Today
How the Back To The Future musical appeased worried superfans
The 1985 time travel movie attracts pedantry like few others, so the makers of a stage version coming to Australia had a novel idea.
- Michael Bailey
January
Wait for it: Hamilton’s economic impact has been revealed
Ahead of the closure of the Australian production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical, producer Michael Cassel has shared its total ticket sales and economic contribution.
- Michael Bailey
November 2024
Jesus Christ Superstar goes Judas Priest in hard rocking return
The generation who grew up with John Farnham as Jesus in the 1992 staging of Lloyd-Webber’s first might be surprised at its heavy metal makeover just opened in Sydney.
- Michael Bailey
October 2024
500 years on, the wives of Henry VIII sing their story
SIX is a ‘rock Tudor’ musical that ‘she-makes’ 16th century history for the TikTok generation.
- Michael Bailey
This musical will make you rethink social media
Dear Evan Hansen was conceived early in the Facebook age, and this story of a socially anxious teen has an eye for the pitfalls but also the potential of global connection.
- Michael Bailey
August 2024
Sharing a $6.40 birthday cake with star Sarah Brightman
The world-famous performer is not too grand to enjoy a treat from Woolies as she promotes her role in Sunset Boulevard.
- Michael Bailey
Nuns go disco in Sister Act musical
The musical version of the 1992 hit movie has its heavenly moments.
- Michael Bailey
July 2024
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘other’ musical gets a timely revival
Hamilton is a hard act to precede, but hints of its composer’s genius are all over In The Heights, which is being revived at Sydney Opera House.
- Michael Bailey
June 2024
Chicago The Musical gets away with murder
Review: The latest Australian production of Chicago is all big-city sass and swagger, set to hyper-mobile jazz age choreography and a bagful of great period-inspired songs.
- Michael Bailey
April 2024
Rizzo steals the show in ‘Grease the Musical’
Step aside, Sandy – it was another Rydell High student who got the biggest response at Tuesday’s opening night in Sydney.
- Michael Bailey
March 2024
Why this producer of Aussie musicals makes his sets in Britain
Tax rebates on up to 40 per cent of production costs incurred in the UK are driving investors away from backing Australian show-makers, the live performance industry claims.
- Michael Bailey
February 2024
Why Broadway’s glut is good for musicals
This year, more than half of Broadway’s annual output of shows will open in March or April. Critic Jesse Green welcomes the rush – sort of.
- Jesse Green
September 2023
Wicked The Musical review: a bewitchingly relevant blockbuster
The Broadway mainstay, a backstory to The Wizard Of Oz, brings to Sydney a contemporary resonance amid its timeless, lavish entertainments.
- Michael Bailey
August 2023
Miss Saigon moves with the times, and is still a great night out
A new production of the musical set around the end of the Vietnam War has responded to some criticism, without damaging its essential appeal.
- Michael Bailey
Miss Saigon critics miss the point, says its composer
Claude-Michel Schönberg can’t understand why controversy always follows his second-most famous musical.
- Michael Bailey
July 2023
After Sweeney Todd, you’ll never look at pies or barbers the same way
If your impression of musical theatre is of a choreographed sugar hit, prepare to be shocked by this production of Stephen Sondheim’s cut-throat classic.
- Michael Bailey
June 2023
Beauty and the Beast: The Musical delivers an eye-popping spectacle
This musical update of Disney’s classic 1991 film provides expensive thrills, but manages to keep its humour and its heart.
- Michael Bailey
May 2023
Here we go again: musical of ABBA bangers is back
Mamma Mia! The Musical’s returning Australian production provides a snappy, if slight framework for ABBA’s enduring pop songs.
- Michael Bailey
This Australian-Zimbabwean is a triumphant Tina Turner
Review: You’ve probably never heard of Ruva Ngwenya, but her phenomenal portrayal of the soul and rock’n’roll icon in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical should rectify that injustice.
- Michael Bailey
February 2023
Move over Mardi Gras, the Disney princesses are in town
On Friday night, Disney 100 The Concert at Sydney Opera House gave the WorldPride opening a run for its money in the glam stakes.
- Michael Bailey