Stage Briefs

Vale Don Battye

Don Battye’s death in the Philippines on 28th February 2016 closed the chapter on the longest running collaboration in Australian musical theatre history. When Battye met composer and lyricist Peter Pinne in 1960 who knew it was the beginning of a prolific musical writing team that would be at one time called “Australia’s answer to Rodgers and Hammerstein.”

Songs for a New World

Blue Saint Productions’ next production, following their production of Violet, will be the Jason Robert Brown musical Songs for a New World, to be presented at Chapel off Chapel in June 2016.

The show is to be directed by Luke Joslin (Avenue Q, Les Misérables), with Musical Direction by Geoffrey Castles (Les Misérables, Aladdin) and will be designed by Jacob Batista (Avenue Q, Carrie the Musical)

Follies In Concerrt - Further Casting Announced

Following the recent announcement that FOLLIES IN CONCERT will be performed for three performances only in May, exclusive to Melbourne and starring David Hobson (Buddy), Lisa McCune (Sally) and Nancye Hayes (Hattie), further casting for this all-star theatrical event has been announced today.

Adding to the already announced cast are Philip Quast (Ben), Anne Wood (Phyllis), Debra Byrne (Carlotta), Cheryl Barker (Heidi), & David Rogers Smith (Roscoe).

SQUABBALOGIC MYSTERY MUSICAL #3

Following the enormous success of their previous Mystery Musical shows, Bye, Bye, Birdie and Hello, Dolly, Squabbalogic Independent Music Theatre is inviting audiences to take a leap of faith again with MYSTERY MUSICAL #3 on Monday 29th February at the Seymour Centre.

Godspell Reimagined

GODSPELL will have a one-week season at the Playhouse Theatre, Sydney Opera House from 9 – 14 February 2016 before moving to Melbourne for performances in The Royal Botanical Gardens.

GODSPELL REIMAGINED features a cast of eight multi-talented all singing, all dancing performers.

Follies in Concert for Melbourne

For three performances only on May 24 and 25, exclusive to Melbourne, a line-up of Australian musical theatre stars including David Hobson, Lisa McCune and Nancye Hayes will come together for a must-see theatrical event, the celebrated FOLLIES IN CONCERT at the Melbourne Recital Centre, produced by Storeyboard Entertainment.

Winners of the 2015 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards

The winners of the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards were announced by Carrillo Gantner AO, Chair of the Sidney Myer Fund at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday 21 January 2016.

Now in its 32nd year, the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards are one of the richest and most coveted awards in the performing arts in Australia.

Dark Mofo and Mofo festivals are joint winners of the Group Award ($45,000 to each festival). 

The multi-talented Ursula Yovich is the Individual Winner ($60,000).

XANADU THE MUSICAL SKATES INTO SYDNEY!

Matthew Management in association with Hayes Theatre Co today announced the cast of the smash-hit Broadway musical comedy XANADU, based on the 1980s classic cult movie, which plays in Sydney from Thursday 12 May 2016 for a strictly limited season.

New Spelling Bee for Melbourne

Get out your dictionaries! The Tony Award winning musical comedy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is heading to the Melbourne’s Lawler Theatre for a strictly limited season from March 30 to April 10, 2016, in a new production from the Vic Theatre Company.

Cast Announced for Victorian Premiere of Dogfight

Doorstep Arts has announced the cast and creative team set to deliver the Victorian Premiere of the award-winning musical Dogfight, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul and a book by Peter Duchan, in May 2016.

The whole damn world might change tomorrow. So we go for broke today.