News

Vale Jon English

David Spicer remembers Jon English.

My fondest memory of Jon English was sitting in his front garden in Rozelle as he strummed out on the guitar a song from the musical Paris he wrote with David Mackay.

No matter how worse for wear he was, he could always switch back on his extraordinary talent as a performer, to recall lyrics he had penned decades past.

Arts Leaders Silenced by Cash Inducements

One of Australia’s leading arts administrators has described cuts to the Australia Council and the reaction by arts leaders to those cuts as a disgrace. David Spicer reports.

Michael Lynch, the former CEO of the Sydney Opera House,and London’s Southbank, today (9 March 2016) described the 40 million dollar cut to the Australia Council last year as “one of the worst pieces of bad administration I have seen in almost 40 years of working in this sector.

Spotlight on In the Heights

Stevie Lopez stars as Usnavi in StageArt’s return season of In The Heights, next week at The National Theatre, St Kilda. The Tony Award winning musical is written by the same composer/writer as the current Broadway smash Hamilton. David Spicer spoke to Stevie about his latest role and his recent experiences of working on Pirates of the Caribbean and Here Come The Habibs.

David Spicer: For those who nothing about In The Heights how would you describe it?

Melbourne’s von Trapp Children Announced

Producers Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian, John Frost and the Really Useful Group have announced the 18 children who have been cast in the Melbourne season of The Sound of Music. There will be three different casts alternating in the roles of the six youngest von Trapp children during the Melbourne season.

STAGE WHISPERS MAGAZINE: MARCH / APRIL 2016 EDITION OUT NOW!!!

In This Edition

• The Trunchformation - James Miller transforms into Matilda’s Miss Truncbull

• A Bewdiful Life - Mark Mitchell, alias Con the Fruiter, is now Fiddler’s butcher

• Oz Musicals in US - The Boy From Oz and Atomic play regional America

• Co-Starring with Puppets - Esther Hannaford on playing opposite Audrey 2 and King Kong

2015 Matilda Awards

In a double first, the Matilda Awards have bestowed just one Gold Matilda as its pinnacle, and honoured the recipient posthumously.

This ultimate accolade recognised late legend Carol Burns’ lifetime achievement, which culminated in a final outstanding performance last year in Queensland Theatre Company’s Happy Days, for which she also received a Silver Matilda award nomination.

No Shrinking Violet

With the musical Violet set to open in Melbourne this week, director and award winning performer sat down to chat with Coral Drouyn about this very special show.

Our Simba For West End

Disney Theatrical Productions has announced that Nick Afoa will transfer to the London production of THE LION KING as Simba when the Australian season of the concludes on Sunday 28 February, 2016. 

It will be the first time Afoa has ever visited London and only his second professional theatre role. He made his stage debut as lion cub Simba in the homegrown production of THE LION KING in 2013. 

Aladdin Casting Announced

Casting has been announced for Disney’s new musical comedy, Aladdin. The predominantly Australian and New Zealand cast will be joined by Broadway performer Michael James Scott in the role of the Genie.

Based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, Aladdin will open in Sydney at the Capitol Theatre in August 2016.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, 8th of March, 2016.

The cast for Aladdin has been announced after intense and competitive auditions throughout Australia.

Home Grown in Fertile Ground

Home Grown is still growing strong with the announcement of a brand new Songbook Feature. Coral Drouyn has the news.

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