News

NEON Festival of Independent Theatre

Melbourne Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Brett Sheehy today (March 18, 2013) launched the program for NEON – MTC’s Festival of Independent Theatre, celebrating Melbourne’s independent arts community.

NEON features original works from Daniel Schlusser Ensemble, Fraught Outfit, The Hayloft Project, THE RABBLE and Sisters Grimm, each for a ten-day season, as part of this inaugural festival in the Lawler at Southbank Theatre between May and July 2013.

Hot Shoe Shuffle Cast Attempt World Tap Dance Record

The Hot Shoe Shuffle cast will attempt to break the world record for the most number of tap dancers to be in one place at the one time doing the same routine.

QUIET PLEASE THERE’S A LADY ON STAGE

After playing Judy Garland in The Boy From Oz, Christen O’Leary gets ready for the marathon of End of the Rainbow. Peter Pinne talks to her about Garland, the play and her own career.

“The thing that strikes me about Judy Garland in any film or TV performance I have seen of her is the hope and love in her eyes. Even in the saddest numbers there’s no trace of bitterness but always hope.”

STOMP Returns to Australia in 2013

Percussive Broadway, West End and international hit STOMP returns to Australia from August 13. 

Following their performance at the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, STOMP returns to Australia with new routines, new choreography and new music.

Wordless, witty and fun, STOMP has become a global phenomenon over the last 22 years.  Its universal language of rhythm, theatre, comedy and dance has been seen by over 15 million people in 50 countries across 5 continents.  STOMP is currently playing in the UK, US, throughout Europe and South America.

SIMON CREAN ANNOUNCES NATIONAL CULTURAL POLICY

Arts Minister Simon Crean today launched Creative Australia, a $235 million vision and strategy to place arts and culture at the centre of modern Australian life.

Creative Australia, the new national cultural policy, promises to create jobs and encourage a new generation of artists and creative industry business with sweeping reforms to Australian Government support for the arts, cultural heritage and creative industries. 

Casts of Three Musicals Unite for Melbourne Concert

Cast members from three majpr musicals, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, King Kong and Jersey Boys along with a number of guest performers, will come together to perform a variety of songs from their personal repertoires to support the Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF) on Sunday, 15th March at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne commencing at 7.30pm.

FORKING OUT MILLIONS FOR A TICKET.

If you think tickets are expensive, imagine underwriting an entire production. Some patrons are doing just that  – paying millions to bring whole shows to the stage. David Spicer looks at the state of philanthropy in Australia and the surprising donors behind the Ring Cycle being staged in Melbourne and The Secret River, the epic  play which led the Sydney and Perth Festivals.

GET WITH THE PROGRAM!

Theatre Programs: Who needs them? Who makes them?

So, you’ve spent $279.80 on two tickets for Legally Blonde at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre. Paid for parking and dinner. Oh, and Ticketmaster charged you a $7.45 ‘Handling Fee’ on behalf of their hardworking computers. ‘Let’s get a program!’ says your date. Ker-ching! ‘That’ll be $20 extra, please.’

Barry Otto Forced to Withdraw from The Kreutzer Sonata

State Theatre Company of SA announced today Barry Otto has regrettably been forced to withdraw from its production of The Kreutzer Sonata due to exhaustion. Mr Otto, 72, gave the first two preview performances of the production, directed by State Theatre Company SA Artistic Director Geordie Brookman, to a rapturous reception last Friday and Saturday but is in such a state of physical exhaustion that he has been advised against attempting to continue.

Hugh and Me.

I have a lot in common with Hugh Jackman. Now stop laughing. If you are less than charitable you might point out that Hugh is a six foot something global movie star, singer and dancer with chiseled good looks and an all-round nice guy who could charm the pants of anyone. He has a Tony Award, A Golden Globe and maybe soon an Oscar.

Whereas I am five foot something, a tiny bit overweight, ever soslightly balding, occasionally grumpy with two left feet etc., etc.

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