It’s been a fair while since Elvis “left the building” but fans can expect a special return guest appearance from the king of rock ‘n roll in Castlemaine very soon.
Baz Luhrmann’s epic movie ELVIS starring Austin Butler and Oscar winner Tom Hanks, is set to make its Castlemaine premiere, screening at the Theatre Royal next Friday evening as part of a special fundraiser for the next Castlemaine Fringe Festival happening March next year.
In a move certain to delight fans of the rock and roll legend, next Friday’s special fundraising screening of ELVIS is being organised by The Fringe Festival’s organising committee.
“I am helping organise a red carpet premiere of ELVIS at the Theatre Royal on Friday July 15th as a fundraiser for Castlemaine Fringe,” says Fringe Festival chair, Castlemaine’s Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns.
“Getting dollars behind a great event like the Fringe Festival is critical.”
The Theatre Royal’s Felicity Cripps says the movie’s Castlemaine screening looks likely to be extremely well patronised.
“It’s probably been one of our most anticipated films of the year,” she says. “And the soundtrack is incredible,” Jacqueline says.
Among those taking a keen interest is Harcourt’s Brian Inwards who loves few things better than slipping into his ’70s Vegas-style Elvis outfit and going out for some fun on the town – many towns if possible.
“It all started at a friend’s stag do and it just grew from there,” confides Brian, who, 12 years on from that stag do is well established among the state’s legion of Elvis devotees noted for doing a pretty mean dress-up impersonation of the King.
It’s something Brian does any chance he gets – “Elvis Day, karaoke, pub sing… Everyone loves Elvis. In fact it’s how I met my wife,” he says.
But if you’ve never quite managed to master those iconic rock ‘n roll dance moves yourself – don’t worry.
Jacqueline says next Friday night’s special fundraising event will also offer a prime chance to amend all that.
“The night will include an after party with rock ‘n roll DJs,” she says.
“And we have dancers from Bendigo’s Jailhouse Rockers coming along on the night to perform and teach rock ‘n roll dance steps.”
More details can be found on the Theatre Royal website.
ELVIS is an epic, big-screen spectacle from Warner Bros Pictures and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Baz Luhrmann that explores the life and music of Elvis Presley.
