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"Madiba the Musical"... "We want people to see the serious side, but to leave on an upbeat note”, says Perci Moeketsi.

Arts / The full Nelson put to music

WHEN an uplifting musical about the late Nelson Mandela arrives at the Canberra Theatre later this month, the audience may well be jumping with joy. For “Madiba the Musical” has a heart-warming message of renewal […]

The "Godspell" cast... "The cast work hard. Too hard. Their responses appear switched-on and mechanical." Photo by Janelle McMenamin

Review / ‘Godspell’ production a test of faith

Musical theatre / “Godspell”. Directed by Emma White. At The Q, Queanbeyan, November 11. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS

A scene from "Jersey Boys" in Sydney. Photo by Jeff Busby.

Mystery surrounds ‘Jersey Boys’ silence

THE postponement, “due to unforeseen circumstances“, of an announcement expected this morning (October 29) about the next major musical coming to Canberra in 2019 has led to wide speculation in the community about what went […]

Arts / The Q announces a big, pushy, show-stopping musical

“EVERYTHING‘s comin’ up roses”, sang musical theatre luminary Geraldine Turner in the Manhattan room at Queanbeyan’s Royal Hotel this morning (October 25). Turner was in town to give some street cred to an announcement by […]

Jonathan Biggins… "There was some pretty quick re-writing to transform Scott Morrison from Treasurer to PM." Photo by Brett Boardman

Arts / Wharf presents the pantomime of power

PANTOMIME is a pretty apt metaphor for what’s been going on in Canberra in the last 12 months – and the Sydney Theatre Company’s Wharf Revue has been quick to seize on it. Jonathan Biggins […]

Will Huang as JD, Belle Nicol as Veronica in "Heathers". Photo by Janelle McMenamin

Review / Pitch-perfect ‘Heathers’ turn in an exuberant production

Musical theatre / “Heathers – The Musical”. Directed by Kelly Roberts and Grant Pegg. At Gungahlin Theatre until October 27. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS

"Grease"... the arena experience at Bruce, October 12-14. Photo Credit Glenn Pokorny

Review / Rock concert atmosphere in ‘Grease’

Musical theatre / “Grease: The Arena Experience”. Original musical written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, AIS Arena, until October 14. Reviewed by SAMARA PURNELL.

From left, Madeleine Betts (as Heather Duke), Charlotte Gearside (Heather Chandler), Mikayla Brady (Heather McNamara) and Belle Nicol (Veronica Sawyer). Photo by Janelle McMenamin

Arts / Hilarious, heartfelt and homicidal teen show

PEER-group pressure and gross verbal abuse are the heart of a “deliciously dark” musical about to take the stage at Gungahlin College Theatre. It’s one of those contemporary musicals that’s based on a cult movie, […]

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<p>Ashleigh Taylor… as Sandy.</p>
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"Grease"... the arena experience at Bruce, October 12-14. Photo Credit Glenn Pokorny

Arts / Sandy and Danny come back to the arena

“Grease”… the arena experience at Bruce, October 12-14. Photo Credit Glenn Pokorny “GREASE” will be the word at the AIS Arena when the popular musical hits Canberra soon. This showstopper about a girl who learns […]

Max Gambale (Shrek) and Laura Murphy (Princess Fiona)... the stars of "Shrek the Musical". Photo by Steph and Craig Burgess

Review / ‘Shrek’ gets a magical fairytale gloss

Musical Theatre / “Shrek the Musical”. Directed by Ylaria Rogers. At The Q, Queanbeyan, until October 14. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS

‘Shrek’, the musical with less familiar music

“I THINK I got you beat,” Princess Fiona (Laura Murphy) and Shrek (Max Gambale) from “Shrek the Musical” were singing as they competed over whose miserable childhood was the worse. Directed by Ylaria Rogers and […]

Sharon Zhai as Cio-Cio-San and Kershawn Theodore as Sorrow. Photo by Jeff Busby

Arts / The challenging moods of Madame Butterfly

THE role of Madame Butterfly, Cio-Cio-San, the tragic heroine of Puccini’s opera, “Madama Butterfly”, is one of the most demanding in the repertoire, but soprano Sharon Zhai is up for it. A fully staged version […]

Review / Roll up for joyous night at the theatre

Musical theatre / “Barnum”. Directed by Anita Davenport. Presented by At Erindale Theatre until September 8. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS

The mesmerising Tegan Braithwaite and impressiver Rohan Pillutia in "Dogfight".

Review / ‘Dogfight’ has plenty of musical bite

Musical / “Dogfight”. Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Directed by Zoe O’Leary Cameron. At Belconnen Community Theatre, until August 25. Reviewed by Bill Stephens

“Calamity Jane” with the audience on stage. Photo Jeff Busby

Arts / ‘Calamity Jane’ comes out firing

THERE’LL be whip cracking and wisecracking, too, when the Hayes Theatre production of the musical “Calamity Jane” rolls into town this month. It began as a tiny production in Sydney’s tiniest (111 seats) theatre, but […]

"Fame" in full swing at The Q. Photo by Janelle McMenamin

Review / ‘Fame’s’ all about entertainment and a big finale

Musical theatre / “Fame – The Musical”. Directed by Jarrad West; musical direction, Katrina Tang and choreography, Michelle Heine. At The Q, Queanbeyan, until May 26. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS

Carmen Diaz, Maddy Betts, with Schlomo Metzenbum, Pippin Carroll

Arts / Singing, dancing in the name of ‘Fame’

“Fame…I’m gonna live forever I’m gonna learn how to fly, high.” SO goes the theme song from “Fame, the Musical”, that 1988 story of life at the High School of Performing Arts in New […]

The cast of "Blanc de Blanc". Photo by David James McCarthy

Review / Delightful and determinedly decadent

Cabaret / “Blanc de Blanc”. Director Scott Maidment, musical director Steve Toulmin. At the Fortuna Spiegletent, Canberra Theatre Centre forecourt until May 20. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS

Arts / ‘Crowd-pleasing’ musical taps away at The Q

“HEAR the beat of dancing feet, it’s the song I love, the melody of 42nd Street” go the words from title number “42nd Street”, opening at The Q in Queanbeyan tonight (March 26) with a […]