By Alesha Capone
Tamara Eden has sung and danced her way around the world – but for her latest gig, Puttin’ On the Ritz, she’s coming home to Melbourne.
Eden, who grew up in Newport and Hoppers Crossing, has been cast in Puttin’ On the Ritz for its Australian tour.
The show features classic songs by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, along with ballroom, tap, theatre and ballet dancing.
“I’m mostly looking forward to paying homage to these wonderful composers – these songs have been around such a long time but have stood the test of time,” Eden said.
She said she had always loved the classic sounds of Hollywood’s golden era.
“I attended Mossfiel Primary School … I have very vivid memories of taking the school talent quest very seriously,” she said.
“And then I went to high school at Werribee Secondary College.”
She studied at the Keilor Jazz Centre and, at the age of 15, played Dorothy in The Werribee Theatre Company’s production of The Wiz.
“I lived in Hoppers Crossing until I was 18 years old which is when I moved to Japan to do my first overseas performing contract,” Eden said.
“My mum lives in Werribee now and I love visiting her and walking along the river, going down to the new Werribee South harbour and stopping into The South Corner cafe for a great coffee, I’m very proud to be from the western suburbs and love how much I see the area is growing each time I come home.
“I have a lot of family living in Melbourne’s west. My mum and brother still live in Werribee as I mentioned, my aunty Angela Altair lives in Williamstown and has actually been mayor three times.
“My Nanna and Nannu (Maltese for grandpa and grandma) immigrated to Sunshine from Malta and lived there until they passed away and my mum and her sisters and brother grew up there.”
Eden said she had spent the past few years performing in shows across Japan, England and Norway, but was looking forward to performing Puttin’ On the Ritz for Australian audiences.
“I will be living my dream, of performing on home soil to the sounds of the songs that brought me onto my path in theatre, to crowds of Aussie theatre goers – who could ask for anything more?” she said.
Puttin’ On the Ritz will be performed at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne at 2pm and 7.30pm on Saturday, June 15.
Tickets: $84.90 to $89.90, plus booking fee.
Details: ticketek.com.au
