The Circle
Pamela Rabe and Nancye Hayes on The Circle
Grey Gardens stars Pamela Rabe and Nancye Hayes
chat with
Channel Ten’s The Circle.
Watch them: with special guest co-host Deborra-Lee Furness – here:
Pamela Rabe and Nancye Hayes on The Circle, Channel Ten
KISMET – Review
Submitted by Simon Parris on Thursday, 18th Aug 2011 for theatrepeople.com.au
Lovers of time honoured musicals would be hard pressed to find a more beautifully sung production than The Production Company’s Kismet.
At The Production Company’s Kismet, audience members are the Strangers in Paradise, enjoying a glittering production of a seldom seen musical.
Owing more to the world of operetta than Broadway, Kismet harks form a bygone age of the theatre and as such it fits perfectly into TPC’s long stated goal to present rarely staged shows. Clearly a labour of love from all concerned, the production is as lavish as one could hope for in a concert setting, with costumes and choreography, in particular, being artistic highpoints.
Adapted from the work of classical composer Alexander Borodin, the 1953 Tony winning musical has an exceptionally lush score. Giving a superb performance of the score, it is wonderful to see Orchestra Victoria featured downstage, adjacent to the action rather than framing it. Full credit goes to Musical Director Peter Casey for having musicians and singers sounding so beautiful.
The plot takes full advantage of the exoticism and pageantry of a Baghdad far removed from today’s image. The pace of the storytelling, however, has not kept up with current trends and some sections could have benefitted from judicious trimming. The theme of fate drives the action, mocking the characters’ attempts at manipulation, miracles and wizardry. Director Terence O’Connell demonstrates a sure hand in balancing the believability of the lovers with the high camp of the villains…
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ANYTHING GOES : Review
The Australian
Friday 22 July, 2011-07-22
Peter Burch
The Production Company’s wise choices of shows, stage and music directors, choreographers, costume, set, lighting and sound designers and generally flawless casting, with fantastic accompaniment by our indispensible Orchestra Victoria, guarantee that its performances enchant Melbourne’s audiences.
Launching this years season, the Production Company revived Cole Porter’s brash, evergreen Anything Goes, last staged by it a decade ago. The Anything Goes dream cast, led by Amanda Harrison, Alex Rathgeber, Todd McKenney, Christie Whelan and Wayne Scott Kermond, brought all of this together in a joyous, life-affirming staging of Porter’s enduring musical confection that thrilled its capacity audience and warmed Melbourne’s winter.
New stars announced for The Production Company’s season 2011
Todd McKenney, Christie Whelan and Mitchell Butel to star in The Production Company’s Season 2011.
Melbourne’s unique musical theatre company, The Production Company has today announced its casts for the three musicals in its 2011 Season.
Opening the season on July 20 is Cole Porter’s Anything Goes. The stellar cast for this show is Amanda Harrison (Wicked), Alex Rathgeber (The Boy Friend), Todd McKenney (The Boy From Oz), Christie Whelan (Xanadu, Sugar), Wayne Scott Kermond (Singin’ in the Rain, Candy Man), Christy Sullivan (Next To Normal), Anne Wood (Mamma Mia!) and John O’May (Phantom of the Opera).
This Australian production will be directed by musical theatre wunderkind, Andrew Hallsworth and Dean Bryant (Next to Normal) and the musical director is Maestro Peter Casey. Anything Goes is at the State Theatre from July 20 to 24.
Artistic Director, Ken Mackenzie-Forbes said ‘We are thrilled to announce this brilliant line up of stars for our three shows, which are Cole Porter’s most popular musical, Anything Goes, the romantic and enchanting, Kismet and the bizarre and irresistible Grey Gardens. With these three very different musicals we have an extraordinary range of talent to showcase. Subscribers to The Production Company are assured of a wonderful season of musical entertainment.’
Two brilliant comedians are announced for Kismet. They are Mitchell Butel (The Mikado, Sugar) and Helen Dallimore (Wicked London and Spring Awakening). They join opera stars José Carbó (The Barber of Seville , La Boheme), Janet Todd (The Magic Flute) and Josh Piterman (West Side Story).
Terence O’Connell directs this new production with Peter Casey as musical director. Kismet will play August 17 to 21 in the State Theatre.
For the Australian premiere season of the musical, Grey Gardens AFI Award Winner, Pamela Rabe returns to the company to perform the virtuoso roles of Edith Bouvier Beale and ‘Little’ Edie. Helpmann Award Winner, Nancye Hayes plays the role of the aged Edith. New cast announced now includes James Millar (Oklahoma!, author of The Hatpin) and John O’May in this Tony Award winning musical.
