Here’s the latest news in the weekly wrap!
CURRENT SHOWS
NEW SOUTH WALES
Hayes Theatre: Songs for a New World
Sydney Lyric Theatre: Singin’ in the Rain
Capitol Theatre: Aladdin
Capitol Theatre: Aladdin
QUEENSLAND
QPAC Lyric Theatre: We Will Rock You
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Festival Theatre: The Sound of Music
VICTORIA
The Princess Theatre: Matilda the Musical
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Crown Theatre: Rolling Thunder Vietnam (August 17th- 20th)
WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND AUSTRALIAN THEATRES?
Adam Garcia withdrawals from Australian tour of Singin’ in the Rain
Adam Garcia today announced that because of injuries he suffered while performing on stage, he has had to withdraw from the remainder of the Australian tour of Singin’ in the Rain. For further information: http://www.theatrepeople.com.
Songs for a New World
Songs for a New World opened at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney this week.
The show is about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today. The first musical from Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges Of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices we make.
The array of characters are portrayed by four performers who are on stage the whole time. For the Sydney season Woman 1, Woman 2, Man 1 and Man 2 will be played by Teagan Wouters (Songs for a New World – Melbourne Season, Fiddler on the Roof), Sophie Carter (Georgy Girl), Chris Scalzo (RENT, WICKED) and Cameron MacDonald (Georgy Girl).
For further information and tickets go to: http://www.hayestheatre.com.
OPENING SHOWS
VICTORIA
Arts Centre: Curtains
CLOSING SHOWS
QUEENSLAND
QPAC Lyric Theatre: We Will Rock You (closes August 20th)
VICTORIA
Her Majesty’s Theatre: Avenue Q (closed August 14th )
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Crown Theatre: Rolling Thunder Vietnam (closes August 20th)
His Majesty’s Theatre: Little Shop of Horrors (closed August 14th)
AUSTRALIAN PERFORMER SPECIAL MENTIONS
Eli Cooper celebrates 413 shows
Eli Cooper (Matilda) celebrated his 413th performance in a row on Wednesday. Previously Eli had performed in all 412 shows of the Grease Australia and Asia tour 2013-2015. Congratulations Eli! 
Aladdin opens to multiple standing ovations
On August 11th, the Australian production of Aladdin opened at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney to multiple standing ovations including one in the middle of the first act. If this is anything to go by we can be sure of a great season ahead!
Kinky Boots cast performs at AFL
On Saturday, August 13th the Australian cast of Kinky Boots performed at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne as part of the inaugural AFL Pride game. They performed songs by Cyndi Lauper and were supported by the OCPAC Choir.
AUSSIES ABROAD
Euan Doidge and Daniel Downing
Euan Doidge (Les Miserables, Grease) and Daniel Downing (WICKED) are currently playing Felicia and Tick respectively in Priscilla Queen of the Desert onboard the Norwegian Epic. Both Euan and Daniel will be appearing in the upcoming Australian production of Kinky Boots which opens in Melbourne in October.
5 MINUTES WITH…
JUDE PADDON- ROW
Thirteen year old Sydney sider, Jude Paddon-Row, most recently appeared as Friedrich in the Sydney season of The Sound of Music. He also performed this role at the Helpmann Awards last month. Previously, Jude portrayed Edmund in Chatswood Musical Society’s 2014 production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Kurt in Hornsby Musical Society’s 2012 production of The Sound of Music.
1. How old were you when you began performing and how did you start?
I was 8 years old when I started performing. I started performing at my local dance school at a holiday camp. After the first day of the camp, I got into the car and said to mum “Mum I want to be an actress” (obviously being new to the musical theatre world I didn’t know the difference!) My mum burst out laughing and said “actresses are girls” and I was mortified then said “NO, NO I MEAN ACTOR!” I can still remember it so clearly.
2. You recently made your professional musical theatre debut as Friedrich in The Sound of Music, how was it performing in front of large audiences every night at the Sydney’s Capitol Theatre?
When I perform, I am always excited/ nervous, to be honest it’s more nerves! I would always be hoping I wouldn’t trip down the stairs in the house scene or mess up the marching though near the end of the show season I started to feel less nervous and learnt to just accept mistakes because everyone makes them!
3. You worked with many amazing performers of the stage and theatre such as Cameron Daddo, Amy Lehpamer, Jacqui Dark and Marina Prior; what was it like to share the stage with them?
I felt so grateful to share the stage with so many musical theatre veterans and I feel that I learnt so much from them like to accept events that don’t go perfectly and to just make the most of it!
4. During your time with The Sound of Music, you met Nicholas Hammond who portrayed Friedrich in the movie, how was that?
So I’ll give you the long story. We were in rehearsals practising “So Long Farewell” and Kate Anderson (the company manager) pulls us Friedrichs aside and said that Nicholas Hammond was coming to visit. I was shaking because I was meeting THE Friedrich! Though he was such a lovely man and gave us so much advice and told us many wonderful things like “Once a Von Trapp, always a Von Trapp!”
5. What advice have you been given by older performers that has stuck with you?
I was given a lot of advice by the older cast members and the crew but what stuck out to me the most was when Jonny Bowles (The children’s director) told us children, “Don’t stop, even when you think there is no work and you think it’s the end, there are plenty more shows coming.”
6. Do you hope to keep performing in musicals and what would be your dream role?
I do definitely hope to keep on performing. It is my dream! I would love to either be on Broadway or The West End doing what I love best – Musical Theatre. I have too many dream roles but I will narrow it down to a few.
– The Phantom – Phantom of the Opera
– Thenardier- Les Miserables
– Rum Tum Tugger / Munkustrap – CATS
– Captain Von Trapp – The Sound of Music
