Culture
Musicals
★★★★
Review
Short and sharp, Come From Away sidesteps the corniness to inspire
This improbable musical is based on events in Newfoundland in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.
- by John Shand
Latest
Opinion
Hamilton
The mega-musical Hamilton does a great disservice to its hero’s mother
Dismissed as a whore, Alexander Hamilton’s mother is clearly the parent from whom he inherited his brains, drive and energy.
- by Sarah Napthali
Just you wait: Hamilton star thrilled with move to Melbourne
Jason Arrow, who plays the title role in Hamilton, says moving to Her Majesty’s Theatre will create a more intimate show for Melbourne audiences.
- by Nick Miller
Victorian Opera apologises for lack of diversity in Tommy cast
The cast announcement for the production, set to open in August at the Palais, on Thursday morning almost immediately attracted criticism.
- by Nick Miller
Why has Claude seen the feelgood hit musical Come From Away 85 times?
It’s because he’s the very proud mayor of Gander, the remote tiny town that provided a good news story in the aftermath of 9/11.
- by Nick Galvin
How Diablo Cody turned Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill into a musical
The Broadway hit, based on Alanis Morissette’s seminal album, will reopen Sydney’s Theatre Royal in September.
- by Robert Moran
Phantom set to return to Melbourne just in time for summer
The Phantom of the Opera is coming back to Melbourne in November, to join a bulging slate of premium commercial theatre.
- by Catherine Lambert
Opinion
Hamilton
Hamilton is coming. Here’s how to give it your best shot
This is what you need to do to be prepared to see the smash Broadway musical when it comes to town.
- by Jenna Price
From the Archives, 1971: Good morning starshine, Melbourne says hello
On this day in 1971 the controversial American “Tribal Love-Rock Musical” Hair opened in Melbourne. Brought to Australia by promoter Harry M. Miller, with Graham Kennedy as one of the backers, the nudity and use of four-letter words outraged Victoria’s conservative Bolte government but drew audiences like bees to honey ... “Gimme head with hair. Long beautiful hair. Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen.”
- by Max Beattie and Leonard Radic
Turning symptoms into songs, here comes COVID-19 the musical
The musical, created by bestselling novelist Jodi Picoult, includes scenes called Fever, Aches, Swelling and Irritation, Fatigue and Shortness of Breath.
- by Elisabeth Egan
‘People said the movie musical will never be successful again’: Baz Luhrmann on why the critics were wrong about Moulin Rouge
Almost exactly 20 years after the movie had its world premiere opening the Cannes Film Festival, the director remembers how much negativity he faced making it.
- by Garry Maddox