In this issue: STC releases general tickets for the second half of their 2013 season, Todd McKenney and Mitchell Butel star in Orpheus and the Underground, Little Mercy comes to STC, West of Memphis gets a new clip, The Performance Enhancers at Hamer Hall, Tropfest and SBS are in cahoots, Jurassic Lounge is back, Sydney Comedy Festival releases second round of acts, Torch Song Trilogy at Gaiety Theatre and much more!
Huzzah! General sales open for second half of STC 2013
Sydney Theatre Company is gearing itself for an amazing season this year. Productions like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Waiting For Godot and Romeo and Juliet are just some of the shows to look forward to. From Monday 11 February at 9am, tickets will be available to the general public for shows in the second half of their 2013 season. Productions including Cate Blanchett, Isabelle Huppert, Richard Roxburg, Hugo Weaving, Tim Minchin and Toby Schmitz are just some of productions to look forward to.
For more information and to buy tickets (from February 11), head on over to www.sydneytheatre.com.au or call 02 9250 1777.
The opera comes to town with Orpheus and the Underground
A raucous night filled with opera and the can-can? Who would have thought. Musical theatre bigwigs Todd McKenney (The Boy from Oz, Annie) and Mitchell Butel (The Mikado) are about to star in a new seaason of Orpheus and the Underground. Since its premiere in 1858, the famed Orpheus and the Underground has been lampooning Greek Mythology to the delight of audiences all over. Directed by Jonathan Biggins, it hits the Sydney Opera House February 28 and runs til March 27.
For bookings, head to www.opera-australia.org.au or call the Opera Australia Box Office on (02) 9318 8200
Sisters Grimm have mercy
Sisters Grimm (a.k.a Ash Flanders and Declan Greene), known for their subversive shows with outrage, anarchy and camp, have taken on a new show, Little Mercy presented by the Sydney Theatre Company. From 7 - 24 March 2013, the show follows the story of Roger and Virginia Summers who are trying for a child. Along comes plucky 8-year-old child Mercy who has a taste for things of a darker nature.
Get your taste of Little Mercy at www.sydneytheatre.com.au or call the box office on (02) 9250 1777
Trashley is every woman at The Famous Spiegeltent
The divine Trevor Ashley, more affectionately called "Trashley" among the glitterati, has a new show in town at The Famous Spiegeltent, Melbourne. I'm Every Woman brings to stage 27 dress, 14 wigs featuring drag interpretations of divas like Whitney Houston, Liza Minnelli, Shirley Bassey and many more. Directed by Dean Bryant, the show is set to be a divine foray into the world of musical theatre and drag cabaret.
I'm Every Woman runs from Tuesday 19 - 23 February 2013.
Head to www.artscentremelbourne.com.au for more information and to book tickets.
Award winning Return released 21 February
Hot off a prestigious turn as part of the Director's Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival, writer-director Liza Johnson's debut film Return will be available to buy 21 February. Linda Cardellini stars as Kelli, a young mother returning home after 15 months deployed in the Middle East where she is reunited with her children and husband, played by Michael Shannon. Told from the unique perspective of a young mother returning home from Iraq, Cardellini has wowed audiences and critics with her performance with a nomination for Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Check out the trailer at http://youtu.be/7ZWuyLM1_nw
Watch this - Henry Rollins and Eddie Vedder in West of Memphis
A new clip for West of Memphis with Henry Rollins and Eddie Vedder
http://youtu.be/Oj32Ag4aMkk
The infamous "West Memphis 3" case - where three teenagers were imprisoned for a heinous crime despite overwhelming evidence of their innocence, has their untold story revealed in a new documentary produced by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. Following their imprisonment, the subsequent investigation to prove their innocence created a grassroots movement with supporters from celebrated artists and musicians.
West of Memphis will be released in selected cinemas 14 February.
Watch this powerful and provocative film at:
Dendy Newtown, Sydney
Nova Carlton, Melbourne
Palace Centro, Brisbane
Luna Leederville, Perth
Palace East End, Adelaide (February 21)
Two new playwright grants from the Australian Writers' Foundation
Tuesday 29 January marked a great day for Lally Katz and Declan Greene. They were awarded $15000 on behalf of the Australian Writers' Foundation, courtesy of a personal donation by Kim Williams AM, president of the AWF. Used to boost the creation of new Australian work by creative talent, the grant was presented at an evening function at the Sydney Theatre Company for financial supporters of Australian writers. In attendance were high profile advocates such as Andrew Denton, Jennifer Byrne, Jimmy McGovern, Mark Scott and Jan Sardi.
