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NEWS
FROM AUSSIETHEATRE.COM:
TONY
SHELDON HOSTS A CELEBRATION OF
“OZMADE MUSICALS” STARRING TONI LAMOND,
MICHAEL CORMICK AND MORE!
(9 November 2008)
On
Monday November 17th, Magnormos will present OzMade Musicals 2008
at the Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne, hosted by Tony Sheldon (Priscilla
Queen of the Desert the Musical).
This one night only gala event will celebrate and support Australian
written musical theatre, and feature a first-rate line of performers
including: Toni Lamond OAM, Michael Cormick (Rocky Horror Show),
Chelsea Plumley (Company), Anne Wood (Mamma Mia!), Laura Fitzpatrick
(The Thing About Men), Chris Parker (Sideshow Alley), Annie Phelan
(Guys & Dolls), Cameron MacDonald (Altar Boyz), Shaun Murphy
(Combo Fiasco) and more.
LIFE’S A CIRCUS
by Anthony Costanzo
Three rising stars join a modern day touring Circus, only to find
themselves trapped
in an intricate triangle of love, sexuality and betrayal.
PINK
by Joanna White
Based on true events, the remarkable story of how a colour can
change your life.
BETTER THAN BROADWAY
by David Mitchell, Melvyn Morrow and Ray Cook
A laugh-out-loud spoof on the politics of community groups, and
the “serious
business” of amateur theatre.
And if that’s not enough to tantalise your musical theatre
tastebuds, then just sink your teeth into OzMade Flashbacks –
songs from past successful Australian musicals performed by some
of the greats of the Australian stage. These performances give
audiences a chance to remember or discover some of the great songs
written for the musical stage, by Australians.
This years’ OzMade Flashbacks will star some of Australia’s
favourite theatrical performers, Toni
Lamond, joining Magnormos again to reprise her role in the musical
Better Known As Bee and
Michael Cormick (Rocky Horror Show) who will perform a number
from the classic The Sentimental Bloke. The Flashbacks will also
include a special feature on the 50th anniversary of Lola Montez
by students of the University of Ballarat Arts Academy.
“We are thrilled to have Tony Sheldon hosting OzMade Musicals
again, and honoured that he is flying down to Melbourne for the
occasion on his one night off from playing Bernadette in Sydney
season of Priscilla! Tony has a wonderful way of guiding the OzMade
audience through the performance program, and colouring it with
his own rich knowledge of Australia’s theatre history”
said Aaron Joyner, founder and Artistic Director of Magnormos.
The three works that will be debuted this year at OzMade Musicals
were chosen via a national submission process which employed the
expertise of Tony Sheldon, John-Michael Howson, Geraldine Turner
OAM, David King, Dr. Peter Wyllie Johnston, Prof. Peter Fitzpatrick,
Stuart
Hendricks, Ellie Nielsen, and Magnormos Artistic Director, Aaron
Joyner.
“It is always an exciting and frenetic process to select
musicals for OzMade. We had a terrific pool of submissions to
select from, and an extraordinarily experienced panel. I am confident
that the musicals chosen for presentation this year will thoroughly
entertain, and will hopefully progress to full productions in
the near future” said Joyner.
Event: OzMade Musicals
Date: Monday 17 November, 2008 - 8p.m.
Venue: Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne
Tickets: Adult $35 / Concession $30 / Groups $28
Bookings: Ticketmaster 136100 or ticketmaster.com.au
Shout!
movie confirmed
Tuesday, April 22, 9:07am AEST.
Following recent seasons in Melbourne and Sydney, the Australian
musical Shout! will be shown around Australia via a brand new
entertainment concept.
All the excitement and colour of the stage music has been captured
live on stage in High Definition Digital and Surround Sound and
will be seen in cinemas throughout the country from May 15 as
a special event for strictly limited seasons.
For the first time ever in Australia, people who have been unable
to get to see the stage show will now have the opportunity of
having a true theatrical experience in their local cinema at a
fraction of the price of a live theatre ticket with the absolute
convenience of seeing it locally and being guaranteed of having
‘the best seat in the house’ and not missing anything.
Shout! is the first in a number of theatre productions to be presented
in cinema by the Australian producers, JDN Productions.
Shout! will be screening similar to a live show as a Special Event
with a strictly limited season, with only one session per day
excepting matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Priscilla
sweeps Green Room Awards
Monday, April 21, 2:48pm AEST.
Hit Australian musical Priscilla has been the big winner at this
year’s Green Room Awards, which honours excellence in theatre
presented in Melbourne.
The musical won Best Costume Design (Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner),
Best Choreography (Ross Coleman), Best Musical Direction and Orchestrations
(Stephen Murphy), Best Male Artist In A Leading Role (Tony Sheldon)
and Best Overall Production, as well as an award for “The
Divas” for their terrific work as part of the show’s
ensemble.
Priscilla was a massive hit at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre and
has repeated that success at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre,
which will host Wicked from July.
Miss Saigon was another big winner at yesterday’s Green
Room ceremony – taking out best Female Artist In A Leading
Role (Laurie Cadevida), Best Lighting Design (David Hersey) and
Best Direction (Laurence Connor).
Eddie Perfect won Best Artist In A Featured Role for his work
in the unstoppable Keating! as Alexander Downer and John Hewson.
Meow Meow swept the cabaret awards, while Toni Lamond was given
a lifetime achievement award in honour of her remarkable theatrical
career.
Adelaide
Cabaret Festival launched
Wednesday, April 2, 9:53pm AEDST.
