ALL THE LATEST NEWS!
BY NICHOLE CONOLLY
CURRENT SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Capitol Theatre: School of Rock
Hayes Theatre: H.M.S. Pinafore
Sydney Lyric Theatre: Billy Elliot
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QUEENSLAND
QPAC Lyric Theatre: Chicago
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VICTORIA
Comedy Theatre: Come From Away
Her Majesty’s Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Princess Theatre: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Southbank Theatre: Kiss of The Spider Woman
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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AUSTRALIAN THEATRE
Show: The Wharf Revue
The 2019 Wharf Revue is currently playing at the Canberra Theatre Centre until November 23rd before short seasons in Orange, NSW(November 26th and 27th), Wagga Wagga, NSW (December 1st) and Nunawading, VIC (December 5th- 7th)
The all-singing, all-dancing, side-splittingly funny solution to all the world’s problems returns for another year of satirical genius.
The West is crumbling, democracy is besieged and the world is run by morons with funny hair. You have to laugh. And that’s exactly what The Wharf Revue delivers. The indefatigable team is back once more to dig through the year’s political dirt and unearth comedy gold.
Ticketing information and further details can be found at https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/about/stc-on-tour
A scene from the 2019 Wharf Revue
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Opening Night: School of Rock rocks Sydney
Hit musical, School of Rock opened at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre on Friday, November 15th. Theatre People has high praise for the cast (lead by Brent Hill and Amy Lehpamer). A full review can be read at https://www.theatrepeople.com.au/school-of-rock-2/
In addition to their high voltage , rocking night, the company celebrated their 300th show on Wednesday, November 13th.
Congratulations to all involved in School of Rock!
School of Rock celebrates 300 shows
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Opening Night: H.M.S Pinafore
Hayes Theatre is currently playing host to the hilarious, gender-swapping adaption of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S Pinafore.
Director Kate Gaul says Gilbert and Sullivan’s satire of Victorian social conventions, and of who was permitted to marry whom, meant H.M.S Pinafore could easily be adapted with a production that celebrates same-sex attraction.
H.M.S Pinafore runs until Saturday, December 14th with tickets available from https://www.hayestheatre.com.au/
Zara Stanton, Katherine Allen, Billie Palin and Rory O’Keeffe in H.M.S Pinafore
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Come From Away
On Wednesday, November 13th, the cast of Come From Away celebrated World Kindness Day by raising money and awareness for Entertainment Assist.
Entertainment Assist is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health in the Australian entertainment industry by commissioning research, for workplace and educational transformation and identifying support pathways for those in distress.
Entertainment Assist can be contacted at https://www.entertainmentassist.org.au
Cast of Come From Away
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Season Extension: Come From Away
This week also saw the announcement that tickets for Come From Away are now on sale until February 16th, 2020. Tickets are available from https://comefromaway.com.au/tickets/melbourne/
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Rehearsals: Shrek
Monday, November 18th saw the first day of rehearsals for the company of Shrek. We wish then the best as they prepare for the Sydney season which commences at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre in January 2020. Further information can be found at https://shrekthemusical.com.au/
Cast of Shrek
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Cast Announcement: Broadway Unplugged
Broadway Unplugged have announced their cast ahead of their show on December 2nd show at Melbourne’s The Toff in Town.
Hosted by Gillian Cosgriff (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) the cast includes Jordan Malone (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Jonathon Shilling (Post: A New Musical), Hayden Baum (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Adam Noviello (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Stephanie Wall (The Beautiful Game).
Tickets are available for purchase from www.broadwayunplugged.com.au
Cast of Broadway Unplugged
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Cast Announcement: Irene
Neglected Musicals presents Irene, a story of Irene O’Dare is a humble but ambitious, hard-working Irish girl from the west side of Manhattan, New York who runs a little music store with her widowed mother. Irene is introduced to Long Island’s high society when she is hired by one of its leading grande dames to help redecorate her home.
Joining the previously announced Stefanie Caccamo as Irene will be Nancye Hayes as Mrs O’Dare, Rob Mallett (Aladdin) as Donald, Ashleigh Rubenach (Muriel’s Wedding) as Jane, Ayesha Amy Madon (Fan Girls) as Helen, Rob Johnson (Calamity Jane) as Clarkson, Garry Scale as Madam Lucy, Christian Charisou (Cry Baby) as Ozzie, Rose Shannon- Duhigg, Axel Duffy as Jimmy, Conor Neylon and Mandy Bishop (Much Ado About Nothing) as Mrs Marshal.
Irene will play at the Hayes Theatre from January 8th to 11th with tickets available at https://hayestheatre.com.au/event/irene/
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CELEBRATIONS
Wedding: Chloe Zuel and Rob Mallett
Congratulations to Chloe Zuel (SIX, Ragtime) and Rob Mallett (Irene, Aladdin) who wed on Sunday, November 17th in Tasmania. We wish you both the happiest of futures.
Rob Mallet and Chloe Zuel
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Engagement: Jessica Vickers
Congratulations to Jessica Vickers (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Meet Me In St. Louis) on her engagement to her boyfriend Blake while on holidays in Japan. We wish you all the best.
Blake and Jessica
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OPENING SHOWS
VICTORIA
Alex Theatre: Dreamsong (November 21st)
Chapel off Chapel: Legally Blonde (November 23rd)
Gasworks Theatre: Electric Dreams (November 20th)
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide Festival Centre: West Side Story (November 28th)
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CLOSING SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Hayes Theatre: H.M.S. Pinafore (December 14th)
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QUEENSLAND
QPAC Lyric Theatre: Chicago (December 6th)
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide Festival Centre: West Side Story (December 8th)
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VICTORIA
Alex Theatre: Dreamsong (November 30th)
Gasworks Theatre: Electric Dreams (November 24th)
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AUSSIES OVERSEAS
Matthew Lee Robinson and Scott Morris
Congratulations to Matthew Lee Robinson and Scott Morris who held the first reading of their new show Black Box this week in New York. They were joined by fellow Australians Sarah Bowden (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory US Tour, A Chorus Line) and Kaye Tuckerman (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Mamma Mia!)