Saturday Night Fever Hits Melbourne in January 2026

Drew Anthony Creative will bring their production of the musical Saturday Night Fever to Melbourne, direct from a successful Perth season. This marks the return of Drew Anthony to Melbourne's stages after nearly two decades. This reimagined version of the show will have audiences grabbing their boogie shoes and dancing in the aisles.

In this beloved ’70s throwback, Tony Manero, a nineteen-year-old Brooklynite paint store clerk, spends his weekends moonlighting at a local disco, as the king of the dance floor. When he and mesmerizing dancer Stephanie enter a dance competition, the pair’s professional partnership blossoms into a deep friendship, and challenges them both to reflect on what’s important in life, amidst rising social tensions and disillusionment.

Based on the 1977 cult film, Saturday Night Fever, which became a cultural milestone, that reshaped music, fashion and film in the 1970s, featured an Academy award nominated John Travolta. The timeless soundtrack, packed with disco classics including the Bee Gees’ hits “Stayin’ Alive”, “How Deep Is Your Love”, “Night Fever”, “Tragedy” and “More Than A Woman”, has sold more than 45 million copies, ranking amongst the best-selling albums in history. The show is set to take over Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne from January 8th, 2026.

Drew Anthony’s production, a new version of this much-loved classic, explores the complexities of human connection. The show examines underlying themes including escapism, social aspiration, and working-class identity, as Tony uses the allure of the dance floor as a place to escape from his dead-end life. Audiences will be propelled into the gritty streets of downtown Brooklyn, thanks to a modern new set featuring high-definition digital scenery that incorporates iconic scenes from the hit film. The 2024 Perth production garnered BroadwayWorld Awards Perth 2024 for Best Direction, Best Scenic Design, and Best Performer.

Director Drew Anthony said, “I am thrilled to be returning to Melbourne stages next year with this fabulous show! Saturday Night Fever is a brilliant production that cleverly uses music and dancing to explore its characters' search for identity and a place in the world. The cast we have assembled for this show is phenomenal and they have rightfully earned their place after a huge audition process. There is nowhere else I would rather be taking this show right now than Melbourne and I can’t wait for audiences to see it!”

Saturday Night Fever will play at the Athenaeum Theatre from January 8^th until January 25^th, 2026. Directed by Drew Anthony with choreography by Jamie & Suzi Rolton, this new production of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER promises to “thrust this cult classic to dazzling new heights bringing the amazing disco soundtrack to life!”

Tickets are now on sale for Saturday Night Fever via www.ticketmaster.com.au. 

CAST

CREATIVES

Based on the Paramount/RSO Film and story by Nik Cohn. Adapted for the stage by Robert Stigwood and assisted by Bill Oakes. Edited by Ryan McBryde. By arrangement with David Spicer Productions.

ABOUT DREW ANTHONY

Drew Anthony has had an extensive career in the creative and performing arts, both in Australia and internationally. He started as a musical theatre performer and later became a Creative Director, Event Director/Choreographer, and Producer. His experience spans arts and cultural festivals, corporate and civic events, national and international ceremonies, live broadcast, professional theatre productions, and major concert events.

His creative work includes producing, directing, and choreographing numerous musical theatre productions such as Little Shop of Horrors, Footloose the Musical, The Wedding Singer, Saturday Night Fever, A Chorus Line, and Strictly Ballroom the Musical. He has also served as a Senior Creative for large-scale events like the Sydney 2000 Olympic Closing Ceremony, Winter Olympics Vancouver, Rugby World Cup 2011, White Night Melbourne and Ballarat, State of Origin, World Handball Championships and the Asian Games Doha 2006.

As a performer, he has appeared in musical theatre productions such as Hot Shoe Shuffle, 42nd Street, Cats, and Me and My Girl, touring internationally. He was also a motion capture actor/choreographer for the feature film, Happy Feet.

Drew has received several awards including Fred Astaire World Tap Champion (1984), Queensland Young Citizen of the Year (1985), Mo Awards for Best Choreography (Jolson, 2000) and Achievement in Musical Theatre (2001) and Finley Awards for Best Choreographer and Best Director for 42nd Street (2022). More recently, he received BroadwayWorld Australia awards for Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical for Strictly Ballroom (2023), and multiple awards for Saturday Night Fever (2024) and The Wedding Singer (2024).