23 international artists and 200 Australian artists including
more than 100 from South Australia make up the highly anticipated
2008 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, which runs from June 6 to 14.
Across nine days, the Adelaide Festival Centre will present more
than 100 performances of 45 different shows.
As cabaret re-emerges around the world, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival
is riding the crest of the wave with plenty of opportunities to
indulge in the best cabaret from around Australia and the world
including a selection of the finest international cabaret artists
(many on their first visit to Australia and exclusive to Adelaide)
from the United Kingdom, Argentina, the Balkans, the United States
and France.
Headlining the festival and on her first visit to Australia is
Maria Friedman, star of the West End and Broadway and a leading
lady for both Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lorna
Luft, Broadway star and daughter of Judy Garland; direct from
the US, writer of 'The Rose' and many other hits, cabaret artiste
Amanda McBroom; and French chanteuse and songwriter Belle du Berry.
From Argentina and in a show specially created for Adelaide Cabaret
Festival, the talented Elena Roger (star of the recent London
production of Evita) will take you through the song of her native
tango, whilst from the Balkan Peninsula we welcome the virtuosic,
foot stomping fun of Paprika Balkanicus.
Amanda McBroom and Maria Friedman will also present a series of
Masterclasses for those with an interest or professional penchant
for cabaret.
Cabaret Crème is devoted to our most treasured performers.
Opening the Festival with bravado is Australia’s leading
lady of the musical stage, Rhonda Burchmore in Everybody Loves
Rhonda, a specially commissioned show to celebrate the 35th Birthday
of the Festival Theatre. Jazz luminaries Katie Noonan and Vince
Jones join forces in Songs Of Love And War on the Dunstan Playhouse
Stage.
Classic Cabaret is a celebration of the classic songs of the past
100 years with unique interpretations that includes Jeff Duff
with the Ed Wilson Big Band in Cooler Than Cool, Hotter Than Hell
and Tom Burlinson recreating the memorable songs and sounds of
Frank Sinatra in Frank - A Life In Song.
Monsieur Camembert with special guest vocalist Deborah Conway
salutes the songs of Canadian songwriter Leonard Cohen, whilst
Catherine Lambert tells us Love Sucks And I've Got The Songs To
Prove It.
In a special Adelaide Cabaret Festival Commission, Two For The
Road: The Music Of Movie Maestro Henry Mancini features Julia
Zemiro, Colin Lane, Kaye Tuckerman and Dale Pengelly led by John
Thorn on piano and an eight piece band and UK opera singer, Marie
Angel will sing the story of her life so far in Till The Fat Lady
Sings - It Ain't Over.
The Sit Down Satire series presents thought-provoking social and
political satire that revels in one of Australia's greatest national
traits that includes Australian and West End musical theatre performer
Sally Bourne in The Sally Bourne Identity and the premiere of
The Kransky Sisters' new show - Three Bags Full. Queenie van de
Zandt will welcome audiences into cabaret rehab in Cabaret in
12 Easy Steps and Australia's finest "satirical vivisectionists"
Jonathan Biggins, Phil Scott and Drew Forsythe will ensure no
politician is safe from their wit in Revue Sans Frontières.
The Contemporary Cabaret series features Sarah Ward of Sista She
fame in Yana Alana And Tha Paranas' In Bite Me. Performance artist
and songwriter Carolyn Connors has created a quirky show Ukulele
And Other Extreme Sports while DJ and comedian Fiona Scott-Norman
mines her vinyl collection to determine the world's worst records
in The Needle And The Damage Done.
Jazz veteran Paul Grabowsky joins forces with jazz newcomer Megan
Washington in Spiders And Silkworms and founding member of Cold
Chisel, Don Walker presents his writings in Goodnight, Sweet Dreams,
The World Is Well.
Viva Variety celebrates new wave versions of genres from the variety
clubs and music halls of a bygone era with artists such as Adelaide's
very own Unusualist, Raymond Crowe; the acclaimed physical and
audio performers The Umbilical Brothers in Don't Explain; and
returning by popular demand, the world's most extraordinary salon
of showgirls The Burlesque Hour - Sizzles! with new special guests
and a mix of old favourites.
Julia Holt, Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival said: "The
Adelaide Cabaret Festival is like a box of the most delicious
chocolates - pick out your favourites and then try something new
- from classic cabaret chanteuses, songwriters of incredible skill
and celebrated raconteurs through to contemporary artists pushing
the boundaries of performance with razor-sharp social and political
satire."
The Adelaide Cabaret Festival runs from June 6. The full programme
can be viewed online at: www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au.
- Rohan Shearn
Tyran
Parke bound for Perth, Riverside
Monday,
March 24, 8:38pm AEDST.
Cabaret
and musical theatre performer Tyran Parke will perform in Perth
this weekend before returning to Sydney to present his new solo
show at the Riverside Theatres in Parramatta.
Parke,
who has just completed his tenure in the Sydney season of The
Hatpin, will perform Chinks In The Armour at Downstairs @ His
Majesty's Theatre in Perth on March 27, 28 and 29.
The
show will be re-branded A Little Knight Music for the Parramatta
performance, which will play on Sunday, April 6.
A
talented storyteller, Parke tells of being discovered in a jazz
bar by Liza Minnelli, dining with Stephen Sondheim and singing
himself out of Rikers Island maximum security prison. Each quest
is celebrated in story and song, culminating in the quest to create
the role of a lifetime - his award-winning portrayal of George
Seurat in Sunday In The Park With George.
