Book those tickets and lock in the dates, for the Sutherland Shire stage is set to shine.
Australia's leading musical theatre and opera stars, Marina Prior and David Hobson will be performing at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre on July 12 after selling out their 2018 show.
After selling out their 2017 and 2018 tours, combining 60 shows around the country, tenor and soprano powerhouse figures of opera and musical theatre, Hobson and Prior announce their 2019 tour, The 2 Of Us, in an intimate mode.
Such is the demand, there will be encore shows from 2018 plus brand new venues and locations.
With a vast repertoire spanning 35 years, there will be new songs and stories along with the hits.
Accompanied by renowned pianist David Cameron, in a two-hour intimate performance, the pair will perform their classics from productions such as The Phantom of The Opera, Cats, Evita, Les Miserables, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and La Boheme, to name but a few, as well as favourites from their award-winning albums.
Marina Prior is regarded as Australia's leading lady of musical theatre. She is best known for her lead role in The Phantom of the Opera and Cats, among others. She has also performed with international star Jose Carreras. Well known for her Carols by Candlelight performance each year, she was recently seen on the ABC TV series The Divorce.
David Hobson is one of Australia's best-known operatic tenors, musical theatre performers and recording artists. He has sung and performed many roles for Opera Australia, performed lead roles in musical theatre, sung for the Queen, featured at Carols by Candlelight, Spicks and Specks, Dancing with the Stars, It Takes Two and has been a presenter on Foxtel's Arts Channel, Studio.
"The tour has been so rewarding, refreshing and fun we can't wait to do it all again in 2019," Prior said.
"It's a thrill and an honour to be Australian artists performing in our own backyard, supported by Australian fans."
"It's great that we have the opportunity to take the show to the people, in areas around the country, that we may not have otherwise been able to get to with some of the bigger productions we perform in."
"With the Up Close & Personal show, it's like you're in our living room and we're in yours, singing both your and our favourite songs with a few funny career stories thrown in," Hobson said.
During their stop-over they will stay for 13 nights at Rydges Cronulla - an area they both say they "fell in love with".
"Most of the time when we're travelling for stage shows and production performances we stay in the city, which is great and there are some lovely hotels, but we often don't get to see or experience others parts of the town," she said.
"Our producer/promoter, Karen-lee lives in the shire and suggested on last year's tour of 50 shows around the country, that maybe a few of the weekends when we're in Sydney that we come and stay down in Cronulla, which we thought, was a great idea."
"Last year we stayed at the Quest Apartments on Cronulla beach and it was fantastic," Hobson said. "I got up and went for a run along the promenade in the morning, and we had some great lunches and dinners in and around the plaza and side streets.
"This year we're going to stay at the Rydges Hotel and I'm looking forward to doing some surfing with our merchandise manager, Shannon Smith who also lives in the shire and surfs every day she can."
"We've fallen in love with the area and I think we're staying about 13 nights this year whilst on the road," Prior said.
"I do love a bit of shopping and always looking for something new and different, perhaps a few handmade trinkets and things like that.
"Last year I bought a gorgeous dress in the mall and looking forward to going for a wander around again. I think Hobo is going to try and get me on a surfboard, but I'm not sure about that."
They are also keen to paddle-board, catch the ferry to Bundeena and "take in a few more cultural things in the area."
Book online here