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40,000 Phantom seats on sale Monday
Thursday, February 28, 1:12pm
AEDST.
40,000 new seats will go on sale this Monday for The Phantom Of The Opera
in Sydney, which will play the Lyric Theatre from May 11.
"Ticket sales have been beyond all expectations,” said co-producer John Frost.
“Our time in Sydney is limited, it would be a shame for people to miss
out."
Currently playing is Brisbane, The Phantom Of The Opera is the longest running
musical on Broadway, recently celebrating 20 years, and has won more than 50 major theatre
awards, including seven Tony Awards. It’s been 11 years since the musical was last
performed in Sydney.
“Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece has been seen by more than 80 million people
in 124 cities around the world,” said producer Tim McFarlane of The Really Useful
Company Asia Pacific.
“Audiences have taken it to their hearts and the production is still a truly
magnificent spectacle. We are confident it will continue its incredible world-wide success
in Sydney.”
The Phantom Of The Opera tells the story of a disfigured musical genius known only as
‘The Phantom’ who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House. Mesmerised by the
talents and beauty of a young soprano - Christine, the Phantom lures her as his protégé
and falls fiercely in love with her. Unaware of Christine’s love for Raoul, The
Phantom’s obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealously,
madness and passions collide.
“It is very well established that Australian casts are considered the best in the
world,” said Mr McFarlane.
“And after a sell out season in Melbourne it is easy to see why”
With spectacular sets and more than 230 costumes by international designer, the late Maria
Björnson, The Phantom Of The Opera contains some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
most famous music, including ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ and ‘Music Of The
Night’.
“It is a great thrill to see the Chandelier make the audience gasp,” said Mr
Frost.
“It is still one of the most theatrical events ever staged.”
Bookings: 1300 795 267.
---
The
Hatpin opens in Sydney
Wednesday, February 27, 10:49pm
AEDST.
 New Australian musical The
Hatpin has premiered in Sydney tonight, marking several significant milestones
including Peter Cousens' first appearance in a major musical in 10 years.
Written by James Millar and Peter Rutherford, the musical has been years in the
planning and has been through a major workshop process, the end result being a production
that has earned standing ovations at all of its preview performances.
Tonight, the response was no different - a full standing ovation from the invited
audience, recognising the worth and power of new Australian work and the sensational piece
that has been created.
The musical focuses on a desperate mother, Amber Murray, who makes a heartbreaking
decision, the consequences of which are still being felt today. Using the moral support
she gains from her friendship with the free spirited Harriet Piper, she fights the
injustices of circumstance and tragedy to find hope and strength. The piece is inspired by
a true story.
Much attention has been focused on the show's stellar cast, which includes veterans
Caroline O'Connor, Barry Crocker and Peter Cousens. Melle Stewart, who has been with the
project since its workshop phase, leads the cast and is joined by Octavia Barron-Martin,
Nick Christo, Michelle Doake, Jodie Harris, Gemma-Ashley Kaplan, Tyran Parke and Jennifer
Peers.
The show runs at the Seymour Centre until March 15.
Joanna Erskine's review of The Hatpin will be online soon here at
AussieTheatre.com.
---
Theatre
legends part of Seniors Week
Wednesday, February 27, 9:02pm
AEDST.
Several theatre legends will take part in NSW Seniors Week, an event that aims
to thank, celebrate and recognise older people across the State for the contributions they
make to the community.
Seniors Week ambassadors will play an important role in promoting the events
associated with the concept, which is in its 50th year.
Among the ambassadors is Lorraine Bayly (a founding member of the Ensemble Theatre
Company), Nancye Hayes (one of Australia's foremost musical theatre stars), Stuart
Wagstaff (star of musicals such as The Sound Of Music and My Fair Lady)
and Henri Szeps (a Helpmann Award winner).
"Seniors Week is a great program - one of the biggest senior's events in the
southern hemisphere," said Minister for Ageing, Kristina Keneally.
"Free event programs will be available online and at local registered clubs
from mid-March and I encourage all seniors to pick up a copy and find out what's planned
in their area."
Seniors Week will be held from April 6 to 13.
In other news, well-known theatre identity Gaille Jang, the one-time owner of
HalfTix, died earlier this week. Described as a "great character" by respected
theatre publicist Amanda Buckworth, Jang was highly respected in the industry. She died
after suffering an aneurism.
- Erin Graham
---
STC
will post massive loss
Wednesday, February 27, 7:45am
AEDST.
The Sydney Theatre Company (STC) is in financial crisis after confirming it
will post its third successive deficit, this time around $350,000.
The 2007 deficit follows a loss of around $400,000 for 2006 and $150,000 for 2005,
indicating there are huge challenges ahead for new Artistic Directors Cate Blanchett and
Andrew Upton.
The most concerning factor for the besieged company - which is under constant
threat from Company B and the growing independent scene - is the fact that in 2007, its
most successful show was not one of its own, but an imported production from the Melbourne
Theatre Company in the shape of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It is
the second year in a row a non-STC production topped the company's box office successes
after The History Boys, an international production, swept all comers in
2006.
Despite the success of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee last
year, the STC has not programmed a musical in its 2008 season, unless you count the opera The
Convict's Opera, which is anything but contemporary.
Subscriptions for the STC's 2008 season have fallen by about 10 per cent.
---
Gripping
new play causes a stir
Tuesday, February 26, 11:06pm
AEDST.
When playwright Alexandra Edmondson wrote to media organisations about her new
play Cruising, she didn't quite expect the response she got from one of the
country's highest selling newspapers, The Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper saw clear similarities between the play and the notorious cruise ship
death of Dianne Brimble, and ran a story titled 'Brimble play a blatant insult'. The story
featured quotes from Mark Brimble, the family's spokesman and vice-president of the
International Cruise Victims lobby group, who described the play as insensitive.
Speaking with AussieTheatre.com, Edmondson maintained the play was
fictional and while the similarities between the script and Ms Brimble's death are
striking, she said the characters in Cruising are not based on specific
individuals.
"I wrote Cruising last year while I was travelling overseas and had
the opportunity to observe how people behave when they are off their 'home turf' - I
observed a sense of diminished responsibility, an invulnerability and particularly on a
package holiday, people can have the attitude that because they have paid upfront,
everything is theirs for the taking," Edmondson said.
"On one level the play raises awareness about the risks of drink spiking and assault
on cruise ships, which is an increasing problem. But on a broader scale, the play is
really about collective responsibility - looking out for the people around you and taking
some responsibility for what happens to them. It is about the interconnectedness of people
and the direct or indirect effect our actions have on others."
Edmondson confirmed that after the printing of The Daily Telegraph's
story, she contacted Mark Brimble, to give him a better understanding of the nature of the
play.
"Cruising explores a very negative scenario and through doing so
conveys a very positive, and I hope enduring message," she said.
The story focuses on an investigation into the drug induced death of a woman on
board a cruise ship. It has the tagline: "Only by acknowledging our basest nature can
we choose to behave otherwise".
Cruising opens at the TAP Gallery in Sydney on Thursday, March 6 and is
scheduled to run until March 15. Bookings: 1300 GET TIX.
AussieTheatre.com Gold members
have the opportunity to win a double pass to see Cruising. For your chance to win, login
or subscribe here.
---
Doctor's
advice: Warlow cuts performances
Monday, February 25, 9:33pm AEDST.
Wednesday and Saturday matinees will be removed from the performance schedule
of The Phantom Of The Opera star Anthony Warlow on doctor's advice.
Ticketing agencies for both the Brisbane and Sydney seasons are advising that
doctors have told Warlow he risks damaging his voice if he performs the demanding role
more than six times a week.
The role of the Phantom will be shared by Simon Pryce and Roy Weissensteiner at the
matinees.
The musical is currently playing at the Lyric Theatre in Brisbane and will transfer
to Sydney in May.
---
Wedding
Singer hits amateur circuit
Monday, February 25, 7:08pm AEDST.
It flopped on Broadway but the musical version of the hit Adam Sandler and
Drew Barrymore film The Wedding Singer earned itself a core group of fans, and
two Sydney community theatre groups are hoping for a similar response when they present
the first New South Wales productions of the tuner over the next few months.
Rockdale Musical Society will present the New South Wales premiere of the show at
the Rockdale Town Hall from March 7, while the Penrith Musical Comedy Company opens its
production at the Q Theatre in early April.
Director of the Rockdale production, Jay James-Moody, joined by musical director
Chris King and choreographer Joanne Gilmour, were determined to make this a true premiere
production by staging the piece non-reproductively of the Broadway run.
"What we have is the cream of the crop of non-professional performers and crew
creating their own unique, fresh and vibrant production," a statement from the
company says.
The Wedding Singer tells the story of 80’s function Rock God Robbie Hart, a
hopeless romantic, who struggles to bring joy back to other couple’s weddings after
being left at the altar. That is until he meets Julia Sullivan and agrees to help her plan
her wedding to slimy Wall St trader Glen Guglia. Spending so much time together it’s
not long until Robbie starts to see in Julia something to sing about once more – but
will he dare intervene in Julia and Glen’s nuptials?
Rockdale bookings: (02) 9591 3395
Q Theatre Bookings: (02) 4723 7600
---
New
theatre magazine to be launched
Sunday, February 24, 9:27pm AEDST.
A new magazine dedicated to theatre is set to be launched later this year and
will be sold through newsagents, at theatres and on a subscription basis.
The magazine, expected to be released monthly and have a 'preview' feel, will cover
musicals, plays and cabaret and will be strongly associated with AussieTheatre.com.
The magazine is currently on the hunt for a sales representative in a paid position
working from an office in western Sydney. The successful applicant would have experience
in sales and a general knowledge of the theatre industry.
With the planning stage for the magazine now underway, details are expected to be
officially announced shortly regarding the magazine's title and editorial staff.
If you are interested in applying for the sales position, please email erin@aussietheatre.com with a CV and covering
letter.
---
Upton
defends STC appointment
Sunday, February 24, 5:41pm AEDST.
It's the criticism Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett still can't escape: Why
were they appointed Artistic Directors of the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) without any
sort of application process, and what qualifications do they have for the role?
The pair today defended their appointments during an interview with ABC1's Sunday
Arts program, with Upton leading the charge - saying "artistic succession"
was encouraged when it came to the STC.
"The board took that decision and it is the board's right to take that
decision," Upton said.
"There's no thing that says the board has to advertise the position. They approached
us... and we were submitted to a pretty rigorous series of interviews and grillings, as
you would expect."
When Blanchett was asked about former Actor's Company member Colin Moody's comments
that an Oscar didn't make her fit to run the STC, she smartly responded: "It's
true".
She went on to talk about Moody's comments, and in a taste of the bitter
relationship the pair may now have, she answered "not a lot" when asked what she
learned from the criticism.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion. You certainly don't want to surround
yourself with the 'yes sayers', it is all about debate and we live in a democracy,"
Blanchett said.
"Sometimes the most galvanising thing is criticism."
Upton added: "It wasn't the Oscar that qualified Cate and I to run a theatre
company, I would have thought that was fairly obvious."
Blanchett was also asked about the future of the STC's Actors Company, but did not
give a firm commitment to its longevity, saying there would be continuing discussions over
what was an "extraordinary idea" and an "evolving model".
---
Rocky
Horror's backstage drama
Sunday, February 24, 5:00pm AEDST.
