The Australian production of Green Day’s American Idiot, the high-octane rock musical, has just announced a national tour in 2018. Following critical and audience acclaim at its Australian premiere in Brisbane earlier this year, this multi-Helpmann Award® nominated show is now set to melt faces and hearts across the country.
Continue reading Green Day’s Explosive, Award-Winning Musical Returns
Tag Archives: musical
Review : WICKED the Musical – Lyric Theatre, QPAC Brisbane – February 15, 2015
Review by Connor Blythe
Wicked is the most awarded new musical and has grabbed the attention of theatre goers in recent years. It tells the untold story of unadulterated loathing and friendship between two unlikely but no so different friends. One born with emerald-green skin who is the social outcast while the other is popular, self-absorbed and determined to get what she wants. These two girls soon become The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
Continue reading Review : WICKED the Musical – Lyric Theatre, QPAC Brisbane – February 15, 2015
MARY POPPINS in Brisbane from January 2012 [Theatre News & Tickets]
Brilliantly adapted from the beloved books by Australia’s own P.L.Travers and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film, MARY POPPINS is playing in Brisbane from January 2012…
This spectacular production includes all of the best loved songs from the film including CHIM CHIM CHER-EE, A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR, JOLLY HOLIDAY, STEP IN TIME, FEED THE BIRDS and SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS.
Continue reading MARY POPPINS in Brisbane from January 2012 [Theatre News & Tickets]
WICKED @ QPAC’s Lyric Theatre, Brisbane from 11 January 2011 [Theatre News]
WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (‘My So Called Life,”Once And Again’ and ‘thirtysomething’), and is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. With musical staging by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…), WICKED is directed by 2003 and 2004 Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Assassins, Take Me Out, Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune). Continue reading WICKED @ QPAC’s Lyric Theatre, Brisbane from 11 January 2011 [Theatre News]
On the Road to Somewhere – Alinta Chidzey in West Side Story [Feature Article]
By: Pepa Wolfe
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Actress Alinta Chidzey is wowing audiences as she burns up the floor in West Side Story, bringing sass and charm to the role of Anita. Life Music Media caught up with her for the Brisbane leg of the Australian Tour. For someone who has just taken a quick break from an intense tech week to talk to the media, Alinta Chidzey appears very relaxed. |
It’s a sunny day at Southbank in Brisbane, where the cast and crew of the classic musical West Side Story are busily preparing to launch the next leg of their Australian tour. Chidzey sits sipping an orange juice and speaks enthusiastically about the role of Anita – the fiery Puerto Rican immigrant unwillingly caught up in a 50s gang war – for which she is receiving rave reviews.
Continue reading On the Road to Somewhere – Alinta Chidzey in West Side Story [Feature Article]
Jesus Christ Superstar @ Playhouse Theatre, 20th August 2010 – Live Review
Review: Lana Harris
Rocking great guitar riffs fill the sold out venue, slow notes trembling across the grey walls of a ruined cathedral set, preparing the audience to receive the voice of Tod Strike. As Judas, he opens the narrative by launching into ‘Heaven on Their Minds’, a song which allows Strike to demonstrate a truly commanding voice and worthy of one of the lead roles in this production.
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This reimagining of the original production of Jesus Christ Superstar (first performed in 1971) has a pared back, post apocalyptic set that doesn’t change, and puts the focus on the singing, as does the score – which tells the whole narrative by using more than 20 songs to move the story forward. Not a single piece of dialogue is presented without a backing melody. The basic storyline is easy to follow – easier if you’re familiar with the story of Jesus, because even though this is a post apocalyptic version of a musical first performed in the seventies based on an interpretation of a book written centuries ago, the plot is still the basic biblical storyline of Jesus gets famous, Jesus is betrayed by jealous best friend, Jesus is crucified as a result of the backstabber.
