Oz heads to Aus in 2016, with the release of non-professional rights to Wicked the biggest news for Community Theatre around Australia.

The international mega-hit, still playing to capacity houses on Broadway after more than a decade, will be produced across the country.

Months before it hits the National Theatre stage in St Kilda in May, we hear that CLOC’s World Amateur Premiere set is booked to travel widely.

Doubtless last year’s experiences flying nannies and vintage cars from stages around Australia will see tech crews well prepared, with great solutions ensuring that Elphabas around the country are defying gravity in spectacular fashion.

Though its professional Australian national tour foundered, Rock of Ages is another musical with international cred which makes its debut on the community theatre circuit.

Also new is Catch Me If You Can, the 2011 Broadway Musical based on the Spielberg directed movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio about a high-flying young con man, which has gone straight to our non-professional stages.

Willoughby Theatre Company will present the NSW Premiere.

“Catch Me if You Can is an all-singing, all-dancing musical comedy that has been a popular choice for our company and our patrons,” says Willoughby President Tom Sweeney. “The show has a spectacular original score by the team behind Hairspray and a well-known story that resonates with audiences of all ages.”

Last year’s mega-release Mary Poppins hasn’t worn out its welcome either, with the mystical nanny flying into community theatres across Australia again in 2016.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria will turn back the clock a century to stage the biggest West End musical hit of the day, Chu Chin Chow by Oscar Asche, in the 100th anniversary year of its premiere. Oscar Asche was born in Geelong, where part of the season will be presented, with a libretto updated by Melvyn Morrow.

Across the Tasman, New Plymouth Operatic Society will be presenting the Australasian premiere of Sister Act, leading off yet another New Zealand consortium, sharing the cost of sets and costumes.

In between there’s a broad repertoire of musical theatre on show, from operetta, through classic Broadway, to rock opera, with the occasional obscure Off Broadway musical to spice up the mix.

"Community theatre exists to give our communities the opportunity to participate in theatre but we must also produce a product that will attract audiences,” says Janet Raymond, from Savoyards Musical Theatre, Brisbane. “Performers have very different opinions to our audiences in regards to show choice. Actively seeking input from both these groups allows us to make a more educated decision for our seasons."

Anniversaries abound in 2016. Brisbane Arts Theatre celebrates 80 years, with nearby companies Ipswich Little Theatre and Centenary Theatre Group both chalking up 70 years.

Since 1969, the Ipswich Little theatre has called The Burley Griffin Incinerator Theatre home.

Chester Street Theatre, at Epping in Sydney, celebrates 60 years with a season of ‘classics’ in 2016, following a successful all-Australian season in 2015.

Engadine Musical Society in Sydney’s south and Orange Theatre Company in regional NSW both mark 40 years.

Early 1976 saw The Orange Civic Theatre established as a leading edge performance space for the region. Local performance groups – The Orange Dramatic Society, Bloomfield Theatrical Society and The Orange Musical Theatre Company amalgamated as The Orange Theatre Company with the intent to better utilise the facilities of the new theatre and of course the talents of the groups.

Plans are already underway at Engadine Musical Society for celebrations to mark 40 years of Community Theatre.

“Community theatre provides a stepping stone for children who have a love of performing, and EMS have witnessed multiple achievements from members who have started off being part of community shows, says EMS President Sue Bunt. “Past EMS performers have appeared in professional productions of The Addams Family, An Officer and a Gentleman and Matilda the Musical, have been employed in the industry overseas, entertained at Disneyland and on cruise ships, used their craft to enhance their teaching skills, attended NIDA courses, or like so many of us, just do it for the love of theatre.”

2016 marks the 50^th year that the Guild Theatre has been in its current building at Walz Street, Rockdale, so for their directors it’s an exciting year to be chosen to direct a play.

Chris Searle, director of When Dad Married Fury in May/June, who joined in 1966, celebrates both her Guild anniversary and wedding anniversary (yep, she met her husband at the Guild that year too!) during the run of her play. “I felt as if I had found something precious and absorbing to focus on in my life and I am still enjoying it.”

For Sue Stapleton, “I chose to direct It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To (Oct/Nov) by Elizabeth Coleman firstly because I had the pleasure of acting in one of her other hit comedies Secret Bridesmaids Business. I also fell in love with Coleman's characters, who reflect a unique insight into our sense of Aussie fun.  This play, reflects a particularly Australian sense of comedy that is irreverent and deliciously dark; taking family insensitivities and dysfunction to hilarious levels.”

A quick glance at dramatic groups across the country shows we are keen to hear and speak in Australian voices on our stages, and while David Williamson’s extensive catalogue is clearly the frontrunner, there are also more adventurous choices like Speaking in Tonguesor When The Rain Stops Falling, together with classic plays from the repertoire, like The Shifting Heart or Away, together with the occasional world premiere of a new work by a local writer.

