News

Back to the Future Casting Announced

Producers John Frost, Colin Ingram and the creators of the original film trilogy Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale have announced that Tony Award winner Roger Bart will don the boiler suit and voice-activate the time travelling DeLorean for the Australian Premiere season of BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical, reprising the role of Dr. Emmett Brown; a character made famous originally by Christopher Lloyd in the first Back to the Future movie.

Broadway Musical ANASTASIA For Australia in 2025

John Frost for Crossroads Live and Opera Australia today (April 2, 2025) announced that the Broadway musical ANASTASIA will have its Australian premiere at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in December 2025 before touring to Perth and Sydney in 2026. 

Heaven On Their Minds

With Jesus Christ Superstar opening in Melbourne, David Spicer speaks to the performers playing Jesus and Judas. Michael Paynter and Javon King reveal that faith, their mothers and love of good tunes bind their passion for the musical.

Michael Paynter has taken ‘long-service’ leave from his gigs as a guitarist with Icehouse and Jimmy Barnes to make his professional stage debut in Jesus Christ Superstar, which is running at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne until June 22.

STAGE WHISPERS MAGAZINE: MARCH / APRIL 2025 EDITION OUT NOW!!!

IN THIS EDITION

 

It’s a Dog’s Life

Annie’s canine cast “speak”  

 

And Then There Were None

Robyn Nevin and Nicholas Hammond’s Agatha Christie thriller

 

MJ The Musical

Rehearsals Underway for Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour

Image: Annie Aitken and Cody Simpson in rehearsals for Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour

Rehearsals have begun with for Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour, which will debut at the annual outdoor Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour for a strictly limited four-week season from 21 March to 20 April at Mrs Macquaries Point.

PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical to Premiere in Brisbane

Image: Bryan Adams at Pretty Woman announcement. Photo RDW Photography

Singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, who wrote the music and lyrics for PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical, alongside Jim Vallance, was in Brisbane today (Friday 14 February) to make the official announcement that the Broadway and West End musical, based on the popular Rom-Com starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, will have its Australian premiere at QPAC in Brisbane in October 2025.

Casting Announced for The Producers at Hayes Theatre

Image: Jordan Shea, Alexandra Cashmere, Anton Berezin and Des Flanagan in The Producers (c) James Reiser

Li Cunxin AO receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Former Queensland Ballet Artistic Director Li Cunxin AO has been presented with the Prix de Lausanne 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in Switzerland.

The award recognises his exceptional career from overcoming adversity early in life, to his rise as a celebrated dancer before leading Queensland Ballet to global success.

Mary Poppins lands in Darwin

Image: The cast of Superstar Productions’ Mary Poppins in rehearsal (supplied).

 

In Conversation With Playwright Betty Sweetlove

Image: Betty Sweetlove photographed by Karina White.

Geoffrey Williams spent some time with Mparntwe (Alice Springs)-based playwright Betty Sweetlove, whose first play The Nestmakers will enjoy its world premiere season at Darwin’s Brown’s Mart Theatre in March.

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