Craig McLachlan News

The 14th Annual Helpmann Awards were presented tonight live from Sydney's Capitol Theatre and broadcast on Foxtel's Arena. Host Jonathan Biggins was joined by some of Australia's most talented performers and industry leaders to announce this year's winners while recognising the distinguished artistic achievement and excellence across the major disciplines of Australia's live performance industry.

The Helpmann Awards, which has recognised the achievements in live performance in Australia since 2001, is the Australian industry's equivalent of the Tony Awards and the Olivier Awards.

Producers Howard Panter and John Frost today confirmed that the new Australian production of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show will play a limited season at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from April 2015. Returning in the coveted role of Frank N Furter will be television and theatre star Craig McLachlan, fresh from shooting the title role in the third series of ABC TV's top rating drama series The Doctor Blake Mysteries. Further cast members will be announced later this year.

The Helpmann Awards are Australia's version of Broadway's Tony Awards and London's Olivier Awards. The annual awards recognise achievement in live performance including musical theatre, contemporary music, comedy, cabaret, opera, classical music, theatre, dance and physical theatre.

Whether you've seen Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show on multiple occasions from its incarnation 40 years ago or last night's Melbourne opening was your first experience with the cult classic, one ensuing thought rings true; what was that all about, followed by wow...I think I actually enjoyed that. No doubt the more you see the Rocky Horror Show the more it gives you and the more meaning you create for yourself from the piece of science fiction theatre. Its cult status proves that more than just the audience at the Comedy Theatre last night enjoy this show.

Fans of the show, or the film, will be turning up in droves and, quite possibly, attending more than once during this season.

Producers Howard Panter and John Frost announced today that the creator of The Rocky Horror Show, Richard O'Brien, would join the production to play the Narrator for the Adelaide season only. The 2014 Australian tour of The Rocky Horror Show is proving to be a phenomenal success with the Brisbane season selling out, and the Perth season kicking off last weekend to great acclaim. The production is receiving standing ovations at every performance, with audiences ecstatically dancing the Time Warp.

Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show is back! Fish out the fishnets and sharpen those stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life! Producers Howard Panter and John Frost today announced that the much loved iconic musical is now playing in Brisbane followed by seasons at the Crown Theatre, Perth in February, and the Festival Theatre, Adelaide in March. This fresh production is currently playing in the UK to sell out houses, and our exciting new production will feature a sexy and very surprising all-Australian star cast. Check out a first look below!

Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show is back! Fish out the fishnets and sharpen those stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life! Producers Howard Panter and John Frost today announced that the much loved iconic musical opened in Brisbane followed by seasons at the Crown Theatre, Perth in February, and the Festival Theatre, Adelaide in March. This fresh production is currently playing in the UK to sell out houses, and our exciting new production will feature a sexy and very surprising all-Australian star cast. Check out a sneak peek at creator Richard O'Brien visiting the cast!

Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show is back! Fish out the fishnets and sharpen those stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life! Producers Howard Panter and John Frost today announced that the much loved iconic musical will open tonight, January 8, 2014 in Brisbane followed by seasons at the Crown Theatre, Perth in February, and the Festival Theatre, Adelaide in March. This fresh production is currently playing in the UK to sell out houses, and our exciting new production will feature a sexy and very surprising all-Australian star cast. Check out a sneak peek below!

Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show is back! Fish out the fishnets and sharpen those stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life! Producers Howard Panter and John Frost today announced that the much loved iconic musical will open tonight, December 31, 2013 at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane followed by seasons at the Crown Theatre, Perth in February, and the Festival Theatre, Adelaide in March.

Adelaide Festival Centre cements its position as one of the nation's leading cultural precincts as it unveils its 2014 program. It is the largest season ever at the Festival Centre, featuring two large-scale musicals, an exciting array of family entertainment and several groundbreaking collaborations with local companies. The program features some big names both nationally and internationally with Lior, Ludovico Einaudi, Helen Reddy, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Tan Dun among the line-up with a total of 233 shows, 77 events, 13 world premieres and 10 Australian premieres.

Joining television and theatre star Craig McLachlan in the new production of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show will be a fresh, exciting and talented cast of Australia's best musical theatre performers. Producers Howard Panter and John Frost today announced cast members for the 2014 Australian tour of The Rocky Horror Show, which opens in January at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane followed by seasons at the Crown Theatre, Perth in February, the Festival Theatre, Adelaide in March, and the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne in April.

Producers Howard Panter and John Frost today confirmed that the new Australian production ofRichard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show will play a limited season at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre opening April 26 following seasons at the Brisbane's Lyric Theatre in January, the Crown Theatre, Perth in February and the Festival Theatre, Adelaide in March. Melbourne audiences can waitlist to buy tickets at www.rockyhorror.com.au/melbourne before they go on sale on October 7.

Producers Howard Panter and John Frost today announced that the coveted role of Frank N Furter in the new Australian production of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show will be played by television and theatre star Craig McLachlan. The much loved iconic musical will open in January 2014 at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane followed by seasons at the Crown Theatre, Perth in February, and the Festival Theatre, Adelaide in March.

Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show is back! Fish out the fishnets and sharpen those stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life! Producers Howard Panter and John Frost today announced that the much loved iconic musical will open on December 31, 2013 at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane followed by seasons at the Crown Theatre, Perth in February, and the Festival Theatre, Adelaide in March. This fresh production is currently playing in the UK to sell out houses, and our exciting new production will feature a sexy and very surprising all-Australian star cast.

On January 17, Birdland will host Stage and screen star Caroline O'Connor in concert, The Girl From Oz: An Evening With Caroline O'Connor, at 6pm.

On January 17, Birdland will host Stage and screen star Caroline O'Connor in concert, The Girl From Oz: An Evening With Caroline O'Connor, at 6pm.

The 2009 Helpmann Awards® Ceremony will be held next Monday 27 July at 6.30pm at Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, whilst the After Party will be held at The Argyle in The Rocks. Jonathan Biggins and Julia Zemiro, both acclaimed actors, broadcasters and comedians, will jointly MC the Awards Ceremony. The Ceremony will include performances by the casts of Avenue Q, Candy Man, Chicago, Jerry Springer - The Opera, Metro Street, Shane Warne - The Musical, Spamalot, 7 Fingers and Wicked, as well as performances from The Australian Ballet, David Campbell, Kate Miller-Heidke, Scared Weird Little Guys, Sydney Dance Company, Tyler Coppin, and Emma Matthews from Opera Australia.