Magic Mike Live FINALLY opens in Melbourne after being postponed because of the Covid pandemic
Magic Mike Live has finally kicked off in Melbourne after the Covid pandemic forced the tour to be postponed.
Following its official opening night on Tuesday, the stars of the raunchy show put on a performance for the media on Wednesday.
It was announced on June 24 that the show would be commencing on June 29 with a 'comprehensive Magic Mike Live Australia COVID-SAFE plan' based on 'Victorian Government health advice'.

It's back: Magic Mike Live has finally kicked off in Melbourne after the coronavirus pandemic forced it to be postponed
In a statement on the Magic Mike Live website, they added: 'Thank you for your continued support and understanding of this production and the wider arts community in these challenging times.'
The show was supposed to open in May last year, but was delayed because of a series of imposed lockdowns in Victoria amid the coronavirus pandemic.
'Changes have been made to the performance schedule, and we will now open at Birrarung Marr in June 2021,' read the website.

Turning up the heat: Following its official opening night on Tuesday, the stars of the raunchy show put on a performance for the media on Wednesday

Making a comeback: It was announced on June 24 that the show would be commencing on June 29 with a 'comprehensive Magic Mike Live Australia COVID-SAFE plan' based on 'Victorian Government health advice'

Ups and downs: In a statement on the Magic Mike Live website, they added: 'Thank you for your continued support and understanding of this production and the wider arts community in these challenging times'
'The health and well-being of our audiences, cast, crew and all staff is our absolute priority and we thank all patrons for their understanding.'
The Melbourne cast turned out an energetic performance, which featured plenty of hunky shirtless men.
One routine saw an acrobatic dancer hovering above a female performer in an impressive aerial display.

Worth the wait: The show was supposed to open in May last year, but was delayed because of a series of imposed lockdowns in Victoria amid the coronavirus pandemic

'Changes have been made to the performance schedule, and we will now open at Birrarung Marr in June 2021,' read the website

'The health and well-being of our audiences, cast, crew and all staff is our absolute priority and we thank all patrons for their understanding,' read a statement on the Magic Mike Live website
There was also a shirtless drummer playing alongside a rock band, with the racy show taking place inside a spiegeltent.
Following performances in Sydney, the Melbourne season is set to run until the end of August, before the show travels to Brisbane and Perth.
The show is based on the 2012 Magic Mike movie, which starred Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer and Matthew McConaughey.

Drummer boy: There was also a shirtless drummer playing alongside a rock band, with the racy show taking place inside a spiegeltent


Rocking out: Following performances in Sydney, the Melbourne season is set to run until the end of August, before the show travels to Brisbane and Perth
It was inspired by Channing's real-life experience working as a stripper in Florida when he was just 18.
Channing, 41, spoke about starting out as a stripper in an interview with 9Honey back in 2019.
'I worked in the [stripping] industry in Florida for about nine months when I was young, and it wasn't all that glamorous… we could have made an infinitely darker movie,' he confessed.

Stripped down: The Melbourne cast turned out an energetic performance, which featured plenty of hunky shirtless men

Viva Las Vegas: Following the film's runaway success, Channing developed a live show, which premiered in Las Vegas

'We all talked about the crazy idea of someday putting Magic Mike Live in a tent and travelling around Australia,' Channing said in a statement, as reported by Time Out Melbourne
Following the film's runaway success, Channing developed a live show, which premiered in Las Vegas.
'The morning after we opened our first production in Vegas four years ago, we all talked about the crazy idea of someday putting Magic Mike Live in a tent and travelling around Australia,' he said in a statement, as reported by Time Out Melbourne.
'The fact that it's actually happening now is mind-blowing to me. The tent and this new version of the show is more than I ever imagined it could be, and I can't wait for our fans in Australia to see what we've created especially for them.'

Past life: The film was inspired by Channing Tatum's real-life experience working as a stripper in Florida when he was just 18. Pictured in the 2015 film, Magic Mike XXL

'You're going to get what you saw in the movies, but we really wanted to make it more,' he said in a December 2019 interview with Sunrise
In a December 2019 interview with Sunrise, Channing revealed what fans can expect from the live show.
'You're going to get what you saw in the movies, but we really wanted to make it more,' he said at the time.
He added: 'Its not just a dance show, it's not just a strip show, it's funny, it's fun.'

Too hot to handle: One routine saw an acrobatic dancer hovering above a female performer in an impressive aerial display