Stage
Comedy
Canberra student Lauren Duong wins Class Clowns at Melbourne International Comedy Festival
![Canberra student Lauren Duong has won the Class Clowns grand final at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/16/7351856/Thumbnail1008139982go7xtfimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.go7xse.png1460792888090.jpg-90x60.jpg)
JIL HOGAN 5:49pm Tales of feeling like a 'fake Asian' and the difficulties of learning to speak Chinese have earned Lauren Duong the title of funniest teen comedy act in the country.
Sammy J and Randy have scandal planned for the 2016 Sydney Comedy Festival
![<i>Sammy J & Randy Land</i> is part of the Sydney Comedy Festival.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/14/7347930/Thumbnail1007787445go0kruimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.go0drp.png1460631550621.jpg-90x60.jpg)
LENNY ANN LOW Sammy J and Randy are opening a theme park. But first they have to break up.
Sydney Comedy Festival 2016 makes its move on the Town Hall
![Comedian Lawrence Leung is performing at the Town Hall for the first time.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/12/7342577/Thumbnail1007967413gnxsigimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.go48mt.png1460505823321.jpg-90x60.jpg)
LENNY ANN LOW After 12 years, the Sydney Comedy Festival is expanding into the Sydney Town Hall.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival: Barry Award patron Barry Humphries surprises nominees
![Barry Humphries was a surprise guest at the announcement of the nominees for the award named in his honour.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/11/7338927/Thumbnail1007920358gmlrjiimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.go38bq.png1460343397034.jpg-90x60.jpg)
John Bailey Barry Humphries has made a surprise appearance at The Famous Spiegeltent to announce this year's Bazza contenders.
Sydney Comedy Festival Comics: How to be Funny
![The SMH Spectrum . Frank Woodley and Tessa Waters.Pic Simon Schluter. 30 March 2016.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/08/7335199/th-995342926-90x60.jpg)
LENNY ANN LOW Sydney Comedy Festival comics unveil the mechanics of being funny in the age of social media.
Dance
Corps de ballet to choreographer: Australian Ballet duo create for Symphony in C
![Australian Ballet choreographers Richard House and Alice Topp in one of the rehearsal rooms in the Sydney Opera House.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/12/7342017/Thumbnail1007974424go4cq6image.related.thumbnail.320x214.go4e1k.png1460541332545.jpg-90x60.jpg)
ELISSA BLAKE "I've only got a few more years of dancing left in this old bod so I would absolutely love to have a future in choreography," says 31-year-old Australian Ballet dancer Alice Topp. Her work is part of Symphony in C.
Review: James Batchelor's FACES at Courtyard Studio in Canberra is a typically challenging work
![FACES is performed by James Batchelor, Chloe Chignell and Luigi Vescio.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/08/7333321/Thumbnail1007834556go1e84image.related.thumbnail.320x214.go1e4c.png1460075695191.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Michelle Potter FACES is James Batchelor's comment on the effects of war, inspired by letters written by his great-grandfather during World War I. Like much of his work, it is highly confrontational.
Ballerina Leanne Benjamin happy to be acknowledged in Australia at last
![Leanne Benjamin.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/05/7325955/Thumbnail1007710899gnyfkfimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnyqpf.png1459829706349.jpg-90x60.jpg)
ELISSA BLAKE Leanne Benjamin , the Royal Ballet's longest-serving principal dancer has returned home to receive her Member of the Order of Australia.
Malthouse Theatre's I Am A Miracle snares five gongs at Green Room Awards
![Bert Labonte in Malthouse Theatre's I Am a Miracle.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/21/7291709/Thumbnail1007164976gihrp6image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnn1gw.png1458522731786.jpg-90x60.jpg)
John Bailey In the theatre companies awards division, the biggest winner was Malthouse Theatre's I Am a Miracle.
US dance critic Deborah Jowitt a special guest of Keir Choreographic Award
![Deborah Jowitt is a judge for the Keir Choreographic Award.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/21/7291723/Thumbnail1007165887gnn28uimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnn267.png1458525197665.jpg-90x60.jpg)
John Bailey The Keir Choreographic Award jury includes Deborah Jowitt, a renowned New York dance critic.
Musicals
Jaz Flowers and Erin Clare reunite on that crazy little musical We Will Rock You
![Erin Clare, left, and Jaz Flowers, two of the cast from a new musical, We Will Rock You, directed by Ben Elton in Sydney.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/11/7339610/Thumbnail1007933939go3jcximage.related.thumbnail.320x214.go3isz.png1460631656562.jpg-90x60.jpg)
ELISSA BLAKE Putting together the classic Queen songs that power rock musical We Will Rock You was an electrifying experience for Jaz Flowers.
Review: Canberra production of The Little Mermaid deserves full holiday houses
![Sebastian, played by Fraser Findlay, and Ariel, played by Mikayla Williams.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/11/7339094/Thumbnail1007923063go0884image.related.thumbnail.320x214.go3aev.png1460421004140.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Alanna Maclean THEATRE REVIEW Alanna Maclean
Georgy Girl: the Seekers musical review: Good singing can't save bad writing
![Pippa Grandison plays Judith Durham in Georgy Girl: the Seekers musical](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/07/7330787/Thumbnail1007788053gnxtdaimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.go0e8l.png1460037464025.jpg-90x60.jpg)
BERNARD ZUEL If you get the singing right the work of making a Seekers musical should be half-done. Unfortunately, the jokes and script were also half-done.
