Stage stars might be in Sapphires film

The stars of the musical The Sapphires, Christine Anu, Casey Donovan, Hollie Andrew and Kylie Farmer, could be the leads of the upcoming film adaptation.

“All options are to be considered – both known actors and those completely unknown, hence the open cast call,” producer Rosemary Blight told Encore.

The producers recently announced a nationwide casting process (www.sapphiresopencall.com), looking for four Indigenous women (aged 16-28) to play the lead roles.

The success of Bran Nue Dae (with performances by singers Jessica Mauboy and Missy Higgins) is an indication that there is a market for fresh, Indigenous-themed musicals.

“Bran Nue Dae, along with other films such as Mao’s Last Dancer, showed that Australians will embrace stories that have heart and soul and leave them filling emotionally fulfilled,” said Blight.

The Sapphires is based on a true story, that of the singing McCrae sisters – ‘Australia’s answer to The Supremes’ – and their 1969 journey from an Indigenous community in Cummeragunga, NSW, to entertain the troops in war-torn Vietnam. It will be an adaptation of the stage musical that opened in 2005

The Sapphires will be directed by Wayne Blair, from a screenplay by Tony Briggs (author of the stage story) and Keith Thompson. It will be produced by Blight and Kylie Du Fresne. Goalpoast is not involved in the stage production, currently playing at Sydney’s Seymour Centre.

Blight said that they’re currently scripting, and it’s too soon to announce financial or distribution partners for the project, which she hopes will start production in 2011.

“There’s a lot of interest, both domestic and international, but we’re not ready to announce partners yet,” she said.