 The new Australian
production of The Rocky Horror Show almost had to cancel its opening night
performance after a row between director Gale Edwards and English producers turned nasty.
The Sunday Telegraph reports that Edwards threatened to resign just hours
before the curtain went up last Thursday, with the entire cast and crew aligning with her
against the English producers.
The Telegraph says that for at least a week, there had been simmerings
backstage after Howard Panter and Meryl Faiers arrived in Australia and set about making
several changes to the show's structure.
It is understood that Panter and Faiers wanted to completely change the show's
second scene just a day before it opened, sending the company into code red.
The Telegraph says an insider has informed the newspaper that Edwards was
in tears after she refused to implement the changes. It also says the cast threatened to
boycott a planned night out with creator Richard O'Brien on Wednesday, but eventually
backed down.
Despite the problems, the opening night performance went off without a hitch and
O'Brien even got up at the show's conclusion, saying how grateful he was to Edwards and
the cast.
Reviews for the production, which is expected to tour the country, have been
largely positive.
---
February
is website's most successful month ever
Sunday, February 24, 4:47pm AEDST.
February 2008 has become the most successful month in the history of
AussieTheatre.com, breaking hits records and putting the website on a positive path for
the future.
Despite the end of the month still being a week away, both visitor rates and page
views reached all-time monthly highs this morning, breaking records set in October last
year.
"At a business level, it has also been a very successful month in terms of
advertising revenue and subscription levels to our Theatre Jobs and Gold sections,"
said AussieTheatre.com Managing Editor, Troy Dodds.
"The hit records being broken comes on the back of several announcements
surrounding Wicked, which has a huge support base and has helped us attract
unprecedented levels of traffic."
Visitor levels in February 2008 are almost double what they were in February 2007,
while page views have increased by about 11,000 a month over the past year.
"We're very excited about the website's future and the signs continue to point
towards some very solid success as we roll on, something we're very excited about,"
Dodds said.
On February 5, AussieTheatre.com recorded more hits in a 24 hour period than any
other previous day, also on the back of announcements surrounding Wicked.
---
Taylor's
big night at Short & Sweet
Sunday, February 24, 12:15am AEDST.
 Young playwright Venetia Taylor
could be the name on the theatre world's lips in the years to come after her play won four
key awards at last night's Short & Sweet Grand Final at the Seymour Centre in Sydney.
The culmination of the five week festival, the Grand Final was a three and a half
hour marathon that included performances of all 11 plays that had made it through as
finalists.
Taylor's play about racism and ignorance in modern society, entitled Terror On
The Northside, was the night's big winner - taking home the Best Overall Production
award as well as Best Script. Taylor also won Best New Talent, while Helen Tonkin won the
Best Actress award for her role in the play.
In her review of Terror On The Northside for AussieTheatre.com, Joanna
Erskine said: "Finally a script that entertained me madly – Terror on the
North Shore is bold, hilarious, perfectly played and topical. When Annabel brings her
Muslim boyfriend, Mike, home to meet her parents, her initial fear of the event is
well-jusitified. The banana-bread-eating, Compass-watching future in-laws are so ready for
a suicide bomber to walk through the door that Annabel’s mother dons a tea-towel on
her head. It’s horrifyingly brilliant. Venetia Taylor performs in her own script with
ease amongst the best ensemble work of the night. Boris Ivanoff’s direction allows
for audience laughter and revulsion in spades."
Taylor said: "I'd like to thank Boris Ivanoff our director, the fabulous cast
and everyone at Short & Sweet for their support."
New Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett was in attendance at the Grand Final,
presenting the final awards and talking up the importance of theatre and the arts to
Australia's culture as a whole.
SHORT & SWEET 2008 AWARD WINNERS
Australian Film Commission Prize: Perfect
Best Actor Runner Up: Gibson Nolte (The Stallion Of Death)
Best Actress Runner Up: Kate Worsley (The Stallion Of Death)
Best Actor: Duncan Fellows (The Diver)
Best Actress: Helen Tonkin (Terror On The Northside)
Best Independent Theatre Company: The Diver
Best Script: Terror On The Northside
Best Director: James Winter (Perfect)
Best New Talent: Venetia Taylor
Movie Extra Prize: Duet With A Dictionary
Peope's Choice Award: The Stallion Of Death
Best Overall Production: Terror On The Northside
- Troy Dodds
---
Altar
Boyz cast announced
Friday, February 22, 9:47pm AEDST.
The longest running, most critically acclaimed off-Broadway musical in years, Altar
Boyz is heading to Sydney with an all-Australian cast: Cameron MacDonald (Matthew),
Dion Bilios (Mark), Tim Maddren (Luke), Jeremy Brennan (Juan) and Andrew Koblar (Abraham).
The Australian premiere season commences at the Seymour Centre on Wednesday, June
11.
Armed with catchy melodies, spectacular dancing and hailed as high octane entertainment, Altar
Boyz is the hilarious, holy inspiring musical comedy about five small town boys in a
struggling boy band, looking for their big break.
The tight harmonies and energetic choreography never let up with styles veering from disco
to Latin, hip-hop to gospel and rock to soaring ballads.
“I’m delighted to have on the creative team musical director Robert Gavin and
talented young choreographer Anthony Ginandjar," said director Kate Gaul.
With music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker and book by Kevin Del
Aguila, Altar Boyz is a multi-award winning musical. The show was nominated for
and won the Critics Circle Award Best Musical in 2005. It was nominated for seven Drama
Desk Awards in the same year and honoured with two Drama League Awards. Altar Boyz
is now in its 4th record breaking year in New York.
Cast member Dion Bilios said: “The level of fitness needed to cope with the non stop
movement in the show is incredible. We’re all heading to the gym in preparation for
rehearsals."
Tickets to the Sydney season go on sale March 10. Bookings: (02) 9351 7940.
---
Billy
Elliot sells 250,000th ticket
Friday, February 22, 9:44pm AEDST.
 Billy Elliot marked
a significant milestone this week, with the 250,000th ticket sold for the smash hit
production, which opened at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney in December last year.
Since its critically acclaimed premiere, over 175,000 people have already seen and fallen
in love with the uplifting and inspirational story which follows the journey of a young
boy raised in a small British mining town who, after stumbling across a ballet class while
on his way to a boxing lesson, realises that his future lays not in the boxing ring, but
on stage as a dancer.
New tickets have been released for performances through to May 4. Group tickets and travel
packages are available for performances through to September 28.
Directed by Stephen Daldry with book and lyrics by Lee Hall and choreography by Peter
Darling, Billy Elliot was developed for the stage by the same multi-award winning
creative team behind the film Billy Elliot, which captured hearts and minds the
world over when it was released in October 2000. Nominated for 3 Academy Awards and 13
BAFTAs, this poignant film broke box office records across the world.
The score has been composed by music legend Elton John, the most celebrated UK singer
songwriter of the last 30 years.
In his review of Billy Elliot for AussieTheatre.com, Troy Dodds said, in
part: "The show's somewhat mainstream "unlikely dancer
becomes a star" storyline will please the masses, Elton John's music and Lee Hall's
book and lyrics will warm the tastebuds of theatre aficionados and the backdrop of the
mining strike of 1984/5 will certainly entertain those looking for something stronger in
terms of script content. Only a fool would spend time pointing out flaws in this show.
Sure, there's one or two elements that could be improved, but if theatre's primary goal is
to entertain and enchant, Billy Elliot not only takes the gold medal, it's a body
length in front of the world record line."
Billy Elliot bookings: 1300 552 290.
---
O'Brien
labels Rocky cast best ever
Friday, February 22, 1:15am AEDST.
The Rocky Horror Show writer Richard O'Brien has given the new Australian
production of his cult musical the thumbs up during an on-stage appearance at the show's
opening night in Sydney on Thursday.
O'Brien joined the cast on stage, leading a rendition of 'The Time Warp' before
giving the show the best possible review.
"This is the most accomplished cast we have ever had," O'Brien said.
"I am so delighted and so grateful to Gale Edwards, the cast and the band. The
production values here are second to none."
The musical, which stars iOTA, Sharon Millerchip, Tamsin Carroll, Michael Cormick,
Kellie Rode, Andrew Bevis, John Waters, Paul Capsis and Simon Farrow, received a standing
ovation on opening night.
It was the first big test for the new Star Theatre, and it passed with flying
colours, only suffering from a few minor sound issues throughout the performance.
The opening night performance was followed by an exclusive party at Star City's
Astral Restaurant, attended by some of Australian theatre's biggest names.
On the whole, there was a positive reaction to the opening night performance, with
much praise for iOTA, starring in his first big-budget musical after coming to everyone's
attention as Hedwig in Hedwig And The Angry Inch, which won him a Helpmann Award
for Best Actor in a Musical last year.
In his review of the production for AussieTheatre.com, Troy Dodds said, in part:
"It is impossible to re-invent the wheel when it comes to The Rocky Horror Show
and there is little doubt that over the years it has lost its shock value and its grungy
feel, but it remains an entertaining and enjoyable night at the theatre and with an
unbelievably talented cast and some solid creative elements (Dale Ferguson's set is
noteworthy and Julie Lynch does a fantastic job on costumes), The Rocky Horror Show does
not disappoint. This production provides a wonderful opportunity for old Rocky Horror fans
to re-live some great memories (and there's plenty of fans out there to ensure this show
survives), but whether or not it does enough to attract new blood, so to speak, is
questionable. It is, however, a spectacle that should be seen and taken for what it is -
fun, unassuming entertainment."
The Rocky Horror Show has not posted a closing date as yet, but will
eventually tour across the country, including seasons in Melbourne and Brisbane and
possibly Perth and Adelaide.
---
Kookaburra
to launch new season March 10
Wednesday, February 20, 11:43pm
AEDST.
The sleeping giant is about to be awoken.
National musical theatre company Kookaburra will
announce what it is calling a "2008/2009 season" on March 10, though it will
largely be a re-announcement with the company already declaring its intentions to produce Tell
Me On A Sunday and Little Women. A third show will also be announced at the
launch, with the season's theme being "life, love and family".
Kookaburra hasn't produced a musical since its
acclaimed but ultimately controversial staging of Company at the Theatre Royal in
July last year. It was the Peter Cousens-led company's second show after premiering with Pippin
in early 2007.
Kookaburra was planning to produce Sideshow
Alley early this year but opted to walk away from the show after a "risk
assessment", and cancelled a production of Floyd Collins late last year due
to poor ticket sales. The company does have a minor association with The Hatpin,
which opens at the Seymour Centre on Saturday night, and will present a Neil Semer
masterclass next month.
Once hailed as musical theatre's saviour,
Kookaburra is very much in a fight for its own survival and hopes the 2008/2009 season
will run a lot smoother than that of 2007, in which countless stumbling blocks got in the
way of the company's flight. Several key changes have already been made, including a path
to a more friendly relationship with the media via new publicist Libby Gauld, who replaced
Michelle Guthrie late last year.
Amanda Cady, the company's administration
coordinator throughout 2007, has also departed the company.
Kookaburra is most likely desperate to escape
the controversies of 2007 but it is also interested in selling the highlights, which
included Helpmann Award nominations and reasonably impressive box office figures for Company.
If the company can attract positive attention
post its March 10 launch and build a solid reputation with its three upcoming shows, there
is perhaps a tale of survival here after all.
