News

Axel Duffy To Play Marty McFly In Back To The Future: The Musical

Image: Axel Duffy. Photographer: Don Arnold

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.

The 39 Steps To Tour

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.

Melbourne Season of MJ The Musical Announced

The producers of MJ THE MUSICAL have officially confirmed that the Olivier and four-time Tony Award-winning musical will play in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre from September 2025.

The Australian premiere season of MJ is the fifth production of the global hit musical since it premiered on Broadway in February 2022. With celebrated runs in London, Germany and across the US, Melbourne audiences are next in line.

Calamity Jane Returns to Sydney

Image: Virginia Gay as Calamity Jane (2025). Photo Credit: Harvey House

Take a rollicking ride through the Wild West as the musical Calamity Jane returns Sydney, playing at the Sydney Opera House in an exclusive season from 14 October – 16 November.  

Complete Sydney Cast For The Book of Mormon

Producers of the Tony®, Olivier®, and Grammy® award-winning production The Book Of Mormon, have announced the final casting for the production which is opening in Sydney in July 2025. 

Musicals in 2025

Image: Michael Paynter and Ensemble in Jesus Christ Superstar. Photographer: Jeff Busby

A swag of hit Broadway and West End musicals never before seen in Australia will wend their way around the country in 2025, alongside some old favourites to tap the nostalgia buttons.

The post Covid era, along with high interest rates, combined to encourage conservative choices by musical theatre producers. The year ahead is the most innovative in a long time.

 

Karis Oka To Play Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice The Musical

Michael Cassel Group, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, and Langley Park Productions have announced that the role of Lydia Deetz, the peculiar and quick-witted teenager with a penchant for the afterlife, in BEETLEJUICE will be played by Karis Oka. 

Pick of the Plays 2025

In 2025 The Bard is back, along with some blockbuster Australian plays, world premieres, classics updated and Indigenous works. David Spicer picks some of the highlights. 

 

All the world’s a stage for Shakespeare in Australia in the year ahead.

 

Cats Returns To Its Original Australian Home After 40 Years

UPDATE: Producer John Frost for Crossroads Live has announced that following the previously annouced season at Theatre Royal Sydney from 17 June, CATS would also be playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide from September and at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne from December. Waitlist now to be first in line to buy tickets in Adelaide and Melbourne at www.catsthemusical.com.au

The Choreographer on Easy Street

Unpublished

Debora Krizak – Miss Hannigan in