As we approach the Australian premiere performance of Jerry Herman’s MILK AND HONEY on Monday night, we continue to meet some of the principal performers who will bring this landmark musical to life…

JARED NEWALL (playing David)

Magnormos: Tell us about your character?
Jared: David is an optimist; a dreamer.  While everyone around him sees Israel for the barren land it appears to be, David sees the future: a promised land of ‘milk and honey’.  He is torn between his love for his homeland, and the love of his American wife, Barbara.  It’s these two loves that bring David to question everything he believes.

Magnormos: What drew you to MILK AND HONEY?
Jared: On the surface, Milk & Honey appears to be another show pulled from musical theatre’s ‘Golden Age’, with catchy songs and flashy dance numbers.  But after reading the script and working it on the floor, I found the show’s great depth began to emerge.  It is a beautiful period piece that deals with love; love of family, of a partner, of a people and of a land.  It’s a show with a whole lot of heart.

Magnormos: Why do you think Jerry Herman is so successful?
Jared: Composers like Jerry Herman are few and far between.  Very few composers can boast as many hit songs, sellout shows and awards as Jerry Herman.  His music has been played and performed with the almost the same regularity as when it was written, and recently a whole new generation has been introduced to his work through the movie Wall-E, whether they know it’s his or not.

Magnormos: Tell us a little about you - what’s a career highlight so far?
Jared: I graduated last year from the music theatre course at the University of Ballarat.  Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to work with John Bucchino on his musical It’s Only Life, which was directed by Milk & Honey’s executive producer, Aaron Joyner.  Soon, I will be heading out in a new direction, as a member of the group The Ten Tenors, on their 2011-2012 Australian and International tour, which I’m very excited about.

Click here to see rehearsal footage of Jared performing a song from the show