News

Bigger than Ben Hur? Chariot Race Spectacle Goes for Box Office Gold at Olympic Stadium.

Tonight (March 8) Sydney radio personality Alan Jones touted Ben Hur – The Stadium Spectacular as the biggest theatrical event ever seen in Australia.

Ben Hur – The Stadium Spectacular, beginning a world tour, will perform exclusively at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium for two nights only on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 October.

This is a Sydney exclusive performance. There will be no other performances in Australasia.

West Side Story - Subscribe Now to Win Tickets

American Director / Choreographer Joey McKneeley and his exciting young Australian cast are in the final week of rehearsals for West Side Story, which begins its Australian tour on July 1 at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre, Star City.

And Stage Whispers subscribers are in the running to win tickets in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.

Keating Banned then Unbanned.

Keating! The Musical makes its Tasmanian Premiere this week – but all the action has been off stage.

Michael Gow to Depart QTC

 Michael Gow, currently in his 11th year as Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre Company, will leave the Company to pursue freelance writing and directing. He has declined the Board’s offer of a further contract following the expiry of his current contract, due in August 2010. It is anticipated that Gow will program the major part of the 2011 season and continue his relationship with the Company as a freelance artist.

FULL HOUSE CATS.

More than a thousand people packed the Canberra Theatre to toast and celebrate another year of vintage community theatre on February 20.

HITS MISS OUT, WHILE BOX OFFICE LOSERS PROSPER.

Each year taxpayers pay millions to tour shows to regional Australia. A special investigation by Stage Whispers reporter David Spicer reveals that productions with limited audience appeal are getting funding while potential hits are snubbed.

A new musical and a neglected musical.

A big musical theatre announcement for next year, and a significantly smaller one for next month, were made today (February 15).

35th Annual Robert Finley Awards

The 35th Annual Robert Finley Awards, Western Australia’s Community Theatre Awards, attracted the highest attendance in over ten years, with nearly 450 people gathering to hear the results.

SIMON BURKE KEEPS ON KISSING.

In big demand in the West End and in North America, Australian singer and actor Simon Burke has hit a purple patch playing leads in The Sound of Music and La Cage Aux Folles. He spoke with Peter Pinne about his career, on stage kissing and his newly released album.

Amanda Harrison Departs Wicked – Jemma Rix and Pippa Grandison to Share Elphaba

It was announced on February 9, 2010, that Amanda Harrison (pictured here with Jemma Rix at the Sydney launch), who has played the role of Elphaba, the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West in the musical Wicked since it opened in Melbourne two years ago, is moving on.