Rick Springfield’s remarkable life and career will take centre stage at the Cowra Civic Centre on Sunday, September 14, when Late, Late At Night (The Rick Springfield Story) arrives for a 2pm performance.
Written by award-winning Australian playwright Kieran Carroll and starring rising Sydney performer Jackson Carroll, the two-act, one-man pop-rock play is adapted from Springfield’s best-selling New York Times autobiography of the same name.
Directed by Robert Johnson from Burning House Theatre Company, the production features 20 of Springfield’s songs, spanning from his early Zoot days to his 17 American Top 40 hits in the 1980s and beyond.
Carroll said Springfield himself had given his support for the production.
“The show streamed in the US in May 2024 to a great reaction,” he said.
Latest Stories
“Rick Springfield and his management are great fans.”
The play traces Springfield’s journey from his childhood in Australia and Britain, to his early music career at home, his rise and struggles in 1970s America, and his massive pop and acting success in the 1980s. It also explores the personal challenges he faced, including a decline in the public eye, mental health struggles, and his eventual artistic resurgence in the 21st century.
Carroll said the show had been touring Australia since 2022 with strong regional support.
“The show is getting a good reaction regionally,” he said.
“Sons of Sons Elvis, Jerry Lee, Johnny and Me had a great show out in Cowra last year and so we thought it was a good time to bring a new show to the community, which had a great turnout and lots of community support.”
He said many Australians are surprised by the scale of Springfield’s career and personal story.
“The story is a really vast story and a lot of Australians don’t realise how big Rick is in the US, and how much he has gone through in his life and career,” he said.
“It’s the story of a suburban Melbourne boy and it often surprises the audience.”
Carroll added Springfield remains one of Australia’s most successful musical exports.
“One of the biggest musical exports in terms of record sales,” he said.
Tickets for Late, Late At Night (The Rick Springfield Story) are available now through the Cowra Civic Centre.
