet School.
The tickets are $33, which the organisers believe is very competitive for the level of performers on offer.
“I love what the Arts Centre is doing with making theatre affordable, and I love the kind of ingenuity of how it began,” said Durack, whose career includes performances in Wicked, Legally Blonde and Shrek The Musical.
“People realising that you can make good use of an otherwise empty theatre on a Monday morning, I think that’s so Melbourne.”
Lucy Durack (right) as Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical.
The show’s early start time doesn’t mean it is lower quality than a nighttime performance, said Durack.
“Just because it’s in the morning doesn’t mean it’s not going to be as well-rehearsed or as world-class as an evening show,” she said.
“I think it’s important not to underestimate the fact that it’s a daytime concert and make sure that it’s absolutely as professional and as perfect as it would be any other time of the day or anywhere else.”
Durack’s selection of songs that she will perform at her Monday Melodies shows include For Good (Wicked), You’ll Never Walk Alone (Carousel), At Last, Bye Bye Blackbird and Dream a Little Dream of Me.
“There’ll be a smattering of songs from shows that I have done before,” said Durack. “A few songs that I haven’t done, but I just really love and then a whole bunch of stuff in between.”
Traditionally, the start time and low cost of Morning Melodies has appealed to an audience of seniors, however Durack said all age groups were welcome.
“Even if they can take a lunch break, because the concerts are short. They’re all between 60 and 75 minutes,” she said.
“The power of music to uplift is incredible, I’m hoping to do that with my show.”
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