“It
was the most amazing honour to spend time with Sondheim in both
Sydney and New York,” said Parke.
“We
talked a lot about how he works, and how 20 years after writing
Sunday, it is still profoundly moving and very accessible to audiences
in Sydney. Sondheim told me to write something myself, and which
this cabaret is the first step."
Having
appeared in Listen to My Heart, Eurobeat, Oliver and The Sound
Of Music, Parke has established himself as one of Australia's
finest young performers.
Perth
bookings: (08) 9484 1133. Sydney bookings: (02) 8839 3399.
Mum's
The Word sequel headed to Sydney
Monday,
March 24, 8:22pm AEDST.
A
decade ago, a group of mums brought us tales of leaky boobs and
dirty nappies in the international smash hit play Mum's The Word.
Finally
the mums are back with their brand new stage production –
Mum's The Word 2: Teenagers.
Laugh,
cry and squirm as the women recall their youthful naive idealism
regarding motherhood and entertain us with tales of bewilderment
and frustration in having to deal with their children's adolescence
as well as their own aging.
The
production opens at the Theatre Royal in Sydney on May 28 and
stars five famous Australian mums: Tracy Bartram, Katrina Foster,
Jean Kittson, Victoria Nicolls and Louise Siversen.
In
this hit production, which has received rave reviews both internationally
and when it had its Australian premiere in Melbourne last year,
the mums tackle trickier tests and raging hormones with intense
humour, bringing everyone back into the fray of the world's oldest
unpaid profession.
The
Australian production of Mum's The Word 2: Teenagers, produced
by Dainty Consolidated Entertainment, Burberry Productions and
Newtheatricals, is the follow-up to the hugely successful original
Mum's The Word, which ran for seven years and played to sold out
houses across Australia and New Zealand.
Paul
Dainty, who is looking forward to bringing the mums to Sydney,
said: “Audiences of this show immediately form a connection with
these very real stories of parenting and so every performance
resonates with equal parts laughter and tears. And what a fabulous
cast we have to tell Sydney audiences these stories!”
Ewan
Burnett of Burberry Productions adds: "A family therapy association
in Victoria said this show is equivalent to six hours of therapy.
By sharing, laughing at and celebrating the roller-coaster ride
that is parenting, we walk away knowing that even in our darkest
moments, we are not alone!"
Tickets
to the Sydney season go on sale March 31. Bookings: 1300 795 012.
Stars
of the future on show
Monday,
March 24, 5:19pm AEDST.
They
are the names and faces we'll be talking about in the years to
come, but theatre fans have an opportunity to see the next Cate
Blanchett or Mel Gibson before they are stars when NIDA's third
year students present two plays for public viewing next month.
Two
deliciously farcical comedy classics, William Congreve's Restoration
Comedy, Love for Love and Carlos Goldini's legendary 18th century
Commedia dell'Arte inspired The Servant Of Two Masters kick off
the NIDA 2008 Play Production Program.
Directors
Darren Gilshenan (Bell Shakespeare) and Adam Cook (Artistic Director,
State Theatre Company, SA), along with NIDA's third year students,
are set to take you on a journey of mistaken identities, disguises,
deception and the duplicities of society with these two witty,
ironic and well-loved comic masterpieces.
"Fast,
furious and funny" is how Darren Gishenan describes The Servant
Of Two Masters. This master of comedy, well known for his portrayal
of the roguish Truffaldino in Bell Shakespeare's version of the
same play, is sure to take his NIDA troupe - and the audience
- on a ‘carnivale' trip to remember. With circus inspired costumes,
plates spinning and fairy lights flying, this production promises
to be a great night at the theatre.
A
racy, juicy comedy set in the swinging 60s, this production of
Love For Love promises to be a richly decadent interpretation
of this farcical comedy of clever dialogue that exposes the idle
gossip and frivolous chatter of men and women on the make.
"It's
as light and delicious as a meringue, oozing with sexuality and
glittering with wit," said Adam Cook.
NIDA
is one of the most respected acting institutions in the world.
It has an impressive list of graduates, with its primary role
to select and train exceptionally gifted young people at a tertiary
level, preparing them for careers in theatre, film and television.
The
Servant Of Two Masters opens at the Parade Playhouse on Tuesday,
April 1 and will run until Saturday, April 5. Love For Love opens
at the Parade Theatre on Thursday, April 3 and will run until
Tuesday, April 8.
Bookings:
132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au.
Shout!
dumps Tuesday performances
Friday,
March 21, 5:43pm AEDST.
Alexis
Fishman and Tim Campbell in Shout!Vibrant musical Shout! has removed
Tuesdays from its weekly performance schedule as the rock 'n'
roll tuner heads towards the end of its season at Sydney's Lyric
Theatre.
The
musical, which is scheduled to run until April 13 and is unlikely
to tour, opened at the Lyric Theatre earlier this month after
transferring from Melbourne. In both cities, it has attracted
reasonable audiences but has failed to set the box office on fire.
It
has faced stiff competition in Sydney from blockbuster musical
Billy Elliot and the hit cult show The Rocky Horror Show, which
is playing nearby at the Star Theatre.
Originally,
producers had announced Shout! would play 7pm Tuesday performances
but the show will now run Wednesday-Sunday.