 

While Australian musicals are somewhat thinner on the ground, there is a resurgence in stagings of The Boy From Oz, inspired in part by the Seven Network Peter Allen mini series.

More recent plays joining the repertoire include international hit One Man, Two Guvnors and Pulitzer Prize finalist Other Desert Cities.

That doesn’t mean that the traditional favourites are on the wane, with thrillers, whodunits, farces and classics at the heart of so many programs, while popular playwrights like Neil Simon, Alan Ayckbourn and Agatha Christie remain staples.

Across Australia and New Zealand, we look forward to 2016 in community theatre, as performers work their day jobs by day, then rehearse, perform and entertain by night.

Images (from 2015 productions): Annie - Orange Theatre Company; Role Play - Arts Theatre Cronulla; Footloose - OCPAC; How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - Savoyards; The Beaux' Stratagem - The Stirling Players; The Marriage of Figaro - Rockdale Opera; Enchanted April - Guild Theatre; Tommy - Blue Mountains Musical Society.

To advertise your community theatre production with Stage Whispers, please contact Angela by email or phone 03 9758 4522. For editorial enquiries contact Neil by email.

The Seasons

 

Victoria

CLOC: Wicked (May), Jesus Christ Superstar (Sept/Oct).

Babirra Music Theatre: Mary Poppins (Jun), Anything Goes (Oct), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (June 2017).

Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Victoria:The Gondoliers (Apr), Chu Chin Chow (July).

Williamstown Musical Theatre Company: Catch Me If You Can– Victorian Premiere (May), City of Angels (Nov).

Fab Nobs Theatre: The Toxic Avenger Musical (Apr), Dogfight (Nov)

Latrobe Theatre Company: The Little Mermaid (May).

PLOS Musical Productions:Mary Poppins (Jan), Miss Saigon (July), Wicked (Jan 2017), 9 to 5 (July).

Catchment Players of Darebin: SeussicalJr (Apr).

PEP Productions: Spring Awakening (Feb/Mar).

OCPAC:Catch Me If You Can (Sep).

SPX Waterdale Players: Essgee’s The Pirates of Penzance (Mar).

Windmill Theatre Company: The Little Mermaid (Jun).

ARC Theatre: Oliver! (Jul) - cancelled.

Cardinia Performing Arts Co: The Boy From Oz (Feb/Mar).

NOVA Music Theatre: Legally Blonde The Musical (May), Wicked (Oct).

Aspect Theatre Inc: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (July).

MLOC Productions: Young Frankenstein (May), Bye Bye Birdie (Oct).

SLAMS Music Theatre Company: The Little Mermaid (Mar).

MDMS: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Jun).

Panorama Theatre Co: Grease (Apr).

Altona City Theatre: Alice in Wonderland – Panto (Feb/Mar)

Heidelberg Theatre Co: Moonlight and Magnolias (Feb/Mar), Twelve Angry Men (Apr/May), God of Carnage (Jul), A Streetcar Named Desire (Sep), One Man, Two Guvnors (Nov/Dec).

The Mount Players: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Xanadu, 13^th One Act Play Festival, Falling from Grace, Whose Wives are They Anyway.

Brighton Theatre Company: Bette and Joan (Feb/Mar), Over My Dead Body (May/Jun), Blood Brothers (Aug/Sep), Other People’s Money (Nov).

Mordialloc Theatre Company Inc: The Importance of Being Earnest (Feb/Mar), Role Play (Apr/May), Visiting Mr Green (June/July), Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (Sep), Inspector Drake’s Last Case (Nov).

Frankston Theatre Group: The Odd Couple (Female version)(Apr).

Strathmore Theatre Arts Group (STAG): Killing Jeremy (Mar), Come Blow Your Horn (May/Jun), Close of Play (Aug), Daylight Saving (Nov).

Malvern Theatre Company Inc: Cash On Delivery (Feb/Mar), Pygmalion (Apr), And Then There Were None (Jun/Jul), In the Garden (Aug/Sep), Tomfoolery (Oct/Nov).

Williamstown Little Theatre: Sweet Road (Feb), The Nance (Apr/May), If I Should Die Before I Wake (Jun/Jul), Sitting Pretty (Sep), London Suite (Nov/Dec).

Peridot Theatre Inc: Two and Two Together (Feb), One Act Play Season (Apr), Ancient Lights (Jun), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Aug), Becky’s New Car (Nov/Dec).

Encore Theatre Company Inc: Little Red (Jan), The Dining Room (Apr), An Inspector Calls (Jul), Table Manners (Oct).

Lilydale Athenæum Theatre Company Inc: The Vicar of Dibley (Mar), Breaker Morant (May/Jun), Caught in the Net (Aug/Sep), Yes, Prime Minister? (Nov).

Sherbrooke Theatre Company Inc: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Apr/May), The Importance of Being Earnest, Last Cab to Darwin.

