Category: THEATRE

MELBOURNE: Chicago is coming to stage in Australia

Chicago Melbourne

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Updated: 13/06/2019

So, Chicago’s back in town and turning it out with big dancing name Jason Donovan as Billy Flynn. He’ll take on the role of the cunning and charismatic lawyer, making Donovan’s first time in such a role on stage, alongside Australian products Natalie Bassingthwaighte and singer Casey Donovan as everyone’s favourite Matron ‘Mama’ Morton, famous for her song ‘When you’re good to mama’. The Kander & Ebb musical has been seen by over 31 million people worldwide in 36 countries and is the winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy Award. Chicago continues to play on Broadway and around the world in multiple languages and is the longest running American musical in Broadway and West End history. Chicago tells the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer Billy Flynn to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids. It’s a sensation of a story that’ll be a sensation on stage. For more info and to get your own tickets, check out the Chicago website.

Category: CITIES, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE, THEATRE

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Saturday Night Fever in Sydney: The season’s must-see disco fest

Saturday Night Fever

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Posted: 25/05/2019

Take a step back in time to when extravagant sequined clothing was pretty standard on a Saturday night, the disco club scene was hot and dancing was high energy, sophisticated and positively sexual. Add some of the funkiest Bee Gees disco tracks to this scenario and what do you have? One the most entertaining stage shows to hit Sydney – Saturday Night Fever. Just to take it up a notch, let’s throw in an appearance from Australia’s original disco diva Marcia Hines. Saturday Night Fever has been running at the Lyric Theatre since April 2019 and has been wowing crowds with its sensational choreography since, but sadly the production is coming to an end, wrapping up on 2 June 2019. Based on the original 1977 movie starring John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever the stage show features all your favourite Bee Gee hits including Night Fever, Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, You Should Be Dancing, More Than A Woman, How Deep Is Your Love, Tragedy, Jive Talkin’ and more. Plus, you’ll also get to seat dance to other great disco hits such as Boogie Shoes and If I Can’t Have You. The original movie and its enormous success back in the 70’s was credited with extending the life of disco, as the trend was initially on its way out. Fast forward to 2019 and here we are, revisiting those memories and celebrating one of the most popular music movements of the last 60 years. The incredibly talented cast of the Australian production of Saturday… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY, THEATRE

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Barnum review in Melbourne: Todd McKenney returns to the stage

Barnum Todd McKenney

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Posted: 05/05/2019

In an age where flim-flam, fake new, and alternative facts are an unfortunate norm, it seems almost wrong to spend two hours watching a production about the originator of the concept. However, when the entertainment factor is as high as in the current production of Barnum – the Circus Musical then it is worth the cringe about the current state of affairs. The title role of P.T. Barnum is traditionally the most pivotal role in this classic musical, Todd McKenney delivers a high energy, characterful, charismatic portrayal of the legendary Prince of humbug peppered with comedic asides to the audience unexpectedly breaking character for a laugh, though sometimes too frequently. Rachel Beck as Charity Barnum provides great balance to McKenney and together they have a wonderful chemistry on stage, evident from having worked together numerous times, as far back as the 1987 production of Cats. As a pair, they shared some truly touching moments during their main duets: ‘The Colours of my Life’ and ‘I Like your Style’. Yet, the surprise turn, and, in my eyes, the star of the show was Kirby Burgess as the Ringmaster. In a delightful gender-blind casting, Burgess commands the stage and effortlessly transforms into each of the historically significant characters that interact with Barnum’s story. Her brassy, soulful voice skilfully transforms with each new character. It is a combination of these elements, including a stellar ensemble and some very talented circus performers, all brought together by the incredible set and costume design of Dann Barber, that brought this iconic… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, THEATRE

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Shakespeare in Sydney: See The Tempest at the Seymour Centre

The Tempest - Amy Usherwood and Drew Livington by Seiya Taguchi

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Updated: 19/04/2019

For those comprehension of the English language is adept enough to throw it right back tot he 15th century, then rejoice, Shakespeare’s back in Sydney. One of the Bard’s truly original and most personal plays, The Tempest is a symphonic vision of forgiveness, discovery and self-discovery – famous for its language, context, enchanting characters and breathtaking theatricality. It’s this is a reflection of the world’s most famous playwright at the height of his powers and at the end of his remarkable career and this month, is on at the Seymour Centre in Sydney. This year’s production is by Sydney theatre group, Sport for Jove and will appear at The Seymour Centre played house to this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, hosting such epic productions as Briefs and KING. This 100-minute production of The Tempest compresses the action of the play while retaining the joy and magic. Now in its third season, this production from Artistic Director Damien Ryan will delight students and adults alike. Get tickets for only $28 and see more here.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY, THEATRE