In
his review of the Sydney season of Shout! for AussieTheatre.com,
Troy Dodds said, in part: "Musically the show is tight and
punchy throughout and Ross Coleman's choreography is good without
being dazzling, the best scene of the piece being O'Keefe's first
meeting with The Delltones in the back of his father's furniture
warehouse, highlighted by the hit song 'Get A Job'. It is sensationally
staged, as is the 'Chapel Of Love' scene, while the megamix towards
the end is an obvious audience highlight and gives the show a
true rock 'n' roll feel, certainly proving that with a better
script and improved casting, this show could well be a dynamite
hit. Shout! is far from a lost cause but loses any ounce of respect
when Mark Holden, playing O'Keefe's manager Lee Gordon, is forced
to use his "touchdown!" line from Australian Idol. But
perhaps the crowning glory of tacky is the reference to Andrew
O'Keefe having an obsession with briefcases. Popcorn theatre indeed."
Shout!
stars Tim Campbell, Alexis Fishman, Mark Holden, Glenn Shorrock,
John Paul Young and Colleen Hewett.
Bookings:
1300 136 166.
Chicago
to open in February
Friday,
March 21, 4:55pm AEDST.
It
is believed that a new major production of the hit musical Chicago
will be presented in Australia next year.
Sources
say that the show is likely to open in Brisbane before transferring
to Sydney ahead of a possible national tour. Official confirmation
of the production is not expected for some months, but it is likely
to open in February.
If
the strong rumours are true, much discussion would surround the
casting decisions in relation to the lead roles of Roxie Hart
and Velma Kelly. Caroline O'Connor famously played Velma in the
1998 production of Chicago, and producers would no doubt hope
she'd be interested in resurrecting the star turn.
Since
Chicago was last produced in Australia, interest in the show has
climbed, mainly thanks to the 2002 film version that starred Catherine
Zeta Jones and Renee Zellweger and was hugely popular in Australia.
First
produced on Broadway in 1975, Chicago focuses on two murderesses
who find themselves on death row together in the 1920's. The pair
fight for the fame that will keep them from death in what is a
comedic and satirical look at corruption in criminal justice.
The
show's most popular songs include 'All That Jazz' and 'Razzle
Dazzle'.
In
other news, Kookaburra has lost the publicist credited with turning
around much of its negative portrayal in the media. Libby Gauld
has moved on, with a replacement yet to be named. Gauld replaced
Michelle Guthrie towards the end of 2007 after an at times controversial
debut year for the company.
Theatre
mainstay David Nettheim dies
Tuesday,
March 18, 7:10pm AEDST.
Actor,
writer and voice-over artist David Nettheim has died at the age
of 82.
Nettheim
was a professional actor from his earliest years, beginning in
the Australian film Kid Stakes at the age of two. At seven he
appeared on stage with his mother, the actress Mary Hosking, in
The Trojan Women at the Independent Theatre.
Through
his long and successful life, Nettheim continued to appear in
stage and television roles and was an active member of Actors
Equity (now the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance), serving
as Federal Treasurer and then co-Vice President. In 1997 he became
the first recipient of the Alliance's gold Honour Badge. He led
the six-year campaign (ultimately unsuccessful) against the demolition
of the Regent Theatre in Sydney, and was engaged in fundraising
for the Actors' Benevolent Fund.
Nettheim
never married but he was delighted that several of his nieces
and nephews have followed him into the entertainment industry
- Daniel Nettheim is a film and TV director, Matthew Nettheim
is a stills photographer on films, Jennifer White is an actor/singer/accents
and dialect coach and Rodric White is a professional jazz musician.
David
Nettheim is survived by his brothers John and Garth Nettheim,
sisters Judith Eburn and Nerida White, and their children and
grandchildren.
Guys
And Dolls about to opening
Saturday,
March 15, 3:55pm AEDST.
In
Rehearsals... Guys And Dolls opens soonFinal rehearsals are underway
for the upcoming Melbourne season of the classic musical Guys
And Dolls, which commences preview performances on March 26 at
the Princess Theatre ahead of an April 4 opening night.
The
musical stars Lisa McCune as Sarah Brown, Marina Prior as Miss
Adelaide, Ian Stenlake as Sky Masterson, Garry McDonald as Nathan
Detroit, Shane Jacobsen as Nicely Nicely and Magda Szubanski as
Big Jule.
The
principal cast is joined by Wayne Scott Kermond, Bert Labonte,
Russell Newman, Anne Phelan, Amy Berrisford, Elise Brennan, Andrew
Conaghan, Cristina D'Agostino, Grant Durham, Michelle Fitzmaurice,
Zoe Hardman, Luke Joslin, Kristy Kackenzie, Ashley McKenzie, Tanya
Mitford, Adam Murphy, Emily Paddon-Brown, Christopher Parson,
Troy Phillips, Jordan Pollard, Julia Smith, Troy Sussman, Taneel
Van Zyl and Paul Watson.
Guys
And Dolls is expected to run for at least six months in Melbourne
before transferring to a major Sydney theatre where it will continue
its run. It's unknown if the principal cast will travel with the
show to Sydney.
Marina
Prior will not perform in Tuesday evening performances for the
initial weeks of the season due to her commitments with the popular
Channel Seven series It Takes Two, which airs live on Tuesdays
at 7.30pm.
Priscilla
off to New Zealand
Wednesday,
March 12, 10:49pm AEDST.
Priscilla
has confirmed it will play its first international season from
May 27, with the Australian production - complete with its stellar
principal cast - to head across the ditch to the Auckland Civic
Centre in New Zealand.
Priscilla
tells the funny and moving story of three fish out of water who
head across Australia, from Sydney to the outback to perform their
show. Mitzi, Felicia and Bernadette make their own personal journeys
of discovery as they cross the country in a battered old bus nicknamed
Priscilla.
