ROLLING THUNDER captures the pulse and drama of a momentous era: combining intimate stories, epic songs, and stunning visuals, the show transports audiences to an era of political unrest, anti-war protest and a generation on the brink of revolution. A passionate story of courage, love and resilience wraps around rock classics that defined a generation, including “Born To Be Wild,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Magic Carpet Ride,” “The Letter,” “All Along The Watchtower,” and “Help Me Make it Through the Night.” Acclaimed in Australia as “a musical and dramatic triumph” (Herald Sun) and “a must-see for any rock music or musical theatre fan” (BroadwayWorld), ROLLING THUNDER is an electrifying and emotional experience about love, endurance, bravery and loss on the battlefield and at home. Producer Rebecca Blake established Blake Entertainment, a specialist arts marketing and creative services company that has been at the forefront of the Australian entertainment industry since 1988. The dynamic company has delivered national campaigns for tours by INXS, Prince, and The Rolling Stones. A key marketing force in the performing arts industry, Rebecca has executed world-class campaigns for many major productions, including the world premiere of The Boy From Oz, the Australian arena tour starring Hugh Jackman, Hot Shoe Shuffle, and the Australian premiere seasons of The Phantom of the Opera, Cabaret, and Chicago. In 2012, Rebecca was co-producer of Freeway: The Chet Baker Journey at the Sydney Opera House and the Melbourne International Arts Festival. Rolling Thunder Vietnam received its world premiere in Australia in 2014 to widespread acclaim, leading to return seasons in 2016 and 2023. Writer Bryce Hallett a respected Australian journalist and writer, he is a former Arts Editor at the Sydney Morning Herald and Arts Writer at The Australian. He has written extensively across the performing arts and was the Herald’s Chief Theatre Critic for more than a decade. His stage writing credits include Freeway – The Chet Baker Journey and Love Is a Drag, based on the 1960s cult album. Bryce wrote the rock drama Rolling Thunder Vietnam, playing three tours of Australia to wide acclaim. He is the author of Baroque Passion, about the trailblazing Australian Brandenburg Orchestra led by Paul Dyer.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a podcast from doubuor here again is Larry
Minty with the doubleor Saturday Morning Show. The story of
the Vietnam War is a complex one and for many
people it's very personal. Their stories are in a new
off Broadway play called Rolling Thunder. Let's meet the show's
(00:20):
writer Bryce Hallett and producer Rebecca Blake. Why don't we
start with you, Bryce, since you wrote this, tell us
what people when they go to this would expect off Broadway.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Well, as you mentioned, it's definitely the songs of that era.
And you often hear that catchphrase, you know, the songs
or art that defined a generation. But if there was
ever a phrase that can actually describe that prodigious output
of songwriting in that late sixties and early seventies, it's
this song this show, And so it embraces like a
(00:53):
huge catalog of songs from Paul Simon to you know, ROBERTA.
Flack and on it goes Steppenwolf and so and then
you sort of marry that to the words and the
intimate stories of based on many, many interviews I did
with veterans and their family members, and so that adds
to this intimate sort of aspect to this epic, as
(01:16):
you say, complex picture of war. So it's a very
dynamic experience.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Yeah, it's you said compelling, and that's absolutely the case.
And the fact, Rebecca, that these are personal stories. You know,
this isn't just from somebody's imagination. This is what really happened,
makes it even more fascinating and makes it even more compelling.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Look in Australia, we had veterans that would come and
see this show again and again. They contributed to the show,
not only with stories, but with photography. We had like
the Groupie veterans that just were so honored that we
were even doing this show. And to bring it here
to New York is a dream of mine. We've been
(02:03):
touring it in Australia for ten years now. We've readapted
the script for the American audiences and it is compelling.
It has heart, it has many many aspects to the show,
and this amazing music weaves in and out of the story.
So and all the songs have strategically been placed.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yeah, I'm listening to them. I've listened to some of
the music and I saw some of the music you're
going to put in there. I mean, it's a great
album if you were able to get all of that
on an album. I mean, it's the soundtrack of many
of our lives, I know.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
And during this tumultuous period, the best music came out
of this time. You know, these songwriters were writing these
songs that are still played today. So younger generations know
this music. So I would just love as many Americans
to see this show. I mean, we used to get
comments you've got to take this to America. You've got
(03:01):
to see let the us see this. And it's your music.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Yeah, you know, yeah, our music. You're absolutely right, But
it's the best of that music. I mean, when you
go down the list of what is in there, it's incredible.
I love that you have bridge over troubled waters and
I'm sure we got to get out of this place.
That's That's exactly the story for a lot of people
that were there. I'm interested brace about an Australian writing
(03:28):
this story because this is such an American experience.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Because of my background and my background as a journalist.
You know, it's sort of that, you know, as a
matter of earning the trust of many veterans and talking
to their families, and that took a while and over
many many drinks in many cases, and so that Yeah,
so it was sort of yeah, you were sort of
earning their trust and getting into the interior of their lives.
