Stage Briefs

Sydney Cast of Rupert Announced

Producer Daniel Sparrow and director Lee Lewis have announced the cast for the Sydney season of Rupert, David Williamson’s take on the greatest media mogul of all time.

New Musicals Australia Relaunched

Hayes Theatre Co has announced the relaunch of New Musicals Australia (NMA), an initiative dedicated to the development and production of original music theatre. 

NMA assists emerging writers and/or composers to get their work off the ground. Through a series of development programs, scripts and scores will be placed in the hands of professionals and brought to life in front of experts from the musical theatre industry.  Previously New Musicals has developed and presented Truth Beauty and a Picture of You andA Little Touch of Chaos, among others.

47th ANNUAL AWGIE AWARDS WINNERS

Playwrights Katherine Thompson, Andrew Bovell, Sue Smith and Finegan Kruckemeyer were amongst the writers recognised by their peers at the 47thAnnual AWGIE Awards, held on Friday September 5, 2014 at Doltone House, Sydney.

Squabbalogic: Sondheim on Sondheim at The Seymour Centre

Following sell-out seasons of Carrie The Musical and The Drowsy Chaperone, Squabbalogic Independent Music Theatre are proud to present the Australian premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim. An intimate look at the ‘Father of the Modern Musical’, the production will show at The Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre from 1st to 18th October 2014.

Neglected Musicals: It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman

Sydney’s next ‘Neglected Musical’ is It’s a Bird It’s a Plane It’s Superman on October 6, 2014

Music by Charles Strouse   Lyrics by Lee Adams Book by David Newman & Robert Benton 

Based on comic strip “Superman”

Dirty Dancing Announces Melbourne and Brisbane Seasons

Producer John Frost has announced that the musical Dirty Dancing will play in Melbourne and Brisbane in 2015 following its Sydney season. A decade after its World Premiere in Sydney in November 2004, Dirty Dancing will play at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from 28 Novemberthis year, then Melbourne’s Princess Theatre from March and the Lyric Theatre, QPAC from May.

HOOK UP at Melbourne Fringe

Gen Y has been known for its high-flying, carefree attitude to life. But now Gen Y is reaching the age where fleeting hook-ups and endless partying don’t cut it anymore. Many are starting to settle down, but relationships are confusing. They can be funny, tragic and just plain bizarre — especially when you are on the outside looking in. So, what comes next?

LIGHT THE NIGHT 2014 CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

LIGHT THE NIGHT will celebrate 10 years with a final benefit concert atthe City Recital Hall Angel Place on Monday October 27. The annual benefit has been raising money and awareness for leukaemia research over the past decade. To date, over $400,000 has been donated to The Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation, targeting a cure for leukaemia.

Sydney Child Cast for The King and I

Producer John Frost and Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini have announced the 39 children cast in roles for the Sydney season of the Helpmann award winning production, The King and I, playing at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney from 7 September 2014.

The principal role of Prince Chululongkorn will be shared by Trystan Go, Ethan Puse and Jaya Soewito-Martin, and the principal role of Louis Leonowens will be shared by Jackson Bunting, Damian Hempstead and Archie Thompson.

Australian Premiere for Musical Calvin Berger

Director Casey Gould and Musical Director Loclan Mackenzie-Spencer, present the Australian Premiere of Calvin Berger - A Musical by Barry Wyner in Melbourne at Southbank Theatre, The Lawler, from September 10 – 13, 2014. 

Boy meets girl, boy feels awkward about size of nose, boy gets other boy with reasonable sized nose to woo girl using awkward boy’s words…