New
Zealand's very own Jeremy Stanford sports the famous orange and
pink “thong dress” (and many others) to play one of the shows
leading roles, Tick (Mitzi). Jeremy is best known for his portrayal
of Buddy in The Buddy Holly Story – a role that launched
him from the more traditional theatre stage to that of musicals.
Bill
Hunter, who played Bob in the original movie Priscilla Queen Of
The Desert, will return to the stage for the New Zealand season,
while leading actor, director and writer Tony Sheldon plays the
role of Bernadette and Daniel Scott will stay on as Adam (Felecia).
The
role of Benjamin (Tick's son) will be cast locally with director
Simon Phillips looking to cast four New Zealand boys between the
ages of six and eight to play the role.
Tickets
to the New Zealand season go on sale Monday. The show is currently
playing in Melbourne and is due to close next month.
My
Fair Lady is Melbourne bound
Sunday,
March 9, 10:16pm AEDST.
Opera
Australia's 2008 Autumn Season concludes at the Arts Centre with
the premiere of Lerner and Loewe's smash hit musical, My Fair
Lady, directed by Opera Australia's executive producer Stuart
Maunder. It stars one of Australia's all-time stage greats, Reg
Livermore as Professor Henry Higgins and gorgeous young soprano
Taryn Fiebig as Eliza Doolittle. My Fair Lady opens on Friday,
May 16.
Livermore
is a legend of the music theatre stage. He began putting on his
own shows at the age of 13 and was rocketed to stardom when he
appeared in Hair in 1969. He is a regular on stage, screen and
television and, of course, in countless musicals including The
Rocky Horror Show, The Producers and with Opera Australia, The
Gondoliers, The Pirates of Penzance and Iolanthe.
Taryn
Fiebig began her vocal studies in 1993 and focused initially on
early music: she studied with Emma Kirkby and Jane Manning in
the UK and performed with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.
In 2005 she joined the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program
and has since expanded her repertoire from Mozart to Gilbert and
Sullivan to Janácek. Following her success as Mabel in The Pirates
of Penzance, she now takes on one of the most prized roles in
music theatre.
Nancye
Hayes' stage career began as a dancer in the original J C Williamson
production of My Fair Lady in 1960. From there she went on to
become a leading lady in shows including Sweet Charity, Funny
Girl and her own show, Nancye with an E. She now comes full circle
to play Mrs Higgins, mother to Reg Livermore's Henry Higgins.
Alan
Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's musical is an adaptation of George
Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, which is, in turn, a reference
to the Greek myth told in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Pygmalion is the
sculptor who falls in love with a woman he has carved out of ivory.
The statue comes to life and they fall in love. In George Bernard
Shaw's comedy of manners the story is far more about the process
of transformation than the romantic denouement. It all begins
with a bet, when Colonel Pickering challenges Henry Higgins, professor
of linguistics and confirmed misogynist, to take a Cockney street
seller and turn her into a lady.
The
show was always destined to be a smash hit. It features a glorious
succession of show-stopping numbers from ‘I Could Have Danced
all Night' to ‘Get Me to the Church on Time' to ‘Wouldn't it be
Loverly' to ‘I've Grown Accustomed to her Face'. The original
score was written for Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison, and after
a record-breaking run on Broadway it was adapted for film, this
time starring Audrey Hepburn.
Director
Stuart Maunder works once more with the award-winning design team
of Roger Kirk and Richard Roberts. He is looking forward to a
musically and visually spectacular production, saying: "From
Ascot to the Royal Opera House, to the Pearly Kings and Queens
to a grand ball there are so many opportunities for wonderful
frocks!"
Following
its Melbourne season, My Fair Lady will tour to Sydney, Canberra
and Brisbane.
New
Billys on the boil
Sunday,
March 9, 1:16pm AEDST.
Smash
hit Sydney musical Billy Elliot will welcome two new young actors
to the company this week who will take on the show's title role.
Dayton
Tavares (pictured), from the western Sydney suburb of Penrith,
and Hobart's Joshua Waiss-Gates join the Billy Elliot family and
both will take to the stage as Billy in a few months' time.
Billy
is currently played by Lochlan Denholm (Melbourne), Rhys Kosakowski
(Newcastle), Rarmian Newton (Melbourne) and Nick Twiney (Sydney),
who alternate the title role.
Tavares
and Waiss-Gates will not replace any of the other Billys in particular,
but the original actors will begin to move on eventually primarily
due to the developmental age they are at.
"I
used to watch both my sisters at their dance eisteddfods and thought
it looked like fun so one day in 2005 I decided to do a hip-hop
class at Studio 11 in Penrith," said Tavares.
"That
day I discovered my true passion was to dance and perform. I also
love to sing, play soccer and I'm a blackbelt in taekwondo. Since
I started dancing I have won lots of awards, done well in eisteddfods
and I was lucky enough to win Australian Junior Dancer of the
Year 2007, which meant I got to represent Australia at the World
Dance Championships in Las Vegas."
Tavares
has performed at the Urban Music Awards, Industry Awards, The
Sydney Opera House, toured to Malaysia with Studio 11 and said
he was excited to have the opportunity to play Billy Elliot.
"It's
a dream come true after many, many months of training and auditions
and I would like to thank everyone at Billy Elliot," he said.
"I
would also like to thank my parents for believing in me and most
importantly my dance teachers Kylie Vassallo and Thern Reynolds
for all their guidance and encouragement."