The 1812 Theatre: ‘Allo ‘Allo (Feb/Mar), The Haunting of Daniel Gartrell (Apr), Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club (May/Jun), Driving Miss Daisy (Jul / Aug), My First Time (Oct), Fawlty Towers (Nov/Dec).

Essendon Theatre Company: Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (Apr), Seminar, The Weekend, Witness For the Prosecution.

Beaumaris Theatre Inc: Grease (Mar), Flowers for Algernon, Avenue Q, One for the Pot.

Gemco Players: Canterbury Tales (Feb), Measure for Measure (Mar/Apr), Teechers (Nov), Murder on the Puffing Billy Express.

Eltham Little Theatre: Ten Minute Quickies (Mar), Dinkum Assorted (May), Annie (Jul), Harvey (Sep), Secondary Cause of Death (Nov).

Hartwell Players: One Acts 2016 (Jul).

Mooroolbark Theatre Group: Steel Magnolias (June).

The Basin Theatre Group: My Brilliant Divorce & Snow Angel (Feb/Mar), Sleuth (May/Jun), Dangerous Corner (Aug), Moon Over Buffalo (Nov).

Regional Victoria

Geelong Repertory Theatre Company: God of Carnage (Feb), The Shifting Heart (Apr), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Jul), Speaking in Tongues (Sep), Rumors (Nov/Dec).

Footlight Productions (Geelong): Mary Poppins (Jan/Feb).

Off The Leash Productions:Next to Normal (Apr)

BLOC Music Theatre (Ballarat): Mary Poppins (May).

CenterStage Geelong: Oklahoma! (Apr).

Warragul Theatre Company: Paris (May).

Wangaratta Players: Last of the Red Hot Lovers.

Wonthaggi Theatrical Group: Bend it Like Broadway 2016 (Feb), Evita, The Diary of Anne Frank (Aug), Little Shop of Horrors (Sep).

Bendigo Theatre Company: Snow White (Jan), The Addams Family, The Boy From Oz (Sep).

Benalla Theatre Company: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.

Shepparton Arts Theatre Group: 10 in Ten: 2016 (Mar), Dookie – World Premiere of local play (Mar), God of Carnage (May), Sweet Charity (Jul), Shaken, Not Stirred (Sep/Oct), Showstoppers (Oct).

New South Wales

Miranda Musical Society: Man of La Mancha (Mar), Jacques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris (Jul), Young Frankensten (Sep), Wicked (Mar 2017), Heathers The Musical (June).

Willoughby Theatre Company: Catch Me If You Can – NSW Premiere (May), Magic of the Musicals – The Gershwin Songbook (Jul), Mary Poppins (Oct).

Packemin Productions: Back to the 80’s (Jan),West Side Story (Feb).

Strathfield Musical Society: Encore –cabaret show (May), The Addams Family (Oct).

Engadine Musical Society: Mary Poppins (May), Oliver! (Oct), Grease (May 2017).

Bankstown Theatre Company: Annie (Mar), Chess (Jul), The Secret Garden (Oct).

EUCMS (Eastwood): Godspell (May), Cinderella (Oct) Annie Get Your Gun (May 2017).

Manly Musical Society: A Chorus Line (May), Grease (Nov), Sweeney Todd (May 2017)..

NUCMS: Two Gentlemen of Verona(May/Jun), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Oct/ Nov).

Rockdale Opera Company: Rendezvous at Orlofsky’s Cabaret ( Apr),Orpheus in the Underworld (Jul/Aug), The Bartered Bride (Nov).

The Regals Musical Society: The Boy From Oz (May).

Hornsby Musical Society: Guys and Dolls (Apr), The Wedding Singer (Oct).

 

Shire Music Theatre: Bonnie and Clyde (Apr/May), First Date (Oct).

Sydney Youth Musical Theatre: Legally Blonde (Jul), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Nov).

Blue Mountains Musical Society: West Side Story (Jun), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Oct/Nov).

Hills Musical Theatre Company: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2016), Bugsy Malone (May 2017).

Holroyd Musical and Dramatic Society:‘ H.M.S. Pinafore (Apr), Footloose (Sep), The Drowsy Chaperone (Mar / Ap 2017)

Rockdale Musical Society: Calamity Jane (Mar), Leap of Faith (Sep), The King and I (Mar 2017), Rent (June 2017), Heathers The Musical (Sep 2017).

Canterbury Theatre Guild: Steel Magnolias (Feb), Avenue Q (May), The Little Mermaid (Nov).

Berowra Musical Society: Urinetown (May), Back to the 80s (Oct).

Ashfield Musical Society: Sweet Charity (May), Hair (Oct).

Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney: Patience (Sep/Oct).

Dural Musical Society Inc: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (May), Nana's Naughty Knickers (Oct).

Campbelltown Theatre Group: The 39 Steps (Mar), Legally Blonde (Oct).

