Another constant for over 40 years was Al Hirschfeld, whose highly distinctive line drawing caricatures of Broadway accompanied the New York Times reviews of new openings. No one elevated the simple line drawing embodiment of Broadway to an art form in its own right quite as he did.
‘A biting fury that feels raw & authentic’: AIN’T NO MO’ – Broadway ★★★★
AIN’T NO MO’ by Jordan E Cooper Directed by Stevie Walker-Webb Belasco Theatre, New York City – until 26 February 2023 https://aintnomobway.com All aboard the final flight of African American Airlines, a journey taking every last Black American, tired and pissed off from being sidelined, passed over, disappointed, hurt, viewed with suspicion and just plain […]
‘A performance for the ages’: FUNNY GIRL – Broadway
No doubt about it, Lea Michele is the Greatest Star, singlehandedly salvaging a train wreck of a revival and tuning it into a white hot hit. Not seen on Broadway since its original 1964 production, Funny Girl returns with a redesign of the 2016 London production, retaining direction by Michael Mayer and updates to Isobel Lennart’s original book by show-doctor Harvey Fierstein.
‘Sassy, sexy musical comedy’: & JULIET – Broadway
Musical theatre’s new guilty pleasure, & Juliet is an accelerated endorphin rush that leaves the cheering crowd on a giddy high. A jukebox musical so in touch with its identity that it literally starts with a jukebox on the stage, & Juliet corrals more than two dozen of 100-plus hits of mega successful songwriter Max Martin into a sassy, sexy musical comedy.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Romeo & Juliet in Melbourne 2022
Thrillingly balancing dangerous drama and rapturous romance, John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet enthrals once again in this grandly staged, meticulously recreated hallmark production from The Australian Ballet.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Come From Away in Melbourne
The unique energy and passion of Come From Away are destined to be remembered for years; at this point it feels hard to believe that another show will usurp its special place any time soon. Lovers of musical theatre who are yet to experience Come From Away are strongly encouraged to take this final chance to see the show, and those who have already been will need little encouragement to return.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Hairspray in Melbourne
Timeless to Me, Hairspray shakes and shimmies once again, the sheer quality of the show itself shining through just as radiantly at 20 years old. Winner of seven 2003 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Hairspray encapsulates the very essence of what makes Broadway such a joy in our lives.
FROM DOWN UNDER: 9 to 5 the Musical in Melbourne
Bubbly, bold and brassy, 9 to 5 the Musical is a well-timed wallop of feel-good fare. Proving an ideal fit for a cinema-to-stage adaptation, hit 1980 movie 9 to 5 provides three leading ladies for the price of one, not to mention the scope, fully realised, for an all-singing, all-dancing set of stenographers and executives. Hailing from Broadway in 2009, 9 to 5 the Musical soared to new life in a restaged production for London’s West End in 2019, its hearty feminist power amplified again for a new generation.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Six in Melbourne
Given its fringe origins, Six is an ideal fit for Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre, flooding the relatively intimate space with throbbing music and rock stadium lighting. The heady combination of mega-talented cast, glittering production and fabulous material conjures an irresistibly electric atmosphere, grabbing the audience by the lapels and not letting go for the breathlessly brisk 75-minute running time.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella in Melbourne
A jewel-toned joy, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella transports audiences back to the magic of Broadway’s Golden Age, when an evening of musical theatre meant a magical discovery of new and wondrous work.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Cruel Intentions the ’90s Musical in Melbourne
A wild ride back to the heady, pre-woke 1990s, Cruel Intentions the ‘90s Musical is a salacious guilty pleasure that has all the makings of a cult classic.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Lohengrin in Melbourne
In a mighty coup for Melbourne, world-conquering tenor Jonas Kaufmann graces the ranks of Opera Australia for a fully-staged production of Wagner gem Lohengrin.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: A Strange Loop in New York
Broadway’s latest musical by Michael R Jackson has been nominated for an impressive 11 Tony Awards. But what have critics had to say about it?
FROM DOWN UNDER: Girl From the North Country in Melbourne & Touring
Artfully conceived and oh so lovingly crafted, Girl From the North Country tempers a heart-rending narrative with the heart soothing balm of more than 20 exquisitely arranged Bob Dylan songs.
FROM DOWN UNDER: The Australian tour of Broadway hit An American in Paris
Deliberately marooned in Paris at the end of WWII, ex-serviceman Jerry Mulligan juggles art, romance and music as he makes new friends, attracts the attention of a wealthy benefactress and falls helplessly in love with a mysterious young dancer.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton arrives in Melbourne in sensational form
Australia’s theatre capital takes its turn to host the Room Where It Happens, as Hamilton arrives in sensational form, setting off a theatrical powder keg at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Broadway’s Fun Home in its Melbourne debut
Delayed over the past two theatrically arid years, multi-Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home finally makes its Melbourne debut, arriving in a superbly cast, sharply directed production.
FROM DOWN UNDER: The Australian premiere of Jagged Little Pill
Electrifying new musical Jagged Little Pill commands attention, breaks hearts and, ultimately, inspires hope in this thrilling Australian premiere season.
FROM DOWN UNDER: Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s The Comedy of Errors
The border control comedy we didn’t know we all needed, The Comedy of Errors is Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s convivial contribution to the welcome wave of theatres reopening.
WATCH NOW: Documentary IN Exchange shows the journey of an Offie-nominated French classic
David Furlong, the Mauritian-born actor and director currently directing at the Young Vic (Five Plays 2021), celebrates Exchange Theatre’s 15th anniversary by taking audiences behind the scenes of their 2018 production of Molière’s Misanthrope.