News

The Mousetrap to Tour Australia

When the 60th (Diamond) Anniversary Australian Tour of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap officially opens in Sydney, on July 4 the season will be well on the way to selling out.

FORUM: WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE BOYS

Griffin Theatre Company as a part of Sydney Festival 2012 will host a special talk featuring creative artists from the three major stage and film incarnations of The Boys: playwright Gordon Graham, 1991 stage director Alex Galeazzi, lighting designer and production manager of the 1991 stage production and producer of the 1998 film Robert Connolly, and director of Griffin’s latest production Sam Strong. The Forum will take place Saturday 21 January, 4:45pm at the SBW Stables Theatre.

New Theatre is Turning 80: Season 2012 Announced

Sydney’s New Theatre launched their new brand, developed in collaboration with Principal Partner, Interbrand, on January 17,  along with the productions that will make up their 80thAnniversary year season.

Season 2012 includes three Australian premieres and the World premieres of two new Australian works both by emerging female playwrights, together with a selection of modern classics from Ireland, England and Australia.  

2011 SYDNEY THEATRE AWARDS

David Wiliamson is famous for his run ins with the critics.

But Australia's most famous playwright was given a rave review tonight winning the lifetime theatre award at the Sydney Theatre Awards.

The  Awards are presented annually by a group of leading theatre critics to celebrate the strength, quality and diversity of theatre in Sydney. 

"I felt like I was walking into the Lion's Den tonight," he joked.

Turandot

Big ideas. Bold themes. Beautiful singing. Graeme Murphy’s grand vision of Ancient Peking is back, with American soprano Susan Foster heading an international cast for Puccini’s late, great masterpiece Turandot. This production, which is now considered a classic in the Opera Australia repertoire, features spectacular choreographic chorus moves, sculptural stagecraft and larger than life costumes. 

Simon Gleeson: The Dark Side of Raoul

Simon Gleeson plays Raoul in the Australian production of Love Never Dies, now playing at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre following its success in Melbourne. He spoke to Neil Litchfield prior to the Sydney opening.

After working in London for several years, Love Never Dies sees the WAAPA graduate back in his first substantial musical theatre performance since returning to the Australia.

Time hasn’t been kind to poor dashing Raoul since the first installment of Phantom, I suggested.

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll for Melbourne

An Australian classic returns home

Hugh Jackman to star in Harry Houdini musical after Producers switch to Stephen Schwartz.

Latest: Aaron Sorkin has withdrawn from Houdini due to film and TV committments.

Hugh Jackman has signed up to play Harry Houdini on Broadway in a new musical about the famed illusionist.

"In many ways I've been preparing for this role my whole life," said the Aussie superstar fresh from smashing box office records with his one man solo show on Broadway.

The musical, written by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin, will open in New York in 2013 or 2014.

Dancing with Todd: How his Annie Partners Rate Him

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.

WINNERS OF 9TH AUSTRALIAN CABARET SHOWCASE

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.

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