Roger Hodgman directs this new production, which will be in the Arts Centre’s Playhouse. Kellie Dickerson (Wicked, Doctor Zhivago) is musical director.
You can subscribe to all three shows for as little as $108. To subscribe call The Arts Centre on 1300 182 183 or 9247 4800 or go on line to www.theproductioncompany.com.au
Season 2011 launch – ‘It’s our best ever!’
Alex Rathgeber and Amanda Harrison, stars of Anything Goes, at Raheen
For the thirteenth consecutive year, Jeanne Pratt opened her home, Raheen, to the media, sponsors and patrons of The Production Company to announce the company’s new season.
“Broadway classics from three very different eras comprise this new season,” said Jeanne Pratt. “They are Anything Goes, Kismet and the Australian premiere season of Grey Gardens. We are most excited to presenting these three very contrasting musicals.”
The season opens in the Arts Centre’s State Theatre on July 20 with a new staging of Cole Porter’s 1934 sensation, Anything Goes. This is one of the most popular of all the Broadway classics and co-incidentally it is also in preview for a new production opening on Broadway next month.
Long regarded as the perfect musical, Anything Goes stars Amanda Harrison (Elphaba in Wicked) as Reno Sweeney, Alex Rathgeber (The Boy From Oz) as Billy Crocker and Anne Wood (Follies) as Evangeline Harcourt.
Andrew Hallsworth (The Boy From Oz) returns from Broadway to co-direct and choreograph. Dean Bryant (Next to Normal) co-directs and Australia’s pre-eminent musical director, Peter Casey conducts all performances.
For the past four years the musical our subscribers have most requested is Kismet. This enchanting musical opened on Broadway in 1953. With an exquisite score based on the music of Alexander Borodin, our staging will feature three artists making their debuts with the company. Janet Todd (The Magic Flute), Josh Piterman (West Side Story) and Jose Carbo, whom US critics describe as “superb, immensely theatrical, vivid physically and handsome to boot…”
Returning to the company in the role of The Wazir is the double Helpmann Award winner, Mitchell Butel. Terence O’Connell directs this new production with Peter Casey as musical director.
Jose Carbo, Janet Todd & Josh Piterman, stars of Kismet, at Raheen
An Australian premiere is our third musical. Grey Gardens opened on Broadway in 2006 and was named by Time Magazine as the Number One show of 2006. It was nominated for 10 Tony Awards in 2007, winning three. AFI Award Winner, Pamela Rabe returns to the company to perform the virtuoso roles of Edith Bouvier Beale and ‘Little’ Edie. Helpmann Award Winner, Nancye Hayes plays the role of the aged Edith.
Based on the 1975 documentary of the same title by Albert and David Maysles, Grey Gardens has a cult following.
Roger Hodgman directs this new production, which will be in the Arts Centre’s Playhouse.
The Production Company is a not-for-profit organisation and totally privately funded. The company’s major sponsors in 2011 are The Pratt Foundation, Star City and Ernst and Young.
SEASON 2011 DATES
ANYTHING GOES
STATE THEATRE
20 – 23 July at 7.30pm, Saturday 23 July at 2pm and Sunday 24 July at 3pm
KISMET
STATE THEATRE
17–20 August at 7.30pm, Saturday 20 August at 2pm and Sunday 21 August at 3pm
GREY GARDENS
THE PLAYHOUSE
24 – 26 Nov at 7.30pm, 29 Nov – 3 Dec at 7.30 pm, matinees at 2 pm on 26 Nov and 3 Dec, at 1 pm on 30 Nov, and 3pm on 27 Nov and 4 Dec.
Todd Still Our Boy
SUNDAY HERALD SUN
Kate Rose 9/1/2011
Cook’s Sugar is a sweet treat.
SUGAR, the musical of Some Like It Hot has proven a worthy show to close to the most successful season yet.
- Mitchell Butel as Daphne & Matt Hetherington as Josephine with Company
The production which plays this week at the State Theatre has proven a delicious hit.
Kate Herbert of The Herald Sun said
Director Adam Cook casts three of Australia’s most successful music theatre performers in his slick, funny production.
Ben Brown with Peter Lowrey as Spats & Scott Hili as Dude
Cameron Woodhead in The Age agrees, calling SUGAR
Diverting, well-paced, often wildly funny – the supremely talented cast bakes it as hot as it’s likely to get.
Simon Parris of TheatrePeople.com says
Sugar is a deliciously sweet treat. An extremely talented, well-cast company bring the colourful characters to life, having as much fun as the audience in the process.
Don’t miss this hilarious production, playing until Sunday at The State Theatre.
Christie Whelan as Sugar & Matt Hetherington as Junior
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