Another Musicals Update

Hairspray will be closing on the 25th of September, 2 weeks earlier than initially announced. The show has been playing to houses of 400-500 people, well under their capacity of about 2,000. Cheap seats are now available everywhere, go and see it before it's too late.
While producers are looking to tour the show internationally, for now the show will go into storage.


An adaption of Doctor Zhivago is currently auditioning for a Korean language version. The show will be adapted and recast for performance in Korean. Us here at the MI are just very glad we don't have to do a Russian accent in Korean...

The King Kong workshop had a setback recently when the rig collapsed. It is not believed anyone was injured, however it is inconvenient. The workshop was held recently, with Lisa-Marie Parker in the lead role of Anne.

A new musical, Dream Lover, based on the life of Bobby Darin is in workshops this week, being directed by Simon Phillips. Actors in the workshop include Hugh Sheridan as Bobby, Christy Sullivan, Robert Grubb, Sheridan Harbridge, Trisha Noble, Christen O'Leary

Legally Blonde casting is still underway, however quite a few roles and most of the ensemble has now been cast. There are quite a few performers also currently on hold for it. A formal cast announcement will not be made until February. The venue for the show has been subject to much rumour of late. It is becoming more and more likely to play in the Lyric theatre instead of the Capitol.

Rock of Ages will be closing on Sunday the 6th of November in Melbourne. It will do a very quick turnaround to get into QPAC in Brisbane by the 12th. It will play about a month in Brisbane moving into Sydney's Royal from about the 14th of January.

Love Never Dies will close on he 18th of December, with final tickets on sale now. It will open in Sydney's Capitol on Friday the 13th of January. The cast and creatives are getting ready for a DVD recording of the show to happen next week.

As we tweeted several months ago Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is expected to open in Melbourne in late 2012, produced by Tim Lawson.
Tim is currently auditioning for A Chorus Line, which is expected to open in Adelaide late 2011.
Sister Act will also make it's Australian premiere in Melbourne in 2012, according to Theatrepeople.com.au


John Frost announced the full cast of Annie earlier this week. It includes Lisa Bluthal, Tony Farrell, Anna Freeland, Todd Goddard, Emma Hawthorne, Luke Joslin, Jayde Kirchert, James Lee, Samantha Riley, Stephanie Silcock, Brianne Turk, Rod Waterworth, Jack Webster and Matt Young.
This is in addition to the other cast members already announced: Anthony Warlow, Nancy Hayes, Todd McKenny, Chloe Dallimore, Julie Goodwin and Alan Jones.
It will open in Brisbane in April and Melbourne's Regent Theatre in May 2012.


September will see the release of both the MTC and STC seasons. Rumour suggests STC will possibly picking up the MTC's production of Next to Normal. STC will be launched on the 23rd of September and MTC on the 27th of September.

Mary Poppins will close on the 17th of December in Sydney before a 6 month tour to Brisbane and Perth. An international tour is on the cards but Adelaide is not expected to have a season at this stage.

And finally Wicked will play it's last Australian show this Sunday evening, 3 years after first opening in Melbourne. The show will head to Singapore in December.