Stage Briefs

AIM Musical Theatre Alumni Feature in Spelling Bee

Have those dictionaries at the ready, because The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is set to be the debut production from new Sydney theatre company, Exclaim, made up of AIM alumni students.

Six performances will see alumni students from AIM front the production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

From the costume and set design, to direction, choreography, the actors and the musicians, the alumni group are all part of the working theatre industry, and have come together to build Exclaim from the ground up.

West Side Story at WAAPA

The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) presents the multi-award-winning West Side Story from Saturday 14 to Saturday 21 June, 2014 at the Regal Theatre, Subiaco.

Love transcends language, time, and place in the immortal story of star-crossed lovers caught in a turf war of rival ethnic gangs. While Manhattan’s west side rumbles with the clash of Jets and Sharks, Maria and Tony seek a “Somewhere” their romance can thrive.

A CONVERSATION WITH PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE

The Actors Benevolent Fund (Qld) and QPAC will present a special Fundraising Morning Tea with the star of Admission: One Shilling – English stage and screen veteran Patricia Routledge.

In the intimate surrounds of the Lyrebird Restaurant, 100 guests only will be able to enjoy a delicious Morning Tea – including sweet and savoury treats (gluten free option) - which will be followed by an in-depth conversation with actress Patricia Routledge – concluding with a brief Question & Answer period.

SIBLING REVELRY: Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway

Cabaret and Broadway stars Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway are set to bring their acclaimed cabaret show, Sibling Revelry to Sydney and Melbourne this June. The dynamic sisters first performed Sibling Revelry at New York’s Rainbow and Stars in 1995 and have been performing it ever since. 2014 sees Sibling Revelry spread to Sydney on June 23 at The Basement and to Melbourne Recital Centre on June 25 after their appearance at The Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Hayes Theatre Co. Cabaret Season

For six weeks this winter, from June 2 to July 13, 2014, Sydney’s Hayes Theatre Co is turning into an exclusively cabaret venue.

Experienced cabaret artists including Mark Nadler, David Campbell and John Bucchino, Rhonda Burchmore and Donna Lee will share the Hayes with up-and-coming stars like Tom Sharah, Gillian Cosgriff, Brendan Hay, Matt Gilbertson, and Hilary Cole; and even a show where the two worlds meet – Phil Scott’s collaboration with Blake Bowden, Mario.

Australian Musical (Off) Broadway Bound

It’s a long way to go from the suburbs of Melbourne to Broadway, but the two Australian creators of The Mapmaker’s Opera hope to do just that after securing a spot as an Official Selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival’s Next Link Project.

Composer and Musical Director, Kevin Purcell 54, and Bookwriter/Lyricist, Victor Kazan 66, both based in Melbourne, are the creative partnership behind this new stage musical, which is a love story set against the backdrop of the Mexican revolution.

The Magic Chicken

Without doubt, there’ll be some fantastic school holiday fun in April when the Adelaide Festival Centre presents the culinary chaos of The Magic Chicken, produced by New Zealand’s Theatre Beating.

Potted Potter Returns

Potted Potter - The Unauthorized Harry Experience - which toured Australia in 2012 returns in 2014. Potted Potter takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and a real life game of Quidditch) into a seventy minute parody. This show features all the favourite characters, a special appearance from a fire-breathing dragon, endless costumes, songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic!

Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You: Cast Announced

The cast has been announced for the premiere production of Tim Freedman and Alex Broun’s new Australian musical Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You, playing at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre Co from Friday, May 9 to June 1, 2014.

Directed by Neil Gooding, Truth, Beauty and a Picture of You stars Ian Stenlake, Erica Lovell, Justin Smith, Toby Francis and Ross Chisari.

Hello My Name Is: No Two Shows Alike

Adelaide audiences with post-festival blues who are yearning for yet more unusual, innovative and fun performance experiences need look no further than Port Adelaide independent theatre company Vitalstatistix and its six-show season of Hello My Name Is.

Granted the Creative Australia Fellowship last year and described by The Age as an “entertainer at the top of her game”, Director/Creator Nicola Gunn’s award-winning performance in Hello My Name Is becomes one that ensures no show is exactly alike.