News

2011 Tony Nominations

Leading the nominations for Broadway’s 2011 Tony Awards with 14 nominations is musical The Book of Mormon, The Scottsboro Boys follows with 12, then revivals of Anything Goes with 9 and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying with 8. The Merchant of Venice leads in the non-musical theatre stakes with 7 nominations.

Caroline O'Connor's Mrs Lovett - Toast of Paris

Caroline O’Connor was called to Paris two weeks into rehearsals to take over the role of Mrs Lovett in the first French production of Sweeney Todd at The Chatelet Theatre.

Stephen Sondheim flew to Paris to see opening night, and is quoted in the French media as saying Caroline is the best Mrs Lovett he has ever heard.

Priscilla Receives Four Nominations

Australian musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert has received four Outer Critics Circle nominations for its Broadway production. The nominations are for Most Outstanding New Broadway Musical, Tony Sheldon (Outstanding Actor in a Musical), Ross Coleman (Outstanding Choreographer) and Tim Chappel & Lizzie Gardiner (Outstanding Costume Design). 

Rodney Rigby

Mr. Jersey Boys Wants to Keep Rock Musicals Going for Ages.

Reg Livermore – Up Close and Personal

Two stage legends and self described ‘Drama Queens,’ Reg Livermore and Nancye Hayes, are taking Australians down memory lane in a new production called TURNS. While Dirty Dancing it ain’t, Reg Livermore told Peter Pinne he’ll take audiences on an unpredictable journey – as he reflected on 50 years of show business.

Peter Pinne: Your new show is called TURNS. What exactly is it about?

Love Never Dies – Inside Rehearsals

Love Never Dies threw the doors of its rehearsal room open to the media on Wednesday March 20, after two and a half weeks of rehearsal. Neil Litchfield was there, and spoke to members of the cast and creative team.

Developing a New Aussie Musical

Sydney-based musical theatre development initiative New Musicals Australia held its inaugural workshops during March. Two new Australian musicals, a.voidand A Little Touch of Chaos (by the writers of The Hatpin) were workshopped, culminating in showcase performances, while eight other new musicals were shown to industry panels in shorter presentations.

Neil Litchfield spoke to Neil Gooding (director) and James Millar (writer) of A Little Touch of Chaosabout the workshop.

Jemma Rix: Defying Gravity

Meet the Rising Wicked Witch of the West.

For Jemma Rix, the popular star of the musical Wicked, it has been a meteoric rise. She’s soared from the ensemble of her local musical society on the NSW Central Coast to the plum role of green witch Elphaba. Jemma spoke to Neil Litchfield as she prepared for the Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth seasons.

Neil Litchfield: How do you prepare for a performance as the green witch Elphaba?

Choreographing Grease

When Brisbane’s Harvest Rain Theatre Company stage Grease at the Playhouse, QPAC, from May 6, Callum Mansfield’s choreography will be a major feature of the production.

Mary Poppins in Sydney

Mary Poppins has commenced previews at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre, with opening night on May 5, following a hugely successful, award-winning, Melbourne season. Stage Whispers had the opportunity to chat with cast members Verity Hunt-Ballard (Mary Poppins), Sally-Anne Upton (Mrs Brill) and Christopher Rickerby (Robertson Ay) prior to the opening night.