- Troy Dodds
---
Yellow
Glass Theatre pushes ahead
Wednesday, February 20, 11:14pm
AEDST.
Perth's Yellow Glass Theatre Company is pushing ahead after its split with
production house Eventainment, announcing a 2008 season that includes productions of
Into The Woods and The Last Five Years.
In November last year, Yellow Glass Theatre cited continued scrutiny over pay
rights and work conditions for performers involved in Eventainment shows as the main
reason behind a decision to part ways with the company.
Eventainment's website currently carries a message stating "we are currently
taking a break now so watch this space for what is next for Eventainment", with no
mention of their planned 2008 productions.
Now back working under their traditional Yellow Glass Theatre banner, Chris Kabay
and Simon Holt will work on a production of Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living
In Paris to kick off the 2008 season, with the show opening on March 6 at the Subiaco
Arts Centre.
Into The Woods follows in June, and the
company will then present a number of special intimate performances ahead of its
production of Jason Robert Brown's acclaimed The Last Five Years in November,
starring Hayley Binks.
---
Campbell,
Beck survive reality vote-off
Tuesday, February 19, 10:54pm
AEDST.
 Stage
stars David Campbell and Rachael Beck (pictured) have survived the first elimination
episode of the 2008 series of the immensely popular Channel Seven reality show It
Takes Two, which aired tonight.
Campbell and Beck are guiding celebrities Chloe Maxwell and Mark Wilson through the
show, which pairs professional singers with those who don't quite cut it.
Campbell won last year's series partnering All Saints star Jolene
Anderson.
The television program has other theatre links, including on its judging panel
where leading lady Marina Prior sits. Prior will soon juggle her commitment on the show
with her starring role in the forthcoming Melbourne production of Guys And Dolls.
Ironically, it is the second year running in which Prior has had to handle both television
and stage commitments at the same time after last year appearing in the Sydney run of The
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee during It Takes Two's run.
It Takes Two airs on Channel Seven at 7.30pm Tuesdays.
---
Shout!
ends Melbourne run Saturday
Tuesday, February 19, 10:46pm
AEDST.
 The revival production of the Australian
musical Shout! will end its Melbourne run at the State Theatre on Saturday night
in preparation for its transfer to Sydney's Lyric Theatre.
Starring Tim Campbell, Alexis Fishman, Colleen Hewett, Mark Holden, Glenn Shorrock
and John Paul Young, Shout! opens in Sydney on March 4. There has been no
announcement about visits to other cities at this stage.
Shout!, written by John-Michael Howson, David Mitchell and Melvyn Morrow,
is based on the life of Johnny O’Keefe - JOK - a rock star decades ahead of his time.
O’Keefe dared to dream that he - an Australian - could stand beside the giants of
rock, Elvis, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry and the like. In the Fifties and
Sixties such a fantasy was considered absurd.
O’Keefe failed in his bid for international fame but he inspired generations of
Australians to believe that they could be as talented as anyone. Outrageously
self-confident he backed it up with more than 30 chart hits and 50 albums, hosted four
television shows, had five nervous breakdowns and a serious car accident and died, aged 43
and worn out, in 1978.
In her review of the production for AussieTheatre.com, Anne-Marie Peard said, in
part: "With a restructure, more of a focus on character, story and personal journey
and a greater exploration of the dark side of JOK, this could be a bloody terrific show.
The music, cast, look and feel are all there (the encore alone is worth going for), but it
isn’t reaching the emotion level it should and it's making rock and roll seem just a
bit blah."
Sydney and Melbourne bookings: www.showbiz.com.au.
---
Riflemind
may head overseas
Tuesday, February 19, 10:43pm
AEDST.
Andrew Upton's play Riflemind, which played as part of the Sydney Theatre
Company's (STC) 2007 subscription season, may take to the stage in London in the near
future, with negotiations underway between the STC and the famed Ambassador Theatre Group
(ATG).
According to The Australian, ATG's Creative Director, Howard Panter, is
also in negotiations with Upton and Cate Blanchett - the artistic directors of STC - about
co-productions of other plays. He said he could present a London season of Riflemind
as early as September, and a spokesman for STC said there had been "preliminary
discussions".
Panter is a co-founder of ATG, which owns 23 venues in Britain and is also a creative
production company.
The Australian reports that Panter also has interest in bringing plays
from the growing Belvoir Street Theatre to London, and is considering opening up an
Australian office for ATG to fill what he sees as a "play gap".
In her review of Riflemind for AussieTheatre.com, Maz Dixon said, in part:
"There doesn’t seem to be much progression in the way of character development
or plot. Revelations are made through monologues that don’t sit well stylistically
with the dialogues. By the end I felt like I had just spent a couple of hours watching a
group of mildly unpleasant people yelling at each other. I felt that I would have been
able to engage with the characters more if Upton had just let something, anything, happen.
Riflemind is a good play; it could be so much better if the characters were required
to do more than just spin their wheels."
---
Spamalot
scores nine Green Room noms
Tuesday, February 19, 9:11pm AEDST.
 The Australian
production of the Tony Award-winning musical Spamalot has scored nine nominations
at the Green Room Awards, honouring the best performances on Melbourne's theatre scene in
2007.
Mike Nichols has been nominated for Best Direction of a Musical, Tim Hatley has
been nominated for Set and Costume, Hugh Vanstone has been honoured for his efforts with
Lighting, Casey Nicholaw has been nominated for Best Choreography, Peter Casey is up for
Best Musical Direction and Derek Metzger has been nominated for Best Male Artist in a
Featured Role.
Billie Brown (King Arthur) and Lucinda Shaw (Lady of the Lake) have been nominated
for Best Male Artist in a Leading Role and Best Female Artist in a Leading Role
respectively, while Spamalot itself has been nominated for Best Production, where
it is up against Priscilla, Keating! and Miss Saigon.
The nominations come as speculation continues over Spamalot's long-term
future in the crowded Melbourne theatre market with the show believed to be performing
below box office expectations. It will be particularly interesting to see how it fares
against Guys and Dolls and Wicked, expected to be two of the biggest
musicals staged in the Victorian capital in years.
The Green Room Awards ceremony will be held on April 20.
THE NOMINATIONS: MUSIC THEATRE
DIRECTION AND STAGING
Laurence Connor (Direction) - Miss Saigon
Neil Armfield (Direction) - Keating!
Simon Phillips (Direction) - Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Mike Nichols (Direction) - Spamalot
Michael Kantor and Cast (Direction) - Sleeping Beauty
COSTUME AND/OR SET DESIGN
Andreane Neotou (Costume) - Miss Saigon
Adrian Vaux (Set) - Miss Saigon
Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner (Costumes) - Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Brian Thomson (Set) - Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Tim Hatley (Set and Costume) - Spamalot
LIGHTING, SOUND, A/V DESIGN
David Hersey (Lighting) - Miss Saigon
Peter Grubb (Sound) - Miss Saigon
Damien Cooper (Lighting) - Keating!
Hugh Vanstone (Lighting) - Spamalot
Nick Schlieper (Lighting) - Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL
Geoffrey Garratt and Bob Avian - Miss Saigon
Ross Coleman - Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Casey Nicholaw - Spamalot
MUSICAL DIRECTION AND/OR ORCHESTRATIONS
Guy Simpson (Musical Direction) - Miss Saigon
William David Brohn (Orchestrations) - Miss Saigon
Stephen “Spud” Murphy (Musical Direction and Orchestrations) - Priscilla
Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Peter Casey (Musical Direction) - Spamalot
Sophie Thomas (Musical Direction) - Mary Bryant
MALE ARTIST IN A FEATURED ROLE
Eddie Perfect (John Hewson/Alexander Downer) - Keating!
Terry Serio (Bob Hawke/John Howard) - Keating!
Derek Metzger (Patsy) - Spamalot
Thern Reynolds (Billy Lawlor) - 42nd Street
Mark Conaghan (Historian/Prince Herbert) – Spamalot
FEMALE ARTIST IN A LEADING ROLE
Laurie Cadevida (Kim) - Miss Saigon
Ana Marina (Christine) - The Phantom Of The Opera
Sharon Millerchip (Charity) - Sweet Charity
Donna Lee (The Dubbo Housewife) - Menopause The Musical
Lucinda Shaw (Lady of the Lake) - Spamalot
MALE ARTIST IN A LEADING ROLE
Mitchell Butel (Noble Egglestone and All the Men in Bell’s Life) - Little Me
Leo Tavarro Valdez (The Engineer) - Miss Saigon
Tony Sheldon (Bernadette) - Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Mike McLeish (Paul Keating) - Keating!
Bille Brown (King Arthur) - Spamalot
ENSEMBLE / FEATURED ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
The Divas - Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Ensemble - Keating!
BEST PRODUCTION
Keating!
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Miss Saigon
Spamalot
THE NOMINATIONS: CABARET
BEST SHOW
Barry Humphries & Friends - Back With A Vengeance!
Yana Alana And Tha Paranas - Bite Me
Meow Meow - Meow Meow Beyond Beyond Glamour: The Remix
Michael Dalley & Paul McCarthy - Intimate Apparel
The Beautiful Losers - Fresh Filth
BEST ARTISTE
Meow Meow - Meow Meow Beyond Beyond Glamour: The Remix
Barry Humphries - Barry Humphries & Friends - Back With A Vengeance!
