News

Dame Edna Emerges From Retirement

Dame Edna Everage has been forced out of retirement by the demands of her adoring “Precious Possums”, announcing a surprise tour of Australia in September and October 2019.

In a letter to her fans, Dame Edna apologised for upsetting them when she announced her retirement from public life, blaming her manager, “failed actor and attention seeker” Barry Humphries.

When Creative Worlds Collide: Interview with Jane Sheldon

Soprano Jane Sheldon is a fearless performer who believes in pushing the boundaries of vocal performance. She lives parallel lives, balancing her work between Australia and the US, and has a passion for bringing her two worlds together in creative collaborations. Before the end of 2019, Ms Sheldon is performing three world premieres, starting with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in English Baroque with Circa from 2 May 2019. She spoke to Beth Keehn during rehearsals just before the national tour.

STAGE WHISPERS MAGAZINE: MAY / JUNE 2019 EDITION OUT NOW!!!

IN THIS EDITION

All The World’s A Circus

Barnum, Russian Circus ZIRK! and Cirque Du Soleil’s KURIOS

Muriel’s Wedding The Musical

Behind the scenes at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne

Eddie Perfect on Broadway

Aussie composer represented on Broadway by Beetlejuice and King Kong

 

Festival City Performance Venues

Paradise Lost

Award winning writer Sue Smith spoke with Peter Pinne over coffee about her new play Hydra, which explores the love affair between Australian literary icons George Johnston and Charmian Clift.

Geraldine’s Dream

“I Had a Dream” Rose tells her hapless admirer, Herbie, as she launches into ‘Everything’s Coming Up Roses’ in the Arthur Laurents / Jule Styne / Stephen Sondheim musical Gypsy. Geraldine Turner has a dream too. It’s to tackle the role of Rose in that musical.  Bill Stephens has the story.

Something’s Coming

Coral Drouyn looks at our lasting love affair with West Side Story and the two new spectacular productions in Australia in 2019.

 

“Could be,

Who knows?

There’s something due any day,

I will know right away,

Soon as it shows.”

 

Todd Joins The Circus

It’s Todd McKenney’s toughest challenge yet - singing whilst walking and keeping balance on a high wire. He’s been training for months for the role of the legendary circus showman P.T. Barnum in the musical Barnum, which has opened in Melbourne. Todd spoke with Stage Whispers about his passion for the role and the big balancing act.

Stage Whispers: Why Barnum now?

Diary of a Busy Opera Singer

Being in one major production at a time is more than enough for most performers. Imagine juggling three at once. This is the typical week of Jonathan McCauley, an Opera Australia chorister and minor principal. For an insight into his complicated life, he compiled a diary during two weeks in January when he was concurrently performing or rehearsing La Bohème,  Turandot and Wozzeck.

Monday 7th January Turandot Piano Technical Rehearsal, Act 1

Geoffrey Rush Wins Defamation Suit

Geoffrey Rush has won his defamation lawsuit against The Daily Telegraph and its journalist Jonathon Moran over articles accusing him of inappropriate conduct.

He has been awarded initial damages of $850,000, just for the damage to his reputation, a figure certain to rise substantially.

The 2017 stories related to a complaint by fellow cast member Eryn Jean Norvillabout his behaviour during the Sydney Theatre Company’s 2015 production of King Lear.

Megan Hilty at Opera House

Brisbane Performance Added

Tony Award®-nominated Broadway favourite and television star Megan Hilty makes her Sydney Opera House debut in the Concert Hall alongside a 40-piece orchestra for one performance on June 17, 2019.

A Brisbane performance has also now been announced, and Hilty will return to Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC’s) Concert Hall, Brisbane on Thursday 20 June 2019, where she will be accompanied by Camerata - Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra.