Jade Kops - Page 56

Blue Saint Production's GUILTY PLEASURES, is a one woman performance, telling the murderous stories of 5 women, bought to life with a wonderful intensity by Angelique Cassimatis. Written by Josh Robson (Winner, 2014 Rob Guest Endowment Award) with music by Robert Tripolino and Lyrics by Hugo Chiarella, the 1 hour cabaret explores how 5 women justify murder as they are consumed by emotions and desperate situations.

As the eagerly awaited release date of INTO THE WOODS on 8 January 2015 is drawing near the generous people at Walt Disney Studios and bridgesPR are offering Australian BroadwayWorld.com readers the opportunity to win one of 10 double passes or 5 Gift Bags (containing 1 x Into The Woods Memo Pad set, 1 x Into the Woods Musical Notebook, 1 x Into the Woods Canvas Bag, 1 x Into the Woods CD Soundtrack)

Judith Kerr's children's book THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA comes to life at Sydney Opera House this summer, to the delight of young audiences. Director, songwriter and lyricist David Wood has brought new life to this modern classic story about little Sophie, her Mummy and THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA.

In the lead up to the international hit musical DIRTY DANCING returning to Sydney, 10 years after the world premiere in Sydney, I had the opportunity to chat to the lead performers Kurt Phelan (Johnny Castle), Kirby Burgess (Frances "Baby" Houseman) and Nadia Coote (Penny Johnson) along with getting a preview of the new, reworked show from producer John Frost.

Giles Gartrell-Mills' (Director) interpretation of Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and Hugh Wheeler's (libretto) famous musical SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET allows the dark and twisted characters shine in this minimalist production.

English Writer/Director Neil Rutherford's latest production, BEYOND DESIRE, is a wonderful piece of musical theatre that draws the audience into a well-crafted Edwardian era murder mystery. Rutherford joins with Kieran Drury (composer) to create a wonderful story with many twists and turns to keep the audience engaged as secrets are revealed. It is a treat that this new work is making its premiere at the intimate space of Hayes Theatre in Sydney.

From attending the New Theatre 2015 season launch, it is clear from Artistic Director Louise Fischer's introduction that New Theatre is a "family" with a passion for what they create. The 2015 line up continues the company's legacy of staging productions that will challenge ideas and discuss issues, and even the plays that were written in other eras remain relevant to the current society.

Darlinghurst Theatre Company is the latest theatre company to re-stage the work of Nick Enright, this time with the clever and humorous DAYLIGHT SAVING. Director Adam Cook brings new life to this work that, in covering the challenges of careers, relationships, desire and "wanting it all", remains as relevant today as it was when it was first staged in 1989.

Sydney Theatre Company brings Edmond Rostand's CYRANO DE BERGERAC to life with a new staging of Andrew Upton's adaptation of the classic love story. The fast paced, witty interpretation starring Richard Roxburgh, as the soldier poet with the unfortunate nose, Cyrano De Bergerac, had the audience roaring with laughter at the clever dialogue and moved with emotion at the unfolding love story.

Mitchell Butel returns to the cabaret stage with KILLING TIME, first performed at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2010. The award winning busy actor and singer is taking Sunday nights off from his role in EMERALD CITY and television and movie work to share this updated show with Sydney audiences. Butel has given the 90 minute show a few tweeks, added some new songs and updated references, keeping it fresh so even if you've seen the 2010 version, or bought the CD, it's worth seeing this incarnation.

Sydney Theatre Company's latest offering, SWITZERLAND, by Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith draws on the life of Texan native Patricia Highsmith, famous for writing psychological thrillers with her most famous character being Tom Ripley, to create an insight into the writer's reclusive life and place her in a mystery of her own.

The Griffin Theatre Company's production of David Williamson's EMERALD CITY is an amazing piece of theatre that captures the complexity of surviving in 1980's Sydney beautifully.

THE WHARF REVUE: OPEN FOR BUSINESS is a fast paced, cleverly scripted and superbly delivered political satire where all the players in the current political landscape are fair game, and even a few old names are included.

The one act, 90 minute, MIRACLE CITY is a humorous jab at television evangelists whilst exploring humanity's darker side and exposing the truths beneath the bright shiny orchestrated images. It provides an enjoyable evening of laughs, strong singing and some plot twists which ensure that the musical is still relevant and relatable to 2014 audiences as it was in 1996.

CELTIC LEGENDS is a high energy taste of Irish culture, showcasing some of Ireland's talent. With a simple set of 6 lit banners topped with a celtic knot, the 6 piece band drive the show from the rear of the stage with both their own musical features and providing music for the 18 dancers.

Squabbalogic's production of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM helps to answer the question that the NEW YORK magazine posed in 1994, "Is Stephen Sondheim God?". The revue of Sondheim's work, originally conceived and directed in 2010 by James Lapine, who has had a long connection with the composer, takes the audience on a journey through Sondheim's life, his creations, and creative process, all narrated by Sondheim himself by way of video recordings and archive footage projected onto a large screen above the stage.

Well recognised British actor David Suchet is joined by an international cast to bring Roger Crane's mystery, THE LAST CONFESSION, to Australian audiences with the right mix of emotion, passion and humour. Crane explores the sudden death of Pope John Paul I, 33 days after his election in this cleverly constructed play that draws on factual events and challenges beliefs.

Peter Rutherford and James Millar's LOVEBITES is a witty musical that explores a number of different types of relationships from the perspectives of new love and the effect of time with the occasional twist. This latest staging makes good use of the intimate space at Hayes Theatre and is a tight and polished performance that incites laughter, knowing groans as the audience relates to the cliches, and tears as the show proves that love is complicated.

The historic State Theatre in Sydney was filled with John Denver fans on Sunday night and they were not disappointed. New Zealander Bevan Gardiner recreates Denver's sound beautifully and even looks like the man he pays tribute to with blonde hair and western shirt. The show, produced with John Denver Management approval and support from Denver's personal manager and friend Harold Thau, is a mix of concert and documentary of Denver's life with projections of archival footage, voice over and live music.

The Helpmann Awards, which has recognised the achievements in live performance in Australia since 2001, is the Australian industry's equivalent of the Tony Awards and the Olivier Awards.