Monday, April 30, 2012

South Pacific: Its Tahu Rhodes, McCune, Ceberano, and Perfect

It’s a cast with impressive credentials, not to mention serious box office pulling power.

In Melbourne’s Plaza Ballroom this morning (Monday 30th April) prolific producer John Frost and Opera Australia’s Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini were on hand to announce the Australian cast for the Lincoln Center Theatre Production of Rogers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific.

The Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne’s Collins Street is a lavish space for a big announcement. There were in fact two of them. And with Orchestra Victoria on hand and ‘celebrity media ‘in attendance, it promised a great deal.

It’s a dream cast, supremely talented and bound to draw a crowd. But this event was more than a cast announcement, impressive as it was.

‘This is a launch not only of South Pacific,’ said Chief Executive of Opera Australia Adrian Collette, ‘but of this partnership with the Gordon Frost organisation because we intend over the coming years to produce some of the great classical musicals that have been written with the highest musical values, the highest theatrical values, and partnering with John [Frost] …our sustaining commerciality.’

Colette continued, ‘For Opera Australia this is all about throwing open our doors and engaging with the broadest possible audience we can through the length and breadth of Australia …. We know that by engaging with this extraordinary musical, at the highest possible level, we will engage a much broader audience.’

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Moonshadow Sparkles on Gloomy Melbourne Morning


This morning (Tuesday, 24th April) in a Brunswick studio, with rain pelting the roof, Melbourne’s media were invited to attend a Moonshadow appetiser. Images of set designs and sketches of costumes, not yet made were, the only backdrop, and yet a forty-strong media contingent squeezed into the space.

Moonshadow is the musical penned by former pop star Cat Stevens, now known as Yusef, which includes 35 of his universally loved songs within a fantasy narrative. It will look like it is set elsewhere, but, according to the creator, it’s really about us.

Yusef Islam, formally known as Cat Stevens
Speaking in his quiet and unassuming manner, Yusef Islam said, ‘This musical has been my baby for awhile and its about to be born here in Melbourne, and we’re really excited.’ Continue reading

Review of Opening Night (31st May, 2012)




Sunday, April 22, 2012

Melbourne Orphans Named on Annie's 35th Birthday


You’d have been excused for thinking there was a party at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre yesterday afternoon, as twenty-four exuberant girls were introduced to the media. 

And in a way you'd be right.

Annie’s Executive Producer Walter van Nieuwkuyk was on hand to introduce Melbourne’s three Annies, and the twenty-one orphans who will constitute the three different casts for the season.

'Today’s rather a special day in the history of Annie,’ he said, ‘because, to the day 35 years ago, Annie had it’s world premiere on Broadway. 
So Happy Birthday Annie.' Continue reading.

Melbourne review coming on 30th May, 2012
Read about Annie's adult cast

Thursday, April 19, 2012

War Horse - the international juggernaut set to hit Melbourne

Puppets have come a long way since The Muppets, and if yesterday’s media launch at Arts Centre Melbourne is any measure, War Horse will be the talk of the town when it takes the stage this summer.

Puppets? 
Taking Melbourne by storm? 
You can’t be serious.

Deadly.

At the Arts Centre Melbourne this morning the media were introduced to the star of War Horse, a true-to life puppet called Joey, and the three puppeteers that bring him to life. Continue reading

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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Review: Contact! The Netball Musical

A laugh-out-loud night for those with 'netball brains'. My review of opening night of Contact! at the Fairfax Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, is now published online by Stage Whispers.
Read the review
Read about the background to the show
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