_

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Rob Guest Endowment Concert

Yes it is almost that time of year again, time for the Rob Guest Endowment Concert.

Hosted by Bert Newton, this star studded event will feature the best in Australian Musical Theatre. The diamond studded line-up includes:

Amanda Harrison
Lucy Durack
Matt Lee
Rachael Beck
Chloe Dallimore
Rachael Beck
Danielle Matthews
Michael Cormick
David Harris
Mitchell Hicks
Mark Hill
Chris Horsey
Matthew Robinson
Tom Burlinson
Rhonda Burchmore
Esther Hannaford
Danielle Barnes
Mandy Carnie
Michael Cormick
The Cast of Wicked
The Cast of Mary Poppins

As well as the 6 talented Endowment finalists - Sarah Bakker, Bree Langridge, Francine Cain, Simon McLauchlan, Nathan Derrick and Drew Weston.
The winner will receive a $1000 grant, return airfares to New York, accomidation in New York, vocal, dance and acting tuition in Australia and New York, a headshot package and media and finance training.

Tickets are still avaliable from Ticketek, but hurry!

http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=ROBGUEST10

Donations to the Endowment can be made via any ANZ branch.

Practically Perfect, yet Short and Sweet

Rumours about Mary Poppins running at least a year have been proved false.
The risky Gordon Frost musical Dr. Zhivago has been confirmed for Her Majesty's Theatre in April, making Mary Poppins only a 9 month run.
Mary will then move to Sydney into the recently vacated Capitol Theatre.

It is rumoured Legally Blonde has had problems with production plans and casting and has therefore been delayed.

It's Hairspray!

Hairspray fever has taken a grip of Melbourne. With the show well into previews, some very positive word of mouth has been generated by those who have already seen it.

Implementing a highly innovative set, the Hairspray set is made up entirely of LCD screens to represent the scenes. Producers have made the unnusual move of not casting any big 'names' in the production and are hoping this move will pay off. Cast have been told to expect a 6 month run.

For a preview video, checkout this link to The Age.

Hairspray opens tomorrow night, October 2nd, at 8:00pm at the Princess Theatre.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Andrew Lloyd Webber in Concert

The Musicals Insider has discovered the Really Useful Group has been auditioning for a new concert tour of ALW's musicals. Similar to the previous 'Aspects of Lloyd Webber' tour, this production is expected to perform a variety of favourite songs and scenes from classic Lloyd Webber shows. Details of the production have been kept top secret, but they have been auditioning over the past few weeks and have all but decided on the cast.

In other Lloyd Webber news, while the exact timing of the show has not been confirmed, it is expected to be announced soon that Love Never Dies will make a mid-2011 debut in June or July in Melbourne. This follows Melbourne's tradition of having a 'big' musical debuting in winter, with the idea that the hype generated from the premiere is enough to guarantee ticket sales through the cold winter months.

Hairspray Casting

The entire Hairspray cast can now be revealed.

Other than those already announced:
Seaweed: Tevin Campbell
Female Authority Figure: Jacqui Rae
Male Authority Figure: Garry Scale

Ensemble:

Briden-Starr Aspinall, Kirby-Lee Burgess, Doug de Voogt, Akina Edmonds, Samuel Gaskin, David Gauci, Peter Harrington-Olsen, Joel Benjamin Hewlett, Mitchell Hicks, Kat Hoyos, Heath Keating, Kirby Lunn, Loredo Malcolm, Hayley Martin, Scott McConnell, Karlee Misipeka, Tshire Mokou, Scott Morris, Kristina Adesuwa Okunzuwa, Ashlea Pyke, Katherine Rodrigues, Elenoa Rokobaro, Michelle Smitheram, Mike Snell, Chloe Zuel.

It is expected that Loredo Malcolm will understudy Seaweed and Mike Snell will understudy Corny Collins.