Joanna Murray-Smith News

A celebration of pioneering Australian theatre-craft and performance will take centre stage in the heart of Sydney's Hills district when the inaugural Pioneer Play Festival and Pioneer Play Awards come to Castle Hill on 23rd and 24th November 2018.

Would you believe that one woman could embody the likes of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holliday, and Maria Callas? Milwaukee Rep alum and diva in her own right, Bethany Thomas, does just that.

New York Stage and Film announced today that Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer will be stepping down from her longtime leadership position with the organization to become the new Artistic Director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre beginning September 1, 2019.

RGM Productions & Daniel Sparrow Productions in association with Bill Bowness, Robin Campbell, Ros Andrews and Andrew Buxton today announce the West End transfer of Songs For Nobodies for a limited 7 week run. The production, written by Joanna Murray Smith specifically to showcase the extraordinary vocal ability of actress Bernadette Robinson, had its European premiere at Wilton's Music Hall earlier this year and opened to wide critical and audience acclaim. This new play with songs is directed by Simon Phillips and features music from five iconic divas; Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Maria Callas and opens at the Ambassadors Theatre on 10 January, with previews from 7 January and running until 23 February.

After years of planning, months of construction and $1.75million  later, Milwaukee Repertory Theater is set to reopen the newly renovated Stackner Cabaret today, September 7, 2018 in conjunction with the start of the 65th Anniversary Season with American Premiere of Songs for Nobodies by Joanna Murray-Smith starring the incomparable Bethany Thomas.

After years of planning, months of construction and $1.75million  later, Milwaukee Repertory Theater is set to reopen the newly renovated Stackner Cabaret on Friday, September 7, 2018 in conjunction with the start of the 65th Anniversary Season with American Premiere of Songs for Nobodies by Joanna Murray-Smith starring the incomparable Bethany Thomas.

It's been nearly two weeks since Queensland Theatre released this 2019 season, and it's taken me nearly two weeks to comprehend exactly how colourful and formidable next year is going to be. A few days before the season launch, I had the pleasure of having doing a phone interview with Strong, who had just come from the closing celebrations for the company's successful run of Jasper Jones.

London Classic Theatre today announces that Carole Dance will now play the role of Doris Partington in the UK tour of Charlotte Keatley's My Mother Said I Never Should. Dance steps into the role as Fiz Marcus has had to withdraw due to unforeseen health issues. The full company is completed by Felicity Houlbrooke (Rosie Metcalfe), Kathryn Ritchie (Jackie Metcalfe) and Connie Walker (Margaret Bradley). Artistic Director of LCT, Michael Cabot, directs the production, which tours to 14 venues, opening at Theatre Royal Windsor on 25 September with performances at Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds and Gala Theatre, Durham from 11 September.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 65th Anniversary Season opens in the $1.75 million newly renovated Stackner Cabaret with Songs for Nobodies by Joanna Murray-Smith (American Song, Bombshells) starring Milwaukee Rep favorite Bethany Thomas (Ain't Misbehavin, Ragtime, Man of La Mancha) in a one-woman tour-de-force show about legendary divas Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas.

Get a first look at UK premiere of Switzerland at Theatre Royal Bath's Ustinov Studio starring Phyllis Logan as renowned author Patricia Highsmith with Calum Finlay. The production is written by Joanna Murray-Smith and directed byLucy Bailey as part of Artistic Director Jonathan Church's 2018 Summer Season at Theatre Royal Bath and runs until Saturday 1 September with opening night for press on Thursday 9 August.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater is pleased to announce the complete cast and creative teams for the 2018/19 Season fall shows including Songs for Nobodies, Guards at the Taj, The All Night Strut!, and Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.

Production images are today released for a new adaptation of Henry V presented by Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory at Theatre Royal Bath's Ustinov Studio where it runs until Saturday 21 July with opening night for press on Thursday 28 June. The production which stars Ben Hall and is directed by Elizabeth Freestone, launches Artistic Director Jonathan Church's 2018 Summer Season of five plays at Theatre Royal Bath.

Jonathan Church, Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Bath's Summer Season, today announces further casting for the 2018 summer programme with actors Ralf Little (The Royle Family, Ugly Lies the Bone) and Nigel Lindsay (Victoria, Four Lions) joining the previously announced Elizabeth McGovern and Amanda Abbington in the 10th anniversary production of Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage. 

London Classic Theatre today announces the full company for their UK tour of Charlotte Keatley's My Mother Said I Never Should. Artistic Director of LCT, Michael Cabot, directs Felicity Houlbrooke (Rosie Metcalfe), Fiz Marcus (Doris Partington), Kathryn Ritchie (Jackie Metcalfe) and Connie Walker (Margaret Bradley). The production tours to 14 venues, opening at Theatre Royal Windsor on 25 September with performances at Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds and Gala Theatre, Durham from 11 September.

Jonathan Church, Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Bath's Summer Season, today announces the full 2018 programme. Some of the country's most prolific actors will star in a selection of both UK premieres and renowned classics in the theatre's historic Main House and the intimate Ustinov Studio.

The New York Premier of SWITZERLAND at the Hudson Stage Company

Park Theatre today announce their new July - December 2018 season. Featuring a mix of new and existing writing, the season includes six World Premieres, one UK Premiere, three celebrated revivals and a brace of homegrown productions, two of which have been developed through Park Theatre's Script Accelerator programme.

SWITZERLAND, the New York premiere by celebrated Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith, directed by Dan Foster. Featured in the cast are Peggy J. Scott as Patricia Highsmith, the noted writer of 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' and 'Strangers on a Train' and Daniel Petzoldas the young man sent to Switzerland to woo her back to writing.

A sensational Bernadette Robinson brings five 'nobodies' and five superstars to life in a series of monologues with music that explore human fallibility with wit and wisdom to spare.

London Classic Theatre returns to the Everyman with their production of Noel Coward's comedy masterpiece, Private Lives. Olivia Beardsley and Helen Keeley reprise their roles as Sibyl Chase and Amanda Prynne and they are joined by three new cast members: Gareth Bennett-Ryan (Elyot Chase), Paul Sandys (Victor Prynne) and Rachael Holmes-Brown (Louise).