Turns out Big Girls DO Cry Over Ticket Prices...

Further to our inital post on Sydney Jersey Boys ticket pricing, Jersey Boys Australia has taken an unprecedented move and are offering discounts on preview tickets. 6 weeks before the season opens even.
The discount allows Preview performances, from September 3rd til September 17th, to be purchased for only $100 using the codeword Massi.
Prices have initially been set very high, with Producer Seats, with the seat only, selling for $250 for a Saturday night. Other tickets can be found at $165, $145 and $125.

Omigod You Guys!

Following months of speculation, the Musicals Insider can confirm that Australia will see a production of Legally Blonde in late 2011 to mid 2012. It is set to take over Her Majesty's Theatre in Melborne after Mary Poppins moves to Sydney.

Addendum: Due to production problems, the production will now premiere in 2012 at Sydney's Capitol Theatre.

Another Wicked Update

As a follow up to a previous post:
17-year old Samantha Hagen is no longer joining the cast of Wicked. Samantha was cast, had costume fittings, shoes made and was starting rehearsals to cover Renee Armstrong's track when she pulled out. Samantha will now finish her HSC this year and will appear in Rock of Ages as Sherrie Understudy in Melboure next year. All the best to her!

Hairspray Sneak Peak

Here's a sneak peak at Hairspray rehearsals in Melbourne.

http://media.theage.com.au/entertainment/red-carpet/hairspray-in-melbourne-1764877.html

Helpmann Award Nominees 2010

The Helpmann Award Nominees for 2010 have been revealed today. While it is exciting that the MTC, especially The Drowsy Chaperone, have received a plethora of nominations, the STC has been snubbed, only receiving one nomination for sound design. A fuller list of nominees can be found here to save space: http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/news/helpmann-award-nominations-2010

BEST PLAY

The Book of Everything - Company B Belvoir & Kim Carpenters Theatre of Image
Advertisement: Story continues belowHappy Days - Malthouse Theatre
August: Osage County - Melbourne Theatre Company
Richard III - Melbourne Theatre Company

BEST MUSICAL

Avenue Q - Arts Asia Pacific and Power Arts
Jersey Boys - Dodger Theatricals, Rodney Rigby, Dainty Consolidated Entertainment, Joseph J Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group & Michael Watt in association with Latitude Link & Rick Steiner
The Drowsy Chaperone - Melbourne Theatre Company
The Wizard of Oz - Windmill Theatre

BEST OPERA

Le Grand Macabre - Adelaide Festival in association with State Opera of South Australia
Bliss - Opera Australia
Peter Grimes - Opera Australia
King Lear - Ten Days on the Island

BEST MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY

Paul Blackwell - The Hypochondriac
Robert Menzies - The End
Toby Schmitz - Ruben Guthrie
Ewen Leslie - Richard III

BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY

Kathryn Hunter - Kafka's Monkey
Julie Forsyth - Happy Days
Jane Menelaus - August: Osage County
Robyn Nevin - August: Osage County

BEST MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Mitchell Butel - Avenue Q
Bobby Fox - Jersey Boys
Michael Cormick - MAMMA MIA!
Geoffrey Rush - The Drowsy Chaperone

BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Michala Banas - Avenue Q
Christie Whelan - The Drowsy Chaperone
Delia Hannah - CATS
Ursula Yovich - The Wizard of Oz

BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY

Charlie Garber - Gethsemane
Arky Michael - Love Me Tender
Humphrey Bower - Richard III
Dennis Olsen - King Lear

BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY

Deborah Kennedy - The Book of Everything
Yael Stone - The Book of Everything
Alison Whyte - Richard III
Jennifer Hagan - Richard III

BEST MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Luke Joslin - Avenue Q
Scott Johnson - Jersey Boys
Adam Murphy - The Drowsy Chaperone
Geoff Revell, The Wizard of Oz

BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Christina O'Neil - Avenue Q
Lisa Adam - Jersey Boys
Jaz Flowers - Fame the Musical
Jude Henshall - The Wizard of Oz

BEST MALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA

Peter Coleman-Wright - Bliss
Stuart Skelton - Peter Grimes
John Wegner - Tosca
John Wegner - The Flying Dutchman

BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA

Lorina Gore - Bliss
Emma Matthews - La Sonnambula
Susan Gritton - Peter Grimes
Takesha Meshe Kizart - Tosca

BEST MALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA

Barry Ryan - Bliss
Stuart Skelton - The Flying Dutchman
Paul Biencourt - Rembrandt's Wife
Andrew Foote - Peter Grimes

BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN AN OPERA

Taryn Fiebig - Bliss
Tiffany Speight - Cosi fan tutte
Taryn Fiebig - La Sonnambula
Catherine Carby - Peter Grimes

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY

Neil Armfield - The Book of Everything
Michael Kantor - Happy Days
Simon Phillips - Richard III
Thomas Ostermeier - Hamlet

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

Jonathan Biggins - Avenue Q
Des McAnuff - Jersey Boys
Simon Phillips - The Drowsy Chaperone
Rosemary Myers - The Wizard of Oz

BEST DIRECTION OF AN OPERA

Alex Olle (La Fura Dels Baus) & Valentina Carrasco - Le Grand Macabre
Neil Armfield - Bliss
Neil Armfield - Peter Grimes
Chris Drummond - The Flying Dutchman

BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY CONCERT

George Michael - LIVE
AC/DC Black Ice Tour
Beyonce
Pink - Funhouse Tour

BEST CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL

Homebake Music & Arts Festival 2009 - The 15th Anniversary
2010 Melbourne International Jazz Festival
big day out 2010
WOMADelaide

BEST COMEDY PERFORMER

Kitty Flanagan - Charming & Alarming
Fiona O'Loughlin - Fiona O'Loughlin On a Wing and A Prayer
Hannah Gadsby - Hannah Gadsby - The Cliff Young Shuffle
Wil Anderson - Wil Anderson - Wilful Misconduct

Mary #2

After 2.5 weeks of performances, Mary Poppins understudy Sarah Bakker has finally been given an opportunity to play Mary Poppins, performing the title role for both shows on Sunday the 1st of August. Verity Hunt-Ballad is believed to be ill.
The Musicals Insider is pleased to note that unlike other productions, posters were present around the theatre advising patrons of the cast change.

It is believed there is a bug going around the cast, with cast members Matt Lee, Judi Connelli, Deborah Byrne and Verity herself all missing at least one show over the weekend.