The post apocalyptic setting of this tale makes it easy to draw parallels between this and the lives of modern day celebrities. The scenes where the supporting cast forms a mosh pit as Jesus sings boost the resemblance. |
Continue reading Jesus Christ Superstar @ Playhouse Theatre, 20th August 2010 – Live Review
“FAME – The Musical” @ The Lyric Theatre, QPAC June 22, 2010 [Live Review]
Review: Lana Harris
The general rule is that you can recycle a trend around about every thirty years. The late ‘90s saw the return of super flared jeans and platform shoes adapted from their 1970’s incarnations, and the final years of the 2000-2010’s saw 1980’s revivals turning everything fluro again, including ruched skirts and the accessories holding big hair in check. As the wardrobes of many of the theatregoers tonight attested, the 80’s success Fame: The Musical is ripe for a comeback. Bucking usual trends, Fame (the movie) actually came out first, then a TV series, and then the musical, and it’s worth noting that the story is not the same as the movie.
Continue reading “FAME – The Musical” @ The Lyric Theatre, QPAC June 22, 2010 [Live Review]
MAMMA MIA! – The Smash Hit Musical Returns To Australia For Its 10th Anniversary Tour
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MAMMA MIA!, the global phenomenon is set to return to Australia for strictly limited seasons in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.
Inspired by the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs, this enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago… The 10th Anniversary Australian Tour reunites members of the Original Australian Tour cast reprising their critically-acclaimed performances. |
Anne Wood stars as mother-of-the-bride, Donna, Jennifer Vuletic as the much-married Tanya and Lara Mulcahy as the vivacious Rosie, a role she played on London’s West End following her time with MAMMA MIA! Australia. Continue reading MAMMA MIA! – The Smash Hit Musical Returns To Australia For Its 10th Anniversary Tour
Film.Arts.Comedy.Theatre (F.A.C.T) Brisbane – [Edition 090225]
| FILM: The Brisbane 48 Hour Film Project 2009 – The 48 Hour Film Project will return to Brisbane in 2009, probably around October. Filmmakers from all over the Brisbane area will compete to see who can make the best short film in only 48 hours. The winning film will go up against films from around the world for the title “Best 48 Hour Film of 2009”. |
| ARTS: The Brisbane Arts Theatre is proud to open its 2009 main house season with John Patrick Shanley’s powerful play ‘Doubt’ – about innocence, guilt, and the grey space between the two. – Now Playing! |
| COMEDY: Brace yourselves for the first, the biggest, the best, LOL comedy festival Brisbane has ever seen. The inaugural Brisbane Comedy Festival takes over Brisbane Powerhouse Friday 6 – Sunday 29 March 2009 …that is just under a month of laugh-a-minute moments courtesy of some of the craziest talent from near and far! |
| THEATRE: Chicago – The Musical is one of the world’s most popular and thrilling smash-hit musicals. After a decade of decadence, CHICAGO is returning for its Australian Premiere at Lyric Theatre, QPAC from 19 March 2009 for a strictly limited season. |
CHICAGO – The Musical – to tour Australia in 2009
Australia, prepare yourself for the razzle-dazzle of the hit musical Chicago, set to tour nationally throughout 2009 following a Gala Opening at Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre, QPAC. Winner of six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations, Chicago is Broadway’s longest-running Musical Revival and the longest running American Musical every to play the West End.
It is nearly a decade since the “story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery” played in Australia. Known for its sizzling score and sensational choreography, Chicago is the story of a nightclub dancer, a smooth talking lawyer and a cell block of sin and merry murderesses.
“I’m thrilled to bring back to the Australian stage this wonderful musical, especially with the extraordinary cast we have assembled. Velma Kelly is the role which took Caroline O’Connor to Broadway for the first time, and her legion of fans will, I’m sure, be overjoyed to see her perform it once again. Sharon Millerchip has previously played Velma in Chicago ten years ago, and since has won awards for her many musical theatre roles. She will be an astonishing Roxie. Craig McLachlan blew us all away with his incredible audition, and he’s going to astound people with his talent as a musical theatre performer. And I am very excited to welcome Gina Riley back to the stage. Her strength, her presence and her powerhouse voice will make her a staggering Mama Morton. This truly is the perfect cast.
Continue reading CHICAGO – The Musical – to tour Australia in 2009