News

Spring Awakening

Sydney-based independent theatre company Stagetek Productions is producing multi-award winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening for a very limited season in June 2014.

The winner of eight Tony Awards in 2007 including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score, Spring Awakening, with its modern rock score,is based upon Franz Wedekind’s 1906 play of the same name, which was banned at the time due to its confrontational content. The musical also received four Drama Desk Awards, while the original cast recording won a Grammy Award.

2014 Tony Award Winners

The 68th Tony Awards were presented at New York's Radio City Music Hall on Sunday June 8, hosted by Hugh Jackman.

Audra McDonald took out a record-breaking sixth Tony Award — the most of any actor ever —for her performance as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. Shw became the first performer to take out Tonys in all four acting categories.

Awards  were spread across seven musicals and six plays.

JOHN FROST AND LYNDON TERRACINI AWARDED AUSTRALIAN HONOURS

It was announced today that both leading Australian theatre producer John Frost and Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini have been awarded an AM (Member in the General Division) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

John Frost had been awarded an OAM in 1999, and this year was upgraded to an AM for “Significant service in the performing arts, and as a supporter of industry personnel.” Lyndon Terracini was awarded the AM for “Significant service in the performing arts as an opera performer, director and administrator”.

Anthony Warlow’s Broadway ‘Insult’

Music Theatre Superstar Anthony Warlow is returning home for a national concert series after experiencing what he describes as the ‘insult’ of living and performing on Broadway. He spoke to David Spicer from New York about the differences between the Australian and Broadway Music Theatre scenes.

Anthony Warlow had just finished his stretch as Daddy Warbucks in Annie last year, in the Broadway production directed by James Lapine, when he returned to Australia for a concert.

Debut Play for Sydney Writer

For new Sydney writer Jordy Shea, finding a company that nurtures up and coming theatre makers proved to be easier than expected. His first play, It’s Been a While will debut at the King Street Theatre, presented by Smoking Gum Theatre from July 16-19.

It will be Smoking Gum’s second production, after Colony which played during the Sydney Fringe in 2013 at the TAP Gallery. Founded by Lucinda Vitek and Eunice Huang, the company is one of the many emerging groups of artists keen to stamp their mark on the Sydney theatre scene.

The King and Jason

Jason Scott Lee joins the cast of the King and I for the Melbourne season only, opening on June 12th. Coral Drouyn caught up with him during rehearsals, to chat about revisiting the role he conquered in London’s West End in 2000.

The Wizardry of Reg

Iconic performer Reg Livermore hsa returned to the stage as the Wizard in Wicked. He talked to Coral Drouyn about things past and present, and his own particular magic of a lifetime in theatre.

Hayes Theatre Co Cabaret Season 2014

For six weeks from June 2 to July 13, 2014, Sydney’s Hayes Theatre Co is turning into an exclusively cabaret venue.

Hayes Theatre Co will play host to experienced masters of the craft of cabaret including as Mark Nadler, David Campbell and John Bucchino, Rhonda Burchmore and Donna Lee; up-and-coming young stars like Tom Sharah, Gillian Cosgriff, Brendan Hay, Matt Gilbertson, and Hilary Cole; and even a show where the two worlds meet – Phil Scott’s collaboration with Blake Bowden, Mario.

Pete the Sheep: On Tour

Monkey Baa Theatre Company is touring a new 50-minute musical based on Jackie French and Bruce Whatley’s quintessentially Australian picture book to 54 venues this year.

It’s about Shaun, the sheep shearer, and Pete, a sheep, who set up their own shearing salon and are inundated with woolly clients. The composer/lyricist is Phil Scott, best known as pianist / performer in The Wharf Review. Neil Litchfield asked him about the challenge of writing songs for children.

New Comedies On The Move

Two seriously comic new plays feature characters on the move — by presidential jet plane or by cruise ship. FRANK HATHERLEY talks to their very grounded directors. In Melbourne, the director is working with three first-time playwrights. In Sydney, the director is working with Australia’s most successful playwright: himself.

Sam Strong, at 37, has directed very many new Australian plays. “I grew up theatrically”, he says, “directing new work at all the usual Melbourne independent venues.”

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