Simon Phillips News

Following an exhaustive search, Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures today announced that the lead role in one of the most anticipated shows of 2017 has been won by newcomer Maggie McKenna.

Love Never Dies will open its North American Tour at Detroit's Fisher Theatre on October 17 with performances through October 29.

Love Never Dies will make its North American premiere in Detroit, MI at the Fisher Theater from October 17-29, with official opening night October 25, following a special preview engagement in Baltimore, MD at the Hippodrome Theater from October 3-8. Complete North American touring schedule for the 2017-18 season is below. Casting will be revealed at a later date.

A powerhouse cast joins international star Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad) and director Simon Phillips in a new Melbourne Theatre Company production of Macbeth, Shakespeare's searing tragedy of ambition, betrayal and murder.

Leading theatre producer John Frost and Chief Executive Officer of Arts Centre Melbourne, Claire Spencer, today announced that they would unite to reinstate the tradition of the annual summer musical in the State Theatre of Arts Centre Melbourne from 2017.

Artistic Director Jonathan Church's complete programme for Theatre Royal Bath's annual Summer Season is today announced. Church's inaugural season of five plays will open with David Hare's Racing Demons from 21 June, followed by Sand in the Sandwiches by Hugh Whitemore, the UK Premiere of Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest, Looking at Lucian by Alan Franks and Alan Bennett's The Lady in the Van.

Casual tickets become available to the general public on Monday 13 March 2017 at 9.00am for one of the most anticipated shows of 2017, the dazzling new musical version of one of Australia's great gifts to the world, Muriel's Wedding. Originally announced to run from 6 November to 30 December, the Australian-exclusive season at Sydney's Roslyn Packer Theatre has been extended and will now run until 20 January 2018.

Runaway Features is thrilled to announce the U.S. release of the suspense-filled sci-fi thriller THE LAST SCOUT, which is released on digital and Video On Demand platforms on 7th March.

Tim Finn's new musical Ladies in Black is critically acclaimed and award-winning…and it deserves it all and more. Returning to Melbourne for an encore season, this wonderful musical is based on Madeleine St John's 1993 novel, The Women in Black, and has been excellently brought to the stage by Australian screenwriter Carolyn Burns and director Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Love Never Dies).

The March lineup at Blue Note Hawaii, the state's premier venue for the world's most celebrated artists, kicks off with local soulful songwriter, Ron Artis II & The Truth, the Waikiki Edition of Revive the Live and Austin favorite Sharon Bourbonnais. Comedy is king when local funnyman Andy Bumatai graces the stage. Blue Note Hawaii welcomes back one of its favorite artists, jazz guitarist Earl Klugh, followed by groundbreaking Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi, joined on drums by the incomparable Simon Phillips (TOTO, The Who, Judas Priest) and the legendary Blood, Sweat & Tears. Other fantastic shows include a Tribute to Chuck Mangione with Mike Lewis and Friends, Tak Matsumoto with Daniel Ho, Willie K, the Hotclub of Hulaville in an evening of Gypsy Jazz with a Tribute to Django Reinhardt, the Steve Kimock Band, and the 25th Anniversary of the original Hawaiian Style Band.

MURIEL'S WEDDING The Musical makes its world premiere in Sydney November 7, 2017 - January 20, 2018 at the Roslyn Packer Theatre.  Tickets go on sale March 13.

It's been long rumored with teases back as early as 2015 that Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM sequel was heading our way. Now according to an Equity casting notice, a North American tour will launch from Baltimore on October 3, 2017. Auditions will begin in March.

LOVE NEVER DIES, Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, will be part of next season's line-up at the Hollywood Pantages.

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Florida Theatrical Association and Broadway Across America announce the roster of shows that will arrive in the Walt Disney Theater during the FAIRWINDS Broadway in Orlando 2017 - 2018 season.  The new season launches with the acclaimed production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I. Following the engagement of that celebrated revival is On Your Feet!, the irresistible true story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. Next, the ultimate love story continues in Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber's spellbinding sequel to The Phantom of the Opera.

We are culture. We are exploration. We are The New York Science Fiction Film Festival.

Capturing the not too distant past of 1950's Sydney, the heart-warming coming of age story of a young, intelligent woman comes to life with fabulous songs and fantastic fashion in LADIES IN BLACK.

It's been long rumored with teases back as early as 2015 that Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM sequel was heading our way. Last Spring, the legendary composer revealed in a feature for BuzzFeed that THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA follow-up will 'make its way to Washington, D.C. next year.'

We are culture. We are exploration. We are The New York Science Fiction Film Festival.

The curtain has fallen on the World Premiere season of Dream Lover - The Bobby Darin Musical at the Sydney Lyric Theatre and producer John Frost is fielding offers for future productions, not only in Australia but internationally.

Melbourne Theatre Company is thrilled to announce that international screen sensation Jai Courtney will return to Australia next year exclusively for MTC, to play the title role of Macbeth in Simon Phillips' fearsome new production of Shakespeare's epic tragedy.