News

Musicals in 2025

Image: Michael Paynter and Ensemble in Jesus Christ Superstar. Photographer: Jeff Busby

A swag of hit Broadway and West End musicals never before seen in Australia will wend their way around the country in 2025, alongside some old favourites to tap the nostalgia buttons.

The post Covid era, along with high interest rates, combined to encourage conservative choices by musical theatre producers. The year ahead is the most innovative in a long time.

 

Catching Stars

Peter and the Starcatcher had a profound impact on Coral Drouyn when she saw it on Broadway … now she is excited to explore the Dead Puppet Society’s take on the show in this first Australian production.

Once upon a time the world was a kinder place, and we believed in dreams and lived in hope. We imagined Never-Never Land, but got stuck with Never Land:

Never show your emotions.

Never offend anyone.

Never give a sucker an even break.

Never tell anyone your dreams in case they think you’re crazy.

Angelina Thomson Joins Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour as Miss Adelaide

Opera Australia has announced Angelina Thomson will play Miss Adelaide in its brand-new production of award-winning Broadway musical Guys & Dolls when it opens at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour on 21 March.

Director Shaun Rennie is looking forward to getting started on rehearsals with his cast now complete.

Karis Oka To Play Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice The Musical

Michael Cassel Group, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, and Langley Park Productions have announced that the role of Lydia Deetz, the peculiar and quick-witted teenager with a penchant for the afterlife, in BEETLEJUICE will be played by Karis Oka

Pick of the Plays 2025

In 2025 The Bard is back, along with some blockbuster Australian plays, world premieres, classics updated and Indigenous works. David Spicer picks some of the highlights. 

 

All the world’s a stage for Shakespeare in Australia in the year ahead.

 

Cats Returns To Its Original Australian Home After 40 Years

UPDATE: Producer John Frost for Crossroads Live has announced that following the previously annouced season at Theatre Royal Sydney from 17 June, CATS would also be playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide from September and at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne from December. Waitlist now to be first in line to buy tickets in Adelaide and Melbourne at www.catsthemusical.com.au

Li Cunxin AO receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Former Queensland Ballet Artistic Director Li Cunxin AO has been presented with the Prix de Lausanne 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in Switzerland.

The award recognises his exceptional career from overcoming adversity early in life, to his rise as a celebrated dancer before leading Queensland Ballet to global success.

2024 Sydney Theatre Award Winners Announced

Image: Tamsin Carroll in August Osage County. Photographer: Brett Boardman

The winners of the 2024 Sydney Theatre Awards were announced tonight (January 20, 2025) at a star-studded ceremony, with 28 Awards presented, shared between 16 productions which played on Sydney stages during 2024. Almost 500 members of the Sydney theatre community gathered at the York Theatre, Seymour Centre to celebrate.

Disorder in Court

It’s the hottest ticket to the hottest show in town – and David Spicer scored the very best seat – on stage in full Judge’s regalia. He reports on what it's like to watch the Sydney Festival’s production of Model Murder from the bench.

The immersive theatre season of Model Murder – staged in a real-life court room in Darlinghurst - is so sold out that you can’t even reserve a standby ticket!

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