Culture
Musicals
How they waved a magic wand over Cinderella to embrace diversity
In a new, lavish Broadway version of Cinderella, the creative team set out to reshape one of the most famous fairytales.
- by Catherine Lambert
Latest
The moving story of three generations of women that unfolds from an umbrella
A new musical will celebrate the lives of a family of artists who escaped Nazi Germany and brought their lives – and art, and furniture – to suburban Melbourne.
- by Nick Miller
Loved The Castle and Muriel’s Wedding? This underdog wrestling show is for you
With its rock soundtrack, Dubbo Championship Wrestling is a love letter to country Australia that has the hallmarks of our next musical hit.
- by Lenny Ann Low
How Lisa McCune came to love the role that scared her
Lisa McCune had to learn to understand dementia from the inside, for a role in a new musical based on Bob Dylan’s biggest hits.
- by Nick Miller
The century-old opera that reads as a takedown of modern slacktivism
Composed a century ago, The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny has a surprisingly modern message: that good intentions aren’t enough, and actions count.
- by Barney Zwartz
Exclusive
Workplace culture
Drama on the harbour: Phantom of the Opera bullying claims unmasked
Bullying claims have rocked Opera Australia’s Sydney Harbour production, with some cast members threatening not to perform over the treatment of one of the stars.
- by Nathanael Cooper
★★★★
Review
“Mind-boggling”: An improbably wondrous night at the Old Fitz
Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht take us two jaunty examinations of humanity’s open wounds.
- by John Shand
★★★★
Review
‘Simply glorious’: Phantom is a magical escape from a troubled world
Opera Australia’s fresh take on The Phantom of the Opera, the longest-running show in musical history, is set against the beautiful backdrop of Sydney harbour. Grab your raincoat and go.
- by Lenny Ann Low
‘I’m very restless at the moment’: what’s next for theatre’s $1 billion man?
Andrew Lloyd Webber has built his worldwide musical theatre empire on being fashionably unfashionable, but is still searching for his next hit show.
- by Nick Galvin
★★★★½
Hamilton
Hamilton is here: and this spectacular show is quite simply a must-see
This musical justifies all the hype. It’s the kind of game-changer it promises to be and thoroughly deserves its place as the hottest ticket in town.
- by Cameron Woodhead
‘An actor’s playground’: Meet the guy on standby for every male role in Hamilton
To keep the show on the road, standby performer Jimmie “JJ” Jeter has to be ready to step up for multiple roles – sometimes at just minutes’ notice.
- by Nick Miller