News

Warlow Tears Calf Muscle, but Zhivago Still on Track

No one will dare say ‘break a leg’ to Anthony Warlow.

With Blockbuster musical Dr Zhivago premiering at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre this week, Stage Whispers received reports after last night’s (Feb 11) preview performance, when Anthony Warlow appeared on crutches and was unable to perform.

The show’s publicist has filled us in on the details, and assured Stage Whispers that all is still on course for next Saturday’s Gala Opening.

New Musicals Australia Workshops

Sydney based New Musicals Australia has announced its inaugural program of events, and Director Kris Stewart speaks to Stage Whispers about the initiative.

The New Musicals Australia program includes the Workshop Presentations of three new musicals; the Writers’ Weekend of The Musical Snapshot, which presents a twenty to forty minute extract of the musical in concert alongside other new musicals; andThe Developmental Reading, whichsees a new work rehearsed and performed in concert.

Anthony Warlow's Amateur Days

As Anthony Warlow launches into his greatest challenge, the title role in Dr Zhivago The Musical, he speaks to Frank Hatherley on the “Wonderful times!” he had with The Wollongong Arcadians – and his scariest moment on stage.

 

When prompted to remember his early days with Wollongong’s long-standing musical theatre group The Arcadians, Anthony Warlow launches into a perfectly clipped rendition of Noel Coward’s great poem The Boy Actor:

A Coat of Many Colours – Coming to Sydney.

A new pro-am company, Packemin Productions, led by Neil Gooding, is staging Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre from February 11 – 26.

It stars W.A.A.P.A. graduate Andrew Conaghan as Joseph and Australian Entertainment Legend Barry Crocker as Jacob.

Stage Whispers reporter David Spicer, who insists he played a memorable Joseph in 1979 in primary school (gosh he is old), caught up with Andrew Conaghan.

Seesaw First Neglected Musical for 2011

The first Neglected Musical for 2011 is Seesaw, Music by Cy Coleman, Lyrics by Dorothy Fields and Written by Michael Bennett. Starring James Millar and Katrina Retallick, along with With Chris Horsey, Amelia Cormack, Tom Sharah, Caroline Kaspar,Stacy Nitschke, Kurt Phelan and John Hackett,the presentation of Seesaw will be on Monday 28 February at 2pm and 8pm at the Darlinghurst Theatre. John Banas directs, with movement by Chris Horsey and design elements by Anna Gardiner

Belvoir the Big Winner

Belvoir scooped the pool at the 2010 Sydney Theatre Awards on Monday January 17, 2011 at the Paddington RSL, figuring in eleven awards including a shared award with Theatre of Image for Best Production for Children and Best New Australian Work for Namatjira.

The revival of the Neil Armfield / Geoffrey Rush collaboration Diary of a Madman led with four awards, but it was the Benedict Andrews directed Measure for Measure which claimed the major awards for Direction and Best Mainstage Production.

New Musicals in the Raw – Carnegie 18

Four new music theatre projects in development will have their first airing at the Arts Centre, Melbourne from January 19 – 25 as part of the Full Tilt development program.

When you think of the ABC’s youth network Triple J – music theatre might not come to mind. But with a musical in this program at the Arts Centre – called Carnegie 18 – the link is achieved.

QPAC Re-Opens.

The soggy Queensland Performing Arts Centre re-opened Tuesday January 25 with a matinee of Wicked as the opening performance.

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said he is delighted the Centre is able to welcome patrons into its Lyric Theatre after almost a fortnight of enforced closure due to the recent floods.

"This has been an extremely challenging time for our state and we hope that presenting this internationally acclaimed production in our theatre, will bring some fun and magic to our audience's hearts."

Age Has Not Wearied David Williamson … As Don Parties On

David Spicer speaks to Australia’s most successful playwright as he prepares to mark his 40th year of writing for the stage. The highlight is a blockbuster sequel to Don’s Party, the play he wrote for the election night which pitted John Gorton against Gough Whitlam in 1969.

John Bucchino, Georgia Stitt and Friends.

Acclaimed U.S music theatre composers and performers John Bucchino and Georgia Stitt take to the stage to perform an evening of their best and most loved works. Both perform together in Brisbane for one night only, with individual performances by Bucchino in Sydney and Stitt in Melbourne. 

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