News

Karis Oka To Play Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice The Musical

Michael Cassel Group, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, and Langley Park Productions have announced that the role of Lydia Deetz, the peculiar and quick-witted teenager with a penchant for the afterlife, in BEETLEJUICE will be played by Karis Oka. 

Pick of the Plays 2025

In 2025 The Bard is back, along with some blockbuster Australian plays, world premieres, classics updated and Indigenous works. David Spicer picks some of the highlights. 

 

All the world’s a stage for Shakespeare in Australia in the year ahead.

 

Disorder in Court

It’s the hottest ticket to the hottest show in town – and David Spicer scored the very best seat – on stage in full Judge’s regalia. He reports on what it's like to watch the Sydney Festival’s production of Model Murder from the bench.

The immersive theatre season of Model Murder – staged in a real-life court room in Darlinghurst - is so sold out that you can’t even reserve a standby ticket!

Stage Whispers Most Popular Reviews of 2024

The Stage Whispers website had a record 1.8 million visits in 2024 thanks in no small way to our enthusiastic reviewers who cover the performing arts in all corners of Australia. Click here to find out how to advertise your next production. 

Our most popular reviews of productions which took place in 2024 include musicals, plays and a puppet show staged in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

2024 Sydney Theatre Awards Nominations Announced

Nominations have been announced today for the 2024 Sydney Theatre Awards, which will be presented at an industry gala ceremony on Monday 20 January 2025 at the York Theatre, Seymour Centre.

Image: Best Musical nomination Jesus Christ Superstar (Crossroads Live and Work Light Productions) Photographer: Jeff Busby.

A New Ike for Tina

Giovanni Adams is a fresh face on Australia’s theatre stages, having stepped into the role of Ike Turner

Australian Musical Theatre Festival 2025 Program

LAUNCESTON, TASMANIA

21 – 25 MAY 2025

Artistic Director Tyran Parke has unveiled the Australian Musical Theatre Festival program that will be held in Launceston, Tasmania from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 May 2025. 

Parke revealed that for the first time in the festival’s five-year history the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra will feature in a star-studded line-up of Musical Theatre royalty including Caroline O’Connor, Alinta Chidzey and Mark Vincent.

Roman Banks To Reprise Title Role Of MJ In Australia

Australian producer Michael Cassel, alongside original Broadway producers Lia Vollack, John Branca, and John McClain, has announced that Roman Banks will lead the Australian premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical MJ when it debuts at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in February 2025. 

Banks comes direct to Sydney from the US national tour where he originated the role of MJ.

2025 at The Round

Following a successful debut year, Melbourne’s newest premier performing arts venue, The Round, in Nunawading, has revealed its 2025 season lineup. With the theme 'Electric,' the upcoming season will feature performances from international and local award-winning acts.

Subscription packages for the new year are now available, offering savings, priority seat selection, pay-over-time options and more.

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