Sarah Ward - Yana Alana And Tha Paranas - Bite Me
Queenie Van De Zandt - I Get The Music In You
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Paul Grabowsky - Meow Meow Beyond Beyond Glamour: The Remix
Sarah Ward, Bec Matthews, Frances Evans & Ania Reynolds - Yana Alana And Tha Paranas -
Bite Me
The Beautiful Losers - Fresh Filth
Tripod - How To Train An Attack Dog From Scratch
BEST ORIGINAL SONGS
Tripod - How To Train An Attack Dog From Scratch
Sally Bourne - The Sally Bourne Identity
Sarah Ward, Bec Matthews, Frances Evans & Ania Reynolds - Yana Alana And Tha Paranas -
Bite Me
BEST ENSEMBLE
Tripod - How To Train An Attack Dog From Scratch
The Beautiful Losers - Fresh Filth
Yana Alana And Tha Paranas - Bite Me
Intimate Apparel
DIRECTION
Paul McCarthy - The Needle And The Damage Done
Anni Davey - Yana Alana And Tha Paranas - Bite Me
INNOVATIVE USE OF FORM
The Needle And The Damage Done
How To Train An Attack Dog From Scratch
THE NOMINATIONS: INDEPENDENT THEATRE
SET AND/OR COSTUME DESIGN
Amanda Johnson (Set) - Asylum (Here Theatre/La Mama)
Jolyon James, Mark Winter, Simon Stone (Set) and Mel Page (Costumes) - Spring
Awakening (The Hayloft Project)
Dayna Morrissey (Set) - White With Wire Wheels (Union House Theatre)
Bryony Jackson, Willoh S Weiland (Set) - Antidote (LUPA/art)
Anna Tregloan (Set) - Holiday (Ranter’s Theatre)
LIGHTING DESIGN
Niklas Pajanti - Holiday (Ranters Theatre)
Bronwyn Pringle - Letters From Animals (Here Theatre/The Store Room Theatre
Workshop)
Philip Peck - Antidote (LUPA/art)
SOUND DESIGN
David Franzke - Holiday (Ranters Theatre)
Jess Ipkendanz - The Kreutzer Sonata And Raising The Dead (Night Train
Productions at La Mama)
Darrin Verhagen - Antidote (LUPA/art)
SOLO PERFORMER – ONE PERSON SHOW
James Pratt (Sebastian Flange) - They Shoot Poets, Don’t They! (Iron Dog
Productions/La Mama)
David Tredinnick - (The Pilot Version Of) Something To Die For (The Store Room
Theatre Workshop)
Humphrey Bower - Raising The Dead And The Kreutzer Sonata (Night Train Production
at La Mama)
Josephine Lange - Her Secret Face (La Mama)
Kate Kendall - The Lover (The Stork Hotel)
MALE PERFORMER
Kevin Hopkins (Mark) - Osama The Hero (La Mama/The Rabble)
Peter King (Gayev) - The Cherry Orchard (Actors Anonymous)
Paul Lum (Performer) - Holiday (Ranters Theatre)
Patrick Moffat (Performer) - Holiday (Ranters Theatre)
Luke Mullins (Elliot) - Mercury Fur (Little Death Productions/Theatre Works
company initiative programme)
FEMALE PERFORMER
Wahibe Moussa (Mahala/Afghan Woman) - Homebody/Kabul (Theatre@Risk)
Gillian Murray (Ranayevska) - The Cherry Orchard (Actors Anonymous)
Zoe Ellerton-Ashley (Sally Banner) - The Chapel Perilous (La Mama)
Georgina Capper (Shelley/Vulture) - Letters From Animals (Store Room Theatre
Workshop)
Mikaela Martin - Antidote (LUPA/art)
DIRECTION
Vanessa Chapple - Her Secret Face (La Mama)
Paulo Castro - B-File (La Mama)
Adriano Cortese – Holiday (Ranters Theatre)
Susie Dee - White With Wire Wheels (Union House Theatre)
Rochelle Whyte - Antidote (LUPA/art)
PRODUCTION
Raising the Dead - Humphrey Bower and Jess Ipkendanz (Night Train Productions at La
Mama)
B-File - Paulo Castro (at La Mama)
Holiday - Ranters Theatre
The Kreutzer Sonata - Night Train Productions at La Mama
Antidote - Rochelle Whyte (LUPA/art)
THE NOMINATIONS: THEATRE (NEW FORM)
OUTSTANDING VISUAL DESIGN AND SPATIAL CONCEPTUALISATION
Emilie Barrie (Costumes) - Hunger
Talya Chalef (Spatial Conceptualisation) - In Other Words
Marg Horwell (Set and Spatial Conceptualisation) - Chapters From The Pandemic
Sarah Kriegler and Jacob Williams (Set and Puppetry) - Apples And Ladders
Gaelle Mellis (Set) - Cake
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
Rachel Burke - Chapters From The Pandemic
Paul Jackson - Black
Paul Lim - Detest (This Thousand Years I Shall Not Weep)
Andrew Livingstone - Cake
OUTSTANDING VIDEO – SCENOGRAPHY
Michael Carmody - Chapters From The Pandemic
Suzon Fuks - Quivering: A Matter Of Life And Death
Alex Gibson - Senseless
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN / MUSIC
Kelly Ryall - Chapters From The Pandemic
Jethro Woodward - Hunger
Aaron Cuthbert - Operation
Rob Stewart - Senseless
Julie Robson, Catherine Mundy & Brett Collery - The Quivering
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Angus Cerini - Detest (This Thousand Years I Shall Not Weep)
Luke Elliot - Crossing Live
Ensemble of Actors - The Controlled Falling Project
Sam Routledge - Operation
Jo Stone - The B File
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
Small Metal Objects - Back To Back Theatre
Detest (This Thousand Years I Shall Not Weep) - Doubletap Productions and La Mama
Black - Malthouse Theatre
Hunger - Rawcus Theatre
THE NOMINATIONS: THEATRE (COMPANIES)
STAGE DESIGN
Anna Tregloan - Criminology (Malthouse Theatre)
Michael Scott-Mitchell - Ying Tong (Sydney Theatre Company presented by Melbourne
Theatre Company)
Dale Ferguson - Body of work
Stephen Curtis - The Government Inspector (Bell Shakespeare Company)
Anna Borghesi - The Spook (Malthouse Theatre)
MUSIC AND/OR SOUND DESIGN
Jeremy Silver (Sound) - Ying Tong (Sydney Theatre Company presented by Melbourne
Theatre Company)
Jethro Woodward (Sound) - Criminology (Malthouse Theatre)
Barrie Kosky (Music) - The Tell-Tale Heart (Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
International Arts Festival)
John Rodgers (Music) & Russell Goldsmith (Sound) - Exit the King (Malthouse
Theatre/Belvoir Street Theatre)
Christian Leavesley & Phil Rolfe (Sound) - OT Chronicles (Malthouse Theatre)
LIGHTING DESIGN
Damien Cooper - Body of work
Paul Jackson - Body of work
Matt Scott - The Pillowman (Melbourne Theatre Company)
Kerry Saxby - Thom Pain (Melbourne Theatre Company)
Richard Dinnen - The Spook (Malthouse Theatre)
MALE ACTOR
Jonathan Biggins (Peter Sellers) - Ying Tong (Sydney Theatre Company presented by
Melbourne Theatre Company)
Martin Sharpe (Jason/Alex) - Rabbithole/ The Little Dog Laughed
Martin Neidermair (A Man) - The Tell-Tale Heart (Malthouse Theatre/Melbourne
International Arts Festival)
Geoffrey Rush (King Berenger) - Exit The King (Malthouse Theatre/Belvoir Street
Theatre)
Bill Zappa (Mayor/Mayor’s Wife & 11 other characters) - The Government
Inspector (Bell Shakespeare Company)
FEMALE ACTOR
Alison Bell (Honey/Sleeping Beauty/Young Wife/Communist Librarian & Policewoman) -
Body of work
Bojana Novakovic (Una) - Criminology (Malthouse Theatre)
Kat Stewart (Diane) - The Little Dog Laughed (Red Stitch)
Sarah Pierse (Lia) - Enlightenment (Melbourne Theatre Company)
Maria Theodorakis (Eli) - The Spook (Malthouse Theatre)
DIRECTION
Richard Cottrell - Ying Tong (Sydney Theatre Company presented by Melbourne
Theatre Company)
Neil Armfield - Exit The King (Malthouse Theatre/Belvoir Street Theatre)
John Bell - The Government Inspector (Bell Shakespeare Company)
Barrie Kosky - The Tell-Tale Heart (Malthouse Theatre/Melbourne International
Arts Festival)
Peter Evans - The History Boys (Melbourne Theatre Company)
PRODUCTION
Ying Tong - Sydney Theatre Company presented by Melbourne Theatre Company
The History Boys - Melbourne Theatre Company
The Government Inspector - Bell Shakespeare Company
The Tell-Tale Heart - Malthouse Theatre/Melbourne International Arts Festival
Exit The King - Belvoir St Theatre / Malthouse Theatre
THE NOMINATIONS: BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WRITING
Holiday - Raimondo Cortese
I Love You Bro - Adam Cass
The Ghost Writer - Ross Mueller
The Fag From Zagreb - Lally Katz
(The Pilot Version of) Something To Die For - Ross Mueller
---
Short
plays prepare for Final
Tuesday, February 19, 7:17pm AEDST.
After five weeks, some 140 plays and plenty of blood, sweat and tears, the 2008
Short & Sweet Festival will come to a conclusion this weekend with the Grand Final
held at the Seymour Centre.
The final week saw a win at the Seymour Centre for local writer Melita
Rowston’s hilarious one-hander The Diver, starring Duncan Fellows and
directed by James Beach for Platform 11 productions. At Newtown Theatre, Venetia
Taylor’s delicious satire on racism and romance Terror On The Northside won
the judges’ vote. Directed by Boris Ivanoff for Rag and Bone Productions, it starred
Taylor herself along with Beejan Olfat, Helen Tonkin and Brett Nevill.
The Wildcard winner – appropriately in a week when the Parliament said
“sorry” – was 100 Years by Bob Tissott, a play about a century of
black/white relations in the Northern Rivers area of NSW. According to Short & Sweet
Artistic Director Mark Cleary, this extraordinary family production directed by Diana
Tissott and starring Bob Tissott and their son Jed Tissott and Athol Compton – all
from Northern NSW – “manages to say in 10 minutes everything John Howard’s
government couldn’t manage in 10 years”.
They join previous heat winners Perfect by Aaron Scully, audience and
judges’ favourite The Stallion Of Death by Drew Fairley, Kate Toon's Bomb
Disposal, Noelle Janacewska's Duet With a Dictionary, Anne Frankenstein
– The Musical by David Holstein, Dead Weight by Joseph Talarico, Call
Me Comrade by Ross Peter Nelson and runner-up audience choice A Lesson in
Hand-holding by Mary Rachel Brown in a magnificent line up at the Seymour’s
Everest Theatre.
The night will be hosted by Movie Extra’s Renee Brack and actor-writer-comic Tug
Dumbly.
Finalists - winning through from more than 1500 original entries from all around the world
- will compete for cash, mentorships, and other prizes from some top names including
Nudie, Movie One, Screenwise, Realtime and Dendy Films.
Movie Extra is commissioning and screening film adaptations of all of the
finalists’ shows.
Plays were submitted this year from as far afield as Finland, Singapore and Ireland
as well as from all over Australia from Geraldton to the ‘Gong and south to Tasmania.
The best of these were brought to life by more than 500 directors, actors and technicians
in the biggest showcase of independent theatre talent in the world.
The Short & Sweet Gala Awards Final will be held over two nights at the Seymour
Centre’s Everest Theatre on Friday, February 22 and Saturday, February 23 from
7.30pm.
Bookings: (02) 9351 7940.
---
Stoppard's
latest rolls into Melbourne
Monday, February 18, 6:29pm AEDST.
Following its record-breaking runs in London and on Broadway, Tom Stoppard’s
latest play Rock 'N' Roll will begin performances for its Australian Premiere
season this Saturday, February 23 at the Arts Centre Playhouse in Melbourne.
The Melbourne Theatre Company production, directed by Artistic Director Simon
Phillips, officially opens on Wednesday, February 27 and continues to March 29.
Following its Melbourne season, Rock 'N' Roll tours to Sydney Theatre
Company’s Sydney Theatre from April 11 as part of STC’s 2008 season.
Rock 'N' Roll, which won the Evening Standard and London Critics’ Circle
Awards for Best Play, received its world premiere in 2006 at London’s Royal Court
Theatre and transferred to the West End for a sold-out run. It opened on Broadway to rave
reviews in November 2007.
It's August 1968, and Russian tanks are rolling in to Prague. Jan, the Czech student,
lives for rock music, Max, the English professor, lives for Communism and Esme, the flower
child, is high. By 1990, the tanks are rolling out, the Stones are rolling in and idealism
has hit the wall. A deeply felt look at the connection between rock music and revolution,
Stoppard's sweeping and witty play spans two countries, three generations and 22 turbulent
years, at the end of which love remains - and so does rock 'n' roll.
The production features Chloe Armstrong (Younger Esme/Alice), Christopher Brown
(Ferdinand), Melinda Butel (Gillian/Magda/Candida), Grant Cartwright (Stephen/The
Piper/Policeman 1), Danielle Cormack (Lenka), Alex Menglet (Milan/Policeman 2), Matthew
Newton (Jan), Genevieve Picot (Eleanor/Older Esme), Richard Sydenham (Nigel/Interrogator)
and William Zappa (Max).
