Todd McKenney, well-known as Dancing With the Stars’ ‘tough’ or ‘nasty’ judge, now has two of musical theatre’s top hoofers as dancing partners, Nancye Hayes (Miss Hannigan) and Chloë Dallimore (Lily St Regis), in the new Australian production of Annie. Neil Litchfield asked for their adjudication on Todd’s dancing a few days before opening.
I’d just watched the trio performing Easy Street at the Media Call for the production of Annie.
The 9th Australian Cabaret Showcase held its Grand Final event in Sydney on December 23, 2011, with winners of heats from Sydney, Melbourne and Gosford invited to perform at the annual event.
Ever wondered what it would be like to invest in show business? Producer John Frost knows more about this than anyone in Australia. In 2012 he is staging Annie, Legally Blonde the Musical and the world premiere of An Officer and a Gentleman.
At the casting launch for ‘Officer‘ he gave Neil Litchfield the lowdown.
2012 started with a musical theatre bang, with new productions of two Broadway classics, two hit productions on the move to new capital cities and small musicals, local and international, opening in the space of a few weeks. World premieres of major musicals for both Sydney and Melbourne in May, and seasons for smaller Aussie musicals on sporting themes follow. Find out what Stage Whispers writers think will set your feet tapping in 2012 and beyond.
Hollywood screenwriter William Goldman said, when asked whether or not it was possible to predict which movies would be successful and which would fail, “Nobody knows anything.”How do our theatre makers go? Stage Whispers asked some of our artistic directors how they balance risk when planning a season.
Lyndon Terracini- Opera Australia.
“There two extremes. You need both ends. If you push boundaries with one production you need to find another piece which is more accessible.
When the notices went up, literally thousands of young girls around Australia put up their hands to audition for the musical Annie on stage next year in Sydney. Melbourne and Brisbane auditions follow next year. While they may dream of stardom, is scoring a lead role at a young age good for them? David Spicer spoke to former child stars to find out what happens when the applause dies down.
In 1978 Gabi Schornegg auditioned for the role of Annie in the first production ever staged in Sydney. She had the opposite of traditional stage parents.
Whitney Fitzsimmons looks at 2012 theatre seasons across Australia.
It’s that time of year again when theatre companies from across the country release their eagerly awaited new seasons. Avid members of Australia’s theatrical community attend launches, crack open season brochures and hungrily peruse what’s on offer in 2012 - almost like patrons on the waiting list of the latest most chic restaurant, salivating, waiting to be seated and experience that first delectable meal.
The latest STC play starring Cate Blanchett may well be a crowd puller, but it is not necessarily a crowd pleaser. Meanwhile business is booming for the MTC with Geoffrey Rush packing them in ‘earnest’ in Melbourne.
David Spicer reports on a tale of two theatrical cities.
After little more than a year out of WAAPA’s Music Theatre Course, Gillian Cosgriff has already toured her successful cabaret show Waitressing… and other things I do well to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane following its initial successful season at the 2011 Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Now she is playing two nights at the 2012 Melbourne Comedy Festival on April 13 & 14.
Stage Masters brings 42 young performers together to present Jason Robert Brown’s 13 – A New Musical at Randall Theatre – St Martins Youth Arts Centre, South Yarra (Victoria) from December 14 – 18.
“I wanna fly, wanna drive, wanna get rich, wanna get out, wanna get my braces off, wanna get my nose pierced, wanna grow my hair long.” - 13themusical.com.au
13 – A New Musicalis about the one thing we never stop doing - growing up.
