CURRENT SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Capitol Theatre: School of Rock
Hayes Theatre: The Life of Us
Sydney Lyric Theatre: Shrek
Sydney Opera House- Joan Sutherland Theatre: Carmen
Sydney Opera House- Studio: SIX
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QUEENSLAND
QPAC Lyric Theatre: Book of Mormon
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VICTORIA
Arts Centre, Melbourne- State Theatre: Chicago
Comedy Theatre: Come From Away
Princess Theatre: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Regent Theatre: War Horse
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WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND AUSTRALIAN THEATRES
SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT- Critically acclaimed musical Come From Away to play at Sydney’s State Theatre
Many of us can remember exactly where we were when we heard the news of the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. We remember the haunting footage of planes flying into the the North and South World Trade Centre towers, The Pentagon and Pennsylvania. A scene in the musical itself has the characters, based on real life people speaking about how they first heard of the event.
Many however have not heard of the events of 9/12, before now. When North American Airspace was closed, 38 planes transporting passengers from around the world were ordered to land in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. Soon a small town’s population nearly doubled in size. This story however is about the people of Gander and how their town fed, clothed, accommodated and showed love to the “Come From Aways”
The Australian cast of Come From Away which has taken Melbourne by storm since opening in July, marks the fifth production of the musical worldwide, joining long-running current seasons on Broadway, in Toronto, the West End and the US National Tour and now the show will open at Sydney’s State Theatre in August, 2020.
Australian audiences have furthered its record-breaking status, earning the title of most successful musical ever staged in the Melbourne Comedy Theatre’s 91-year history, and the audience-voted Ticketmaster’s ‘Ticket of the Year’ award for 2019.
Tickets for Sydney go on sale on Thursday, February 6th. Further information can be found at https://comefromaway.com.au/ for now, here is a video of Zoe Gertz singing Me and the Sky from Come From Away.
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CAST ANNOUNCEMENT- Four young actresses announced for Melbourne season of Shrek
Four young Melbourne actresses will take on the role of Young Fiona when the Shrek -tacular musical moves to Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre next month. Charlize Costantin, Lilah Crotty, Isobel Lauber, and Charlotte Lundy.
The young performers will alternate the character whose main song is “I Know It’s Today”. Annie Chiswell (Mamma Mia!) and Lucy Durack play the roles of Teen Fiona and adult Fiona respectively.
Tickets for the Melbourne season are on sale now at https://shrekthemusical.com.au/
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CAST ANNOUNCEMENT- Monty Python’s Spamalot
“They are a different people, a multi-talented people, a people… who need people… and who are, in many ways, the luckiest people in the world” and we as audiences members are lucky that we will have another opportunity to see Monty Python’s Spamalot grace the stages of Australian theatres again in 2020.
Marty Alix (RENT, In the Heights) will spearhead the cast as Sir Robin and joining him will be Blake Appelqvist (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Kinky Boots) as Sir Galahad, Cramer Cain (Romeo & Juliet, The Straits) as King Arthur, Rob Johnson (Calamity Jane, Big River) as Prince Herbert, Josie Lane (Miracle City, Little Shop of Horrors) as the Lady of the Lake and Jane Watt (Gypsy, DNA) as Sir Bedevere.
Spamalot will play at the Arts Centre Melbourne from April 29th before moving to Canberra, Paramatta, the Gold Coast and Wyong. Full information can be found at https://www.spamalotoz.com/tourdates
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PERFORMANCES-Australian artists perform on the international sporting stage
Over the weekend, musical theatre performers sang at international sporting events around the country. Brisbane saw Chicago‘s Alinta Chidzey perform the Australian anthem at the final of the Australian Open women’s draw while Cameron MacDonald (Jersey Boys) performed at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Congratulations on being great representatives for our industry.
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SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
GYPSY CLOAK- Chicago cast member gives the Gypsy Cloak a little Razzle Dazzle
This week saw the Australian Gypsy Cloak move on to Chicago‘s Hayley Martin. The company of Chicago held a ceremony which includes the receiver running around the cast wearing the robe and visits the cast dressing rooms before a patch from the show is sewn onto the cloak.
The Gypsy Cloak was introduced in Australia in 1993 and is based on the tradition of Broadway’s Gypsy Robe, dating back to the 1950s. It is a full-length garment with handmade appliquéd patches representing Australian music theatre shows, passed among major productions and presented to an ensemble member – known as a “gypsy” due to their movement between shows.
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PERFORMER ANNOUNCEMENTS (BIRTHS AND MARRIAGES)
BABY NEWS
These last few weeks has seen the announcement that Lauren McKenna (Puffs, Heathers) and her husband Carl McKinnon are expecting their first child in July 2020. Also this week saw Tim (Hi-5, Addams Family) and Steph Maddren welcome to the world their son Charlie Albert and Matt (Mamma Mia!) and Erin (Cats) Edwards welcome their daughter Hazel Elizabeth. We wish all families congratulations and all the best.
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OPENING SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Sydney Lyric Theatre: War Horse (February 15th)
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VICTORIA
Her Majesty’s Theatre: Shrek (February 16th)
Regent Theatre: Billy Elliot (February 20th)
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Regal Theatre: Bran Nue Dae (February 6th)
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CLOSING SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Hayes Theatre: The Life of Us (February 9th)
Sydney Lyric Theatre: Shrek (February 9th)
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QUEENSLAND
QPAC Lyric Theatre: Book of Mormon (February 16th)
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VICTORIA
Regent Theatre: War Horse (February 8th)
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Regal Theatre: Bran Nue Dae (February 15th)
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AUSSIES ABROAD
SHOW MILESTONE- Kristian Lavercombe
Congratulations to the cast of The Rocky Horror Show South Africa particularly Kristian Lavercombe on their 50th show and Lavercombe’s 1, 750th show !!! Lavercombe has played Riff Raff in the recent Australian tours of the show.
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SHOW MILESTONE- Phantom of the Opera
This week saw The Phantom of the Opera named the best Wend show of all time. We would like to take a moment to congratulate the many Australians who have tread the London boards and those who have worn the famed mask including current Phantom, Josh Piterman.
The Phantom of the Opera commenced previews at Her Majesty’s London on September 27th, 1986 and has haunted I mean played at Her Majesty’s since.
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