(03:54):
And you know, several people I interviewed were like American
Marines and gis, so you know, we have in Australia
quite a world view of events, and you know, we
were part of the Vietnam War. So it's you know,
to actually adapt the work wasn't as difficult as you
imagine because and dramatically, it's set in nineteen sixty eight, which,
(04:17):
as you know, is considered one of the worst years
in the twentieth century the termoil for assassinations of Martin
Luther King and Robert Kennedy and so to have that
dramatic arc in the show, as much as all of
this great music, that does make for a pretty powerful experience.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah, Rebecca walk us through it. Like when people go
to see this, what are they going to see?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Well, most of the comments are it's so insightful. We
had no idea. It's just so much more than a
jukebox musical. It's a love story. It's joyous, uplifting, it's
not you know, oh my God, we don't need to
see another story about war right now when everything's happening
in this time frame. But it's a show where people
(05:04):
come in, they're dancing, they're singing the songs. It's a
journey of three boys lives through letters because back then
that was the only way to communicate back home, so
that the letter writing is a big aspect. We cover protests,
combat history schools were coming in Australia because of the history.
(05:29):
We cover. It was the first televised war, the assassination
of Martin Luther King and as Bryce said, you know
Robert Kennedy, it was. It was a powerful time. So
we cover all that and we keep saying it's this,
you know, killing me softly helped me make it through
in the night. These ballads that Cassidy Pope, who you
(05:50):
know won the Voice, she was the winner of the Voice.
She is one of our leads, and it's just brings
tears to your eyes. And then you know, every ones,
I don't know, veterans come and they thank me, they
hug me after the show, they say thank you so much.
And I think, what makes this so different from anything
(06:10):
else running at the moment, It has purpose. We have
partnered with American Legion. A percentage of our merchandise is
going back to American Legion. And veterans come, they bring
their grandchildren, and they bring their brothers, their sisters, and
they keep reappearing every night, and I go, oh my god,
you're back again. We just can't get enough of this show.
(06:33):
It encapsulates so much. So it's very hard for me
to sit here and describe it because you know, it's
it's a journey, and it's in the late sixties, and
it covers a lot of history.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And I can't imagine Brace that you took all of
what she was just talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
It's amense.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
It's years and years and years of experiences and got
this into it.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, but you know, to reawaken the pulse of that
generation in the sea and to make it feel so
current as well, so it's not this nostalgia piece. It
actually talks to young people, It talks to people of
every age and ultimately at a firm's piece, and it's
a real sense of anti war protests through the show,
which just seems a natural fit for what's going on
(07:18):
in the world today.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
And we're only here for such a short time, so
we're closing September seven, so we don't have time. And
it is a word of mouth because once it hits
people will be talking about it wherein you know. We
have the first preview this Thursday. We open the twenty
fourth of July. But we're not here for a long time.
(07:41):
So if I would just say to those New Yorkers,
come and have a great night. You'll come out of
the theater singing and it'll be insightful. It's an era
we don't want to forget.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
No, it sounds compelling and it sounds amazing the music,
especially you were talking about it. I don't know the
rest of it yet until I see it, but music
is amazing. If you want to get tickets, you go
to Rolling Thunder us dot com. That's Rolling Thunder us
dot com again. Preview start July tenth. It opens on
the twenty fourth. Thanks so much for being here. Can't
(08:14):
wait to see it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Than thank you, Thanks time much.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
This has been a podcast from wo R
This is a podcast from doubuor here again is Larry
Minty with the doubleor Saturday Morning Show. The story of
the Vietnam War is a complex one and for many
people it's very personal. Their stories are in a new
off Broadway play called Rolling Thunder. Let's meet the show's
(00:20):
writer Bryce Hallett and producer Rebecca Blake. Why don't we
start with you, Bryce, since you wrote this, tell us
what people when they go to this would expect off Broadway.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Well, as you mentioned, it's definitely the songs of that era.
And you often hear that catchphrase, you know, the songs
or art that defined a generation. But if there was
ever a phrase that can actually describe that prodigious output
of songwriting in that late sixties and early seventies, it's
this song this show, And so it embraces like a
(00:53):
huge catalog of songs from Paul Simon to you know, ROBERTA.
Flack and on it goes Steppenwolf and so and then
you sort of marry that to the words and the
intimate stories of based on many, many interviews I did
with veterans and their family members, and so that adds
to this intimate sort of aspect to this epic, as
(01:16):
you say, complex picture of war. So it's a very
dynamic experience.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Yeah, it's you said compelling, and that's absolutely the case.
And the fact, Rebecca, that these are personal stories. You know,
this isn't just from somebody's imagination. This is what really happened,
makes it even more fascinating and makes it even more compelling.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Look in Australia, we had veterans that would come and
see this show again and again. They contributed to the show,
not only with stories, but with photography. We had like
the Groupie veterans that just were so honored that we
were even doing this show. And to bring it here
to New York is a dream of mine. We've been
(02:03):
touring it in Australia for ten years now. We've readapted
the script for the American audiences and it is compelling.