Set design is by Stephen Curtis, costume design is by Tracy Grant Lord and lighting design
by Matt Scott.
Bookings: 1300 723 038.
When you see Rock 'N' Roll, why not let
us know your thoughts via our forums.
---
Cowell
show to launch B Sharp
Monday, February 18, 6:19pm AEDST.
After a bumper 2007 season that brought Sydney audiences The Seed, Anna in the
Tropics and Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, B Sharp is launching the
2008 season with a new Australian work from Sydney’s young theatre renegade, Brendan
Cowell. His new play Ruben Guthrie opens downstairs at Belvoir Street Theatre on
April 18.
Ruben Guthrie is on fire. At 29, he is Creative Director at a cutting edge advertising
agency, he is hot to trot in the Sydney bar scene and lives with his Czech, supermodel
girlfriend. Ruben seems invincible until one fateful awards night when he takes a
spectacular leap off a hotel roof…into a baby pool. Ruben wakes up to find his arm in
plaster, his girlfriend moving back to Prague and his mother driving him to an A.A.
meeting.
Ruben sets out on a journey of self discovery, desperate to locate the truth behind his
binge drinking. But the further he digs, the more it hurts, and the more it hurts…the
more he wants a beer! A black comedy with a big heart, Ruben Guthrie examines the
modern epidemic of Australian binge drinking, in Brendan Cowell’s trademark acerbic
and hilarious style.
According to Director Wayne Blair, Brendan Cowell’s newest work – that addresses
how acceptable it is in our culture to drink heavily and still succeed at the top –
has the potential to hit a raw nerve amongst Australian audiences.
“Ruben Guthrie is a reflection of a society that suffers an ongoing hangover
with regards to the way we accept and encourage alcohol abuse. Brendan’s analysis is
real and his writing offers an authentic and hilarious look at what happens when a binge
drinker stops, looks around themselves and realises they’ve been living a lie,”
he said.
The talented cast includes Megan Drury (Home and Away, The Golden Ass, Love’s
Triumph), Tracy Mann (All Saints, Embers), Lex Marinos (Ngapartji
Ngapartji, Drive-in Holiday, Sticky Bricks), Torquil Neilson (Love My Way, The
Secret Life of Us), Sam Reed (The Crucible) and Toby Schmitz (Self
Esteem, The Emperor of Sydney, Somersault).
Ruben Guthrie is the first play in the highly-awaited 2008 B Sharp Season – a
partnership program that showcases the inspiring work of independent theatre companies in
a nurturing environment.
The full 2008 B Sharp Season will be announced on Monday, March 31.
---
Jon
English lined up for role in own show
Thursday, February 14, 6:40pm
AEDST.
Jon English will make his historic first appearance in his own rock odyssey Paris
from April 11 in Gosford, north of Sydney.
The veteran singer will play Menelaus, the Greek King humiliated when his wife Helen, the
most beautiful woman in the world, is swept away by Prince Paris from Troy.
When the album of Paris was released in the 1990's Jon sung the role of Hector.
“I have grown into Menelaus. I was too young before,” he joked.
The musical, which had its world premiere at the Laycock Street Theatre in 2003, has been
re-written and updated with beautiful new songs to be performed for the first time.
So impressed was Jon at the 2003 production that he has entrusted Central Coast director
Stuart Smith and musical director Andrew Swan to help develop the new edition.
“I am very excited to be in this production,” he said.
A new pro-am company has been formed to stage the musical called Southern Cross Musicals.
The executive Producer is David Spicer - the theatrical agent for Paris.
"The talent on the Central Coast is phenomenal. It is a great place to showcase a new
musical," he said.
"For Paris fans they will be surprised at how the musical has
developed since it was first performed. About 30 per cent has been altered. The storyline
is better developed and the writers have included some beautiful new songs."
Paris opens at the Laycock Street Theatre on April 11. Bookings: (02) 43
233 233.
---
Wicked's
record breaking night
Wednesday, February 13, 9:43pm
AEDST.
 Wicked has taken the first
steps towards being the most successful musical ever staged in Australia after the
all-important group booking figures exceeded expectations on Tuesday evening.
The show took $2.3 million in advance sales in just three hours, a new record for
musical theatre in Australia.
The group bookers evening is always an important test for a production on how its
initial promotion and marketing has been received and can often be the first indication of
either success or disaster in the long term.
"It’s a tremendous sign that this musical is going to have a very long run at
the Regent Theatre," said producer John Frost.
"Group bookers are the backbone of every successful musical, so I’m
thrilled, of course. But I can’t say the advance sales came as a huge shock. Wherever
it opens Wicked smashes box office records. At the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway
alone it holds $40 million in advance bookings: an unheard of figure for a show that is
now into its fifth year."
The record-breaking night came just hours after Frost announced more details of the
show's cast, confirming that Anthony Callea, Rob Guest, Rob Mills and Maggie Kirkpatrick
would join previously announced cast members Amanda Harrison and Lucy Durack in the
musical, which is essentially the back story to The Wizard Of Oz.
The advance sales record on Tuesday beat the previous record holder - The
Phantom Of The Opera - by a whopping 15 per cent.
"It has been a phenomenal response," Frost said.
"And I expect we’ll get another record breaking rush when bookings open
to the general public on February 25."
It has been a month of record-breaking achievements for Wicked, with the
production also announcing a $1 million 'presenting sponsor' deal with ANZ - the largest
deal of its kind in Australian theatrical history.
Frost revealed on Tuesday that after securing the $1 million deal, he walked out of
the meeting, purchased a bottle of French champagne and drank it at four in the afternoon,
an indication of his excitement at the coup.
The musical also continues to break records here at AussieTheatre.com, with the
three most successful hits days in the website's history coinciding with Wicked announcements
and stories.
Check out our Wicked website at www.aussietheatre.com/wicked.
---
Holding
The Man readies for Melbourne
Tuesday, February 12, 6:23pm AEDST.
 Following four
sold-out Sydney seasons, one of the most successful and critically acclaimed new
Australian plays of the past year is coming to Melbourne, with the Melbourne Theatre
Company presenting the Griffin Theatre Company production of Holding The Man at
the Merlyn Theatre.
Already hailed as a modern classic of Australian theatre, Tommy Murphy’s adaptation
of Timothy Conigrave’s memoirs is one of the great love stories that speaks across
generations, sexual preference and cultures. The Melbourne season features members of the
original cast directed by former Griffin Theatre Company Artistic Director David Berthold.
Deeply moving and often very funny, Holding The Man is the story of Tim and John
who met in high school in the mid-1970s. Tim is an actor performing in the school
production of Romeo and Juliet when he reveals his crush on John, captain of the
football team. Over the next 15 years, an unlikely and remarkable relationship develops
which weathers disapproval, temptation and ultimately death.
“When Griffin Theatre Company commissioned Tommy Murphy to adapt Timothy
Conigrave’s much-loved book, we were delving into the great unknown," explained
Berthold.
"We had no idea how the production would be received or how the dedicated
readers of the book would react to seeing Tim’s beautiful story portrayed on stage.
The success and the awards over the last 12 months are testament to Tommy’s talent
and passion, the visionary creative team and the incredible performances from the
cast."
In his review of Holding The Man for AussieTheatre.com, Kieran Colreavy
said, in part: "While this play may have particular resonance for gay and lesbian
viewers, it transcends the stereotypes and idiosyncrasies of gay culture, exploring
universal themes such as identity, love, sex and fidelity, making for gripping viewing.
The audio accompaniment, although subtle, is appropriate – the melodies of Supertramp
set the 1970s/1980s scene. The set is remarkable for its minimalist nature, however, the
understated nature of the set contrasts with the ghoulish skeleton puppet used to convey
John’s surrender to AIDS, heightening its impact and serving as a graphic reminder of
the ravages of the disease."
The play stars Jeanette Cronin, Nicholas Eadie, Guy Edmonds, Eve Morey, Brett
Stiller and Matt Zeremes. It commences performances at the Merlyn Theatre on March 14.
Bookings: 1300 723 038.
---
Your
chance to work in theatre
Tuesday, February 12, 6:18pm AEDST.
A major Australian theatrical producer is looking for a Production Coordinator.
Newtheatricals is a producing group founded by Rodney Rigby in 2004. The company
has a hand in shows such as The Rocky Horror Show, Jersey Boys, Boeing Boeing and
Mum’s The Word 2.
An exciting opportunity exists to join Newtheatricals in a full time position. The
Production Coordinator will form an integral part of a small dedicated team working on a
range of musicals, plays and concerts produced by Newtheatricals independently and in
association with third parties. This is a broad role with a significant book keeping
element.
Duties will include, without limitation:
• book keeping and account co-ordination with production and
company accountants
• budget formulation and management
• accounts payable
• general administration to ensure the smooth running of a small,
busy office, including managing IT requirements
• arranging accommodation, air and ground travel and per diems as
required
• assisting with auditions, contracting, industrial relations,
launches, marketing, publicity, production and ticketing
• liaison with co-producers, venues, sponsors, investors,
marketing, publicity, ticketing companies and production staff
Selection Criteria:
• advanced book keeping skills
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as
common sense
• experience in the performing arts and a vocabulary of and strong
knowledge of the theatre and entertainment industry
• IT literacy including Excel, MYOB, Outlook, Powerpoint, Word (PC)
• an ability to work under pressure with competing priorities and
deadlines
• highly organised yet flexible enough to meet changing priorities
• able to effectively manage time and resources to ensure that work
is completed efficiently with a high level of detail and accuracy
• ability to be self-motivated and show initiative, whilst also
being willing to follow instructions accurately
• relationship building skills and maturity and confidence in
dealing with a range of stakeholders
This is a Sydney-based position working at the office of Newtheatricals in Sydney CBD. The
Production Coordinator will be required to travel interstate from time to time to fulfil
the duties described above.
Applicants are required to write a cover letter outlining their professional experience in
the context of the brief outlined above, together with a biography and two references. All
applications are to be in writing and addressed via email to amber@newtheatricals.com.
For more jobs like this one, make sure you subscribe
to TheatreJobs today for just $39.95 - there's no renewals, ever!
---
Hatpin
cast in shopping centre explosion
Tuesday, February 12, 3:13pm AEDST.
Cast members of The Hatpin were at the Broadway Shopping Centre when a
massive explosion occurred this afternoon, causing the evacuation of the centre and
trapping some customers in lifts.
All cast members have been accounted for and are safe.
"The smoke was overwhelming," said Kookaburra CEO Peter Cousens, who is
starring in the musical at the nearby Seymour Centre from February 23.
Cousens and fellow cast member Michelle Doake escaped the shopping centre through a
lower exit, fighting their way through thick smoke.
The cast were on a break from rehearsals, eating at a Japanese restaurant when the
explosion happened.
"The power went out and everyone went silent," said writer James Millar,
who was with the cast.
"We all ran out into the black smoke."
A substation below the centre exploded, causing the drama. There have been no
injuries reported, and those trapped in lifts were eventually freed.
---
More
Wicked casting announced
Tuesday, February 12, 1:01pm AEDST.
 Rob
Guest, Anthony Callea, Rob Mills and Maggie Kirkpatrick will star in the Australian
production of Wicked that opens at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in July.