Castle Hill Players: Treasure Island (Feb), The Game’s Afoot (Apr), TBA (Jun), On Golden Pond (Jul/Aug), Boeing Boeing (Sep/Oct), The Accused (Nov).

WOFTAM Productions:Hyperspace - The Star Wars Parody (July), Songs For A New World (Oct).

The Theatre On Chester (Epping): The Hypochondriac (Apr), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Jul/Aug), The Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Nov).

Pymble Players: Sylvia (Feb/Mar), Enchanted April (May), God of Carnage (Jul/Aug), Communicating Doors (Oct),Dick Whittington and his Clever Cat (Panto – Dec).

Guild Theatre, Rockdale: Exit Laughing (Feb/Mar), When Dad Married Fury (May/June), The Underpants (Jul/Aug), It's My Party and I'll Die if I Want To (Oct/Nov).

Hunters Hill Theatre: Bedroom Farce (Mar), Birthrights (May/June), Gaslight (Aug), Moonlight and Magnolias (Nov).

Genesian Theatre: The Picture of Dorian Gray (Feb/Mar), Nothing Personal by David Williamson (Apr/May), Far From the Madding Crowd (May / Jun), Agatha Christie’s Appointment With Death (Jul/Aug), Our House (Sep/Oct), Dracula (Oct-Dec), Much Ado About Nothing (Jan/Feb 2017).

Arts Theatre Cronulla: Proof (Feb/Mar), Moon Over Buffalo (May/Jun), My Wonderful Day (Jul-Sep), Loot (Oct-Dec).

Sutherland Theatre Company: Beyond Caring, the premiere of a new locally written play (Mar), The Final Test (Jul/Aug), Don’t Talk to the Actors (Nov).

Penrith Musical Comedy Company: The Boy From Oz (May), 9 to 5 The Musical (Nov).

Epicentre Theatre Company: Rumors (Apr/May), Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (Jun/Jul), The Great Gatsby (Sep/Oct), Theatresports (Nov).

Elanora Players: Whose Life is it Anyway? (Jan), Table Manners (Apr).

Lane Cove Theatre Company: Away (Mar/Apr), The Last Five Years (Aug), The Jungle Book (Nov/Dec).

Henry Lawson Theatre (Werrington): The Oldest Profession (Feb), Love Begins at 50 (Apr/May), Allo Allo (Jun/Jul), When Dad Married Fury (Oct/Nov).

Cameo Theatre Company: Opportunity Knocks (May).

The Acting Factory (Penrith): The Taming of the Shrew- Shakespeare by the Nepean River (Feb/Mar), A Kidshow (Apr).

Glenbrook Players: London Suite (May)

Richmond Players: The Soundof Music (May), The 39 Steps (Aug).

Cumberland Gang Show (Scouts and Guides): Power Up (Jul).

 

Newcastle and Hunter Region

DAPA Theatre: Hotbed Hotel (Feb), Witness for the Prosecution (Mar/Apr), Emma (May), Mixed Doubles: Two One-Act Plays (Jul), The Snow Queen (Aug), The Nerd (Oct), Elf – The Musical (Oct/Nov).

Hunter Drama: Roald Dahl Festival 2016 (May), Shrek: The Musical Jr (Sep/Oct), The Spoon River Project (Oct).

Maitland Musical Society: Showstoppers Curtain Call (Feb), She’s Only the Colonel’s Daughter, premiere (Apr), The Gilbert and Sullivan Story, premiere (Sep), Nunsensations (Nov/Dec, co-production with Maitland Repertory Theatre).   

Maitland Repertory Theatre: Therese Raquin (Feb), Funny Money (Apr), Titus Andronicus (Aug), Blithe Spirit (Sep).

Metropolitan Players Wicked (Aug/Sep).

The National Theatre Company: Evita (Mar).

Newcastle Theatre Company: Proof (Jan/Feb), Death and the Maiden (Mar), The One Day of the Year (Apr), Robert Gott’s Good Murder (Jun), Noises Off (Jul); Love, Love, Love (Aug/Sep), Other Desert Cities (Oct), Festive Spirit, by Sally Davies (Nov/Dec).

Opera Hunter: The Marriage of Figaro (Jun).

Pantseat Productions: Disney’s High School Musical Jr (Apr), Dags (Jul), Seasons (Australian premiere - Sep), A Chorus Line (Nov).

The Paper Cut Collective:Hello, Stranger, premiere (Newcastle, Feb/Mar; Bathurst Mar).

Stooged Theatre: Punk Rock (Mar), Blood Bank (Aug).

Tantrum Youth Arts:Trailer (Wyong, May; Sydney, Jun; Newcastle, Jun),  Trajectory 1, site specific work (Aug), Manning the Fort, site specific work (Sep/Oct), Trajectory 2, site specific work (Oct), Hissyfest 2016 (Nov).

