Stage Briefs

The Dismissal Musical Gets Funded.

The Coalition Government in New South Wales has coughed up $70,000 to help get a musical which lauds former Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam to the stage.

Independent Musical Theatre Company Squabbologic is one of the big winners from the latest round of grants announced today by Arts Minister Don Harwin.

Sydney Theatre Woes

David Spicer reports.

Producers in Sydney are licking their wounds, with a number of shows struggling at the box office. Despite a thunderous opening night ovation and brilliant reviews the latest adult pantomime from Trevor Ashley has had the second part of its season cancelled.

The season of The Lyin' Queen opened last month at the Sydney Opera House for one week. It was scheduled to extend at the Eternity Theatre in Darlinghurst Theatre for two weeks during December.

Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage Launches Adelaide Fringe Season

Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage have announced their five show Adelaide Fringe 2020 season, which includes producing collaborations with UK producer Fragility London and Australian producer Big Mood.   

First up, direct from an Edinburgh Fringe season they are presenting, in association with Fragility London, UK comedian/storyteller Andrew Silverwood’s solo show Call Me Janice. Gothenburg Fringe BFF Award Winner 2017.

Adelaide Fringe Ambassadors 2020

The Adelaide Fringe has announced its diamond anniversary ambassadors - Queen of Pop Marcia Hines, genre-bending artist Amanda Palmer and glamazon-drag superhero Fez Faanana.

The trio sets the scene for what is anticipated to be a memorable Fringe in 2020.

Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall said the ambassador program is a golden opportunity to showcase the Adelaide Fringe to the world.

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

STARC Productions returns to Adelaide’s Bakehouse Theatre in October 2019 with the romance Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune, by Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally.

School of Rock Adelaide Season

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash-hit rock musical, School of Rock is headed to Adelaide Festival Centre.   

School of Rock will premiere at the Festival Theatre in March 2020 with a waitlist now open for those wanting to be first in line for tickets when they go on pre-sale late September.

David Campbell Back in the Swing Tour

Australian ARIA award winner, singer and popular TV presenter David Campbell has announced a new national tour – his first solo show after eight years.

The Back in the Swing tour kicks off October 3, and features Campbell performing LIVE with a full band and tracks from his new album (Back in the Swing) at QPAC Brisbane, State Theatre Sydney and Hamer Hall Melbourne.

Seasons 2020

Theatre companies across Australia have announced their 2020 seasons. Click on the links below to read about individual seasons.

National

Bell Shakespeare

NSW

Sydney Theatre Company

Ensemble Theatre

Australian Plays Loses Funding

Australian Plays is the latest arts organisation left reeling after being told  it will no longer receive critical organisational funding from the federal government through its funding body, the Australia Council for the Arts from 2021.

Tap Dog Teaches Young Pup

Original Tap Dog member, Darren Disney, believes in “passing it on.”

Owner and dance instructor at D3 Dance Studio at Wyong, Darren teaches up to 200 dance students each week but makes special time available for young up-and-comers who have that something extra.

For the past five months, Darren has been teaching tap to Central Coast school teacher Brett Perkins in preparation for the young man’s role in Stepping Out, an English comedy/musical about a group of people from different walks of life learning to tap.