Waiss-Gates
is no stranger to the world of musicals.
"In
2006 I was understudy for Young Peter in Hugh Jackman's The Boy
from Oz and while working on that show I realised that I wanted
to continue to work in musical theatre," the 12-year-old
said.
"When
I found out that I was going to be a Billy Elliot I was so excited.
It's an experience I'm looking forward to very much and I would
like to thank all the people that have helped me along the way
to achieve my dream."
Billy
Elliot opened in December last year and is performing well at
the box office, with its season at the Capitol Theatre showing
no sign of closing.
High
School Musical to open in December
Friday,
March 7, 11:20pm AEDST.
Australia
- get ready for a theatrical phenomenon.
AussieTheatre.com
can exclusively reveal that a major production of High School
Musical will be staged in Australia later this year by Jacobsen
Entertainment and The Really Useful Group.
Based
on the smash hit Disney film that has defined a generation of
young musical theatre lovers, High School Musical is likely to
open in Sydney with performances to commence in December.
The
musical has been performed by several amateur companies and will
be presented 'on ice' shortly around the nation, but this will
be the professional premiere of the true stage show.
The
show is set at East High School and focuses on Troy Bolton, the
school's basketball superstar turned singer, and his blossoming
relationship with Gabriella Montez. Almost a modern day Grease,
the heart of the story is Troy's difficult choice between pursuing
his basketball career and following his new dream of being in
the school musical.
High
School Musical is currently touring throughout the United States.
Spamalot
confirms closure
Friday,
March 7, 7:40pm AEDST.
The
producers of Spamalot have confirmed the Australian production
of the Tony Award-winning musical will close ahead of schedule
on April 5 after failing to fire at the box office.
As
revealed exclusively by AussieTheatre.com early Friday morning,
the cast of the musical were informed just prior to Thursday night's
performance at the Her Majesty's Theatre that the ride was over
for the production.
"We're
very proud of the Australian production, which will have been
seen by over 150,000 people when it closes in Melbourne,"
said co-producer Michael Coppel.
"The
Australian production of Spamalot has been lauded as one of the
best mounted anywhere in the world. The Melbourne season has drawn
both critical raves and fantastic audience responses, and we look
forward to the opportunity of presenting it around Australia."
While
Coppel hinted at a tour, it is unlikely to happen particularly
given the lack of theatres available in Sydney, which would be
the logical next city for the production. While rumours suggest
a November transfer is possible, the six month gap could mean
massive casting changes and unwanted expenses.
A
statement issued on Friday reads: "Touring options are being
considered with announcements to follow."
Despite
high acclaim overseas and a strong publicity campaign, Spamalot
was unable to attract a solid audience in Melbourne, swamped in
particular by surprise success story Priscilla, which has been
performing well despite initial fears it would struggle outside
of Sydney.
Spamalot's
disappointing Melbourne performance is evident in its decision
to cut 6.30pm Sunday performances after this week, reducing the
performance schedule to just seven shows per week.
Telling
the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round
Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail, Spamalot features a
chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen,
a killer rabbit and one legless knight.
Directed
by Mike Nichols, Spamalot features a book and lyrics by Eric Idle,
music by John Du Prez and Idle, and choreography by Casey Nicholaw.
Spamalot is lovingly ripped-off from the classic film, Monty Python
and the Holy Grail by Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John
Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.
The
cast of the musical includes legend of stage and screen, Bille
Brown as King Arthur, newcomer Lucinda Shaw as The Lady of the
Lake, Stephen Hall as Sir Lancelot and Derek Metzger as King Arthur's
faithful servant and coconut keeper, Patsy.
Spamalot
bookings: 132 849.
Liv
Ullmann to direct STC show
Friday,
March 7, 1:40pm AEDST.
The
Sydney Theatre Company today announced that Liv Ullmann will direct
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams as part of the
Company's mainstage season next year. STC Co-Artistic Director
Cate Blanchett will play Blanche duBois in the legendary play
at the Sydney Theatre in August 2009.
Liv
Ullmann said: “It is an honour to work with STC. Tennessee Williams'
chief aim is the creation of character. He has a deep feeling
for the mystery of life, exploring the beauty and meaning of the
confusion of living. He holds his audience through the revelation
of quiet and ordinary truths and I'm excited by the prospect of
discovering these with the inspiring artists we're assembling.”
STC
Co-Artistic Directors Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett said in
a statement: “Having an artist of Liv Ullmann's revelatory, exacting
vision at the helm of STC's production of one of the greatest
plays of the 20th century will be wonderful. As we plan towards
our first full season for the Company, it's great to have one
of the highlights confirmed.”
Liv
Ullmann has spent the last week in Sydney in creative discussions
with Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett, meetings with designers
and auditioning for the production.
The
Pulitzer Prize–winning play opened in New York in 1947 and
guaranteed Williams' status as one of the major American playwrights.
Actors taking on the role of Blanche duBois have included Jessica
Tandy, Glenn Close and Jessica Lange. Elia Kazan's 1951 screen
adaptation, which featured Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando, is
regarded a cinematic classic.
A
director, actor and author, Liv Ullmann's name is synonymous with
European cinema and theatre. She played a number of major roles
as a permanent member of the Norwegian Theatre in Oslo as well
as in productions in Sweden, Australia, London's West End and
on Broadway. In film she is particularly well known for her collaborations
with Ingmar Bergman and has been honoured with numerous awards
and nominations. As director, Ullmann's work includes Faithless,
Private Confessions and Paul Claudel's Break of Noon.
