Lucy Maunder News

From rock to Rossini, Victorian Opera announces its Season 2022 with a year of undiscovered gems, thrilling epics and two world premieres. The state opera company presents eight productions, including three Australian operas.

Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY has found its way to the stage as a musical, retaining some elements from the classic movies whilst diverging in some areas. Crown Theatre plays home to this stunning musical, treating the people of Perth to a world of pure imagination.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY is a beloved and well-known story, from the book, two hit films, and now a musical which opens this week at Crown Theatre. Stepping into this world of pure imagination are Lucy Maunder and Stephen Anderson. I caught up with them to talk the musical and their experience with one of the world’s favourite stories.

Artistic Director & CEO Brett Sheehy has unveiled his final season for Melbourne Theatre Company – a program of 11 stellar productions including both new Australian and critically acclaimed international works.

Following auditions by more than 300 hopeful artists in Brisbane and around the country (via video calls), the full cast of this September's Queensland premiere season of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was unveiled today coinciding with World Chocolate Day (7 July).

Joining the line-up of CABARET AT THE BALLROOM kicking off in June, is Queenie Van de Zandt in BLUE: The Songs of Joni Mitchell and in July, Ash Flanders is Nothing and Lucy Maunder sings Irving Berlin: Songs in the Key of Black.

Captivating, heartwarming and heartbreaking, Jeanine Tesori (Music) and Lisa Kron’s (Book and Lyrics) adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir FUN HOME has finally opened in Sydney after a pandemic induced delay

Australian stage and screen star Kerri-Anne Kennerley was hospitalized after falling 4.5 meters from a trapeze during a performance in Pippin in Sydney.

Sydney-siders and critics have embraced the return to theatres with Sydney's unforgettable summer hit musical, the high-flying, death-defying hit Broadway musical PIPPIN receiving huge acclaim by critics and audiences alike. The first large scale musical theatre production to open in Australia since COVID-19 led to theatres closing down in March, PIPPIN plays exclusively at the Sydney Lyric at The Star for a limited season.

Diane Paulus’ (Director) multiple Tony Award winning 2013 Broadway Revival of Stephen Schwartz (Music and Lyrics) and Roger O. Hirson’s (Book) PIPPIN entertains and entrances Sydney audiences thirsty for theatre with a bold blend of song, dance, and circus. 

Pippin is set to open at the Sydney Lyric Theatre Tonight, November 24! The live production, the first one back in Sydney, will run until January 31, 2021. With a beloved score by Tony Award nominee STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, PIPPIN tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence.

Performances begin next Tuesday for the high-flying, death-defying hit Broadway musical PIPPIN, the first large scale musical theatre production to open in Australia since COVID-19 led to theatres closing down in March. PIPPIN plays exclusively at the Sydney Lyric at The Star from 24 November to 31 January only.

Producers John Frost and Suzanne Jones today announced the four young boys who will share the role of Theo in the Broadway musical PIPPIN which opens at the Sydney Lyric at The Star for an exclusive season from 24 November 2020.

Producers John Frost and Suzanne Jones today announced their stellar cast for the high-flying, death-defying hit Broadway musical PIPPIN which opens at the Sydney Lyric Theatre at The Star for an exclusive season from 24 November 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) has devastated the Australian theatre industry. While the closure of theatres has significantly helped fight this pandemic by ensuring social distancing, Australian arts' workers have been left with the grim reality of unemployment. Despite this sudden and unforeseen shutdown of theatre, the comradery and resilience of those working in entertainment continues to shine. This is evident in the hard work of James Cutler and Joshua Robson Productions who have ensured that the show will go on, by establishing an outstanding performance initiative called LIGHTS UP ON THE ARTS [HOME DELIVERY].

James Cutler and Joshua Robson Productions have announced a special and unique online concert which will shine a light on the Australian musical theatre industry and support performers whose livelihoods have been impacted by the COVID-19 arts shutdown. LIGHTS UP ON THE ARTS [HOME DELIVERY] will be held on Monday 11 May from 7pm.

Charlie Bucket has been found and he has a Golden Ticket! Producers John Frost, Craig Donnell, Warner Bros Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street.

Australia's leading theatre producer John Frost and Her Majesty's Theatre owner Mike Walsh today announced an exciting new initiative, Kid's Week at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from 4-8 December 2019. During this week, every child 15 years and under will receive a free ticket to the show when accompanied by a full paying adult. Plus, as a special behind the scenes bonus, children will get to experience the fun, the people and the magic behind the show. This is a first for the Australian theatre industry.

Producers John Frost, Craig Donnell, Warner Bros Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and Neal Street Productions are delighted to announce that Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is partnering with My Room to bring hope, strength and joy to children and their families facing life-threatening cancers.

Melbourne Theatre Company Artistic Director & CEO Brett Sheehy today unveiled MTC's 2020 Season, a suite of plays that will ignite imaginations, challenge preconceptions and enrich lives throughout the country.