The Forgotten Song Book is a bold new Australian musical that brings the lost legacy of Broadway composer Wilbur Weissman back to life. Created by 23-year-old talents Dylan McBurnie and Emerson Hurley, the show is part concert, part biography and all heart. Set to live piano and performed by two captivating singers, it resurrects Weissman’s long-forgotten songs from the 1930s and 40s while exploring timeless themes of artistic legacy and the fear of being forgotten.
With a sharp eye for historical detail and a deep love for classic musical theatre, Dylan and Emerson craft a powerful and intimate experience that connects past and present. Their creative chemistry and stripped back production style make the show raw, honest and unmissable. The Forgotten Song Book is more than a tribute. It is a reminder that every artist, no matter how overlooked, has a story worth telling. It is nostalgic, fresh and deeply moving.
đźŽThe Forgotten Songbook
🗓️ 25 July to 27 July EXTREMELY LIMITED SEASON
đź“Ť Chapel Off Chapel
🎟️ chapeloffchapel.com.au
When twenty three year old historian and composer Emerson Hurley first discovered the music of Broadway composer Wilbur Weissman, he was surprised to find that almost nothing remained of Weissman’s once celebrated legacy. A prolific figure during the 1930s and 40s, Weissman had written songs that were performed alongside the greats of Tin Pan Alley. Yet, like so many artists of his era, his name and work had vanished into obscurity. Determined to change that, Hurley embarked on a passionate research project, combining his twin loves of music and history to uncover the life and work of this forgotten composer.
The Forgotten Song Book is the result, a heartfelt and entertaining tribute that brings Weissman’s songs back to the stage for the first time in decades. With a newly written script shaped by meticulous historical research, the show blends humour, nostalgia and emotional insight to share Weissman’s story through his own words and music.
Performed by Melbourne theatre favourites Karla Hillam and Jonathan Guthrie Jones, and accompanied live on piano by Hurley himself, the show is directed by Mikey Halcrow. Together, they bring to life a charming and moving musical revue that captures both the spirit of Broadway’s Golden Age and the enduring power of song.
Whether you are a lover of classic show tunes or simply curious about the forgotten stories behind the spotlight, The Forgotten Song Book is a fresh and deeply human journey into the past. It is more than a revival. It is a celebration of creativity, resilience and the legacy of an artist whose voice deserves to be heard once again.
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DYLAN MCBURNIE
Dylan is a Melbourne-based stage manager, producer and sound engineer with experience spanning Australia and Europe. A graduate of Adelaide College of the Arts, they completed secondments with both the Adelaide Festival and State Opera South Australia. In Melbourne, their musical theatre credits include Urinetown and Songs for a New World with Soundworks Productions, Dogfight with Theatrical, Ruthless with Stagebugs Productions and the upcoming American Psycho. Dylan is also the resident stage manager at Home Grown Musicals. Beyond the world of theatre, they produce stand-up comedy and are a Bruce Award–nominated performer.
EMERSON HURLEY
Emerson is a Melbourne-based composer and pianist with a background in history and a passion for storytelling through music. He holds a diploma from the Melbourne Conservatorium and is trained as a historian, blending academic insight with musical creativity. Active in Melbourne’s jazz scene as both a soloist and ensemble performer, Emerson has also worked as a music director with JTM Productions, collaborating with Karla Hillam and Jonathan Guthrie-Jones on productions including Some Enchanted Evening and 007: Shaken Not Stirred. Deeply inspired by the Great American Songbook, his compositions pay tribute to the iconic songwriters of Tin Pan Alley. The Forgotten Song Book marks his debut musical and is a culmination of his twin loves—Broadway and the rich tapestry of historical storytelling.
