Weekly Wrap

Here’s what’s been happening this week in Australian musical theatre:

CURRENT SHOWS

NEW SOUTH WALES
Hayes Theatre: Xanadu
Lyric Theatre: We Will Rock You

QUEENSLAND
QPAC Playhouse: Little Shop of Horrors

VICTORIA
Chapel off Chapel: Songs for a New World
Her Majesty’s Theatre: Singin’ in the Rain
The Princess Theatre: Matilda The Musical
The Regent Theatre: The Sound of Music

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Crown Theatre: Ghost

WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND AUSTRALIAN THEATRES?

Hayes Theatre 2nd Half announcement
On Monday, June 6th ; the Hayes Theatre in Sydney hosted their show announcement for the second half of the year.

Xanadu finishes on June 12th. After that we enter the 2nd half the year with a bang.

Neglected Musicals presents Baby from June 20th to 22nd before You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Calamity Jane, Songs For A New World,Trevor Ashley’s Liza’s Back! (is Broken), Sideshow and The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee.

It is definitely a jam-packed season that will see many Australian performers tread the stage.

For more information and to book tickets go to: http://www.hayestheatre.com.au/what-s-on/coming-soon/
Hayes Theatre, June- December 2016

Australian Cabaret Season

As the Australian Cabaret Season dawns upon us, here is a go-to list of what will be happening around Australia.
– Adelaide ( June 10-25) Adelaide Cabaret Festival http://www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au/

– Melbourne (June 14-26) Melbourne Cabaret Festival http://www.melbournecabaret.com/

– Sydney (Hayes Theatre, June 13-July 10) Hayes Theatre Cabaret Season http://www.hayestheatre.com.au/what-s-on/cabaret-season-2016/

– Brisbane (June 3-12) QLD Cabaret Festival http://brisbanepowerhouse.org/festivals/queensland-cabaret-festival-2016/

Theatre People Sings Industry Night

Theatre People is hosting a great night of performances at their Theatre People Sings Industry Night on June 27th in Melbourne. Performers include Gretel Scarlett (Singin’ in the Rain), Ed Grey (WICKED), Daniel Assetta (CATS), Jensen Overend (Fiddler on the Roof), Josh Robson (Les Miserables), Amanda Harrison (Witches) and John O’Hara (Songs For a New World). Tickets are available from Theatre People Sings Industry Night at the cost of $20.00 each https://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=204222

First Date cast announcement

Pursued by Bear (who brought us Tick…Tick…BOOM!) have announced their cast for their next show, First Date. A hilarious comedy about the awkwardness, thrill and trauma of a first date. This will be the professional Australian premiere of the Broadway musical.

The cast is lead by Rebecca Hetherington (Heathers) and Jordan Mahar (Einstein: Master of the Universe). Rounding out the cast are Nicole Melloy (Jersey Boys), Danielle O’Malley (South Pacific), Caleb Jago Ward (The Ten Tenors), Stephen Valeri (Pepper Pig Live!) and Daniel Cosgrove (Dogfight).

First Date shows at Chapel off Chapel for 9 shows only from September 2nd to 11th.

www.chapeloffchapel.com.au

Funny Girl full cast announcement

The full cast of Funny Girl was announced this week. Funny Girl is a 1963 musical based on the life and career of Broadway star, actress and comedian Fanny Brice. The show brought to us by The Production Company will star Caroline O’Connor, David Hobson, Nancye Hayes, Susan-Ann Walker, Greg Stone, Judith Roberts, David Ross Paterson and Luke Alleva.

The ensemble members are:
Blake Appelqvist, Andrea Arena, Daniel Assetta, Amy Berrisford, Jared Bryan, Sage Douglas, Danielle Evrat, Ashleigh Hauschild, Sam Hooper, Laura Inglesi, Sophia Katos, Kiara Kieser, Adam Noviello, Cassie O’Brien, Max Patterson, John Reed, Callum Sandercock, Priscilla Stavrou, Suzanne Steele and Brooke Synnott.

Funny Girl will show at The Arts Centre, Melbourne from July 23rd to July 31st for 10 shows only.

For more information go to: http://www.theproductioncompany.com.au/funny-girl/

OPENING SHOWS

NEW SOUTH WALES
Heathers- June 8th

CLOSING SHOWS

NEW SOUTH WALES
Xanadu – June 12th

QUEENSLAND
Little Shop of Horrors – June 12th

VICTORIA
Songs For a New World – June 12th

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Ghost – June 12th

AUSTRALIAN PERFORMER SPECIAL MENTIONS

Heathers The Musical

Heathers opened at The Sydney Opera House on Thursday, June 9th. The show will run till June 26th.
For tickets go to: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/tickets/reserveticket.aspx?productionnumber=125379&performancenumber=0

Home Grown
On Sunday, June 5th at Chapel off Chapel, Melbourne, the Australian theatre community came together to hear performers including the cast from Einstein: Master Of The Universe, Sound of Music, CATS and newlyweds Matthew Lee Robinson and Scott Morris. Hosted by Geraldine Quinn, it was a great night and those in attendance were treated to hearing what the next generation of writers have been producing.

Here is Scott Morris singing As Night Descends, accompanied by Matthew Lee Robinson.

A few photos:

Maryann Wright
Maryann Wright who has been performing on Australian reality show The Voice performed her last battle on the show on Monday night. She was not chosen to progress. You have done our community proud Maryann. For those wondering what is next, in three weeks Wright will travel to New York to take up her Equity Atlantic Scholarship. For six weeks, Wright will train at The Atlantic Acting School for 6 weeks.

For further information on the scholarship: http://www.equityfoundation.org.au/equity-news/equity-foundation-awards-atlantic-school-scholarship-to-maryann-wright.html

AUSSIES ABROAD

David Harris

David Harris is currently playing Billy Crocker in Goodspeed Musicals production of Anything Goes on stage in Connecticut (USA). The show finishes on June 16th.

Tim Minchin
Tim Minchin together with some of the cast and musicians of the musical Groundhog Day ( in which Minchin has written the music and lyrics for) performed “Seeing You” at the 20th South Bank Sky Arts awards on June 8th in London.