It has heart, it has many many aspects to the show,
and this amazing music weaves in and out of the story.
So and all the songs have strategically been placed.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yeah, I'm listening to them. I've listened to some of
the music and I saw some of the music you're
going to put in there. I mean, it's a great
album if you were able to get all of that
on an album. I mean, it's the soundtrack of many
of our lives, I know.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
And during this tumultuous period, the best music came out
of this time. You know, these songwriters were writing these
songs that are still played today. So younger generations know
this music. So I would just love as many Americans
to see this show. I mean, we used to get
comments you've got to take this to America. You've got
(03:01):
to see let the us see this. And it's your music.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Yeah, you know, yeah, our music. You're absolutely right, But
it's the best of that music. I mean, when you
go down the list of what is in there, it's incredible.
I love that you have bridge over troubled waters and
I'm sure we got to get out of this place.
That's That's exactly the story for a lot of people
that were there. I'm interested brace about an Australian writing
(03:28):
this story because this is such an American experience.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Because of my background and my background as a journalist.
You know, it's sort of that, you know, as a
matter of earning the trust of many veterans and talking
to their families, and that took a while and over
many many drinks in many cases, and so that Yeah,
so it was sort of yeah, you were sort of
earning their trust and getting into the interior of their lives.
(03:54):
And you know, several people I interviewed were like American
Marines and gis, so you know, we have in Australia
quite a world view of events, and you know, we
were part of the Vietnam War. So it's you know,
to actually adapt the work wasn't as difficult as you
imagine because and dramatically, it's set in nineteen sixty eight, which,
(04:17):
as you know, is considered one of the worst years
in the twentieth century the termoil for assassinations of Martin
Luther King and Robert Kennedy and so to have that
dramatic arc in the show, as much as all of
this great music, that does make for a pretty powerful experience.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Yeah, Rebecca walk us through it. Like when people go
to see this, what are they going to see?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Well, most of the comments are it's so insightful. We
had no idea. It's just so much more than a
jukebox musical. It's a love story. It's joyous, uplifting, it's
not you know, oh my God, we don't need to
see another story about war right now when everything's happening
in this time frame. But it's a show where people
(05:04):
come in, they're dancing, they're singing the songs. It's a
journey of three boys lives through letters because back then
that was the only way to communicate back home, so
that the letter writing is a big aspect. We cover protests,
combat history schools were coming in Australia because of the history.
(05:29):
We cover. It was the first televised war, the assassination
of Martin Luther King and as Bryce said, you know
Robert Kennedy, it was. It was a powerful time. So
we cover all that and we keep saying it's this,
you know, killing me softly helped me make it through
in the night. These ballads that Cassidy Pope, who you
(05:50):
know won the Voice, she was the winner of the Voice.
She is one of our leads, and it's just brings
tears to your eyes. And then you know, every ones,
I don't know, veterans come and they thank me, they
hug me after the show, they say thank you so much.
And I think, what makes this so different from anything
(06:10):
else running at the moment, It has purpose. We have
partnered with American Legion. A percentage of our merchandise is
going back to American Legion. And veterans come, they bring
their grandchildren, and they bring their brothers, their sisters, and
they keep reappearing every night, and I go, oh my god,
you're back again. We just can't get enough of this show.
(06:33):
It encapsulates so much. So it's very hard for me
to sit here and describe it because you know, it's
it's a journey, and it's in the late sixties, and
it covers a lot of history.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
And I can't imagine Brace that you took all of
what she was just talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
It's amense.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
It's years and years and years of experiences and got
this into it.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, but you know, to reawaken the pulse of that
generation in the sea and to make it feel so
current as well, so it's not this nostalgia piece. It
actually talks to young people, It talks to people of
every age and ultimately at a firm's piece, and it's
a real sense of anti war protests through the show,
which just seems a natural fit for what's going on
(07:18):
in the world today.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
And we're only here for such a short time, so
we're closing September seven, so we don't have time. And
it is a word of mouth because once it hits
people will be talking about it wherein you know. We
have the first preview this Thursday. We open the twenty
fourth of July. But we're not here for a long time.
(07:41):
So if I would just say to those New Yorkers,
come and have a great night. You'll come out of
the theater singing and it'll be insightful. It's an era
we don't want to forget.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
No, it sounds compelling and it sounds amazing the music,
especially you were talking about it. I don't know the
rest of it yet until I see it, but music
is amazing. If you want to get tickets, you go
to Rolling Thunder us dot com. That's Rolling Thunder us
dot com again. Preview start July tenth. It opens on
the twenty fourth. Thanks so much for being here. Can't
(08:14):
wait to see it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Than thank you, Thanks time much.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
This has been a podcast from wo R
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