Theatre on Brunker: Something Wonderful: The Music of Rodgers and Hammerstein (Jan), The 39 Steps (Apr), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, with Novocastrian Players (Jun), The Odd Couple (Female Version) (Oct).

Young People's Theatre: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Feb), Disney’s Mulan Jr (Apr/May), The History Boys (Jun), Three Little Pigs: (Jul/Aug), Bugsy Malone (Oct/Nov), Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Jr  (Nov/Dec).

NSW Central Coast

Wyong Musical Theatre: Oliver! (Apr).

Gosford Musical Society: The Little Mermaid (Jan), The Addams Family (Mar), Tom Sawyer (Jul), The Music Man (Aug), Wicked (Oct/Nov).

Woy Woy Little Theatre: Humble Boy (Feb/Mar), Dinkum Assorted (May/Jun), Wait Until Dark (Aug), Absurd Person Singular (Oct/Nov).

NSW North Coast

Ballina Players: Legally Blonde The Musical Jr (Jan), Funny Money (Apr), Return to the Forbidden Planet (Jun/Jul), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Nov/Dec).

Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company: The Pirates of Penzance (May), Mary Poppins (Nov).

Murwillumbah Theatre Company: The Importance of Being Earnest (Mar)

Players Theatre, Port Macquarie: The Odd Couple (Mar), The Producers (May), Festival of One Act Plays (Jun), Grease (Jul/Aug), ‘Allo ‘Allo (Sep/Oct), Sweet Charity (Nov/Dec).

CHATS Productions Inc (Coffs Harbour): Noises Off (Mar), Cosi (Jul), Twelfth Night (Oct).

NSW South Coast and Southern Highlands

Nowra Players: Camelot the Panto(Mar), Ghost Train (May/Jun), A Month Of Sundays (Aug/Sep), Avenue Q (Nov / Dec).

Wollongong Workshop Theatre: A Super Villainous Cabaret (Feb), Albert and Jameson: A Play With Vampires (Apr/May), Sweeney Todd – The Play (Jun), Workshorts 2016 (Sep), The Laramie Project (Oct), Get Smart (Nov).

Roo Theatre Co (Shellharbour): Cinderella (Jan), 13 – A New Musical(Feb), The Buddy Holly Story(Mar), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Apr), Saturday Night Fever (May), Fawlty Towers (Jul), Kiss Me, Kate (Aug / Sep), Travelling North (Sep/Oct), Miss Saigon (Oct/Nov).

Arcadians Theatre Group (Corrimal, Wollongong): The 39 Steps (Feb/Mar), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Apr).

Nowra Players:Camelot: The Panto (Mar), Ghost Train (May/Jun), A Month of Sundays (Aug/Sep), Avenue Q (Nov/Dec).

Albatross Musical Theatre Company (Nowra): Oliver! (Jul), Legally Blonde (Nov).

Pigs Fly Productions (Mittagong): Calendar Girls (Sep).

Spectrum Theatre Group(Merimbula): The Addams Family (May / June).

Cooma Little Theatre: Return to the Forbidden Planet (Apr).

Regional NSW

Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society: Footloose (May / June).

Orange Theatre Company: Hairspray (May), Lend Me A Tenor (Jul), Mary Poppins (Oct).

Tamworth Musical Society: Mary Poppins (May).

Tamworth Dramatic Society: The Tempest.

Lithgow Musical Society: Oklahoma!

Armidale Drama and Musical Society: Favourite Shorts (Apr),Tommy (Jul), Noises Off (Sep / Oct).

Albury Wodonga Theatre Company: Oliver!

Muswellbrook Amateur Theatrical Society: The Sound of Music (July).

Carillon Theatrical Society (Bathurst): Rock of Ages (May).

 

South Australia

Adelaide Repertory Theatre: The Elephant Man(Apr), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Jun), Oscar & Felix (Sep), Don’t Dress for Dinner (Nov).

Adelaide Youth Theatre: Disney The Little Mermaid(Jan), Into The Woods Snr and Jr shows (March), Aladdin Jr (Apr).

Balaklava Community Arts: Seussical(Apr).

Briggs & Heaysman Theatre Co: The Angel of Death(Jan- Fringe).

Butterfly Theatre/ Burnside Players: Titus Andronicus (Aug).

Davine Interventionz: The Light in The Piazza (Feb/Mar - Fringe).

Galleon Theatre Company: Sex Cells (May), Cheaters (Oct).

Hills Youth Theatre:  Cinderella- A Pantomime (Jan).

Hills Musical Company: The Full Monty (Apr/May).

Independent Theatre: Hamlet( Apr), Suddenly, Last Summer - staged play reading (Apr), The Matchmaker (Aug), Ross (Nov).

Marie Clark Musical Theatre: Catch Me if You Can (May).

Matt Byrne Media: Wicked (Jul).

South Australian Light Opera Society: La Perichole (Apr).

