Community Theatre

Keating the Musical: Anniversary for Western Sydney Theatre.

When Paul Keating became Prime Minister of Australia Cameron Baker was aged just two.

Now the 23 year old computer programmer by day and talented singer / actor by night has the political role of his life as the PM himself in WOFTAM Productions’ NSW amateur premiere of the Casey Bennetto’s smash hit Keating the Musical.

The musical is on stage from Friday 30th of September until the 8th of October at the Town Hall Theatre in Campbelltown.

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Ghosts at Newcastle Theatre

Newcastle Theatre Companypresents Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen from October 10 to 22.

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Pygmalion for Lower Blue Mountains

Glenbrook Players (NSW) will present George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion as their final production for 2011

This famous play, original source of the possibly more famous musical My Fair Lady, tells of the remaking of chirpy

Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into an elegant lady capable of passing as a princess in High Society.

Professor of Linguistics Henry Higgins prides himself on his ability to transform the least promising material and

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Don’t Give Up Your Day Job: Tom Sweeney

Stage Whispers begins a news series on community theatre enthusiasts and their contrasting day jobs.

Meet Tom Sweeney, Community Relations Officer for Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium by day and President of the Willoughby Theatre Company and Director extraordinaire by night.

What does your day job involve?

I have to market a cemetery and crematorium, and most people say why bother? Well we have competition down the street and a name change to promote.

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The hills are alive with The Sound of Music in S E Queensland

Phoenix Ensemble (Queensland) brings Rogers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music to Beenleigh’s Pavilion Theatre on 14 October.

Directed by Tracey Hutley, the production will play over five weekends – including two matinees – in what promises to be a blockbuster season for the renowned ensemble.

For Tracey, a large part of the show’s enduring appeal – aside from memorable songs and music – is the amazing story of Maria von Trapp.

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All’s well with Perth’s zippy zany Shakespeare

ANIMATION, puppetry and live music are coming together this October for a 90-minute version of Shakespeare’s classic All’s Well That Ends Well at the Old Mill Theatre from October 23 to 29, 2011.

Directed by Sarah McKellar for the North Sea Boat Terminals Theatre Company, she says it will still be Shakespeare’s words – but different to other productions seen in Perth before.

“It’s an innovative, slightly crazy version of All’s Well That Ends Well,” McKellar said.

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BuSTCo presents Thirteen for School Holidays

BuSTCo, the Deakin University student theatre group (Vic), will present “13” by Jason Robert Brown as their major musical production for 2011, at the Kel Watson Theatre from September 28 to October 2.

“13” opens in the not so distant future, where Evan Goldman, a Jewish-American man transports us back to the year preceding his Bar Mitzvah (Bar Mitzvah: the Jewish rite of passage from boyhood into manhood at the age of 13)

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SA Premiere for Lips Together, Teeth Apart

One beach house; two married couples … it’s going to be a long, long weekend!

John’s jumpy, Chloe’s hyper, Sam’s sulking and Sally’s upset - but for once they have time to think about life’s big questions in Mixed Salad Productions’ SA premiere of Terrence McNally’s play Lips Together,Teeth Apart from October 20 to November 5.

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Meet The Regals' Miss Hannigan

The Regals Musical Society (Sydney) will present Annie from October 14 – 22, in a production with a look inspired by the films of Tim Burton.

Originally to be performed at Rockdale Town Hall, the production will now be staged at Sydney Technical High School Auditorium following the discovery of asbestos issues during recent renovations.

Michele Lansdown, who will play the role of Miss Hannigan, spoke to Stage Whispers.

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Man of La Mancha for Normanhurst (NSW)

Normanhurst Uniting Church Musical Society (NSW) presents Man of La Mancha from October 7 – 22, 2011.

Man of La Mancha is the story of Miguel de Cervantes, a failed author and poet in 16th century Spain. Imprisoned to await trial by the Spanish Inquisition, and placed before a mock court of his fellow prisoners, he attempts to save the manuscript of his book by giving a performance of the story - the tale of a man who imagines himself to be a gallant Knight, Don Quixote de La Mancha.

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