Guest will play the Wizard, Callea (pictured) is Boq, Mills is Fiyero and Kirkpatrick will
play Madame Morrible.
They join previously announced cast members Amanda Harrison (Elphaba) and Lucy Durack
(Glinda) as well as Penny McNamee, who will play Nessa.
Also announced today was a $1 million sponsorship with ANZ, the biggest “presenting
sponsor” deal in Australian theatre history.
“This is a terrific day in what will be, I’m sure, the very, very long history
of Wicked in Australia,” said producer John Frost.
“I’m thrilled that the New York creative team who conducted the auditions with
me have chosen Australian Idol’s standout stars – Rob Mills and Anthony
Callea – both now firmly in the front ranks of our entertainers.
“Rob Guest is one of Australian music theatre’s most popular and enduring
performers – he played the Phantom in The Phantom Of The Opera for a record
seven years in Australia and New Zealand.
“And Maggie Kirkpatrick is one of our best loved stars. As The Freak in Prisoner,
she remains a legendary, cult figure to television audiences internationally, but Maggie
is also a renowned stage performer.”
Frost confirmed that rehearsals for the Australia production will begin on May 12 ahead of
July 12 opening night.
---
Something
in the water
Tuesday, February 12, 9:07am AEDST.
 Penrith's
Jamison High School has produced its second Bound For Broadway scholarship winner in just
three years after Carly Champion was named one of this year's recipients yesterday.
Champion along with Roshani Priddis from Tamworth survived the arduous audition
process to claim the scholarships, which will send them to New York to work with some of
theatre's biggest names.
Two years ago, Belinda Wollaston - also a former student of Jamison High School -
was the first winner of the Bound For Broadway scholarship along with Luke Dolahenty. The
western Sydney high school has a strong commitment to the performing arts, with several
students going on to claim major achievements in a variety of fields including opera and
theatre.
"It's pretty unbelievable - it is all quite a shock to be honest,"
20-year-old Champion said.
"You can prepare all you like but you really need someone to give you an
opportunity. It was quite a tough process. It was quite quick, you didn't really have much
time think about what you were doing."
The unassuming Champion is clearly keeping her cool about the opportunity, saying
she doesn't want to get ahead of herself.
"I'm just going to go along for the ride. I don't want to create any
pre-conceived notions about it all, I just want to go with the flow and see what
happens," she said.
"I am quite nervous and awe-struck by it all to be honest, given some of the
big names we will be working with."
Jamison High School music teacher Sue Mudge said the school was ecstatic about
producing yet another Bound for Broadway scholarship recipient.
"We're extremely proud of Carly and have been keeping in contact with her
since she left school," she said.
"She was always involved with musicals throughout school and we are not
surprised by her success. She has worked very hard for an opportunity like this."
- Troy Dodds
---
Rocky Horror kicks off tonight
Tuesday, February 12, 12:00am
AEDST.
 'The Time Warp' is about to be done, again.
A new production of The Rocky Horror Show commences preview performances
at the new Star Theatre in Sydney tonight ahead of next Thursday's official opening.
Directed by Gale Edwards, the production stars iOTA, Paul Capsis (pictured), Tamsin
Carroll, Michael Cormick, Sharon Millerchip, Kellie Rode, Andrew Bevis, Simon Farrow and
John Waters.
Those used to The Rocky Horror Show will be in for a surprise when they
see the show, with the piece altered for the first time.
"It's the first time in 30 years that the blueprint has been able to
change," said Bevis, who plays Brad in the tuner.
"The whole thing is quite spectacular. The set design is amazing and I think
audiences will be in for a real treat."
Co-producer Paul Dainty said he had no doubt the show would emerge as a fantastic
success story.
“It’s a timeless piece of theatre that has spanned decades,” Dainty
said.
“I know Australian audiences – both new and old fans – will love this show,
which stars some of our finest talents.”
The Rocky Horror Show’s well-known and much-loved storyline goes something like
this: Squeaky-clean sweethearts Brad and Janet knock on the door of an eerie house to use
the phone after their car breaks down in the rain on a dark and stormy night. Little do
they know but they’ve just walked into a convention of beings from the planet
Transsexual, led by the irrepressible leather-clad sweet transvestite Frank-n-Furter. What
ensues is a night of music, mayhem and naughtiness where fantasy becomes reality.
The Rocky Horror Show made its debut at London’s internationally famous Royal
Court Theatre Upstairs in 1973. While it’s essentially a rock’n’roll show
it has also become an iconic brand and an entity unto itself which has defied the decades
and continued to grow in popularity.
Millions of people all over the world have seen a production of The Rocky
Horror Show and sung along to classics like 'I’m Just a Sweet Transvestite',
'Damn It Janet', 'I Can Make You A Man', 'Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me', 'Over At The
Frankenstein Place' and of course 'The Time Warp'.
You can purchase tickets to The Rocky Horror Show through Showbiz.
AussieTheatre.com will be at the opening night of The Rocky Horror Show and
will bring you complete coverage, including a Photo Special and our full review online
Friday, February 22.
---
Hedwig to return
Monday, February 11, 8:19am AEDST.
AussieTheatre.com can reveal that hit rock musical Hedwig And The Angry Inch
will return in 2008, with a national tour planned and a massive hunt underway for a
leading man to replace iOTA, who will be frocking up in The Rocky Horror Show
well into 2009.
Producer David Hawkins confirmed that the musical, which has played two successful Sydney
seasons and enjoyed a run in Melbourne, will be back on stage in August.
“We are currently preparing for a full national tour starting in Melbourne hopefully
in August, then moving to QLD, WA and a third return to Sydney, then we hope to finish as
part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2009,” Hawkins said.
“We have not made a decision on our new Hedwig but several amazing talents are being
considered by the creative team. The boys have all put down tracks and they are all
amazing. I am very excited about this new tour and believe it will be great to have
someone else tackle this amazing show. If a performer can cope with Hedwig it is a huge
gift for them to show their abilities with such a strong show.”
Hawkins said he intended to use the original creatives of Craig Ilott, Tina Harris, Nick
Dare, Stephen Hawker, Ross Coleman and Nick Jones to bring Hedwig back to life.
AussieTheatre.com understands that Silverchair’s Daniel Johns, Ezekiel Ox, Troy
Woodcroft and Daniel Scott are all being considered for the role of Hedwig.
“I can’t say at this stage any more than that I have been in contact with all
the guys you mentioned and a few others too,” Hawkins said when asked about the
rumoured contenders.
Hedwig And The Angry Inch tells the story of Hedwig Schmidt, the unfortunate victim
of a gruesomely botched sex-change operation, and an "internationally ignored
song-stylist". Her journey to find true love, "her other half", is a rock
and roll odyssey which leads her across the Berlin Wall, across the world, and from man to
woman.
The Australian production won a Helpmann Award, two Green Room Awards and a Sydney
Theatre Award.
- Troy Dodds
---
Helpmann Awards finalise voting panels
Sunday, February 10, 10:36am AEDST.
The theatre and musical theatre voting panels for the 2008 Helpmann Awards
have been finalised, comprising representatives of the live performance industry,
including the Live Performance Australia Executive Council and previous Helpmann Award
winners, in addition to other prominent industry practitioners.
The musicals voting panel this year is: Jon Nicholls (Jon Nicholls Productions
& Helpmann Awards Executive Producer), Craig McMaster (Showbiz), Dale Bradbury
(Melbourne Theatre Company), Michele Bribosia (Showbag), Kerry Comerford (The Really
Useful Group), Peter Cousens (Kookaburra), Paul Dellit (Seymour Productions), Troy Dodds
(AussieTheatre.com), Sue Farrelly (Farrelly Productions Pty Ltd), Richard Fitzgerald (Her
Majesty's Theatre), Simon Gallaher (ESSGEE Entertainment), Julia Holt (Adelaide Caberet
Festival), Michael Jacobsen (Arena Management), John Kotzas (QPAC), Andrew Moon (The Arts
Centre), Teena Munn (Windmill Performing Arts Group), Rodney Rigby (newtheatricals), Will
Threadgould (QPAC) and Michael J Wilkie (MAD PR).
The theatre panel this year is: Rachel Healy (Sydney Opera House), Rob Brookman
(Sydney Theatre Company), Stephen Armstrong (Malthouse Theatre), Tara Ball (Brisbane
Powerhouse), Peter Evans (Melbourne Theatre Company), Tom Gutteridge (Black Swan Theatre
Company), Sue Hunt (Carriageworks), Atul Joshi (Australia Council for the Arts), Rachael
Maza Long (actor/director), Charles Parkinson (IS Theatre - Tasmania), Steven Richardson
(Arts House), Ian Scobie (Arts Projects Australia), and Lyn Wallis (Casula Powerhouse).
A date is yet to be announced for the 2008 ceremony, which will be held in Sydney.
---
Sydney transfer for Guys And Dolls
Sunday, February 10, 10:25am AEDST.
Guys And Dolls, which opens in Melbourne next month and features a stellar
cast including Lisa McCune and Marina Prior, will definitely play a Sydney season.
Producers hope the show will run for a year at Melbourne's Princess Theatre, with
tickets currently on sale through to May 11. After that, it will move to Sydney.
Guys And Dolls is set in New York in the 1940’s. It focuses on
small-time gambler Nathan Detroit, who bets his big time pal Sky Masterson that he
can’t make the next woman he sees fall in love with him. When the next doll happens
to be the neighbourhood missionary Sarah Brown, the stage is set for an unforgettable
evening’s entertainment.
“The stars of this production must be the greatest cast of billboard names in
Australian music theatre history,” co-producer Howard Panter declared.
“Each is a household name: a star of stage, screen or television – and in some
cases, of all three. And all of them are perfect for these classic roles in this fresh new
production."
Apart from McCune and Prior, the show also stars Ian Stenlake, Garry McDonald,
Shane Jacobson and Magda Szubanski.
---
Griffin appoints new GM
Sunday, February 10, 10:12am AEDST.
Bell Shakespeare Company Manager Nathan Bennett has been appointed as the new
General Manager of Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company.
This appointment will see Bennett work with Griffin’s Artistic Director and Board to
manage and develop a new, long-term business plan for the company; the only theatre
company in Sydney entirely dedicated to the professional development and production of
plays by Australian writers.
"Nathan’s appointment as General Manager is a great step for both him and
for Griffin," said Chair of the Griffin Theatre Company Board, Michael Bradley.
"At Bell Shakespeare, Nathan worked very closely with Artistic Director, John
Bell, overseeing all aspects of their main-stage productions, education programmes,
associated touring logistics and activities. His experience in this field will provide
some invaluable input and assistance to Griffin’s long-term ambitions.”
Bennett said: “I admire Griffin’s commitment to producing bold, challenging and
provocative work that reflects Australia’s diversity, and look forward to working
with Artistic Director, Nick Marchand, to ensure the continued success of the
company.”
He will take over the role from exiting General Manager, Ange Cecco, who is stepping down
after seven years with the company.
"Ange has set new standards for Griffin with her rigorous financial and
operations management of the company," said Artistic Director Nick Marchand.
"It is clear that Griffin has benefited enormously from her passion and
dedication and she leaves with our very best wishes and heartfelt thanks.”
---
Rent to play Adelaide for first time
Thursday, February 7, 11:43pm
AEDST.