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A camp July: Sydney Cabaret Festival is back

Sydney Cabaret Festival

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Posted: 13/03/2019

If simply uttering the name “Liza” makes your knees weak and the thought of sitting alone in your room brings you utter, feather-curling dismay, then worry not; the Sydney Cabaret Festival is back in July 2019. This year, the festival will be celebrating both international and Australian cabaret stars, tickets for whom to see, you can grab from 18 March. Complete with legendary Tony Award-winning Jennifer Holliday, appearing for the first time on Australian soil, alongside local legends like Phil Scott and Jonathan Biggins, to New York downtown darling Natalie Joy Johnson, it’ll be a festival of note. And not-even-withstanding the venues on offer around town this year, such as Sydney Town Hall, City Recital Hall and the Festival Hub at the Seymour Centre. The Seymour Centre is the home to the majority of the program with five fabulous spaces to enjoy the incredible lineup. All the theatres have been renamed after legendary Sydney cabaret venues, turning the entire venue into a Cabaret Wonderland. It’s all holds barred this Sydney Cabaret Festival. Straight from the UK, one of their most famous duos, Frisky and Mannish will return after a ten year hiatus, as does the thrilling diva Alison Jiear, described as having a “bring down the house voice” by the New York Times. Sydney favourite Tim Draxl will appear in a world premiere of his new show, along with Kim David Smith, Reuben Kaye and Brian Nash, plus circus and variety show Cheeky Cabaret, direct from their home in Brunswick Heads. Australian pop culture fan Tim Benzie returns to Sydney with the hilarious Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote. The Festival also includes a cabaret for… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, THEATRE

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Melbourne theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is on in August

Charlie Chocolate Factory 3

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Posted: 12/03/2019

If your childhood dreams of binge eating chocolate in a factory made of dreams never quite came true, then give it a second chance: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is coming to Melbourne in August. Playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre, it will follow a hugely successful season in Sydney. Tickets will go on sale on Friday 15 March at 1pm.  Willy Wonka, the most amazing, fantastic, extraordinary chocolate maker the world has ever seen, is played by Paul Slade Smith. Slade Smith was part of the original Broadway cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, appearing as Grandpa George, and most recently appeared in the Broadway revival of My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center. Ninety and a half year old Grandpa Joe, an enthusiastic storyteller and eternal optimist, is played by Australian show business royalty Tony Sheldon. Sheldon is best known for playing the role of Bernadette in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert for over 1,900 performances in Australia, New Zealand, London, Toronto and on Broadway, winning the Theatre World Award and nominations for the Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical, the Drama Desk Award, the Drama League Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award. In the role of Mrs Bucket, a kind, caring mother and a woman of few words, is Lucy Maunder. Most recently Lucy played songwriter Cynthia Weil in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and prior to that toured New Zealand, Adelaide and Perth in Matilda: The Musical, in which she played Miss Honey and was nominated for a Helpmann Award. Jake Fehily and Octavia Barron Martin play Augustus Gloop and Mrs Gloop, Karina Russell and Stephen Anderson are… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, THEATRE

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The bard is back: Shakespeare by the Bay is on again in Sydney

Shakespeare Sydney 3

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Updated: 18/02/2019

Back by popular demand, Shakespeare By The Bay by Bard On The Beach, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel and the Woollahra Council, brings world-renowned Shakespearean performances to life. Get your ‘tithers’, ‘whithers’, thines and mines and all your oxymorons ready as the magic of the words of William grace the beach to the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour. It’s kind of like the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, only Shakespeare. The troupe will be putting on classics like The Life and Death of King John as well as The Comedy of Errors all from Robertson Park in Watsons Bay. Performances will run during the evening over two weeks 1st March – 10th March, from Friday through to Sunday. And you can even bring your dog! This year will also introduce Bard & Bark for the performance on 3 March of “The Comedy of Errors”. A dog friendly evening for you to enjoy the works of Shakespeare with the WHOLE family. See the wonder of William’s work at: The Life and Death of King John: Friday 1st, Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th The Comedy of Errors: Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd, Friday 8th Time: 7:30pm – 10:15pm Get tickets at the website.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, THEATRE

