As we get into the swing of being back in the theatre six days a week for 8+ shows, it can become easy for us to become complacent. We fall into a routine, we go about our job, and because of this, we forget that a company is made up of many individuals and groups of people that often go about their role un-noticed. One of these groups is Swings. Friday, January 15th saw us celebrate National Swing Day.
What is a Swing?
A swing is a special member of a show’s ensemble. A swing will learn multiple parts, or tracks, and is ready and able to cover for multiple members of the chorus. They are often back-stage ready to go on at the very last minute (and even during a show) and go on for any number of tracks, including those written for other genders, ages, or even more than one track at once!
Current Australian Swings
Frozen: Sage Douglas, Nicholas Eaton, Anthony Sheppard, and Thalia Smith
Pippin: Angelique Cassimatis, Joel Granger, Joe Meldrum, and Gretel Scarlett
Shrek: Mackenzie Dunn, Hollie James, Bree Langridge, Leigh Sleightholme, and Rhys Velasquez
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NOW SHOWING
NEW SOUTH WALES
The Arcadia: Magic Mike Live
Belvoir: My Brilliant Career
Capitol Theatre: Frozen
Sydney Lyric Theatre: Pippin
Sydney Opera House: RENT
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QUEENSLAND
QPAC Lyric Theatre: Shrek
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UPCOMING SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Hayes Theatre: Rewired (Friday, January 22nd)
Hayes Theatre: Young Frankenstein (Thursday, February 18th)
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VICTORIA
Comedy Theatre: Come From Away (Tuesday, January 19th)
Princess Theatre: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Thursday, February 25th)
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CLOSING SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Belvoir: My Brilliant Career (Sunday, January 31st)
Hayes Theatre: Rewired (Sunday, January 24th)
Sydney Lyric Theatre: Pippin (Sunday, January 24th)
Sydney Opera House: RENT (Sunday, January 31st)
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QUEENSLAND
QPAC Lyric Theatre: Shrek (Sunday, February 7th)
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OPENING NIGHTS
Highly Anticipated, Shrektacular Brisbane Season Commences
After many months off the road, the company of Shrek has commenced their run in Brisbane. Hindered by Brisbane’s lockdown last weekend, audiences’ anticipation was put on ice until Thursday, January 14th. The show is playing to a 50 percent capacity (until January 22nd) but love for the show is definitely at 100 percent!
Shrek is playing at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre until Sunday, February 7th with further information available at https://www.qpac.com.au/event/shrek_21/
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SHOW ANNOUNCEMENTS
Come From Away Gives Back to Frontline Workers
The storyline of Come From Away revolves around a small community of individuals who came together in a time of international emergency, giving everything they had and wanting nothing in return. Now, the Australian company of the hit musical in conjunction with The Herald Sun is offering free tickets to front line health workers who have worked tirelessly (and often without thanks) around the clock.
If you are a frontline worker, you can apply for tickets at Come From Away- Front Line Worker Tickets.
Come From Away returns to Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre on Tuesday, January 19th. All further information can be found at https://comefromaway.com.au/
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Postponed: Canberra Season of Shrek
The upcoming season of Shrek at the Canberra Theatre has been postponed amid complications due to COVID-19 restrictions affecting the tour’s scheduled dates and capacity to tour. Canberra Theatre Centre say they are exploring opportunities to present the production “at a later date”. Existing ticket holders will be refunded and will be contacted by Canberra Theatre Centre.
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Caroline O’Connor
Australia’s very own musical theatre legend, Caroline O’Connor, premieres her first solo performance in Brisbane at QPAC this March. Having performed on Broadway and London’s West End (and in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge), O’Connor will bring highlights from her musical career to life on stage, working her way through a songbook of her all-time favourites, including Judy Garland and Edith Piaf.
The Helpmann Award winner and Olivier Award nominee will belt out songs from Chicago, West Side Story, Funny Girl, Sweeney Todd, Follies, Mack and Mabel, Anastasia, Anything Goes, Man of La Mancha, The Boy from Oz, Moulin Rouge, and more.
Don’t miss this limited opportunity to witness one of Australia’s most astonishing entertainers in this uplifting, intimate, and exclusive concert on Friday, 12th, and Saturday, 13th March 2021. There are three shows only so don’t miss out. Tickets are available at https://ticketing.qpac.com.au/event_dates/caroline_oconnor_21.aspx?
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Oliver De Los Santos
Congratulations to up and coming young performer Oliver De Los Santos (Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) who can be seen in the revival of Punky Brewster as Daniel. The show will premiere in Australia on streaming service Stan from Friday, February 26th, 2021.
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Aftertaste
Filmed in Adelaide, the six-part new Australian comedy TV show, Aftertaste hits our screens on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 at 9:00 pm. The show revolves around Easton West, an internationally renowned, yet volatile celebrity chef who has a spectacular fall from grace and returns to his hometown in the Adelaide Hills. He endeavours to rebuild his career and restore his reputation, with the help of his talented, young, pastry-chef niece Diana.
Theatre-goers may recognise Natalie Abbott who portrays Diana, Abbott recently appeared as Muriel Heslop in the Australian stage production of Muriel’s Wedding.
You can view the trailer below:
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Baby News: Bodhi Wilde Baker
We welcome to the world and the Australian theatre family, Bodhi Wilde Baker is settling in well at home with his mum Jade Hui- Wen Coutts (CATS) and photographer dad Chris Baker. Luckily Bodhi is photogenic!
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Engagement News: Sheridan Anderson
Congratulations to Sheridan Anderson (Wizard of Oz, We Will Rock You) on her engagement to her fiance Adrian. The proposal took place on January, 1st 2021. What a great way to start the new year! We wish you both the happiest, most fulfilling life together.
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VIDEOS
Behind the Scenes: Hamilton
It is anything but quiet in the uptown inner-west Sydney room where everything is happening at the moment. There is a crew working around the clock to ensure costumes down to the most minute piece and wigs are ready in time for the Australian premiere of hit musical Hamilton. The first show is Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at https://hamiltonmusical.com.au/tickets
Here is a video of behind the scenes:
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