Nevin
back at STC
Wednesday,
March 5, 9:49pm AEDST.
Her
office has barely been cleaned out but Robyn Nevin will return
to the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) later this month to star in
the company's production of John Didion's The Year Of Magical
Thinking, to be directed by Cate Blanchett.
Nevin
plays the title character Didion, who, over the course of one
year loses her soul-mate of 40 years, John Dunne, while also enduring
the prolonged illness of their only child, Quintana. As the writer
faces almost unbearable pain, she must also forego familiar, rational,
logical ways of seeing the world, for what she comes to know as
'magical thinking'.
The
Year Of Magical Thinking is already a major work of the international
stage, having played to sell-out audiences when directed by David
Hare and featuring Vanessa Redgrave on Broadway last year. That
production will be seen at London's National Theatre in April
2008.
From
1999 to 2007 Nevin was Artistic Director of STC, where as a performer
her credits include Love-Lies-Bleeding, The Cherry Orchard, The
Breath Of Life, The Glass Menagerie, Old Masters, A Cheery Soul
and many others. She has acted for all Australian state theatre
companies since graduating with NIDA's first students in 1959
and her numerous awards include the Sydney Critics' Circle Awards
for Best Actress and for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre, the
Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award and Logie, Penguin and Sammy
Awards for Best Actress.
This
production features costumes designed by Giorgio Armani.
The
play opens at Wharf 1 on March 25. Bookings: (02) 9250 1777.
Chess
to play Theatre Royal
Wednesday,
March 5, 9:17pm AEDST.
It
made its Australian premiere at the Theatre Royal almost 20 years
ago and now the Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus musical Chess
is returning to the theatre, albeit on a smaller scale.
Balmain's
Light Opera Company Inc will stage the tuner with an ensemble
of local actors and a 25 piece orchestra from May 8.
This
vibrant musical is directed by Mark Hoath from BLOC and stars
Pat Ulloa as Anatoly, Ed Steiner as Freddie and Lucy Boocock as
Florence.
“Being
able to put on Chess anywhere is such an honour but it will be
something special to put it on at the Theatre Royal, where it
was first performed in Australia almost 20 years ago,” said Hoath.
Chess
is set in the mid 1980's and revolves around the World Chess Championships,
the American current title holder, Freddie, his partner, Florence
and the Russian contender, Anatoly. This turns into a drama-ridden
love triangle, commenting on how cold war tensions of the time
seemed to dominate all aspects of life - even those considered
to be the more refined ones.
Chess
originated as a concept album released in 1984. The musical takes
the audience on a journey through the scenic towns of Merano,
Italy and Bangkok, Thailand. 'One Night in Bangkok' was a million-selling
smash across the globe, topping the charts in many countries,
including the UK, US, and Australia. The duet of 'I Know Him So
Well' was number one in the UK for three weeks and a top 10 hit
in Australia in 1985 when released as a single by Elaine Paige
and Barbara Dickson.
BLOC
Inc has been producing musicals since 2005 and is a non-profit
organisation committed to providing the best community theatre
in Sydney. BLOC Inc's previous shows have included the 2007 season
of Pirates of Penzance and the 2007 season of Into the Woods at
the Seymour Centre.
“Performing
as an amateur company in a professional venue and to an audience
of over 1000 is extremely rare. It is going to be such a showcase
of young talented people including cast, orchestra and those working
behind the scenes,” said Hoath.
Chess
opens at the Theatre Royal on May 8. Bookings: 132 849.
Short,
Sweet & Song program announced
Tuesday,
March 4, 9:21pm AEDST.
The
all singing - and sometimes dancing - version of the world's biggest
short play festival returns in 2008 for a strictly limited season
at the Seymour Centre from March 25.
Live,
fresh and original works selected from around the world and across
Australia combine in an evening of drama, comedy and romance at
Short, Sweet & Song. With music styles from rock to opera,
broadway to jazz, there is something for everyone in these self
contained 10 minute musical gems.
With
a creative team led by composer/lyricist/writer Michael Huxley
and musical supervisor Bev Kennedy, these works are performed
by some of the best new and established music theatre performers
including Andrew Benson, Meagan Caratti, Nathan Carter, Sarah
Croser, Roanna Dempsey, Brent Dolahenty, Harriet Dyer, Brad Dylan,
Fabian Hartwell, Julie Haseler, Vincent Hooper, Brendan Irving,
Anita Margiotta, Simon Brook McLachlan, Tom Morley, Sally Osmond,
Kate Parry, Jennifer Peers, Caleb Rixon, Amy Robertson, Taryn
Ryan, Garry Scale, Catherine Shepherd, Peter Silver, Aaron Taylor,
Rachael Thompson, Andrew Threlfall and Simon Ward.
Directors
include Margi De Ferranti, Peta Downes, Louise Fischer, Adam Gelin,
Mary-Anne Gifford, Neil Gooding, Katie Gompertz, James Lee, Jane
Miskovic, Maarten Mourik and Peter Ross.
In
addition to the Festival, five works will be performed as part
of a Wildcard series on Saturday afternoons. These will be followed
by a Q and A with the writers and the creative teams to enable
audiences to give feedback and help shape the work. This feedback
may then be used
in
developing the piece.