St Jude’s Players:When the Rain Stops Falling (Apr), Boeing Boeing (Aug), Calendar Girls (Nov).

Tea Tree Players: Bob’s Your Auntie (Feb), Family Planning (Mar/Apr), Up Pompeii (May/Jun), Who’s Dying to Be a Millionaire - Youth/Junior (Jul), Happy Event (Aug), Funny Money (Sep/Oct), Pantomime (Nov/Dec).

The Metropolitan Musical Theatre Company: Sugar (May).

The Stirling Players: Variation on a Theme (Feb/Mar), Our Country’s Good (Sept/Oct).

Therry Dramatic Society: The Philadelphia Story (Mar/Apr), Big Fish (June), Death of a Salesman (Aug).

University of Adelaide Theatre Guild: The Peach Season (Mar), The Two Gentleman of Verona (May), The Crucible (Aug), The Effect (Oct).

Unseen Theatre Co: Feet of Clay (Apr).

Northern Light Theatre Company: Cinderella (Apr).

Venture Theatre Co: Space Junk (Apr).

Zest Theatre Group:Grease (Jan/Feb).

South Coast Choral and Arts Society: My Fair Lady (May).

Gilbert & Sullivan Society: The Mikado (May).

 

ACT

Free-Rain Theatre Company: The Little Mermaid(Apr)

Queanbeyan Players: The Music Man (Jun), The Merry Widow from Bluegum Creek (Nov).

Canberra Rep:The Threepenny Opera (Feb / Mar), Uncle Vanya, Witness for the Prosecution, Macbeth, She Stoops to Conquer, Noises Off, Wait Until Dark.

SUPA Productions: Funny Girl (Aug/Sep).

 

Queensland

Savoyards: Legally Blonde(Mar), A Chorus Line (Jul), Nice Work If You Can Get It (Sep / Oct).

Redcliffe Musical Theatre: Mary Poppins (Mar), Into The Woods Jr (Ap), Beauty & the Beast (Jun), Wicked (Aug).

S.Q.U.I.D.S: Oliver! (May).

PRIMA: The Little Mermaid (Apr / May), Little Women (July), Into The Woods (Oct).

Ipswich Musical Theatre: Wicked (Sep).

Sunnybank Theatre Group:Key For Two (Feb/Mar), Sleuth (Apr). One Act Plays – 49A /Roses are Red /Post Its (May/Jun), Anyone for Breakfast (Jul/Aug), Beyond Reasonable Doubt (Sep), Sister Amnesia’s Country & Western Nunsense Jamboree (Nov).

Brisbane Arts Theatre: Baby with the Bathwater (Jan/Feb), The Boy From Oz (Mar/Apr), Are You Being Served? (Apr/Jun), Sense and Sensibility (Jun/Jul), Equus (Jul / Sep), With – The Devil’s Own Musical (Sep) Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett (Oct/Nov), When the Rain Stops Falling (Nov / Dec), The Reindeer Monologues (Dec).

Villanova Players: Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (Mar), Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls (Apr), Seven Little Australians (May/Jun), The Kursk (Jul), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Aug/Sep), God of Carnage (Oct), Rough Crossing (Nov/Dec).

Mousetrap Theatre Company: The Cinderella Spell (Jan), Much Ado About Nothing (Feb/Mar), Blithe Spirit (Apr/May), A Feast of One Act Plays (Jun), Shall We Dance – Music of the 70s and 80s (Jul), Once Upon a Mattress (Jul/Aug), A Murder is Announced (Sep/Oct).

Nash Theatre: Rebecca (Feb / Mar), The Tempest (May/ Jun), Harvey (Jul), The Memory of Water (Oct), The Fall & Rise of Mr Scrooge (Nov/ Dec).

Centenary Theatre Group: When Dad Married Fury (Feb/Mar), Agatha Crispie by Cenarth Fox (May), Up Pompeii (July/Aug), The Mayne Inheritance (Sep/Oct), A Little Murder Never Hurt Anyone (Nov/Dec).

Growl Theatre: Harvey (Mar), Blackadder the Third (May/Jun), The Constant Wife (Aug/Sep), A French language production (Oct/Nov)

Phoenix Ensemble: The Wedding Singer (Feb), Next To Normal (Apr/May), Emerald City (Jul), The Little Mermaid (Sep /Oct), Spice Fire – Cabaret Festival (Nov).

Tweed Theatre Company: Steel Magnolias(May), Seven Little Australians (Jul), The Princess & the Pea (Sep/Oct).

Beenleigh Theatre Group: RENT (Feb/Mar), Noises Off (Apr/May), Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Jun/July), The Importance of Being Earnest (Sep/Oct), SHOUT! - The Legend of the Wild One (Nov).

Gold Coast Little Theatre: West Side Story (Jan/Feb),The Shoe-Horn Sonata (May / Jun), Make ‘Em Laugh (One Act plays – Jun), Wolf Lullaby (Sep / Oct), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Nov / Dec).

