Stage Briefs

Chloe Dallimore and Damien Bodie Head Up Twisted Broadway in Sydney

The gender-bending music theatre event Twisted Broadway returns to the NIDA’s Parade Theatre, August 19 for its second year, after sold-out seasons in Melbourne in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Twisted Broadway features top Australian  music theatre performers singing songs originally written for the opposite gender.

Dido and Aeneas: a choreographic opera

Sasha Waltz’s radical re-telling of Henry Purcell’s Baroque opera, Dido & Aeneas has been announced ahead of the rest of the program, as the centerpiece of the Sydney Festival in January 2014.

The oldest love story in English opera, this tragic tale of unrequited love is brought to life by sixty dancers, singers and musicians at the Sydney Lyric from 16 to 21 January 2014.

From Xena to Velma: Lucy Lawless for Auckland Chicago

After playing Mama Morton in the Hollywood Bowl season of Chicago, Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess, Battlestar Galactica, Spartacus: Blood and Sand) is on her way home to New Zealand kick up her heels as the murderous chanteuse, Velma Kelly, in Auckland Theatre Company’s Chicago, opening on 2 November, 2013.

(Sorry, no images of Lucy Lawless as Velma yet, the pic is of Hannah Tasker-Poland).

Bilingual Musical Cho Cho Wins Two Australian Arts in Asia Awards

A collaboration between the National Theatre of China, Playking Productions and Arts Centre Melbourne to create possibly the world’s first bilingual musical theatre production, Cho Cho, won two of the inaugural Australian Arts in Asia Awards which were presented by the Australian Minister for the Arts, The Hon Tony Burke MP in Sydney on August 1.

Philip Glass Opera and Scent

Hymn to the Sun, an original and fragrant interpretation of Philip Glass’s opera Akhnaten, plays in Sydney for one night only on July 27, 2013.

As ancient dhows ply the Nile, the intensely visceral sounds of Philip Glass’s music, intimately sung and played on baroque instruments,will interplay with a subtly diffused scent created exclusively for this performance.

Sun Music Story on Stage

Sons of Sun – The Sam Phillips Story is a wild rock‘n’roll play about Sun Records, Memphis, and the artists that started their careers there. After its premiere run at the Sydney Fringe in 2012 and standing ovations in Sydney and Melbourne earlier this year, the play returns to the stages of Sydney with a residency at the Bridge Hotel, Rozelle from August to November and a return to Lizotte’s, Dee Why.

Michael Bublé Live: Australian Tour Announced

Michael Bublé will tour Australia for the fifth time in April and May 2014, presented by Dainty Group.

Four additional shows have been announced following demand during the Telstra Thanks presale:

Sunday 27 April, 2014 – Perth Arena

Saturday 3 May, 2014 – Melbourne Rod Laver Arena

Wednesday 7 May, 2014 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Tuesday 13 May, 2014 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music Back in Melbourne

Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music returns to Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre for three performances (Friday 16 & Saturday 17 August 7:30pm), and a family friendly Matinee (Saturday 17 August at 1pm).

Chelsea Plumley (pictured above with children) returns to hosting duties to guide the audience through the interactive experience and tribute to the very unique film The Sound of Music.

PRESENTERS AND PERFORMANCES ANNOUNCED FOR 2013 HELPMANNS

The 13thAnnual Helpmann Awardsceremony will feature some of Australia’s most talented performers. This year joining co-hosts Eddie Perfect and Christie Whelan Browne on stage as presenters will be Bert Newton, Tina Arena, Erika Heynatz, Patrick Brammall, Chloe Dallimore, Rob Mills, Ashley Zuckerman, Miranda Tapsell, John Waters and Sharon Millerchip. These presenters and more will be announcing the winners of the 43 awards recognising distinguished artistic achievement and excellence across the major disciplines of Australia's live performance industry.

Killer Cooks: Cabaret recipe to die for

What do you get when you cross Nigella, the ‘Queen of Food Porn’ with the Countess who bathed in the blood of her young victims...? Killer Cooks, a sinful new cabaret from Clare McCallum.

“The Countess Elizabeth Bathory killed hundreds of young women and bathed in their blood thinking it would keep her youthful... I'd have just gone for Nivea,” says Clare.

Clare’s new show also features some of the world’s favourite lady cooks, Maggie Beer, Julia Childs and Nigella.