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* April 2025 | 2-Week Workshop at Institute for American Musical Theatre in NYC.

* May 2025 | Picnic at Hanging Rock: in Concert at Lincoln Center.

 

* Fall/Winter 2025-26 | UK Off-West End Premiere Production.

 

 

2024

 

* December: Creative Australia awards grant to Hilary Bell and Greta Gertler Gold, to support script and score development for the musical 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'.

 

* Nov: Completion of Draft 6 of the script in consultation with dramaturg Ken Cerniglia.

 

* Oct: Director Jo Bonney concludes her work on the project due to scheduling conflicts.

 

* July: Developmental Lab, NYC. Including performance at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater on Thursday, July 25 in collaboration with Tara Rubin Casting, KGM Theatrical and Manhattan Musical Theatre Lab. Australian Consulate-General in NY pledges funding to bring a First Nations actor from Australia to NYC for the Developmental Lab. 

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2023

* February: First public performance of the song 'Time and Place' at Lincoln Center.

 

* April: Script Workshop in NYC with Jo Bonney.

 

* A second Early Investor joins the team, allowing for further development.

 

* July (Sydney, Australia): Hayes Theatre Developmental Workshop with first public presentation of several scenes and songs. Jo Bonney in attendance via Zoom.  

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* September (NYC): Music Workshop at Ars Nova Loft space with Music Director Amanda Morton and 8 actors.

 

* July 2024 | Developmental Lab, NYC. Including performance at Joe's Pub at The Public on Thursday, July 25.

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2022

* Tony nominee, Australian-American Jo Bonney joins the creative team as Director.

 

* Greta attends Yaddo Artist Residency to work on music for Picnic. Hilary and Greta work remotely on several new songs.

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* Hilary writes lyrics on a WestWords writers' retreat in Katoomba, NSW. 
 

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2021

* Greta and Hilary option the rights to create a stage musical adaptation of Joan Lindsay's iconic novel Picnic at Hanging Rock. 

 

* They are awarded a Create NSW Grant covering part of their commission for the first draft of the script and songs. An angel investor in the US contributes the remaining part.

 

* The Hayes Theatre (Sydney) awards Hilary and Greta a Seed Grant. This funds a research trip to Victoria and the demo recording session of 'Ode to St Valentine'. Hilary and Greta also interview a range of people throughout Australia and the USA connected with Peter Weir's film, Joan Lindsay and the novel. They begin cultural consultations with Wurundjeri Elders, one of the three Traditional Owner groups of Hanging Rock / Ngannelong. 

 

* Greta and Hilary visit Hanging Rock/ Ngannelong, Joan Lindsay's house Mulberry Hill, the National Gallery of Victoria, Braemar College, Fontainbleau, Mount Macedon and other relevant sites for research purposes.

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