'Wicked' star accepts role in 'An Officer and a Gentleman'

Amanda Harrison has been announced as the lead role in a new musical version of An Officer and a Gentleman.

The Australian actress and singer, who previously played Elphaba in the touring musical Wicked to great acclaim, has accepted the role of factory worker Paula Pokrifki made famous by Debra Winger in the original 1982 movie, the Herald Sun reports.

Ben Mingay - who is currently playing Tommy in a Sydney production of Jersey Boys - has been cast as Zack Mayo, the part originally played by Richard Gere. Kate Kendall and Alex Rathgeber have also been confirmed as cast members.

The musical is scheduled to debut at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney next May and is being directed by Simon Phillips (Love Never Dies).

Sydney previously secured the premieres of Dr Zhivago and Strictly Ballroom: The Musical. After An Officer and a Gentleman was announced, New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell said: "This again cements Sydney's place as the leading city for musical theatre across Australia.

"It of course also assists with our endeavours to attract tourism and major events to Sydney because of their economic importance."

Earlier this month, it was announced that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be coming to Australia, starting in Melbourne and then touring around the country.

Watch the ending of the original An Officer and a Gentleman movie below: