Outer Critics Circle nominations for Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the Musical has received four outer critics circle nominations including: Outstanding New Broadway Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Tony Sheldon), Outstanding Choreographer (Ross Coleman), Outstanding Costume Design (Tim Chappel and Lizzie Gardiner).
Winners of the awards will be announced 16 May 2011. The annual ceremony will be held 26 May at Sardi’s Restaurant.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/150211-Outer-Critics-Circle-Nominees-Include-Sister-Act-Anything-Goes-Book-of-Mormon
PRODIGAL opens tonight
Prodigal is a revival of the first musical by Dean Bryant and Mathew Frank – the team that brought audiences the critically acclaimed and sold out musical Once We Lived Here.
Prodigal features an amazing cast led by Anne Wood (Mamma Mia!), Peter Hardy (McLeod’s Daughters), Christina O’Neill (Avenue Q), Adam Rennie (Wheels of a Dream) and in the title role, new WAAPA graduate Ed Grey (Spring Awakening).
Rather than work in his family’s fishing business, Luke runs away to Sydney. Forced to return home after coming out, his family struggles to reconcile the golden boy who left with the son who has returned.
dates:
Thu 20 - Sun 30 Jan 2011
times:
Mon - Thu 7:30pm, Fri 6. Fri 6.30pm
tickets:
Full $35
Concession $28
bookings:
03 9662 9966
book online at www.fortyfivedownstairs.com/buy-tickets/?event=prodigal
Prodigal returns to Melbourne
Eleven years ago, Bryant and Frank’s PRODIGAL had its world premiere as part of Midsumma in Melbourne (then called ‘Prodigal Son’), winning several Green Room Awards and going on to be produced off-Broadway two years later – the first Australian musical ever produced in New York City.
From the writers of “Once We Lived Here”, “Virgins: A Musical Threesome” and “Britney Spears: The Cabaret” comes a revival of Dean Bryant and Mathew Frank’s first musical.
Rather than work in his family’s fishing business, Luke runs away to Sydney. Forced to return home after coming out, his family struggles to reconcile the golden boy who left with the son who has returned…
Prodigal features an amazing cast led by Anne Wood (Mamma Mia!), Peter Hardy (McLeod’s Daughters), Christina O’Neill (Avenue Q), Adam Rennie (Wheels of a Dream) and in the title role, new WAAPA graduate Ed Grey (Spring Awakening).
“Prodigal is a gem… achingly beautiful… the level of professionalism in the music and writing is almost unbelievably good…” - Melbourne Star Observer
“Dean Bryant and Matthew Frank are the brightest creative duo in Australian musical theatre.” - The Age
www.bryantandfrank.com
Preview: Wed 19 Jan, 7.30pm
Opening: Thu 20 Jan, 7.30pm
19 – 21 Jan, 24 – 28 Jan
Mon – Thu 7.30pm,
Fri, 6.30pm
Bookings: 9662 9966
www.midsumma.org.au
Hair Removal The Musical Presented by Tess Hall
A musical meditation considering “to hair or not to hair”.
Written By Tess Hall
Music by Laura Tipoki
Additional Lyrics by Gillian Bartlett
Leave it on. Take it off. Let it grow. Give it a mow.
A waxing professional, a gay, a straight, a Hairy Drummer Boy, and a Greek goddess ponder the prominence of hair removal in their lives. From the sublime to the ridiculous, the five weave their way through an uncertain modern minefield.
We follow the unlikely band of hair obsessives through the emphatic highs of “Hotter with No Fur” to the painful lows of “Just Wanted to Have Some Fun”.
Episodic in structure, the piece examines six follicle foibles. From the how to the when, the mildly obsessive to the immaculately unkempt, from the bronzed and beautiful to the shaggy and chic – HAIR REMOVAL THE MUSICAL examines these depillatorised times from root to shamefully split end.
Since meeting something called an “epillator” at the tender age of 12, writer and producer Tess Hall has tried and failed at most methods of hair removal. Having arrived at the conclusion that hair removal is neither an enjoyable nor lasting experience, Tess determined that some jaunty song and dance numbers might just be the right medium to purge the emotional and physical scars resulting from years of follicle fretting. The Melbourne Fringe Festival season of Hair Removal The Musical marks Tess’ first production in her home town.
Composer and Musical Director Laura Tipoki has maintained a depilatory focus for some time. Per forming on piano and keys in national and international productions of Wicked and Chicago for the Gordon Frost Organisation, Laura has honed her attention to detail in both the hair removal and musical theatre formats. “I spend my life in the theatre – on stage and off, performers, dancers, and creators alike obsess and individualize their approach to hair. Putting something on stage dealing with this subject just seemed natural. Oh and FYI – I’m Polynesian, I am hairy noon night.”
