Stage Briefs

A Murder Is Announced

Judi Farr has been confirmed to play Miss Marple in the 2013 Australian Tour of Agatha Christie’s A Murder Is Announced.

Following that preliminary casting, the remaining cast members were announced on Friday June 7.

THE BIBLE: The Complete Word of God (abridged) to Tour

It’s ‘apocalypse now’ as the three cultural guerrillas of the Reduced Shakespeare Company set their reductive sights on the good book with The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) in 100 madcap minutes. Can bolts of lightning be far behind? This show is an affectionate, irreverent rollercoaster ride from fig leaves to final judgment as the boys tackle the great theological questions: Did Adam and Eve have navels? Did Moses really look like Charlton Heston?

No Tour: The Addams Family to Close in Sydney

The Herald Sun has reported that the cast of The Addams Family has been told the musical will close in June and will not tour.

Apparently the cast received the bad news before the matinee performance on Saturday May 11.

Publicity, including the show’s Facebook page, confirms Final Weeks for the show.

Eddie Perfect Play is MTC Zeitgeist

Melbourne Theatre Company today (May 10, 2013) revealed Eddie Perfect’s The Beast will be staged during its Zeitgeist season in October, a slot set aside to bring the freshest, most contemporary theatre to Melbourne audiences.

‘In creating the 2013 initiative of Zeitgeist we wanted to leave MTC’s season open to the possibility of a new work or opportunity emerging after our launch, which we felt audiences should have an immediate chance to see,’ Brett Sheehy, MTC Artistic Director said.

Ewen Leslie joins Tim Minchin and Toby Schmitz in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Sydney Theatre Company has announces that Ewen Leslie has been cast as ‘The Player’ in the forthcoming production of the absurdist tragicomedy, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, directed by Simon Phillips. Performances are at Sydney Theatre from 6 August to 7 September 2013 (Opening Night: Saturday 10 August 2013 at 7.30pm).

Thoroughly Modern Millie at WAAPA

The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) will present Thoroughly Modern Millie, directed by Crispin Taylor, from Saturday 15 to Saturday 22 June at the Regal Theatre, Subiaco.

SYDNEY TO HOST BIG NEW INDIGENOUS FESTIVAL

NSW Governor, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir joined Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Victor Dominello, today (April 15, 2013) to announce that Sydney will host the largest, annual, national Indigenous arts and cultural festival in Australia’s history.

In The Mood Return Tour

IN THE MOOD - The brassy, all-singing-all-dancing-all-American celebration of Swing Jazz returns to Australiain September/October on a coast-to-coast tour, following their 2011 sold out first run of thirty two shows.

This year marks 20 seasons for the String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra and IN THE MOOD singers and dancers from New York, in this retro revue.

Two New Resident Directors at Replace Simon Stone at Belvoir

Belvoir has announced the appointment of two Resident Directors, Adena Jacobs and Anne-Louise Sarks. They replace previous Resident Director Simon Stone, whose unannounced departure from the role in February has only become public this week.

Kristin Chenoweth to Tour Oz

Broadway Diva Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role of Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked on Broadway is set to cast a spell over Australia in June. She will take to the stage at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall at 8pm Wednesday 12 June to commence tour with other concerts in Adelaide (as part of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival), Sydney and Brisbane traversing pop, opera and the Broadway classics that have made her a star.