What’s in store for Australia? Major musicals update

Looking for the latest Musicals Update? Check out our Major Musicals: 2015 and beyond update here

We have had quite a few queries on twitter, Facebook and via email recently about musicals in Australia, so we thought an update was in order.

Hopefully you find this list (and all the linking articles) useful and informative!

Happy Reading,

The AussieTheatre Team


Current Musicals

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Annie (tour)

Annie is currently playing at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre (until August 12) and will transfer to Burswood Theatre Perth from 24 August for 5 weeks only.

Anthony Warlow finishes his contract with the show on August 7, after which he will join the Broadway revival cast for rehearsals ahead of previews in October. Bert Newton and Michael Cormick will join the Australian cast shortly, replacing Warlow and Allan Jones.

A Chorus Line (tour)

A Chorus LineThis extremely successful revival of Michael Bennett’s 1975 Broadway smash will open at the Capitol Theatre Sydney on July 21. The production will tour to Perth (20 October) and Brisbane (16 November).

 

Moonshadow

Moonshadow The Musical - Image by Belinda Strodder (artsphotography.net.au)This world premiere musical is currently playing at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne. Reviews have been mixed, and while it has been rumoured that the show may transfer to Sydney after the 12 week season nothing has been confirmed at this stage.

An Officer and a Gentleman

Alex Rathgeber and Ben Mingay in An Officer and a Gentleman. Image by Brian GeachAnother world premiere musical playing at the Lyric Theatre Sydney. The opening week of this brand new work attracted a great deal of media attention, with a particular focus on the review and subsequent rebuttal in The Australian. The very short season (much shorter than anticipated) will end on July 1 2012.

Side By Side By Sondheim (tour)

Michael FalzonThe new touring cast of this classic Sondheim revue includes Michael Falzon (pictured) and Geraldine Turner, (replacing Enda Markey and Margi de Ferranti). Rachel Beck and Jessica Rowe will continue with the tour.

Announced/Upcoming Shows

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South Pacific

LisaMcCune_southPacificStarring Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Lisa McCune, Eddie Perfect and Kate Ceberano, this production is set to commence rehearsals next month ahead of an 11 August Opening Night at the Sydney Opera House. The show will play 4 weeks only at ‘The House’ before transferring to the Princess Theatre Melbourne on September 13.

Next To Normal

Ian Stenlake and Michelle Doak will star in Next To Normal. Image by Blueprint StudiosDirected by Tyran Parke and starring Ian Stenlake and Michelle Doake, the NSW premiere of Next To Normal will play at the Capitol Theatre Sydney from September 13 – 7 October.

Updated Monday 25 June:
Next To Normal Sydney season has been cancelled due to circumstances beyond the Producer’s control. Read more 

Jersey Boys

2012 Cast of Jersey BoysThe smash hit musical Jersey Boys returns to Australia to play Adelaide and Brisbane this year. Brisbane season kicks off at the Lyric Theatre QPAC from 13 July (official opening on 15 July). Adelaide will welcome the Jersey Boys from October 26 at the Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre.

Legally Blonde

Legally Blonde cast with producer John Frost and Ace the dogLegally Blonde is one of the most highly anticipated productions of 2012, and it is expected to be a huge success for GFO and Howard Panter. Starring Lucy Durack, Rob Mills, Cameron Daddo and David Harris, the production will open on 4 October 2012 at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney.


Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

US Touring Cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Image by Ian IbbetsonThis family friendly musical will be the final production for the year at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre, commencing its run on 16 November 2012. Produced by Tim Lawson of TML Enterprises, the cast for this show is yet to be announced.

The Addams Family

The Addams Family posterProduced by Newtheatricals, this adaptation of the popular TV series will open at the Capitol Theatre Sydney in March 2013. An official cast announcement is expected imminently.

King Kong

King Kong TorsoAlthough King Kong is still 12 months away from opening at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre, the producers (Global Creatures) have begun posting interviews with creatives and team members to generate interest. Opening June 2013 with an international seasons to follow. Due to the scale of the production, no Australian tour will be possible.

Strictly Ballroom

Strictly BallroomAlso presented by Global Creatures, this world premiere musical was announced in May last year for Sydney. The show is set to open at the Lyric Theatre, The Star in September 2013. No cast have been confirmed at this stage.

Ghost

Set to open in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre in August 2013, this West End and Broadway sensation will feature an all Australian cast. Casting is yet to commence.

The Lion King

The Lion KingDisney’s Mary Poppins may have flown out of Australia (seasons in New Zealand and Singapore are confirmed), but the media giant are bringing their well loved family spectacular The Lion King back to the Capitol Theatre Sydney in December 2013 for an anticipated 8 month season. No tour was ‘announced’ but it is anticipated that the show will likely complete some of the Australian tour circuit in 2014.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels LogoPresented by James Anthony Productions, the professional Sydney premiere of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has been confirmed by AussieTheatre to be opening at the Theatre Royal in 2013.

The Producers/Chess/Promises, Promises

Chess The Production CompanyThe Production Company’s 2012 season is about to commence, with The Producers cast commencing rehearsals next week in Melbourne and opening July 10–15. Chess plays from August 21–26 and Promises, Promises from October 3–7.

Rumoured/Future:

A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum

While nothing official has been released at this stage, The Age reported recently that Geoffrey Rush would star in a revival of this show, produced by John Frost and directed by Simon Phillips. An announcement is expected very soon.

Shrek

John Frost has the rights to present this Broadway smash, although it is anticipated that the production would not be staged until at least 2014. Nothing has been confirmed at this stage.

Red Dog The Musical

John Frost announced recently that he would be teaming up with Nelson Woss (producer of the award winning Australian film Red Dog) to explore developing the Red Dog story into a musical production.

Read more: Aussie Aussie Aussie: John Frost to develop Red Dog the musical

Dream Lover

A musical based on the life of Bobby Darin will be developed in Australia as a world premiere. Also produced by John Frost.

As always there are plenty of Cabaret events, Festivals and other non-musical theatrical productions in the works for Australian audiences. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s a start!

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

Erin James

4 thoughts on “What’s in store for Australia? Major musicals update

  • Anything MUSICAL in Sydney will have a short run or cancelled!!!

    Reply
  • It always saddens me to see shows cancelled, especially Next to Normal, but it saddens me even more that there almost never any plans for Brisbane shows.
    Thanks for the info though!

    Reply
  • Thanks for the musical update…… It’s just such a shame that so many shows are skipping Adelaide!

    Reply

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