News

Short and Sweet and Universal.

As the “Biggest Little Play Festival” in the world enters its second week on the Gold Coast, Coral Drouyn examines a theatrical phenomenon.

Somewhere in the world, even as I write, another Short and Sweet Festival is in preparation, or in full flight, or winding up. The phenomenon that started in Sydney in 2002 as the brain child of Mark Cleary is now a bonafide international festival and YES, there are people who follow Short and Sweet around the world (what a brilliant excuse for a looong holiday).

High Fidelity at Hayes Announces Cast

You know Rob Gordon. We all know Rob Gordon. He’s the kind of guy who can drip with self-loathing yet somehow still feel righteously superior to everyone around him. The kind of guy who can tell you why your favourite album isn’t as good as the one they released juuust before it. The kind of guy who owns a collection of rare vinyl he calls “the motherlode” and a failing record store he calls “the last real record store on earth” — both unironically.

Muriel Has Found Her Rhonda

Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures have announced that Australian actor Madeleine Jones will play the role of Muriel’s best friend Rhonda in the world premiere of Muriel’s Wedding The Musical. The production, a theatrical version of PJ Hogan’s iconic hit film, updated to today by the writer himself, features original music by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall alongside those beloved ABBA numbers. The musical is exclusive to Sydney, playing at Roslyn Packer Theatre with previews from 6 November, opening on Saturday 18 November 2017.

KAT HOYOS ON 'FAME' AND MORE

Birdie Productions’ FAME opens at the Bryan Brown Theatre in Bankstown on the 18th August with Kat Hoyos in the iconic role of Carmen Diaz. Kat starred as Layla Habib on the hit new Aussie TV show, Here Come the Habibs, which has just finished airing its second season.

We had a chat with Kat to see what she’s been up to since Here Come the Habibs, what’s next for her and about FAME the musical and its involvement with the mental health organisation, Headspace.

Ensemble Theatre 2018 Season

At a gala launch event at Ensemble Theatre on Monday 7th August, Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry unveiled details of the 2018 season and the theatre’s 60th birthday celebrations.

The season includes four World Premieres from Australian writers, an adaption of an award-winning French play; four comedy classics and two gripping international dramas.

2017 Rob Guest Endowment Awards Announced

Applications for all awards are now open for the 2017 Rob Guest Endowment Awards. The Rob Guest Endowmentprovides financial assistance and industry support to Australia’s next generation of musical theatre stars, creators and musicians. The 2017 prize package is valued at over $50,000, including the $20,000 major prize, the Rob Guest Endowment Award.

Assassins at Hayes Theatre Co - Full Cast

Hayes Theatre Co has announced the remaining cast and creative team for their production of Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical Assassins to play for a limited season from September 15, directed by Dean Bryant (Little Shop of Horrors, Sweet Charity).

Musical Midas Touch

The world’s greatest public theatre companies are making fortunes out of blockbuster commercial musicals they develop in-house. Peter Gotting looks at how monster hits such as Hamilton, Les Misérables, A Chorus Line and Matilda are bankrolling not-for-profit organisations.

Meet Australia's New Dorothy

Producers John Frost and Suzanne Jones have announced their new star who will play the coveted role of Dorothy Gale in the upcoming Australian tour of the world’s favourite musical, The Wizard of Oz. Stepping out of the chorus and into the limelight, Samantha Leigh Dodemaide will wear the ruby slippers of Dorothy.

The Bodyguard Dances With Paulini

The sun and surf of Summer Bay seem a million miles away from The Bodyguard, though Australian Idol probably hits far closer to home. Stars of the musical, Paulini and Kip Gamblin, chatted to Neil Litchfield ahead of the show's Australian premiere.

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