Raygun musical barred ahead of Sydney opening, as the Olympic breakers’s legal team inss she ‘owns’ the kangaroo dance | Sport-others News
Australian comedian and musician Steph Broadbridge had to cancel a musical based on breakdancing Olympian Raygun after her lawyers sent across a cease and des letter, saying that the Olympian owned the dance moves.
Rachel Gunn became famous at Paris Olympics for her unconventional moves, which received no marks, but got a lot of run play and gushing guffaws. Her lawyers swung in to trademark the poster for the musical ‘Raygun the Musical’, ahead of its Sydney debut at Kinselas Hotel in Darlinghurst which was sold out. The A$10 ticket, will be refunded Broadbridge said.
Earlier Raygun’s lawyers told Broadbridge that she was “not allowed” to do the kangaroo dance because Gunn “owns” it. Guardian quoted her legal and management team as saying, they were committed to protecting her intellectual property and ensuring that her brand remained strong and respected.
Gunn’s unconventional moves – notably sprinkler and kangaroo-hop – went viral after Olympics.
Broadbridge was undeterred, and said in her Instagram response, “That one did puzzle me – I mean, that’s an Olympic-level dance. How would I possibly be able to do that without any formal breakdancing training?”
She promised to be “back soon” and “with a whole new story arc,” reported Guardian.
Broadbridge had been draught. She had earlier told Sydney Morning Herald, “I was obsessed with the story and desperate to see what happened in terms of how the different generations and the different genders responded.” The musical was to feature a cast of eight people, puppets and original songs including You May Be a B-girl, But You’ll Always Be an A-Girl To Me, I’m Breaking Down and I’m a Celebrity. Post Sydney, it was on the programme of comedy festivals at Melbourne and Edinburgh next year.
Broadbridge had been terrified how her muse Raygun would view it. But she was slapped with a notice.
Guardian put out a statement from Gunn’s legal team that said: “While we have immense respect for the credible work and effort that has gone into the development of the show, we must take necessary steps to safeguard Rachael’s creative rights and the integrity of her work. This action is not intended to diminish the contributions of others, but rather to ensure her brand is properly represented and protected in all future endeavours.”
Breaking had its run in Paris, but was dropped from the LA program, while Gunn retired fed up of the “upsetting” saga. The comedic musical was shut down before it took off, because Gunn insed she owned all of her story – the fame, the moves and the debacle.
