News

The Phantom Returns to Sydney Harbour

Opera Australia has announced the return season of The Phantom of the Opera, to the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage in 2026, kicking off the show’s global 40th anniversary celebrations.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera has played to more than 160 million people in 205 cities across 58 territories, and in 21 languages.

Ben Hall To Join Samantha Jade In Pretty Woman

Star of stage and screen Ben Hall will be joining Samantha Jade in the cast of Pretty Woman: The Musical, which makes its debut at QPAC Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in Brisbane in October before debuting at Theatre Royal Sydney from November.

Based on the iconic film, Ben will play the role of Edward Lewis, famously played by Richard Gere and is joining Samantha Jade, who will play the role made famous across the globe by the much-loved Julia Roberts.

STAGE WHISPERS MAGAZINE: JULY AUGUST 2025 EDITION OUT NOW!!!

IN THIS EDITION

Purr-fect Return

Todd McKenney and choreographer Chrissie Cartwright on Cats

Praise Be, Or Cancel It?

The Book of Mormon comes knocking at our Stage Doors again

Bleeding for Kimberley Akimbo

Mitchell Butel on Kimberley Akimbo and his new role at the STC

A Step in Time

The Choreographer on Easy Street

Debora Krizak – Miss Hannigan in

Samantha Jade to Star in Pretty Woman. Sydney Season Announced.

Samantha Jade will star as Vivian in the upcoming Broadway and West End musical PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical, which makes its debut at QPAC Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in Brisbane in October before debuting at Theatre Royal Sydney from November.

Based on the iconic film, Samantha will play the role made famous worldwide by the much-loved Julia Roberts.

When Everything Wrong is RIGHT

The Play That Goes Wrong has returned to Australia and New Zealand.

PUSH IT! Undercover Artist Festival 2025 Launch.

Beth Keehn reports

For one week from 22 to 27 September 2025, Undercover Artist Festival (UAF) will take over Queensland Theatre’s (QT’s) stages. Festival Director, Maddie Little, launched her PUSH IT! program with a packed studio of fans and followers at QT’s Diane Cilento Studio on 19 June.

Reuben Kaye Artistic Director For Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2026

Image: Reuben Kaye - Photo by Claudio Raschella

Adelaide Festival Centre has announced multi-award-winning Australian comedian, singer, and writer Reuben Kaye will take on the role of Artistic Director for the 2026 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

During the final weekend of the  cabaret festival, current Artistic Director Virginia Gay handed over the reins to Reuben Kaye at the sold-out 25th Birthday Party in the Banquet Room. 

Tony Awards 2025

Australian Actress Sarah Snook and Costume Designer Marg Horwell have each won a Tony Award for the play The Picture of Dorian Gray.

In her acceptance speech Snook said “This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway… it is billed as a one person show, but I don’t feel alone on any night that I do this show. There are so may people on stage making it work, and so many people behind the stage making it work – in particular a huge thank you to [adapter and director] Kip Williams who is incredible to create this.”

Access all the way: Swinging and Spinning with the Crooners

Tim McCallum (The Wizard of Oz, The Voice, Jesus Christ Superstar) is bringing a new version of his freewheeling, swinging singing show, The Crooners, to the Redland Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) for one night only on 12 June. Beth Keehn caught up with the show’s creator, director and star, and his co-director/producer, Paul Adam (Matilda Awards, IndelArts), to find out more about The Crooners: Swinging and Spinning, and the group’s quest for inclusive casting and accessible theatre.

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