News

Strictly Ballroom Premiere for Sydney

UPDATE: Strictly Ballroom The Musical now to open in March 2014 - link to more details

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell today announced the stage musical of the iconic Australian film Strictly Ballroom will have its world premiere and first run in Sydney at the Lyric Theatre from September 2013.

World Premiere for Ron Elisha's 'Wikiplay'

“If we can only live once, then let it be a daring adventure that draws on all our powers.”-  Julian Assange

Wayne Harrison’s Cheep presents the World Premiere of Ron Elisha's 'Wikiplay' Stainless Steel Rat from 28.

Making a Full-time Living in the Performing Arts

Neil Ward (publicist), Zoe Jarrett (performer) and Adam Mada (magician) have followed different paths to financial success. They show that to succeed, there's no one right way to do things, no infallible blueprint that everyone can follow. But their stories do show that it is possible to make a full-time living in the performing arts. Daniel G Taylor speaks to this diverse, talented trio.

Steven Tandy – From Tom Sullivan to Superstar's Herod.

When Brisbane’s Harvest Rain Theatre Company revive their successful 2010 production of Jesus Christ Superstar from June 6 to 16, Steven Tandy (perhaps best known the role of Tom Sullivan in The Sullivans) returns in his outrageous cameo as King Herod.

He spoke to Stage Whispers in this Q & A.

Stage Whispers: You’re reprising your role as Herod in Harvest Rain’s return season of Jesus Christ Superstar in June – what did you love about being involved in the first season?

The Addams Family Musical for Sydney

Exclusive interview with Producer Rodney Rigby.

The Australian premiere of Broadway musical The Addams Family has been announced for Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in March 2013.

Australia Post pays tribute to Dame Nellie Melba

Australia Post has released a stamp issue for the 150th anniversary of the birth Australia’s first international “superstar,” soprano, Dame Nellie Melba (1861–1931).

Griffin's Festival of New Writing

Griffin Theatre Company will throw open the Stables Theatre doors from Monday 6 June for a week-long festival celebrating all things new writing.

The festival will see industry, creatives, actors, playwrights and the general community flock to the Stables for a jam-packed week of events including the announcement of the winner of the 2011 Griffin Award for best new Australian play, Currency Press’s 40th Anniversary, and Griffin Studio’s interactive Heartbreak Hotel, as well as the 24-hour Play Offs and Griffringe performances.

Broadway Musicians Union Challenges Priscilla

The New York Times reports that the Broadway musicians’ union is waging a political-style campaign against the producers of Priscilla Queen of the Desert over the use of recorded music, based on the fact that Priscilla employs just nine live musicians, supplemented by taped music.

McCullough Epic Now a Musical

Morgan's Run, one of Colleen McCullough's great literary epics; the gritty and uplifting story of Richard Morgan, an 18th Century convict who survived the First Fleet voyage on the 'death ship' Alexander and found a new life on Norfolk Island, has been adapted to the stage by Sydney composer and singer, Gavin Lockley.

Given the book a few years ago, Gavin was so inspired by what he read that he wrote to McCullough's publisher to ask for permission to set her story to music.

Battle Scars of Stage Whispers’ Veteran Reviewer.

Peter Kemp has been with Stage Whispers since the dawn of our magazine, attending up to eight productions a week. He reflects on the best and worst of 20 years of theatre.

Twenty years ago I was a theatre columnist for a local newspaper when Jeff Jones called me to ask if I’d be interested in writing for a new theatre magazine. My reply was yes, let’s get cracking, and I gave him all my contacts to help set it up.

I was the first previewer and reviewer. Most people thought I was Stage Whispers.

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