News

The necessary truth about “fully staged productions” of Follies in Australia

Is the Victorian Opera’s upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies ‘Australia’s first ever fully staged production’ as the company claim? No, it is most certainly not. Geoffrey Williams corrects the public record.

Marvelous Melbourne Musicals

David Spicer attended the new Australian Musicals One Day In September and My Brilliant Career over two days. He writes that both demonstrate the benefit of long periods of development.

How rare to be able to watch two completely original Australian musicals in one city on a weekend. One is already a hit, and another is a hit in the making.

Cast Announced for Sydney Season of Annie

Image: Beatrix Alder, Dakota Chanel, Matilda Casey and Stephanie McNamara in ANNIE © David Hooley

Producer John Frost for Crossroads Live has revealed the talented children who will play Annie and the orphans in the upcoming Sydney season of the ever-popular Broadway musical Annie, as well as the adult cast who will perform alongside them. The new Australian production plays at the Capitol Theatre from 25 March, before moving to Melbourne’s Princess Theatre from July.

Back To The Future: The Musical Premiere for Sydney

The Olivier Award winner of Best New Musical will have Its Australian Premiere at the Sydney Lyric in September 2025

Producers John Frost, Colin Ingram and the creators of the original film trilogy, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, have announced that Sydney will host the Australian premiere of Back To The Future: The Musical, opening at the Sydney Lyric in September 2025.

Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation 2024 Performing Arts Grants

Image: Julian Louis from NORPA and Peter Lowry

Over $200,000 in Grants to the performing arts were announced on 21 November 2024, to a packed audience of theatre practitioners and supporters by Peter Lowry AM, President of the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford Foundation in the Seaborn Library, Neutral Bay, the Foundation's headquarters.

2024 Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award Winners

Image: Olivia Satchell and Ian Roberts 

The winners of the Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award for 2024 were announced at the annual Seaborn, Broughton and Walford Foundation Christmas Party on November 21. The joint winners this year are Ballkids by Melbourne playwright Olivia Satchell and Into The Light by Ian Roberts and Alex Broun. The two winning plays will each receive $20,000.

Australian Ainsley Melham to Star in Boop! The Musical on Broadway

Principal casting for the new Broadway musical BOOP! The Musical has been announced and tickets are on sale today, with Australian Ainsley Melham to star as Dwayne.

Victorian Opera Announces Follies Cast

“I'm just a Broadway Baby. Walking off my tired feet. Pounding Forty-Second Street to be in a show.” – ‘Broadway Baby’, Follies

Victorian Opera stages an all-star cast production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Tony-Award-winning musical Follies at the Palais Theatre, St Kilda from 1 – 6 February 2025.

Australian Cast of MJ Revealed

Australian producer Michael Cassel, alongside original Broadway producers Lia Vollack, John Branca, and John McClain, has announced the cast of the Tony Award-winning musical MJ, set to make its Australian debut at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in February 2025. 

Round the Twist

David Spicer spoke to composer / writer Paul Hodge ahead of Queensland Theatre’s season of new musical

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