News

Strictly Ballroom The Musical for Melbourne

Global Creatures confirmed today (June 17, 2014) that Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom The Musical will open in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre in January 2015.

Tickets for Strictly Ballroom The Musical will go on sale on Monday 21st July from www.ticketek.com.au.

KKK Storms Australia with Killa Musical.

David Spicer speaks to Ana Polataivao, the director and co-writer of The Factory, described as New Zealand’s very own ‘Pacific Les Misérables’, currently on tour around Australia.

Tell us about the journey of the Factory?

It was inspired by our parents and their journey to New Zealand. It is basically a migrant story. It started in 2010. Then in 2011 we put on a four week production. It was mental. It was like four weeks.

Home Grown is Always Best.

Coral Drouyn gives the lowdown on an exciting new Melbourne based musical theatre showcase project which opens on Monday 16th June, 2014

New South Australian Play Explores Mystery MI6 Death

A thought-provoking new South Australian play explores the bizarre and mysterious death of MI6 officer. Lesley Reed previews the production.

Polygraph Collective is an Adelaide-based group of established and emerging artists dedicated to exploring new ways of making theatre. The collective is inspired by the notion of the polygraph or lie-detector, which measures pulse, blood-pressure and respiration to determine truth. 

Spring Awakening

Sydney-based independent theatre company Stagetek Productions is producing multi-award winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening for a very limited season in June 2014.

The winner of eight Tony Awards in 2007 including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score, Spring Awakening, with its modern rock score,is based upon Franz Wedekind’s 1906 play of the same name, which was banned at the time due to its confrontational content. The musical also received four Drama Desk Awards, while the original cast recording won a Grammy Award.

2014 Tony Award Winners

The 68th Tony Awards were presented at New York's Radio City Music Hall on Sunday June 8, hosted by Hugh Jackman.

Audra McDonald took out a record-breaking sixth Tony Award — the most of any actor ever —for her performance as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. Shw became the first performer to take out Tonys in all four acting categories.

Awards  were spread across seven musicals and six plays.

JOHN FROST AND LYNDON TERRACINI AWARDED AUSTRALIAN HONOURS

It was announced today that both leading Australian theatre producer John Frost and Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini have been awarded an AM (Member in the General Division) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

John Frost had been awarded an OAM in 1999, and this year was upgraded to an AM for “Significant service in the performing arts, and as a supporter of industry personnel.” Lyndon Terracini was awarded the AM for “Significant service in the performing arts as an opera performer, director and administrator”.

Anthony Warlow’s Broadway ‘Insult’

Music Theatre Superstar Anthony Warlow is returning home for a national concert series after experiencing what he describes as the ‘insult’ of living and performing on Broadway. He spoke to David Spicer from New York about the differences between the Australian and Broadway Music Theatre scenes.

Anthony Warlow had just finished his stretch as Daddy Warbucks in Annie last year, in the Broadway production directed by James Lapine, when he returned to Australia for a concert.

Debut Play for Sydney Writer

For new Sydney writer Jordy Shea, finding a company that nurtures up and coming theatre makers proved to be easier than expected. His first play, It’s Been a While will debut at the King Street Theatre, presented by Smoking Gum Theatre from July 16-19.

It will be Smoking Gum’s second production, after Colony which played during the Sydney Fringe in 2013 at the TAP Gallery. Founded by Lucinda Vitek and Eunice Huang, the company is one of the many emerging groups of artists keen to stamp their mark on the Sydney theatre scene.

The King and Jason

Jason Scott Lee joins the cast of the King and I for the Melbourne season only, opening on June 12th. Coral Drouyn caught up with him during rehearsals, to chat about revisiting the role he conquered in London’s West End in 2000.

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