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Who’s who? The cast of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour has been announced

West Side story

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Posted: 08/02/2019

They’re doing something different this year. Every year, Opera Australia puts on a grand outdoor performance of their headline act for the autumn-winter season, but this year, they’re trying something new. The Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour (HOSH) isn’t doing an opera this year, rather a modern production of West Side Story and the cast is epic. They’ll take to Opera Australia’s famous over-water stage and join opera/musical crossover stars Julie Lea Goodwin and Alexander Lewis, the role of the fiery Anita will be played by Melbourne-born Karli Dinardo, who is gaining attention as a rising musical theatre star in the U.S., with performances in Hamilton(National Tour), West Side Story (Carnegie Hall), and the starring role in Flashdance (National Tour). Karli will be joined on stage by her sister, Luca Dinardo, who will play the tomboy Anybodys, pitching the sisters against each other on opposing sides of the famous West Side Story gang rivalry. “I was blown away by the calibre of Australian performers that auditioned,” said Associate Director and Choreographer, Julio Monge. See it from 22 March to 21 April 2019, or for more, go to the Opera Australia website.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, OPERA, THEATRE

Saturday Night Fever is coming to Sydney with sparkling new cast

Saturday Night Fever

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Posted: 04/02/2019

The lol-times movie from the 70s that glued John Travolta in our minds with those killer dance moves is making it stage debut in Sydney this year with a brand new line-up. Australian theatre producer John Frost recently announced the leading performers and the rest of the cast of the iconic hit musicalSaturday Night Fever, which will premiere in Sydney at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from 27 March 2019. The production’s lead role of Tony Manero has gone to rising star Euan Doidge, Helpmann Award nominated for his role in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, after performing in Les Miserables, A Chorus Line and the Gordon Frost Organisation’s Grease and Legally Blonde. Needless to say, he’s up to the part. As Stephanie Mangano, the best dancer at the nightclub, will be Melanie Hawkins. Melanie has previously appeared in Singin’ In The Rain, Strictly Ballroom the Musical, King Kong Live on Stage and Rock of Ages. Paying homage to the classic movie, Saturday Night Fever will be packed with disco classics, including the Bee Gees’ greatest hits Stayin’ Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever, Tragedy and More Than A Woman. Saturday Night Fever tells the story of 19-year-old Tony Manero, a Brooklyn youth whose weekend is spent at the local discotheque, where life lights up on the disco floor. There, Tony luxuriates in the admiration of the crowd and a growing relationship with Stephanie Mangano, and where he can temporarily forget the realities of his life, including a dead-end job in a paint store and his gang of deadbeat friends. See more at the production’s website.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY, THEATRE

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Gay and Loathing in Bris Vegas: Coming to screens in 2019

Gay Loathing Bris Vegas 1

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Posted: 21/12/2018

There’s a 14-part web series coming to the internet in 2019 that everyone – especially the gays – needs to watch. It’s about Australia’s most fervently boringly brilliant city: Brisbane. But more notably, what exactly the marginal percentage of people who identify themselves as part of the city’s LGBTIQ community do to fill the time, and how that all unfolds. Set in the historic city of Brisbane, Australia, Gay and Loathing in Bris Vegas explores the lives of seven central characters over the course of two days in the cul-de-sacs of where they live. The blueprint for the characters are portrayed by local Brisbane actors Sean Dennehy, Leigh Buchanan, Paul Newlands, Michael Deed, Josh Walker, Peter Wood, Jake Orlando-Cowan is based on the comedy scripts written by John B. Uren and Craig Rossiter. It all explores what happens when the most exciting thing in town is a man-made beach. It tells the self-deprecating tale of a popular-with-the-gays city in a tracksuit where sequins come to die and how the Brisgays survive. They go to breakfast, they glare. They go to brunch, they loathe. They go to Instagram, they judge. They go to Grindr, they regret. They end up at Sporty’s and wonder why. Presented by Cloudland Pictures, “It’s the Kath and Kim of gay Brisbane. It’s suburban Australia brought to life with hysterical comedy”, says Leigh Buchanan, who portrays Garette, a bored homemaker who loves to drink and is the partner of Nathan (played by Sean Dennehy). Have a look at the cast talk about the new… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, BRISBANE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, THEATRE

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