After premiering in Sydney in 2008, then travelling to the New York Music Festival, Magnormos presents the Melbourne premiere of Australian musical The Hatpin on May 16, at Theatre Works, St Kilda.
Set in Redfern in 1892, The Hatpin is the true story of single mother Amber Murray, who in a desperate attempt to give her beloved baby a better life, finds herself embroiled in one of the most haunting and entrancing criminal trials in Australian history.
When you see the stage production of Mary Poppins at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre, one of the things that really strikes you is the show’s stunning ensemble work. Neil Lichfield spoke to ensemble members Mitch Fistrovic, Ben Giraud, Natalie Alexopolous, Mark Hill, Kirsten King and Liam McIlwain.
At the Sydney media launch of Mary Poppins, a group of members of the fabulous Mary Poppins ensemble, obviously great mates, chatted with me as they hung out during their lunch break.
The multi-award winning smash hit musical WICKED marks yet another milestone on Saturday May 7 when it celebrated its 1000th performance in Australia. Recently opened at the Festival Centre in Adelaide, WICKED has had phenomenally successful seasons in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, and moves to Perth’s Burswood Theatre in June.
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical is set to hit the road in America. The show’s producers have announced that Priscillawill commence a US National Tour in Fall 2012, with the first city and date to be announced shortly.
The Australian musical has been the highest grossing new musical on Broadway, regularly taking well in excess of $900,000 at the box office each week at the Palace Theatre, breaking the magic $1 million once. The show’s Broadway cast recording, released in April, entered Billboard’s Top Cast Album Chart at number 1.
Leading the nominations for Broadway’s 2011 Tony Awards with 14 nominations is musical The Book of Mormon, The Scottsboro Boys follows with 12, then revivals of Anything Goes with 9 and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying with 8. The Merchant of Venice leads in the non-musical theatre stakes with 7 nominations.
Caroline O’Connor was called to Paris two weeks into rehearsals to take over the role of Mrs Lovett in the first French production of Sweeney Todd at The Chatelet Theatre.
Stephen Sondheim flew to Paris to see opening night, and is quoted in the French media as saying Caroline is the best Mrs Lovett he has ever heard.
Australian musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert has received four Outer Critics Circle nominations for its Broadway production. The nominations are for Most Outstanding New Broadway Musical, Tony Sheldon (Outstanding Actor in a Musical), Ross Coleman (Outstanding Choreographer) and Tim Chappel & Lizzie Gardiner (Outstanding Costume Design).
Two stage legends and self described ‘Drama Queens,’ Reg Livermore and Nancye Hayes, are taking Australians down memory lane in a new production called TURNS. While Dirty Dancing it ain’t, Reg Livermore told Peter Pinne he’ll take audiences on an unpredictable journey – as he reflected on 50 years of show business.
Peter Pinne: Your new show is called TURNS. What exactly is it about?
Love Never Dies threw the doors of its rehearsal room open to the media on Wednesday March 20, after two and a half weeks of rehearsal. Neil Litchfield was there, and spoke to members of the cast and creative team.