Rent, the classic Broadway musical written by Jonathan Larson about love,
friendship and community that has completely transformed how a generation thinks and feels
about musical theatre, will premiere in Adelaide in November as part of the 2008 Feast
Festival.
Larson's rock musical is a joyous, breathtaking and inspiring story of a group of New York
City East Village artists struggling to find their voices, and find love, in today's tough
times. Based on Giacomo Puccini's classic 1896 opera, La Boheme, Rent
boasts some of Broadway's most powerful songs, and broaches controversial themes such as
homelessness, AIDS and drug addiction with compassion. Rent has been thrilling
audiences of all ages with its moving tale of hopes and dreams.
Rent burst upon the theatre scene after its creator, Larson, died suddenly on the
eve of the show's first performance off-Broadway at New York's Theatre Workshop in January
1996. The show then opened to rave reviews on Broadway, winning the 1996 Tony Award for
Best Musical, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. New York Times critic Ben Brantley raved
that Rent "shimmers with hope for the future of the American musical".
The Australian production of Rent premiered in Sydney in 1998 starring Christine
Anu as Mimi. A Melbourne season followed in 1999.
The Adelaide production team includes internationally acclaimed Choreographer Leigh
Warren, Musical Director Matthew Carey, with Angel’s specialty costume designed by
Australia’s leading fashion designer’s George Gross and Harry Who. Rent will
be directed by Scott Nell.
Auditions for Rent will be held in early May with rehearsals expected to start in
August 2008.
- Rohan Shearn
---
Penny McNamee to play Nessa in Wicked
Wednesday, February 6, 9:40pm
AEDST.
 Sydney-sider Penny McNamee has been cast as Nessa in the forthcoming
Australian production of Wicked, which opens at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne
in July.
She joins previously announced cast members Amanda
Harrison and Lucy Durack in the show, which is attracting unprecedented interest.
McNamee is expected to be confirmed as Nessa when additional cast members are
officially announced next week at a special launch in Melbourne.
Nessa is Elphaba (Amanda Harrison)'s sister in the musical, with her standout
number being 'The Wicked Witch Of The East' in the second act.
24-year-old McNamee appeared in the lack lustre Witches Of Eastwick in
2003, and has made numerous guest appearances on television programs, including All
Saints and White Collar Blue.
AussieTheatre.com also understands that 2007 WAAPA graduates Liz Stiles, who is
currently appearing in Hello Again at the Darlinghurst Theatre, and Suzie Mathers
have been cast in the show's ensemble.
---
Honey labelled best new Aussie play
Wednesday, February 6, 9:40pm
AEDST.
 Honey, which played
at the Riverside Theatres in Parramatta last year to strong audience and critical acclaim,
has been named the Best New Australian Play of 2007 at the annual GLUG Awards.
Lorrae Desmond's "play with music" focused on the impact of the Vietnam
War and veterans' struggle for respect.
In his review of the play for AussieTheatre.com, Troy Dodds said, in part: "The impressive thing about Honey is its ability to crawl out of any
dark hole it gets itself into. A lesser play would have simply continued down a terrible
path at various points but Desmond seems to have an ability to give her script CPR when
it's most-needed. The play is full of scenes that are of quality higher than the small
stage they find themselves on, and the entertainment nature of the work cannot be
questioned."
The GLUG Awards this year found plenty of room to praise a NIDA
production of Sweet Charity, giving it a special "one off award" for
the production in general and naming Jessica Marais the Young Performer of the Year.
Tyran Parke won Best Male Performance in a Musical for his
efforts in Sunday In The Park With George while Anne Looby won the Female award
for Company.
Noeline Brown, William Zappa, Jonathan Gavin, Queenie Van De
Zandt, Robert Love, Mary Lopez, Kaye Tuckerman, Wendy Blacklock and Katharine Brisbane
also won awards, while Bell Shakespeare's The Government Inspector won the
Outstanding Production Award.
---
Stars come out for Hats Off
Wednesday, February 6, 9:24pm
AEDST.
Some of musical theatre's brightest talents will be out in force on Sunday night
when the annual Hats Off charity concert is held in Sydney, this year moving venues to the
Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay.
The list of performers includes Amelia Farugia, Anne Looby, Ashley
Evans, Cabaret Décadanse by Soma, Charisma Belle, Chloe Dallimore, Courtney Act, Garry
Scale, Gillian Minnervini, Helen Dallimore, Jan van de Stool, Jeremy Brennan, Jonathan
Welch, Kathleen de Leon Jones, Katrina Retallick, Kellie Hoggart, Lucy Durack, Luke
Joslin, Lyn Shakespeare, Margi de Ferranti, Matt Lee, Matthew Robinson, Maxi Shield,
Michelle Doake, Minnie Cooper, Nellie Knickers, Nick Christo, Nikki Webster, Octavia
Barron-Martin, Queenie van de Zandt, Ru Bella, Shauna Jensen, Shelley Silberman, Troy
Phillips, Tyran Parke and Verushka Darling.
The casts of Billy Elliot, The Hatpin and Hello Again are
also scheduled to appear.
All performers, musicians and the production team have generously donated their
time and talents and all proceeds from the night are going to ACON (AIDS Council of NSW).
Tickets are still available. Details: (02) 9250 1999.
---
42nd Street sold me, says Frost
Tuesday, February 5, 10:23pm AEDST.
Co-producer John Frost says it was Lucy Durack's performance as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd
Street for The Production Company last year that confirmed to him she was the best
candidate for the role of Glinda in the hit blockbuster musical Wicked, which
will open in Melbourne later this year.
Durack was earlier today confirmed as Australia's Glinda, with Amanda Harrison to
star as Elphaba.
"Lucy was singled out for the highest praise in the national production of Respect,
and she played a series of principal roles for The Production Company, co-starring with
David Campbell in Carousel and Ian Stenlake in Oklahoma!. She was Bianca
in Kiss Me, Kate, alongside Marina Prior, and Miss Dorothy in Thoroughly
Modern Millie. In all of those shows she won high praise. But for me it was her
performance as Peggy
Sawyer in 42nd Street that said 'a star is born'," Frost said.
"She is a brilliant actress and singer. A young woman with rare energy and
charisma. Ironically, 42nd Street is best remembered for the immortal quote
'You’re going out a youngster, but you’ve got to come back a star!' Lucy Durack
is going out there a youngster, but there is no doubt Wicked is going to make her
a huge star."
Frost labelled Durack "Australia's fastest rising music theatre star". He
was also full of praise for Harrison, who he said would deliver a "delicious"
performance as the misunderstood Elphaba.
"She can act, but she also has a powerful voice with a great range, and the
ability to emotionally move an audience. The two don’t always go
together," Frost said.
"Above all she has star quality. She can mix it with the best."
Currently in New York, Frost said the announcement of the two stars followed the
most exhaustive auditions in Australian music theatre history.
"These are the roles that hundreds of music theatre artists in Australia and
New Zealand dreamed of playing," he said.
Wicked opens at the Regent Theatre on July 12.
---
Graduates audition for scholarship
Tuesday, February 5, 7:26pm AEDST.
 This Monday, a panel of highly qualified professionals
will cast their eye over some of Australia's up and coming musical theatre talent as
auditions get underway for the 2008 Bound For Broadway Scholarship.
Kevin Jacobsen, Mary Lopez, Andrew Bee, John Brown, John Robertson, Peter Cousens,
David Harris and Justin Smith will audition graduates from the prestigious Talent
Development Project for the chance to win the opportunity of a lifetime - a music theatre
scholarship to study in New York.
Six graduates have been selected to audition. There are two scholarships on offer with the
lucky recipients flying to New York to attend music theatre workshops in New York from
March 15 until early April.
The workshops are part of a series sponsored by The ASCAP (American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers) Foundation to nurture new American musicals. The workshops are
directed by Academy Award-winning composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Prince
of Egypt, Godspell, Pippin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame).
As well as attending the workshops the recipients have three exclusive sessions working
with a leading music director that culminates in a 45-minute showcase. This showcase will
be presented at NY’s favourite cabaret venue Don’t Tell Mama and will be
arranged by Michael Kerker.
The other unique benefit of the scholarship is that it allows the performers to see
Broadway shows and attend other exclusive events arranged by Kerker.
Last year, three music theatre scholarships were awarded to Kirby Burgess, Lucy Maunder
(pictured) and Erin James. As a result singer, actor and dancer Burgess was invited back
to New York to perform on Broadway in Rising Stars of Broadway – a one-off production
that showcased America’s most promising musical theatre performers aged under 25 with
Burgess the only foreign performer selected.
The performers auditioning on Monday are Brent Dolahenty, Brendan Irving, Roshani
Priddis, Carly Champion, Jennifer Fitzgerald and Tiffany O’Connor.
---
Wicked already breaking records
Tuesday, February 5, 7:09pm AEDST.
Excitement surrounding the announcement of key cast members in Wicked has
led to AussieTheatre.com recording its two most successful days in history.
Since launching in 2003, the website has never experienced traffic like what has
been felt over the past two days, with a new record set yesterday and surpassed today.
"Until this week, the most successful hits day in our history was when Wicked's
Australian production was confirmed, so if nothing else, it proves what incredible pull
this show has," said AussieTheatre.com Managing Editor, Troy Dodds.
"To break hit records yesterday was amazing but to be able to do it again
today is just fantastic and we're excited that people continue to turn to
AussieTheatre.com for the latest news and information on theatre."
AussieTheatre.com experienced unprecedented levels of traffic in the hours between
6am and 9am, around the time Lucy Durack and Amanda Harrison were confirmed as playing
Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked.
Hits have remained steady throughout the day as the website's coverage of this
significant announcement continued.
---
Harrison's big break
Tuesday, February 5, 9:42am AEDST.
 For
the last 15 years, Amanda Harrison has been a regular feature on the theatre scene both in
Australia and overseas, but she feels she has finally “made it” after securing
the coveted role of Elphaba in the upcoming Australian premiere of Wicked, which
opens at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in July.
Harrison, a Helpmann Award winner and Green Room Award nominee, has most recently appeared
as Ellen in Miss Saigon, a role she saw as an important lead-in to the demanding
nature of Elphaba.
“When Wicked was rumoured to be coming a few years ago I was really keen,
but I wasn’t going to put my family plans on hold,” Harrison said.
“I ended up having my daughter Grace, and then I returned to work doing Miss
Saigon so the timing really is perfect.”
The 33-year-old, who is in New York with co-star Lucy Durack, found out she had been cast
just before Christmas, but privacy agreements meant she couldn’t discuss the role
with anyone.
“I told my immediate family but that was it – I had to go to ground and turn
myself into a hermit,” she said.
While Harrison has known since December that she would turn green every night from July,
she had to watch as rumours about other performers constantly popped up. A strong one
suggested that Pippa Grandison had been signed, sealed and delivered. Another said Idina
Menzel would come to Australia to perform the first eight weeks of the Melbourne season,
but there was no sign of such an announcement today, when the key casting was finally let
out of the bag.
“It’s going to be such a smash, it’s such an amazing show,” Harrison
said.
“We’ve seen it twice since being here in New York and have been totally blown
away by it.”
Harrison believes playing the role will be one of the most defining periods of her career.
“I’ve worked for 15 years in this industry and done some amazing things but this
is it – this is the biggest thing I have ever done,” she said.
“I’ve had plenty of mini-breaks but this is the big one.”
Wicked co-producer John Frost said he firmly believed Harrison and Durack would
become household names thanks to the show.
