Community Theatre

Beauty and the Beast for Coffs Harbour.

Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company (CHMCC) on the NSW North Coast is producing one of their biggest shows to date, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, from November 9, 2012.

While the company has done some fairly ambitious shows in the last couple of years; rock operas like Jesus Christ Superstar and Rent, and classics like Oliver! and Cabaret, this is their first Disney.

Murder and Music to Entertain at Eltham

Eltham Little Theatre’s end-of-year dinner and show offers a generous serving of murder mystery garnished with a touch of jazz and soul from November 15.

Suspense-loving audience members who sample Murder at the Music Hall will sit at tables of six or eight enjoying dinner and drinks they've brought along.

Third Brigadoon for Queanbeyan Players

The Queanbeyan Players’ second production for 2012 (from November 2 to 17) is Lerner and Lowe’s Brigadoon. This will be the third production of Brigadoon for the NSW company (Queanbeyan is 15km from Canberra), having previously performed Lerner and Loewe in 1995 and 1980. And thanks to the Players’ friendly approach and family-like atmosphere, there are several people who have been involved in all three productions.

39 Steps: Spy Farce for Woy Woy.

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have...Patrick Barlow's version of The 39 Steps.

Woy Woy Little Theatre (NSW) is staging this romp at the Peninsula Theatre, Woy Woy from October 26 – November 10, 2012.

Superstar to Rock Concord

A cast of over 30 singers and dancers are busily rehearsing for Ashfield Musical Society’s (NSW) upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar, the dynamic rock opera loosely based on the seven last days of Jesus Christ, opening at Concord RSL on November 2.

Traditional Pirates Romp Through Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains Musical Society (NSW) farewells its traditional home at Springwood with a nostalgic G & S production, The Pirates of Penzance. Stage Whispers reviewer and reporter, and Pirates cast member, Sally Alrich-Smythe, reports.

Time for the Stage Manager to go shopping ...

It’s not often that a Stage Manager is confronted with a props list which includes “quiche” and “vibrating dildo”. Most prop-buying expeditions are a dull experience: a bunch of plastic flowers, some ginger ale to pass for on-stage booze, maybe the exotica of an old newspaper. Frequently, the Stage Manager will ask the cast to donate some of their unwanted stuff. Such requests have been met with a cautious silence and the odd nervous giggle during rehearsals for My Romantic History.

Church Stages Jesus Christ Superstar

Encourage Church, Romsey (Vic.) is presenting the Andrew Lloyd Webber / Tim Rice Rock Opera Jesus Christ Superstar from October 12 – 27, 2012 and Russel Servis, newsletter editor nearby theatre company Mount Players, caught the final dress rehearsal of Michael and Susan Soleri’s production. Russel reports:

Fab Nobs Wide Awake With The Drowsy Chaperone

Another intimate musical is taking shape at the Fab Factory in the Melbourne suburb of Bayswater. Coral Drouyn writes:

Cait is Sweet Charity

When Queensland Musical Theatre presents Sweet Charity (Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now, The Rhythm of Life) at the Schonell Theatre, University of Queensland, from 31 October to 4 November, 2012, Cait Gregor will play the title role of eternal optimist Charity Hope Valentine.