WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND AUSTRALIAN THEATRES
Green Room Awards- April 6th, 2020
Out of adversity comes innovation.
The Green Room Awards is proud to announce details of our first-ever Online Awards Presentation.
Hosted by Otto & Astrid, Berlin’s (self-appointed) Prince and Princess of Art Rock and Europop, the nominees and winners will be announced by esteemed actor Rob Meldrum via a series of YouTube clips. Join us at the Green Room Awards website from 7:00 pm on April 6th, 2020.
We hope you will join us to celebrate and collectively applaud the outstanding work created in 2019.
Further details will be found at https://www.greenroom.org.au/awards/ceremony2020/
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HOPE: New Work Development Initiative
It all started with an idea.. In the early hours of March 17th, James Millar (The Hatpin, My Brilliant Career, Matilda) hatched a plan. 24 hours he had gathered a team of 70+ actors, 5 directors, 2 crew members, marketers, venues and more. HOPE was born.
The aim is to create and foster new theatrical work, online when necessary and beyond when possible; allowing a platform for writers, actors and audience to interact, respond and take part in the creation of new live works.
This project is equal parts innovation, experiment and is owning to a large number of passionate creatives from across an interrupted industry.
This initiative aims to keep creative spirit intact through this period of uncertainty and to keep the artists we are able to involve engaged in a process that helps breed hope in a creative environment and outlet through the pandemic. Added to that, we believe that by keeping this process publicly visible, we may be able to inspire creativity and hope through extended creative communities and be an open book throughout.
Information on the whole initiative can be found at https://www.hopenewworks.com/
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Story Chunder
Story tellers come from a variety of backgrounds including musical theatre. Hosted by Matt Young (Annie, The Producers) , you can head to https://www.facebook.com/thestorychunder/ for further information.
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Helpmann Awards cancelled
March 31st, 2020 saw the announcement from Live Performance Australia (LPA) that the annual Helpmann Awards
will not be presented in 2020. The decision to cancel this year’s presentation is in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its impact on live performance venues and productions across the country.
A full media release can be found at https://liveperformance.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/LPA-MR-Helpmann-Awards-2020-Media-Release-31-March-2020.pdf
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VIDEOS
To cheer our readers up, we have collated a number of videos for you to watch.
Aussie Pops Orchestra
The talented musicians of the Aussie Pops Orchestra, together with some amazing Australian artists including musical theatre performers Rhonda Burchmore, Lucy Durack , Silvie Paladino, Casey Donovan, Trevor Ashley, Maria Venuti and Bert & Patti Newton have phoned in a song for your entertainment. To listen to their version of What a Wonderful World head to https://youtu.be/-Hc_1c_Ask0
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Jan van de Stool’s Coronavlog
From humble beginnings in Schiermonnikoog (an unpronounceable village in Holland), to being seen by over one million viewers in theatres, TV and online, Jan van de Stool, International Musical Therapist, keeps it real presenting self-help workshops at her local Munudji Scout Hall in Woy Woy, where she’s helped, literally, tens of people.
But since social distancing has put an end to her workshops – Jan feels her best work can be done online, using her unique insight (and psychic powers) to unwrap the weekly #Coronavirus news and help the world through this difficult period with her unique brand of ‘musical therapy’.
Videos can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/coronavlogep1
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My Brilliant Career
The team at new Australian musical, My Brilliant Career have released more videos from the Original Cast Recording of the show. To view these, head to https://www.instagram.com/mybrilliantcareer
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All I Ask Of You- Phantom London Orchestra
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has been bringing beautiful music to us all from his home during these times of self-isolation and social distancing.
The other day he posted a video of himself playing All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera.
The orchestra of the London production of Phantom responded to the video with one of their own!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=559928397962000
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OPENING SHOWS
Live Streams
April 21st: The (M)other Life by Amity Dry
April 23rd: Tickets Please by Paul Morrison & Jacob Nicholls
April 28th: Gold by Jess Newman & Richard Lindenfelzer
April 30th: Beau wants to be a Billionaire by Neylon & Peele
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SHOWS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Friends The Musical Parody
The media team at Friends The Musical Parody have made the announcement that so far, this current climate has not affected the schedule of their show. Full schedule details can be found at https://friendsmusical.com.au/
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GRANTS
Australia Council Resilience Fund
Tuesday, March 31st saw the Australia Council announce a Resilience Fund of approximately $5M for artists and arts organisations to support their livelihoods, practice and operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 Resilience Fund includes three streams:
-Survive – small grants for individuals, groups and organisations to offset or recoup financial losses due to cancelled activity.
-Adapt – grants for individuals, groups and organisations to adapt their practice and explore new operating models.
-Create – grants for individuals, groups and organisations to continue to create artistic work and develop creative responses in a time of disruption.
Applications for the Resilience Fund quick response opportunities open on Friday 3 April 2020. Further information can be found at https://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/ on that date
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Arts Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government has released news of a COVID-19 Cultural and Creative Industries stimulus package. The following funding is currently available:
-Arts and Screen Digital Production Fund
-Tasmanian Contemporary Music Fund
-Additional Screen Development Fund
-Additional arts organisations funding
For more information, including eligibility and how to apply go to:
https://www.arts.tas.gov.au/news_articles/latest_news
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JobKeeper Income Subsidy
To help with the confusion behind the JobKeeper Income Subsidy, MEAA Equity President Chloe Dallimore gave an update on the new subsidy and how it affects workers in the arts and entertainment industry.
The video can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/withMEAA/
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AUSSIES ABROAD
Claire Lyon
The Korean season of The Phantom of the Opera in which Australia’s Claire Lyon stars as Christine will be cancelled from the dates of April 1st to April 14th inclusive of these dates. The show hopes to re-open as soon as possible.
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Declan Egan
Declan Egan (Jersey Boys) will perform at Leave A Light On on Thursday, April 2nd at 2:30pm London time (11:30pm AEST).
Leave a Light On is a festival of live streamed concerts keeping actors in work during the period when theatres are in the dark. It has been organised by Lambert Jackson Productions and The Theatre Cafe, featuring West End stars from your favourite productions in their own solo concerts.
Tickets are approximately $15.00 and are available from https://www.thetheatrecafe.co.uk/events/
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Josh Piterman
This week will see Josh Piterman‘s Self Isolation Instagram Live World Tour head to the following cities:
-April 1st: Sorrento, Italy (including Phantom of the Opera cast member and fellow Aussie, Paul Ettore Tabone)
-April 3rd: Teatro Del Silenzio, Italy
-April 6th: New York City, USA
The shows are free and can accessed via Josh Piterman’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joshpiterman/?hl=en from 9:00pm AEST on each evening.
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