Tugun Theatre Company: Over My Dead Body (Feb), Golden Oldies Variety Show celebrating 45 years at Tugun Theatre (May), Exit Laughing (Aug), Cat's Cradle (Nov).

Ipswich Little Theatre: Lipstick Dreams (Mar), The Glass Menagerie (May), The Narcissist (Jun/ Jul), Deckchairs (Sep/Oct), The Final Test (Nov/Dec).

Javeenbah Theatre, Nerang: Writers Block (Jan/Feb), Minefields and Miniskirts (Apr), Communicating Doors (May/Jun), After January (Jul/Aug), Songs for a New World (Sept/Oct), The Smell of Money (Nov/Dec)

Top Hat Productions: Hooray for Hollywood (Mar).

Spotlight Theatrical Company, Benowa: Robin Hood The Pantomime (Jan), Pippin (Feb/Mar), Bonnie and Clyde (May/June), Higher & Higher – the Motown Musical (Aug/Sep), Breast Wishes (Sep/Oct), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Oct/Nov).

Burdekin Singers: The Addams Family (Jan).

Coolum Theatre Players: The Addams Family (May), Sherlock Holmes & the Case of the Stolen Suspender (Aug/Sep), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Nov – Dec).

Noosa Arts Theatre: Old Mother Hubbard(Jan), Australia Day (Feb), Mary Poppins (Apr), Shorts on Stage (May), One-Act Play Festival (Jun – Jul), Fabulosity (Sept – Oct), Still (Oct), Under Milk Wood (Nov).

Rondo Theatre/Cairns Little Theatre: Who’s Under Where? (Feb), Night Mother (Apr), Corporate Vibes (Jun), Honour (Aug), One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Oct).

BATS Theatre (Buderim): And so Say All Of Us (Jan).

Lind Lane Theatre, Nambour: Move Over Mrs Markham (Feb), Echo of the Great War –Two One Act Plays - The Old Woman Shows Her Medals, The Private War Of Corporal Cooper (Apr), The History Boys (May/Jun), Love & Hate – 10 min plays (July), Inspector Drake and the Black Widow (Sep/Oct), Act Your Age (Nov).

Mackay Musical Comedy Players: Cinderella (Feb), Mary Poppins (May), Sweeney Todd (Aug /Sep).

Empire Theatre Toowoomba: Legally Blonde (Apr).

Toowoomba Repertory Theatre:The Gift (Feb), The Last Romance (Apr/May), Here on the Flight Path (Jul), Winning plays from National One Act Play Writing Competition (Sep), The Seven Year Itch (Nov).

North Queensland Opera & Music Theatre (Townsville): Titanic (Apr).

The Maleny Singers: HMS Pinafore (Jun).

Malanda Theatre Company:Travelling North (Mar).

 

Western Australia

Roleystone Theatre: High Fidelity (Mar), Shrek Jnr (Apr), The Cat and the Canary (May/Jun), On Our Selection (Aug), West End Gala (Aug), One Act Season (Sep), Storytime in the Hills (Oct), Little Shop of Horrors (Dec)

Garrick Theatre: See How They Run (Jan/Feb), And Then There Were None (Apr), You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Jun), A Murder Is Announced (Jul/Aug), The Wee Small Hours (Sep/Oct), Christmas Pantomime TBA (Nov/Dec)

KADS:  Murder in Company (Feb/Mar), The Herringbone Saga (May), KADS One Act Season (Aug), Kalamunda SHS Showcase (Sep), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Nov/Dec).

Stirling Players:  Tuesdays With Morrie (Feb/Mar), You Can't Have One (Apr/May), Brief Encounter (Jul), The Importance of Being Earnest (Aug/Sep), Ruby Quicksilver (Nov/Dec)

Murray Music and Drama (Pinjarra): Sweeney Todd (May), In The Spotlight (Variety Show - Aug), Peter Pan (Nov).

Darlington Theatre Players: Footloose (Feb/Mar).

Wanneroo Repertory: Kitty Klaxton, Blonde Downstairs (Jan/Feb), One Act Plays (Feb), Gaslight (Apr), Run For Your Wife (Aug), Skylight (Sep), Blitz (Nov/Dec).

Primadonna Productions: Judith Prior’s What's New Pussycat (Feb), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Apr), Mother Goose (Aug).

Harbour Theatre: The Hound of the Baskervilles (Feb).

Irish Theatre Players:  Plough and the Stars (Mar/Apr), Communication Card (Jul), One Act Season (Aug/Sep), War (Nov)

APAN: Fame (Feb), Grease (Aug/Sep).

Old Mill Theatre: It’s All Greek to Me Too (Feb), Closer (June), Season of One Act Plays (Sep), Honour (Oct), Scrooge the Musical (Dec).