Jessica Mauboy gets a Best Supporting Actress ACCTA
Congrats to the talented Ms. Mauboy for getting a Best Supporting Actress gong at this year's ACCTA's for her part in the hit Aussie film, The Sapphires. The film has since opened in London, Ireland, New Zealand with a US release set for March this year.
The award seems to be just the cherry on top of a slew of achievements including two Deadly Awards (Female Artist of the Year & Single Of The Year) and Northern Territory - Young Australian Of The Year.
Music greats on their "Performance Enhancers" at Hamer Hall
Lucky Melburnians will get to see some serious music greats starting this Saturday at Hamer Hall. Hosted by music journos Lisa Palermo and Kate Welsman (a.k.a. Systa bb), each Saturday from 9 February to 18 May will feature a different indie music artist talking about their music influences with visual references. David Bridie kicks off the first of these intimate nights referencing the work of Peter Cook's "Wake in Fright" Patrick White's "Voss", the art of Fred Williams and the landscapes of John Olsen.
For more information and bookings, visit www.artscentremelbourne.com.au or phone 1300 182 183.
Adelaide Writers Week releases full program
Adelaide Writer's Week, Australia's original literary festival kicks off Saturday 2 March to Thursday 7 March. They've released their full program with highlights including The Secrets of the Ancient World: Tom Holland and A Walk by the River: Mike Ladd - a second date added from popular demand! Explore the ancient world, the British Royal Family, the war in Iraq, the Balkans, unhappy families, marriage, old age, poverty, childhood, Soviet Russia, food, classrooms, Australia’s convict past, horse breeding, wine making, country houses, movies, murder, money, Chinese food and afternoons on the beach.
For more information or tickets, head to www.adelaidefestival.com.au or call 131 246.
Tropfest and SBS get cosy
Tropfest, the largest short film festival in the world have announced SBS as their broadcast partner. All of Australia will now be able to watch the festival on the same night as the festival for the first time ever.
Experience film history in the making on Sunday February 17 2013 from 8.30pm.
For more information, visit www.tropfest.com/au
Have a wonderful Anti-Valentine's Day at Jurassic Lounge!
The Australian Museum, Sydney is opening its doors again for season 5 of Jurassic Lounge. Explore the Australian Museum after dark with music, bars, live music, workshops, film screenings and much more, all against a backdrop of dinosaurs, wild animals and precious gemstones. Kicking off Tuesday 12 February will be their Anti-Valentine's Day with doors opening 5.30pm.
Don't miss out, tickets are on sale now. Head to www.jurassiclounge.com for more details.
Sydney Comedy Festival announces second round of shows
Brace your funny bone for this year's Sydney Comedy Festival. Their second release of shows was announced with some seriously exciting acts. Margaret Cho, Jack Dee and Paul Foot are just some of the international guests, with major Aussie talent too from the likes of Paul Mcdermott, Lawrence Leung and Effie. This second round joins an already stellar line-up including Arj Barker, Tracy Morgan and The Wayans Brothers.
For the full line-up, more information or to buy tickets, check out www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au
Torch Song Trilogy now playing at the Gaiety Theatre
Lucky enough to be in Sydney right now? Torch Song Trilogy, the award winning, critically acclaimed trilogy of plays about a Jewish New York drag queen's quest for love, respect and a life he can be proud of is now playing at Sydney's Gaiety Theatre. Harvey Fierstein's show has won him two Tony Awards (Best Play and Best Actor in a Play), two Drama Desk Awards (Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Actor in a Play) and the Theatre World Award.
This production will be directed by Stephen Colyer and star Simon Corfield, Thom Jordan, Amanda Muggleton, Matthew Verevis, Christian Willis and Belinda Wollaston.
Don't miss out. Torch Song Trilogy will be showing until 3 March.
For bookings go to www.darlinghursttheatre.com/theatre19 or call 02 8356 9987.
Kevin Rudd launches Power + Colour
If you're in Brisbane this Saturday, Former PM Kevin Rudd will be at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art to launch a major new book on Aboriginal art, Power + Colour: New Painting from the Corrigan Collection of 21st Century Aboriginal Art. The book features works that showcase Aboriginal expressions of law and country. The book features 129 works by 76 artists from more than 25 communities across Australia, collected by renowned businessman, art lover and philanthropist, Pat Corrigan.
Head to http://www.palgravemacmillan.com.au/palgrave/isbn/9781921394744 for more information or to orderr it online.