Lindsay Prodea is a highly respected Adelaide-based performer, celebrated for his versatility and powerful tenor voice. With over two decades of stage experience, he has earned accolades such as BroadwayWorld Australia’s ‘Best Performer in a Musical’ for Rent (2023), the Theatre Association of South Australia’s ‘Outstanding Performer Award’ for Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (2018), ‘Best Male Performance’ nominations from the Adelaide Theatre Guide (2019 & 2016) and the Adelaide Critics Circle Individual award in 2024.
If you’ve attended a locally produced musical theatre production here in Adelaide over the last few years, Lindsay’s name would be familiar to you.
Making its world premiere at the Adelaide Fringe 2025, A Friend of Dorothy: Anthems of Pride is a vibrant homage to resilience, fabulousness, and the enduring power of music. In his long-awaited solo cabaret debut, Lindsay invites audiences to Plant 4 Bowden for an hour of soul-stirring songs and heartfelt storytelling. This nostalgic evening honors queer anthems that have transcended generations, transforming struggles into the soundtracks of liberation and pride.
Lindsay spoke to Glam Adelaide about A Friend of Dorothy, the show’s creation, and what it is about the creative arts and performing that draws him in.
“For me it’s the ability to tell a genuine story, to try and create some sort of emotion for the audience and take them on a journey with me. It is so rewarding when you see people in the foyer after a show and you know that they’ve been touched by what you’ve done. Last year when I played Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz, I had someone who said, ‘I’ve seen this show several times, but this really hit me emotionally because I felt like it was such a genuine way of telling an accurate depiction of a homosexual relationship.’ It’s moments like that that make me keep wanting to do theatre. I love the way that theatre and music have the ability to touch people. I think that’s what it is for me and that’s what keeps me wanting to do it.”
Lindsay shared with Glam where the idea behind A Friend of Dorothy came from.
“I have wanted to do my own solo cabaret for a long time, and I’ve had so many people ask me, ‘Why haven’t you done it yet?’ It’s been the people in my life who have really pushed me. My partner Matt and I sat down with my old friend, Michelle Pearson, who’s running Plant 4 Bowden, and she too asked why I haven’t done my own solo show yet. The idea came about because I really wanted to do something impactful, that people would be able to relate to and take something away from, in terms of a bit of a message. I wanted to celebrate music, but also write something that would touch people, and that relates back to my reason for doing theatre.
“So about a year ago, my partner and I were on our anniversary trip, and we were having a glass of wine, and I came up with the idea for a show about queer icons. There’s all of these people through history who have become so important to the queer community, and they’re not necessarily queer themselves. People like Dolly Parton, she’s a heterosexual woman, but what is it about her that has made her a queer icon? Then there’s people like Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. For me, it came about by wanting to do something impactful. But then I thought, you know, something close to home is the queer experience and the people that have been so important to that community.”
With so many songs and artists that could have been chosen, we asked Lindsay how he was able to choose what has ended up in the show.
“We actually fit 45+ artists into the show. We’ve got several medleys because there are just so many songs we wanted to feature. We tell the story of Judy Garland and where the phrase ‘A Friend of Dorothy’ comes from. The show is structured around, ‘Here are some of the different reasons why people have become icons.’ You’ve got people like Kate Bush, Dolly Parton, David Bowie. I’ve also gone back in time to the golden age of music theatre. I talk about Cole Porter and we do a bit of a song from one of his shows as well as Noël Coward.”
Lindsay and his producer, Matthew Liersch, are proud that they have secured a 100% South Australian team to bring this show to the Fringe.
“When we set out to do this, being South Australians ourselves, we wanted to support a venue that is fully South Australian. So every act that is at Plant 4 Bowden this year is a South Australian act. That was something really important to Michelle when we were discussing the venue with her. She really wanted to celebrate locals. The band is also fully South Australian. I contacted Peter Johns and spoke to him about how I’d love his expertise in arranging the music, being the show’s musical director and playing keys. Peter is phenomenal and I love working with him. We also have Mykaela McQueen on guitar, Louis Cann on bass and Jack Barton on drums. I’ve also worked with local photographer Kyahm Ross for the publicity photos. We’ve even worked with 23rd Street Distillery to create a special cocktail that will be available on opening night.”
With thanks to a grant from the Mental Health Commissioner, Lindsay will be holding a special Q&A session after the performance on March 1st. As part of this session, Lindsay and a representative from ShineSA will discuss the stigmatisation of being queer and to help connect attendees to support networks.
“When I was growing up, there weren’t as many resources available and I would have loved to have them. But I look at today’s people and I realise we’re surrounded by so much social media and many resources. I see what’s happening in the rest of the world and I can’t imagine what it must be like for a young queer person growing up in places like Queensland at the moment. This is so important to me, and it is why we went for the Mental Health Commissioner grant. The grant we’ve received will be used for putting on a question and answer session with people to talk about reducing stigma, and creating resource packs that people can take after the show. I even mention in the show that there are times when we feel like we don’t fit in, whether it’s school or whether it’s work or just how you see the world. Sometimes by sharing that, if you’re able to, it makes people feel more confident that they can share their anxiety. So you can be that person for someone else. I think that’s a big message behind my show. Sometimes we all feel different and sometimes you do feel that stigma, and everyone has a different challenge, whether it’s coming out, or family life, all of those things. We really wanted to connect people with resources, but also have it as a primary message in the show to say celebrate your individuality, but also reach out for help if you need to.”
Slip on your ruby slippers and don your most fabulous jacket for an evening celebrating the anthems that define a culture. Don’t miss this dazzling, profound, and unforgettable tribute to queer music and pride.
“I can’t wait for people to really celebrate the music of our past. 90% of the songs in the show should be well known by the majority of the audience. I’ve really tried to keep it an uplifting experience where people can reminisce on songs they know, but also learn how that song has become so important to the queer community, or why the artist has been so important. I just want everyone dancing in their seats and having a good time.”
A Friend of Dorothy: Anthems of Pride
Mezzanine at Plant 4 Bowden
22 February – 16 March, 2025
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/a-friend-of-dorothy-anthems-of-pride-af2025
Photo credit: Kyahm Ross
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