Opera Australia has announced the return season of ThePhantom 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 ThePhantom of the Opera has played to more than 160 million people in 205 cities across 58 territories, and in 21 languages.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
Producers John Frost, Colin Ingram and the creators of the original film trilogy Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis have announced that Axel Duffy will don the iconic puffer vest and ride the skateboard for the Australian Premiere season of BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical, taking on the role of Marty McFly—the time-traveling teen originally brought to life by Michael J. Fox in the classic 1985 film.
Mix Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller with a dash of Monty Python-style chaos, and you get The 39 Steps, a turbo-charged, Olivier and Tony Award-winning comedy. After playing more than three million audience members across 39 countries, from London’s West End to Broadway, this international hit, adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan, is reimagined and coming to Australia.