With a cast as smooth as a babies bum backed by a band of, well, hairy bums – the manicured madness of HAIR REMOVAL THE MUSICAL has something for the hair-free to the hairy.
Melbourne Fringe Festival
New Ballroom, Trades Hall (Bar open before and after shows)
Oct 5 - 9
Preview:
Tues 5 Oct (8.30pm) - $20 Tix
Shows:
Wed & Thu 7 Oct (8.30pm) - $23 Conc. $30 Full
Fri 8 & Sat 9 Oct (8.30pm & 11.15pm) - $23 Conc. $30 Full
BUY TICKETS @ Melbourne Fringe Festival Site
VISIT THE WEBSITEBECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOKSHARE YOUR HAIR REMOVAL TALE ON TWITTER
THE DREAM FACTORY
A new Australian musical commissioned for teenagers.
Abby and Mira settle in for a less than exciting school holiday break, until they meet Gary and are enticed by his graphic novel The Dream Factory, a place where dreams are bought and sold. Reality and fantasy collide in a kaleidoscope of offbeat characters, surreal situations and catchy songs.
Think it’s going to be the same old school holidays this September?
Think again.
September 29th to October 2nd, 7:30pm
Randall Theatre, 44 St Martins Lane South Yarra
www.stmartinsyouth.com.au
Houdini: The Man from Beyond
Written by Bruce Dawe AO and Russell Bauer
Directed by Sue Rider
Designed by Carolyn Taylor-Smith
Auust 20th - 30th
USQ Arts Theatre, Toowoomba QLD
In 1910 Harry Houdini was the most famous showman in the world.
Audiences around the globe flocked to watch his legendary stunts and tried in vain to unravel his deceptions.
But the man behind the chains and handcuffs was much, much more than a mere performer. Magician, escapologist, stuntman, actor, historian, film producer, aviator and debunker, Houdini was a man who left an incredible impression on history.
In celebration of the life of this remarkable man, renowned Australian poet, Bruce Dawe and local composer, Russell Bauer have written a new musical.
Follow the final and most successful years of Houdini’s career, from his history making first powered flight over Australia (1910), through some of his most famous stunts, and to his legendary showdowns with the spiritualists.
Come marvel at the master mystifier.
More information:
http://www.usq.edu.au/artsworx/2010/houdini
REAL ESTATE THE MUSICAL
World Premiere
A real estate agent who becomes a serial killer… set to music.
Open For Inspection is a wickedly black new musical comedy set in the cutthroat world of Sydney real estate. Two ruthless rival agencies are battling it out for buyers during a property slump. They soon go to any lengths to literally make a killing.
Enter a world of black SUV’s, dummy bidders and blue-haired harridans, where property is the ultimate goal and spiky, hedgehog hair is a must. With wonderfully catchy songs by Lucy Egger and a live band, this exquisite little musical is ready to view now.
If you only see one musical comedy about the Sydney property market this year - make sure this is it.
Featuring: Sara Browne, Andrew Cutcliffe, Chrystal de Grussa, James Jack, Amanda Stephens Lee, James Lugton, Jenny Lynn, Catherine McGraffin, Chad Richards
Director - Sandra Stockley
Musical Director - Doug Hansell
Set Designer - Barry French
Previews: Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 August
Season: 27 August - 4 September
Times: Tuesday - Saturday at 8pm
Matinees: Saturday 28 August & Saturday 4 September at 2pm
Preview: $25, Adult: $35, Conc $28, Seniors: $28
VAN PARK
In a remote part of the Australian coast, beside a slime filled estuary, is a rundown caravan park. It is here that a group of music lovers have gathered to live out their remaining years. Enter Curly, a young boy…a musical comedy staring John Paul Young as Curly’s rock and roll father, and Steve Kilbey from The Church, also Cora James, Luke Webb, Catriona Hamilton, Jodi Phillis and Remi Slade-Caffarel. Music by Garage Cabaret band King Curly.
“this is a unique Australian production and having already been part of the recent cast reading, I truly believe that it has some of the best music ever presented in an Australian musical…it’s funny too” John Paul Young
“it’s good!!” John Waters
Performance Dates:
Friday 10th September 8.45pm
Saturday 11th September 6pm
Thursday 16th September 8.45pm
Saturday 18th September 6pm
Friday 24th September 8.45pm
Bookings:
www.thesydneyfringe.com.au/shows/van-park or www.seymour.usyd.edu.au Or phone the Seymour Centre on (02) 9351 7944
Auditions
Australian musical MACKILLOP, by Melbourne based composer Xavier Brouwer, is currently auditioning for chorus roles and orchestra. MACKILLOP will be performed in Sydney and in Melbourne in October 2010. More info: http://www.mackillop.info/