SHORT,
SWEET & SONG 2008 PROGRAM
Waiting
for Lenny (NY, USA)
Composer:
Norman Weiss
Lyrics:
Brown Cardwell
Libretto:
Brown Cardwell
Director:
Peter Ross
Cast:
Julie Haseler, Sally Osmond, Garry Scale
The
Morning After (NSW, Aust)
Composer:
David Hines
Lyrics:
David Hines
Libretto:
David Hines
Director:
Katie Gompertz
Cast:
Marika Aubrey, Simon Brook McLachlan
The
Short Prince (NSW, Aust)
Composer:
Bruce Daniels
Lyrics:
Bruce Daniels
Libretto:
Bruce Daniels
Director:
Maarten Mourik
Cast:
Aaron Taylor, Zach Jardine, Harriet Dyer
The
Pretty Girl (Vic, Aust)
Composer:
David Young
Lyrics:
David Young
Libretto:
David Young
Director:
Peta Downes
Cast:
Brent Dolahenty, Catherine Shepherd
Henry
and Hyde (Ca, USA)
Composer:
Thomas Adams
Lyrics:
James Eisenman
Libretto:
James Eisenman & Thomas Adams
Director:
Adam Gelin
Cast:
Raine Francis, Brendan Irving, Brad Dylan
The
Road to Bethlehem (Vic, Aust)
Composer:
Mathew Frank
Lyrics:
Dean Bryant
Libretto:
Dean Bryant
Director:
Neil Gooding
Cast:
Amy Robertson, Rachael Thompson, Taryn Ryan, Marika Aubrey, Nathan
Carter, Andrew Threlfall, Sarah Croser, Caleb Rixon, Catherine
Shepherd, Peter Silver, Simon Ward, Fabian Hartwell, Tom Morley,
Harriet Dyer
In
My Arms (Qld, Aust)
Composer:
Megan Shorey
Lyrics:
Megan Shorey
Libretto:
Megan Shorey
Director:
Margi de Ferranti
Cast:
Meagan Caratti, Sara Grenfell
Short
Sighted (Vic, Aust)
Composer:
Tom Taylor & Simon Barlow
Lyrics:
Tom Taylor & Simon Barlow
Libretto:
Tom Taylor & Simon Barlow
Director:
Mary-Anne Gifford
Cast:
Chris Williams, Katie Barker
Rats
(NSW, Aust)
Composer:
David Church
Lyrics:
Pete Greenaway
Libretto:
Pete Greenaway
Director:
James Lee
Cast:
Andrew Threlfall, Vincent Hooper, Anita Margiotta
The
Alleged Adventures of Blenderman (Ca, USA)
Composer:
Michael Gordon Shaprio
Lyrics:
Michael Gordon Shaprio
Libretto:
Michael Gordon Shaprio
Director:
Jane Miskovic, Nathan Carter.
Short,
Sweet & Song is at the Seymour Centre Downstairs Theatre from
March 25. Bookings: (02) 9351 7940.
Hatpin
looks for life beyond Seymour
Tuesday,
March 4, 8:57pm AEDST.
Melle
Stewart, Gemma-Ashley Kaplan, Peter Cousens and Michelle DoakeAcclaimed
Australian musical The Hatpin could be back next year and there's
even talk the show could head overseas after receiving a strong
reaction since opening at the Seymour Centre in Sydney last Wednesday.
The
show, which focuses on the real life story of Amber Murray and
her fight for justice after giving up her baby in the late 1800's,
is scheduled to run at the Seymour Centre until March 15 but producer
Neil Gooding said it won't be the last people see of the tuner.
"The
current position is that this Sydney production was always intended
to be a limited engagement of only three weeks - which would allow
us to workshop the production and to showcase it to the industry
and the public," Gooding told AussieTheatre.com.
"The
producers are currently exploring several options for further
productions of The Hatpin in 2009, as well as international opportunities."
The
Hatpin, which stars Melle Stewart and Caroline O'Connor, has received
mostly positive reviews.
In
The Sydney Morning Herald, Mark Hopkins said, in part: "Stirring
performances abound. Melle Stewart is heartbreakingly real as
Amber Murray, the teenage mother who gives her son away. Stewart's
emotional bravery is complemented by Gemma-Ashley Kaplan, who
brings just the right amount of peculiar to Clara Makin. Kaplan's
performance of the denouement title song (and Clara's redemption)
is breathtaking. Caroline O'Connor lends star power to the earthy
Harriet Piper, Amber's friend. With irreverent banter almost improvisational
in its freshness, O'Connor lifts this mask of humour to reveal
emotional depth with profound effect. Michelle Doake creates extraordinary
engagement with Agatha Makin, wresting this villainess back from
melodramatic overstatement while pushing to the hilt the psychotic
hysteria just beneath the facade of respectability. The male characters
are paler by comparison, their snivelling and posturing well executed
but less relevant to the drama. The Hatpin is far from perfect
but this fearless production is a must see. Its artistic ambition,
committed execution and capacity to engage an audience suggest
a landmark moment in Australian musical theatre."
In
her review for AussieTheatre.com, Joanna Erskine said, in part:
"The Hatpin is a revelation in Australian theatre. Anyone
in the audience on opening night could tell that the standing
ovation was not just for Millar, Hardwick, Rutherford and the
cast. It was a proclamation of a stellar new Australian musical
that is finally hitting the big stage and isn't afraid to tackle
some pretty dark issues. It was the heralding of a new age in
which we have something to play against the domination of Broadway,
a show about our history (no matter how murky) and a show to be
proud of. The Hatpin will still grow and evolve, it is by no means
a flawless production."
Bookings:
(02) 9351 7940.
-
Troy Dodds
|