Hamilton, Broadway's biggest show, is set to tour Australia
![Carleigh Bettiol, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr and Anthony Ramos in <i>Hamilton</i>.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/06/7328239/Thumbnail1007750706gnzl63image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnzlf6.png1459935833966.jpg-90x60.jpg)
BHAKTHI PUVANENTHIRAN The flaming hot hip hop musical which is sold out until January 2017 is coming down under according to its CEO.
The Little Mermaid swims into the Canberra Theatre
![Ariel played by Mikayla Williams in The Little Mermaid at The Canberra Theatre.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/05/7326065/Thumbnail1007653806gnypj0image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnxini.png1459852892130.jpg-90x60.jpg)
RON CERABONA The Disney musical based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale is about to have its Canberra premiere.
Opera
Verdi rarity Luisa Miller headlines Opera Australia's Melbourne autumn season
![Dalibor Jenis (Miller), Raymond Aceto (Walter), Nicole Car (Luisa) and Eva Kong (Laura) in Opera Australia's Luisa Miller (Sydney cast).](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/11/7339460/Thumbnail1007927949go3gb6image.related.thumbnail.320x214.go3e6l.png1460388889970.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Michael Shmith Opera Australia's Melbourne autumn season features three operas.
Jessica Pratt returns to Lucia di Lammermoor in Victorian Opera debut
![Jessica Pratt in Lucia di Lammermoor.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/04/7323451/Thumbnail1007663912gnxqkvimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnxqg8.png1459739928412.jpg-90x60.jpg)
John Bailey Despite starring in more than 20 productions of the opera, Jessica Pratt has yet to perform the role in Australia, so her local debut in Victorian Opera's Lucia di Lammermoor is much anticipated.
Meet the Megadeth, battleaxe-loving star of Turandot on Sydney Harbour
![Turandot lead Tenor Riccardo Massi who sings Nessun Dorma for Opera Sydney
14th March 2016
Photo: Steven Siewert](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/25/7304133/th-992394040-90x60.jpg)
ELISSA BLAKE From being an axe-wielding extra in Gangs of New York to singing one of opera's most famous arias, Nessum Dorma, on Sydney Harbour, tenor Riccardo Massi takes it all in his very long stride.
Singer Greta Bradman will perform in Canberra on her My Hero tour
![Singer Greta Bradman recorded her new album at her own cost and then licensed it to Decca.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/01/7317861/Thumbnail1007360603gnr91uimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnr8ez.png1459478518908.jpg-90x60.jpg)
RON CERABONA Greta Bradman will perform in Canberra as part of her 'My Hero' concert tour.
Opera Australia battles cockatoos, wind and rain to get Turandot on stage
![SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 14: Mrs Macquarie's Chair on Sydney Harbour. S Handa Opera unveils the set for Turandot which features a giant 9m high and 60m long dragon incorporating the Great Wall of China and an 18m high pagoda. March 14, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Michele Mossop/Fairfax Media)](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/03/15/7281500/Thumbnail1006988905gniyosimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gnj9m1.png1458033199155.jpg-90x60.jpg)
ELISSA BLAKE This time last year, Sydney's cockatoos were already making a meal of the colossal head of Nefertiti, the scenic centerpiece of the Handa Opera on the Harbour production of Verdi's Aida.
Theatre
Canberra drama teacher Peter Wilkins has been running amateur acting workshops for 27 years
![Peter Wilkins has been running acting workshops in Canberra for more than quarter of a century.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/12/7341357/Thumbnail1007943403go46hbimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.go3q3v.png1460426739015.jpg-90x60.jpg)
SALLY PRYOR Over nearly three decades Peter Wilkins has seen hundreds of happy students leave his amateur drama workshops feeling fulfilled.
Review: William Yang's Blood Links at Canberra Theatre an engrossing story of family
![William Yang's Blood Links. Photo: Heidrun Lohr](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/14/7347944/Thumbnail1008029923go4b96image.related.thumbnail.320x214.go5kv7.png1460622762813.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Peter Wilkins William Yang's Blood Links is an engrossing story of adventure, murder, love, marriage and family rivalry.
William Yang mines his family history for his art in Blood Links at the Canberra Theatre
![William Yang's Blood Links. Photo: Heidrun Lohr](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/12/7341659/Thumbnail1007970633go4b9himage.related.thumbnail.320x214.go4b49.png1460432061443.jpg-90x60.jpg)
SALLY PRYOR William Yang has long mined his family history for his art, and his latest show, Blood Links, is no exception.
Puppets, Lior, Charles Darwin come together for theatre
![Lior](http://web.archive.org./web/20160416155644im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/04/09/7336937/Thumbnail1007874301go1qqvimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.go28sd.png1460204778581.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Nathanael Cooper A Queensland production company has secured the services of one of Australia's most loved singers to create a new soundtrack for their world premiere production.