Ex-Westleigh Collegian, Val Lehman, whom we all know well from the TV series "Prisoner" has appeared on stage in the musical "Grease" as Miss Lynch.
Most of us knew her as Valerie Willis.
From the show's website:
Val Lehman is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Bea Smith, and winning the coveted Silver Logie and Best Actress Logie in 1981 and 1982, in the iconic Australian television series Prisoner.
Val escaped to make her mark in a number of other television shows, as Mary Facey in the Australian classic A Fortunate Life, Mrs Montalban in ABC’s miniseries Outbreak of Love, and notable guest roles in The Strange Calls, Blue Heelers and City Homicide amongst others.
Her film credits include Charlie and Boots, I Live With Me Dad and Kitty And The Bagman.
More than a just a screen celebrity, Val also has a wealth of stage experience including Eunice in A Streetcar Named Desire, Lorraine in A Lie Of The Mind, Mother in A Touch Of Silk (MTC), Fania in In Duty Bound (QTC), Mom in Trafford Tanzi, and for Jally Productions, playing Mrs Meadows as well as directing Steaming.
Her UK stage credits include Pearl in Summer Of The 17th Doll (Birmingham Rep), Mrs Boulton in Lady Chatterley’s Lover (Redgrave Theatre Farnham), Beatrix Potter in The Secret of Beatrix Potter (Key Theatre Peterborough), Miss Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy and Ouiser in Steel Magnolias.
Her musical theatre roles include Margot Channing in Applause, Carlotta in Follies, The Wicked Witch Of The West in The Wizard Of Oz, Momma Morton in Chicago (twice) and most recently Aunt Eller in Oklahoma for Harvest Rain Theatre Company.
Val is thrilled to be in GREASE, and given the opportunity to relive an era in which she, herself was a teenager.
From Stage Whispers:
Television and theatre veteran Val Lehman will play the role of Miss Lynch in the upcoming Australian production of GREASE, producer John Frost announced today (May 29, 2013).
Lehman is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Bea Smith in the iconic Australian television series Prisoner, winning the Silver Logie and Best Actress Logie in 1981 and 1982, but she also has an extensive stage career. Her theatre credits include A Streetcar Named Desire, A Lie Of The Mind, Trafford Tanzi, Steaming, Applause, Follies, The Wizard Of Oz, Chicago and most recently Aunt Eller in Oklahoma. Her UK stage credits include Summer Of The 17th Doll, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Driving Miss Daisy and Steel Magnolias.
“Val Lehman will be the ideal Miss Lynch for our new production of GREASE,” John Frost said. “Wentworth Detention Centre’s top dog Bea Smith is now Rydell High School’s tough Principal Miss Lynch. We searched the length and breadth of Australia to find the perfect actress to play opposite our stellar cast, and found the wonderful Val Lehman. GREASE is one of my favourite musicals, and the huge demand for tickets proves it must be everyone’s favourite as well.
GREASE is still the word!”
It's a big week for Wentworth Detention Centre alumni in Musical Theatre casting (with a theme of educational leadership), with Prisoner's Bea Smith's appointment as principal of Rydell High, following hot on the heels of the news that 'The Freak', aka Maggie Kirkpatrick, will reprise her role as Headmistress of Shiz in the Auckland season of Wicked.
GREASE will open at Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre on August 20, with seasons at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from October 13, and at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne from January 2, 2014. New seats have just been released for the Brisbane season, and new seats will be on sale for Sydney from June 2.
Who could forget this movie?
More possible news:
It seems there is a Facebook for Preston which may be relevant. I can't be sure as I am not on Facebook.
