Music Theatre milestones

Some memorable moments in Australian Musical Theatre this week with some of Australia’s blockbuster musicals celebrating important milestones.

Sunday 15 July marks the official opening night of Jersey Boys in Brisbane at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). The Australian premiere season of Jersey Boys opened in Melbourne just over three years ago on July 4, 2009, and cast member Glaston Toft (pictured, left) is the last remaining member of the original Australian Four Seasons touring with the company.

Currently on sale until September 16, the Brisbane season follows smash hit seasons in Auckland (2012) Sydney (15 months at the Theatre Royal) and Melbourne (13 months at the Princess Theatre).

A 2013 return Melbourne season was announced earlier this week after the show’s Adelaide season in October this year.

Wicked Australia celebrated a milestone birthday on Thursday, marking 4 years since the production premiered in Melbourne on July 12, 2008. Having enjoyed unparalleled success in Australia with over 1.5 million people attending the production, Wicked began its Asian tour this year in Singapore. The show is currently playing at the Blue Square Theatre in Seoul, South Korea and four members of the original cast remain with the production – Dance Captains Ryan Sheppard and Emma Delmenico, James D. Smith (currently starring as Boq) and Jemma Rix (Elphaba).

In an interview with AussieTheatre last year, Producer John Frost confirmed his intention to bring Wicked back to Australia after it completed an Asian and New Zealand tour. Although (as with so many things in this business) nothing is set in stone, Australian audiences may yet have the chance to see the cast of Wicked in Australia once more.

Finally, the Australian revival of Annie, currently playing at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre, celebrated its 200th performance this week. The show stars Anthony Warlow, Todd McKenney, and Nancye Hayes and has enjoyed successful seasons in Sydney and Brisbane earlier this year.

Australia’s Daddy Warbucks Anthony Warlow will leave the production on Sunday 5 August to make his Broadway debut in the same role at the Palace Theatre in New York. Michael Cormick will take over the role of Warbucks in the Australian tour and Bert Newton will replace Alan Jones as President Roosevelt.