- Troy Dodds
---
Durack: "A dream come true"
Tuesday, February 5, 8:23am AEDST.
 26-year-old Lucy Durack
says securing the role of Glinda in Wicked is a "dream come true" and
has revealed she kept the news secret for some six weeks due to a privacy agreement with
the show's producers.
Speaking to AussieTheatre.com from New York, where she and co-star Amanda Harrison
have seen the Broadway version of Wicked twice in as many days, Durack said she
found out she had won the role on December 17.
"Keeping it secret has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to
do," she said.
"Words cannot describe how excited I am by this whole thing. I feel so lucky
being given this opportunity, it is something I have wanted to do for so long and I am so
very grateful."
Durack, who has appeared in a number of musicals including Mamma Mia! and Respect,
has previously starred with Harrison in a production of Oklahoma! presented by
Melbourne's Production Company.
"That was a few years ago but I still have my notebook from that show and in
the front it says 'Lucy Durack and Amanda Harrison for Glinda and Elphaba'. I guess we can
tick that box now."
Durack was always considered a favourite to secure the role of Glinda, though there
was constant speculation that Helen Dallimore, who played the role in London, could return
home to reprise it in Melbourne.
Durack said she is looking forward to starting rehearsals in May.
---
Durack, Harrison win coveted roles
Tuesday, February 5, 8:19am AEDST.
Lucy Durack and Amanda Harrison have won the prize roles of Glinda and Elphaba in
the forthcoming Australian premiere production of Wicked, which opens at
Melbourne's Regent Theatre in July.
There's been months of speculation over who would be cast in the coveted female
roles, but in the end the creative team held back on any surprises, with both Durack and
Harrison considered as favourites throughout the audition process.
Speaking
to AussieTheatre.com from New York, Wicked co-producer John Frost said he was
thrilled with the casting.
"There were other options, but you could see these two girls were the ones
shining through during the audition process," Frost said.
"The great thing was that while people were talking about Lucy and Amanda
(pictured left) for some time, the American creative team had not had a lot to do with
them and hence the girls got the roles on their own merits and talents."
Frost confirmed that due to the demanding nature of the show, there would be a
"stand by" Glinda and Elphaba cast as well as general understudies.
He also said the roles of Boq, Fiyero and The Wizard were yet to be cast.
A Helpmann Award winner, Harrison has appeared in countless major musicals,
including We Will Rock You, Leader Of The Pack and Aspects Of Love.
Durack has most recently been seen in the Australian tour of Respect and
has previously appeared in Mamma Mia! and a host of shows for The Production
Company, including 42nd Street last year.
Durack said securing the role of Glinda, originated on Broadway by Kristin
Chenoweth, was a dream come true.
"If somebody said to me I could only play one role for the rest of my life, I
would choose this hands down," she told the Seven Network.
Check out our Wicked website at www.aussietheatre.com/wicked.
---
Indigenous theatre company a possibility
Monday, February 4, 7:21pm AEDST.
On January 19 and 20 the State Library of Queensland was the venue for a second
Consultation Meeting to discuss the possibility of a National Indigenous Theatre Company
(NITC).
The meeting was funded through Arts Queensland and also saw the inaugural meeting
of the Blakstage Alliance – an alliance of the funded Indigenous Theatre Companies.
The meeting gathered over 30 practitioners from the local Murri Theatre scene,
representatives of the funded Indigenous Theatre companies, funding bodies and some key
supporters from around the country. Queensland Arts Minister Rod Welford also attended the
consultation meeting in Brisbane.
As a sign of the growing support and momentum for the NITC The Blakstage Alliance issued a
new statement overturning its previous position set last November, saying it supported the
emergence of a national platform for showcasing Indigenous performing arts.
As with the Melbourne meeting (held December 15 and 16 last year at the Victorian Arts
Centre), the gathering were extremely enthusiastic for the idea of a National Indigenous
Theatre Company and what it meant for the aspirations of Indigenous Theatre Artists and
the industry as a whole.
There was animated discussion around creating a company to bring new resources into the
sector, to develop works of scale, to extend the life of the works through touring
nationally and internationally, and to create works for all ages.
A Working Group and communication process was discussed and further Consultation Meetings
are planned for Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Sydney. It is hoped that an initial proposal
will go to the new Federal Government within the next week and a Draft Business Plan
within a month.
---
Aussie story hits the stage
Monday, February 4, 7:21pm AEDST.
 An epic Australian
story of the past, present and future, When The Rain Stops Falling is about the
legacy we inherit from our parents and the legacy we leave behind for our children, a
metaphor for the state of the planet and the hearts, minds and souls of those who inhabit
it.
Set against a backdrop of a dramatically changing climate, an uncertain future and the
wonder of the Australian landscape, it weaves four generations of interconnected stories,
revealing estrangements within one family traced from 1959 to 2039.
From a cramped 1950s London flat to the windswept South Australian coast and into the
heart of the Australian desert the play follows the central journey of Gabriel Law as he
retraces his father Henry's footsteps in an attempt to solve the mystery of his
disappearance.
Brink Productions started developing the project in 2004 and combines the talents of one
of Australia's leading stage and screenwriters Andrew Bovell, in his first work for the
stage in many years, with the designs of acclaimed visual artist Hossein Valamanesh.
With music and soundscapes by composer Quentin Grant, it features an all star cast
including Paul Blackwell, Michaela Cantwell, Carmel Johnson, Kris McQuade, Yalin Ozucelik,
Anna Lise Phillips and Neil Pigot to be directed by Brink Productions Artistic Director,
Chris Drummond and lighting by Niklas Pajanti.
Chris Drummond said: “The play asks questions about where we're all going as human
beings at a personal level, at a political level, at a historical, environmental,
ecological level.”
When The Rain Stops Falling is a World Premiere production presented by Brink
Productions, State Theatre Company of South Australia and Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts
and opens on February 28 at Adelaide's Scott Theatre. Bookings: 131 246.
- Rohan Shearn
---
Wicked cast to be announced Tuesday
Sunday, February 3, 2:40pm AEDST.
Australia will know who has been cast in the coveted roles of Elphaba and Glinda in
the forthcoming Melbourne production of Wicked on Tuesday, with an announcement
expected on morning television.
AussieTheatre.com understands that the two performers cast in the roles have been
flown to New York, where the announcement will be made via satellite ahead of an official
launch later this month.
A production spokesperson confirmed that the "two leads will finally be
confirmed on Tuesday" but would not confirm the announcement will be made on a
morning television program, believed to be Sunrise.
The rest of the cast will be announced at the launch later this month. It is
believed that the roles of The Wizard, Boq and Fiyero are yet to be cast, with
negotiations and auditions continuing.
Wicked features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie
Holzman, and is loosely based on the best selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of
the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Macguire. The musical tells the “back
story” to The Wizard of Oz, focusing on Glinda (the good witch) and Elphaba
(the wicked witch of the west) and their unlikely friendship that developed long before
Dorothy dropped in.
It opens at Melbourne's Regent Theatre in July.
AussieTheatre.com Gold will
feature interviews with some of the cast of WICKED later this week! Make sure you get your
membership today - you could also win tickets to see The Hatpin! Click here.
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Tale of a flawed hero
Friday, February 1, 10:57am AEDST.
 The
Adelaide Festival Centre’s Australian Stories program is a new stream that will give
audiences the opportunity to hear Australian stories of young and old. Stories that will
explore political, social and human issues that will question, challenge and create
debate.
The first in the series is A Local Man, a poignant and powerful portrayal of a
great Australian statesman, former Prime Minister Ben Chifley. Written by Robin McLachlan,
a Bathurst historian and Bob Ellis, himself a speech writer for some of Australia's
greatest Labor leaders, A Local Man is directed by Bill Blaikie with additional
direction by Sandra Bates and stars award-winning actor of TV and film, Tony Barry, as Ben
Chifley
Ben Chifley is considered one of our great Australian characters. This intimate one-man
show eavesdrops on Chifley's thoughts as he remembers his painful childhood, his work as a
train driver and union man, and his regrets and achievements as Prime Minister.
Described by his political opponent Harold Holt as "one of the most lovable men ever
to have inhabited Parliament House", Ben Chifley has been called Australia's
best-loved Prime Minister. His life story, from humble Bathurst engine driver to national
leader, has become one of Australia's political legends. His government was instrumental
in establishing some of Australia's most iconic brands, including QANTAS, Holden and the
Commonwealth Bank.
Late in the afternoon of June 9 1951, Ben Chifley returns to his modest home in Bathurst
to write a key speech which he will deliver at the ALP Conference in Sydney the next day.
Having recently led his party to its second defeat at the polls, it is a time of great
personal and political challenge for the Labor leader.
The dreams Chifley had for post-war Australia lie shattered and his health is failing. His
life now seems but an epilogue to earlier times of aspiration and power. A somewhat flawed
hero, it is a time for decisions and a time for reflection on his life as a national
political leader and as a man, a local man. Ben Chifley died in Canberra four days later.
Former Labor Prime Ministers, Gough Whitlam said "Bob Ellis has authentically
recreated Ben Chifley's life and ideals", while Bob Hawke said "Tony Barry's
passionately felt portrayal of Chifley is theatre at it's best".
Born of a bygone era, and yet offering striking resonance for our current times, this
heartfelt production will move those who remember and captivate those who never knew the
enigmatic story of Ben Chifley and appeal to audiences of all political persuasions.
A Local Man will be performed at the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Space Theatre
from February 6 for a limited season. Bookings: 131 246 or online at www.bass.net.au.
- Rohan Shearn
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Semer to hold Australian masterclass
Friday, February 1, 10:55am AEDST.
Respected international voice teacher Neil Semer will host a masterclass in Sydney
next month, being hosted by national musical theatre company Kookaburra along with WAAPA
and Opera and Arts Support.
Semer's students star in major musicals both on Broadway and in Australia. They
sing on the great stages in Opera around the world, and have won innumerable competitions.
His main voice studio is in New York, but he teaches regularly throughout Germany and in
Paris, Toronto and Bern. In July-August 2008 he leads the 12th Annual Neil Semer Summer
Vocal Institute in Germany and will give masterclasses for the AOTOS (Association Of
Teachers Of Singing, Great Britain) Convention in Manchester. In 2004 he was the keynote
speaker and master clinician for the ANATS (Australian National Association of Teachers of
Singing) Singing Convention in Sydney.
His teaching combines the old Italian school of Bel Canto as expounded by Giovanni
Battista Lamperti with scientific understanding of vocal function. The focus is
coordination of the heart, mind and body.
The masterclass will take place on March 17 at Australia Hall.
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Curtain falls on Rocky
Friday, February 1, 10:36am AEDST.
After some two decades, the ride is finally over for The Rocky Horror Picture
Show, which has been screening at Sydney's iconic George Street cinemas since 1989.
The regular Friday night screenings combined with a cabaret-style live show and
audience participation have been a tradition for many, but a lack of interest in recent
years has forced the cancellation of the event.
During 2007, some screenings were quietly cancelled due to low audience numbers.
All is not lost for Rocky Horror fans though, with a new stage version of
the classic story well into rehearsals and preparing to open at the Star Theatre later
this month. Starring iOTA, Sharon Millerchip and Paul Capsis, the show has special late
night screenings and is directed by the legendary Gale Edwards.
The final screening at the George Street cinemas is tonight.
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