News

Yes, Prime Minister Writer vs The Critics

The co-writer of Yes, Prime Minister Jonathan Lynn has hit back at critics who have given the Australian premiere of his stage version the thumbs down.

The theatre critic for the Melbourne Age Cameron Woodhead gave it one star.

“Unfortunately, everything goes wrong. The production doesn't seem to get that Yes, Prime Minister works as comedy because it works first as drama, that it endures because characters like these in situations like the ones they encounter are very, very real.

On the Twentieth Century: First Neglected Musical for 2012.

The first production for 2012 from Sydney-based Neglected Musicals will be On The Twentieth Century, with book and Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and  music by Cy Coleman, based on plays by Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur and Bruce Millholland. (By arrangement with Origin Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French Inc.)

New Zealand Theatre 2012

New Zealand’s major theatres and theatre companies are publishing their 2012 programmes and there is plenty to get excited about. Aneta Ruth reports.

Homegrown writing is all the rage this coming season. All the kids are doing it. It’s ‘trending’.

A Chorus Line: Homecoming for Gerrard Carter

Gerrard Carter who plays Larry, the assistant choreographer, in the new Australian production of A Chorus Line, has returned to Australia after 16 years dancing in Europe, on Broadway, and even at the Oscars. He speaks to Neil Litchfield.

A Chorus Line is very much the dancers’ and performers’ story. Are there parallels in your own career?

Carnegie 18: Musicals in the Raw.

Arts Centre Melbourne doesn’t just workshop new musicals. It puts them on. This year the venue is producing a three-week season of the most successful new work tried out at the venue last year.

It’s part of the program called Carnegie 18. That’s a medical term used to describe the stage of development when an embryo’s inner-ear is formed.

This year’s program takes place from February 1 to 7, showcasing three new Australian musicals.

The first new work is The New Black.

An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical: Songs for Download

A CD featuring five songs, plus video clips, from An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical  is free now with the May / June 2012 edition of Stage Whispers.

www.stagewhispers.com.au/news/our-amazing-print-and-first-ever-e-edition

Our earlier coverage of the music downloads.

Geoffrey Rush Australian of the Year

Geoffrey Rush has been named Australian of the year - marking his extraordinary 40 year contribution to cinema and the performing arts.

He is pictured above reading the news in Stage Whispers Magazine. ( OK that is a joke)

But we at Stage Whispers salute him and laud the decision to recognise a leader in the performing arts for this honour.

The second Australian of the Year award in 1961 went to Dame Joan Sutherland.

Sir Robert Helpmann followed in 1965.

But since then many more sportsmen and woman have got the gong.

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