Melville Theatre Company: Inside Job (Feb), Dancing at Lughnasa (May), Under the Bright Blue Sky (Jul), Barefoot in the Park (Sep), One Man, Two Guvnors (Nov/Dec).

Koorliny Arts Centre: Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Jan/Feb), Return to the Forbidden Planet (Apr/May), Side by Side by Sondheim (Aug), Monty Python’s Spamalot (Oct)

Phoenix Theatre/Dark Psychic Productions: Avenue Q (Mar), Stage Recess the Musical (May), The Darkness and The Kraken (Jun) Puss In Thongs (Jul), Class of 77 (Sep), Portraits (Oct), The Addams Family (Nov).

Bunbury Repertory Club: Herringbone Saga (Apr), The Club (Jun/Jul).

Williams Repertory Club: Great Australian Rock Musical (Jun).

 

Tasmania

Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Tasmania: Trial by Jury (Jan).

Hobart Repertory Theatre Society: The Elephant Man (Mar), Habeas Corpus (May), Macbeth (Jul), Something’s Afoot (Sep), Up for Grabs (Oct/Nov).

Launceston Musical Society: Dusty

Devonport Choral Society Inc: The Addams Family (May), A Sice of Saturday Night (Oct), Whistle Down The Wind (2017).

Burnie Musical Society: Wicked.

 

New Zealand

Auckland Music Theatre: Evita (May/Jun).

North Shore Music Theatre: 13 The Musical (July) Hair (Nov), The Drowsy Chaperone (2017), Jekyll & Hyde (Nov 2017)

Taieri Musical Society (Dunedin): Grease (Jul), Mary Poppins (May 2017).

Abbey Musical Theatre: Sweeney Todd (Mar), Hair (May/Jun).

Manukau Performing Arts:A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Jun), Dreamgirls (Oct).

Centrestage Theatre Company, Orewa: Monty Python’s Spamalot, Rent.

New Plymouth Operatic Society: Sister Act (Jul / Aug) – Australasian Premiere.

Variety Theatre Ashburton: Oliver!

North Canterbury Musical Society: Elton John and Tim Rice’s AIDA (May).

Nelson Music Theatre:Nunsense: The Mega Musical (Apr), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Aug), Back to the 80's (Nov).

Whangarei Theatre Company: Nunsense (Apr), The Sound of Music (Jul).

Harlequin Musical Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar (Apr / May).

Tauranga Musical Theatre Inc: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr (Jan), Avenue Q (Apr), Mamma Mia (Sep).

West Otago Theatrical Society: Saturday Night Fever (Jun).

Cambridge Repertory: Hot Water.

Rotorua Musical Theatre: Evita (July), The Addams Family (Oct).

Musikmakers, Hamilton: The Addams Family (Apr).

Napier Operatic: Jesus Christ Superstar (Apr), Annie jr (Jun), Barnum (Sep), Essgee’s The Pirates of Penzance (Nov).

Musical Theatre Oamaru: Evita (Jun).

Blenheim Musical Theatre: Mamma Mia! (May).

Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe: The Tempest.

Detour Theatre, Tauranga: Checkout Chicks (Mar/Apr), A Murder is Announced (Jun/Jul), Romeo and Juliet (Aug/Sep), Nana’s Naughty Knickers (Nov/Dec).

Wellington G & S Light Opera: The Merry Widow(Aug/Sep).

Dolphin Theatre: One Man, Two Guvnors (Feb/Mar).

Ellerslie Theatrical Society: The End of Golden Weather (Mar), Murder in Stages (Apr).

Elmwood Players: Jumpy (Apr), Bouncers (Jun), Winter Tales (Aug).

Hawera Repertory Society: Duets (2016), Peter Pan (2017).

Howick Little Theatre: Central Otago Man (Feb / Mar), The Perfect Man (May), Ladies in Lavender (Jul), How To Be Happy (Sep), The Top Secret “Mystery Play” (Nov).

Papakura Theatre Company: Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr (Ap).

Stagecraft Theatre (Wellington): Kafka’s Dick (Mar), Steel Magnolias (May), The History Boys (Jul), Urinetown: The Musical (Sep), Comedy of Errors (Nov).

Tauranga Repertory Theatre: Star*Man (Jan) – youth production.

Theatre Whakatane: Avenue Q (Jan).

Company Theatre (Auckland): When Dad Married Fury (Apr), All My Sons (Aug), One Man, Two Guvnors (Nov).

Mairangi Players: The Glass Menagerie (Mar).

Titirangi Theatre: Wyrd Sisters (Mar), Daughters of Heaven (Apr), Messiah on the Frigidaire (June), Compleat Female Stage Beauty (Aug/Sep), Robin Hood and the Three Little Pigs - Panto (Nov/Dec).

Shoreside Theatre (Auckland): King Lear & The Tempest (Jan / Feb).

Wellington Repertory Theatre: Arsenic and Old Lace (Apr), Rope (Aug), Brassed Off (Oct).