News

Heaven On Their Minds

With Jesus Christ Superstar opening in Melbourne, David Spicer speaks to the performers playing Jesus and Judas. Michael Paynter and Javon King reveal that faith, their mothers and love of good tunes bind their passion for the musical.

Michael Paynter has taken ‘long-service’ leave from his gigs as a guitarist with Icehouse and Jimmy Barnes to make his professional stage debut in Jesus Christ Superstar, which is running at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne until June 22.

RISING 2025

Image: LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches), J Wyld

RISING, Melbourne’s winter festival of new art, music and performance, has unveiled its 2025 program featuring; 65 events, 327artists, 15 new commissions, 9 world premieres, 5 Australian and 10 Victorian, returning to showcase the city over two epic weekends from Wednesday 4th to Sunday 15th June.

STAGE WHISPERS MAGAZINE: MARCH / APRIL 2025 EDITION OUT NOW!!!

IN THIS EDITION

 

It’s a Dog’s Life

Annie’s canine cast “speak”  

 

And Then There Were None

Robyn Nevin and Nicholas Hammond’s Agatha Christie thriller

 

MJ The Musical

Rehearsals Underway for Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour

Image: Annie Aitken and Cody Simpson in rehearsals for Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour

Rehearsals have begun with for Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour, which will debut at the annual outdoor Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour for a strictly limited four-week season from 21 March to 20 April at Mrs Macquaries Point.

Nominees Announced for the 2025 Green Room Awards

Image: The Cast of Candide. Photographer: Charlie Kinross

The Green Room Awards Association has announced the nominees for the 42nd Annual Green Room Awards.  

The most nominated productions this year include GROUNDHOG DAY (11 nominations), CANDIDE (9 nominations), 37 (8 nominations), MY BRILLIANT CAREER (8 nominations) and COUNTING & CRACKING (7 nominations).

Matilda Awards 2024: A Theatrical Triumph of Diversity and Creativity

Image: Host Sean Choolburra

Kitty Goodall Reports

Full Cast of Beetlejuice The Musical Summoned

Dust off your Ouija boards and polish your gravestones Melbourne, because Michael Cassel Group, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, and Langley Park Productions have just summoned the full line-up for the Australian premiere of Beetlejuice The Musical, hitting Melbourne’s Regent Theatre this May.

Hadestown – One Helluva Show.

Image: Abigail Adriano, Christine Anu and Noah Mullins in Hadestown. Photographer: Lisa Tomasetti

PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical to Premiere in Brisbane

Image: Bryan Adams at Pretty Woman announcement. Photo RDW Photography

Singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, who wrote the music and lyrics for PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical, alongside Jim Vallance, was in Brisbane today (Friday 14 February) to make the official announcement that the Broadway and West End musical, based on the popular Rom-Com starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, will have its Australian premiere at QPAC in Brisbane in October 2025.

Casting Announced for The Producers at Hayes Theatre

Image: Jordan Shea, Alexandra Cashmere, Anton Berezin and Des Flanagan in The Producers (c) James Reiser