Rathgeber lands ‘classic’ role

Horsham export Alex Rathgeber has scored a major role in the Australian run of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz.

The award-winning actor, dancer and singer will play Tin Man in the London Palladium revision of the all-time classic.

Rathgeber said he was thrilled to land the role, which will see him perform in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne from December to May.

“It’s nice to be stepping into an iconic role everyone is so familiar with and already loves,” he said. “It already feels like it is going to be a very special show.”

Rathgeber, who is now based in Sydney, said the audition process was a rigorous one.

“There were five rounds on five separate days over a couple of weeks,” he said.

“For the fifth round I was flown to Melbourne by the producers. The last two rounds were filmed and sent off to the original creators of the piece in London and New York, to get the thumbs up or thumbs down.”

Rathgeber said casting people also looked at him for the role of Scarecrow, but he knew Tin Man was ‘his bag’.

“I’m looking forward to being on stage, feeling the energy from the audience,” he said.

“People will have seen the movie and other versions of The Wizard of Oz, but they’ll be seeing it in a new way.

“It’s a new production created by Andrew Lloyd Webber in London a few years ago. I have a few friends in the cast and I can already tell it is going to be a joy to be part of.”

Rathgeber has come a long way since gracing the stage in Horsham Arts Council productions. Among a plethora of roles, he starred as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera in London and won a Helpmann Award for his portrayal of New York stockbroker Billy Crocker in Anything Goes.

“Billy was a huge role. I barely left the stage. The Tin Man has a lot of stage time but it will be good knowing not all the responsibility for the show rests on my shoulders,” Rathgeber said.

“I can’t wait to see lots of familiar faces at the Melbourne shows – or even in other cities.”