Stage Briefs

LIZA’s BACK! (is broken) for Sydney

There is no doubt about it.  Liza Minnelli is a true Broadway legend.  However, her appearances on the musical stage have been few and far between, and she’s only ever sung in a couple of true movie musicals…

So what would happen if Liza decided to perform all the great Broadway roles she never got to play, in one special night?

Satre's No Exit for Sydney

As the three characters try to determine why they are in Hell and how they are to be tormented, confessing their crimes and determining their combined fate, they soon come to the conclusion that Hell is other people.

Funny Girl Cast Announced

Ken Mackenzie-Forbes, Artistic Director of The Production Company has announced the full cast for Funny Girl. Opening The Production Company’s 2016 Season on 23 July in the State Theatre at Arts Centre Melbourne, Funny Girl features a cast of thirty and an orchestra of twenty-seven.

With a new production on London’s West End and a planned Broadway season, Melbourne is set to enjoy a new staging of this classic Broadway musical. Caroline O’Connor plays Fanny Brice, one of the great stars of Broadway’s Ziegfeld Follies.

Jonathan Church Steps Down as STC Artistic Director

Sydney Theatre Company announced today that Artistic Director Jonathan Church has stepped down from the role.

We Will Rock You for Adelaide and Perth

Producers of the new Australian production We Will Rock You have announced details for the Perth and Adelaide seasons later this year. The Perth season at the Crown Theatre will begin on 15 November, and tickets will go on sale on 13 June. The Adelaide season at the Festival Theatre will begin on 30 December, and tickets will go on sale on 6 June.

The new Australian tour of the epic Queen and Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You opened at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on 5 May.

Suzie Mathers Joins West End Wicked

Australia’s Suzie Mathers is set to star as Glinda alongside West End and Broadway star Rachel Tucker as Elphaba in the London production of Wicked from Monday 5 September 2016.

Equity Questions Foreign Stars

Equity President Chloe Dallimore says she is appalled at the number of overseas stars getting leads in local musicals.

LUCY MAUNDER JOINS MATILDA IN BRISBANE AND PERTH

The Royal Shakespeare Company, Louise Withers, Michael Coppel and Michael Watt announced today that Lucy Maunder will join the Australian company as Miss Honey for the Brisbane and Perth seasons of Matilda The Musical.

The announcement was made as tickets go on sale to the general public for the Brisbane season.

Titanic Musical for Melbourne

Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Titanic The Musical tells the stories of the people on board and the men and women who determined their fate. In the final hour of April 14th, 1912 the RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York, collided with an iceberg and ‘the unsinkable ship’ slowly sank. It was one of the most tragic events of the 20th Century. 1517 men, women and children lost their lives.

And the winner is dreamBIG

Hundreds of children and teachers across the State have voted and the results are in!

After more than 40 years, Come Out Children’s Festival has a new name - dreamBIG Children’s Festival.  

dreamBIG Children’s Festival was the clear winner, gaining 32 percent of the public vote over the past weeks. It beat the four other hot contenders which were Jolt! Children’s Festival, SA Children’s Festival, CREATE! Children’s Festival and Inspire Festival for Children.