News

2016 Helpmann Award Winners

The 16th Annual Helpmann Awards awere presented at a ceremony on Monday 25 July, at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on the set of Singin’ in the Rain

Matilda the Musical was the big winner on the night, taking out an unprecedented 13 awards across Musical Theatre categories, including the award for Best Musical.

In the Opera categories, Brisbane Baroque's production of Agrippina won four awards including best opera.

Titus Andronicus - S.A. Premiere 400 Years In The Making

New Adelaide theatre company Red Phoenix Theatre has had highly unusual beginnings; the company was born out of tragedy and horror, or to be more precise, a bloodthirsty Shakespearean tale. Lesley Reed reports.

Queen Still Rocks You

Cast members of the new Australian production of We Will Rock You and writer / director Ben Elton chat about Queen, and the show, with Neil Litchfield.

The songs of rock super band Queen have their place in the soundtrack of most of our lives. In my early twenties, my then-girlfriend and I claimed ‘You’re My Best Friend’ as ‘our’ song. It’s only natural, then, that everyone involved in a show featuring Queen’s music has their own personal connection.

Deck the Halls with Dolly

Incomparable Drag Diva Dolly Diamond plans another Christmas in July and tells Coral Drouyn why “Tis the season to be jolly.”

Musical Theatre Boosts Victorian Economy

A new report has found that Melbourne’s iconic East End theatres contributed over two-thirds of a billion dollars to the Victorian economy in 2014-15, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the historic venues.

In a report by Ernst & Young released today (July 8, 2016), the East End theatres – the Princess, Her Majesty’s, Regent, Comedy, Forum and Athenaeum theatres ­– also generated an economic impact of $226 million (new money entering the state), and created 3000 jobs.

No Sinking Ship

Creative Producer Robbie Carmellotti talks to Coral Drouyn about StageArt’s new musical production – Titanic – at Chapel off Chapel.

Still Singin’ in the Rain

Coral Drouyn gives her umbrella a workout as the national tour of Singin’ In The Rain takes shape.

It’s sixty-four years ago – and the Golden Age of Hollywood Screen Musicals is at its peak. Within a decade Movie Musical production will be halved, then halved again by 1970. It took until 1977, when Saturday Night Fever revived the genre, to have people flocking back to musicals at the movies.

Defying Gravity

Four of Australia’s favourite leading ladies are preparing to sing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra on July 15 and 16. David Spicer spoke with two of them -  Lucy Durack and Helen Dallimore - about their concert called Witches and also asked for their tips to performers playing  the role of Glinda in Wicked in community theatre productions around Australia.

Lucy Durack says nothing beats singing with a symphony orchestra. “If there is a heaven on earth it is singing with the Sydney Symphony.

A Desire for Family

Director Andrei Schiller-Chan talks to Coral Drouyn about his Sol III Production company and its second production.

Dream Lover – Further Cast Announced

Further casting has been announced for the World Premiere production of Dream Lover - The Bobby Darin Musical, which plays at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from 22 September for a strictly limited season. Caroline O’Connor, Bert LaBonte, Martin Crewes and Marney McQueen will join David Campbell as Bobby Darin and Hannah Fredericksen as Sandra Dee in the tale of the Grammy award-winning singer and Oscar nominated actor, Bobby Darin.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.