Musical Theatre

Shubshri Kandiah and Brendan Xavier in Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
Photo: Disney

September 16, 2024, 9:54 am

Jewish actor Rubin Matters to understudy leads in Beauty and the Beast

Based on the much-loved 1991 animated Disney film, the story of how book-loving Belle fell in love with a cursed Beast features an all-Australian cast.

By Sharyn Kolieb

Frozen: A Musical Spectacular is being staged on Disney Cruise Line's ship Disney Wonder.

November 8, 2023, 6:59 am

Broadway-style shows at sea

Seven Seas Explorer, a Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship, is staging Paradis, a musical set around the extravagant Paris nightlife featuring stunning costumes and energetic choreography.

By Danny Gocs

October 23, 2023, 5:49 pm

Full marks for Saltpillar’s Spelling Bee

The AJN reviews Saltpillar Theatre’s production of the high-stakes musical comedy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

By Danny Gocs

The Australian cast of You Don't Have to Be Jewish.

September 18, 2023, 11:47 am

You Don’t Have to be Jewish staged in Sydney

“It portrays the mundane of life with humour. There’s not a swear word in it, it’s clean, it’s loaded with irony, it’s loaded with pathos as well. Yet it’s still hysterical.”

By Jessica Abelsohn

The Broadway production cast of Broadway. Photo: Joan Marcus

August 17, 2023, 9:56 am

From one Emerald City to another

The Wicked Witch of the West wasn't always wicked. So, who exactly was she? And how did she know Glinda the Good Witch? Well, that's the story of Wicked. Long before Dorothy arrived in Oz, there was a special friendship between two young girls.The AJN spoke to composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz about the production.

By Jessica Abelsohn

Joshua Balbin stars as Tevye the milkman in MLOC’s production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Alex Theatre, St Kilda.
Photo: Suzanne Martin

August 7, 2023, 2:06 pm

The tradition continues in Fiddler on the Roof

The classic musical Fiddler on the Roof returns to the Melbourne stage for a short season in an amateur production which shows plenty of class.

By Danny Gocs

August 3, 2023, 12:30 pm

COJA reaches out to young creatives

The program is designed to meet the need, skills and interests of all members of the collective. It will focus on providing agency, skills and a platform to be recognised within the creative Jewish community.

By Carol Saffer

July 31, 2023, 7:02 am

Rock & roll all night

All-abilities Jewish theatre group Stars and the Moon provides artistic outlets for those with and without disabilities. Jessica Abelsohn spoke to the team about their latest production, School of Rock.

By Jessica Abelsohn

The cast of Teenage Dick. Photo: Andrea Magpulong

July 12, 2023, 6:40 am

Modern adaptation of Richard III

In the production, Dick has cerebral palsy, and while some theatres were weary of producing a play that doesn’t necessarily show disability in the best light, Graham said it’s important to portray this...

By AJN STAFF

Aaron Robuck and Montana Sharp as Leo and Lucille Frank.

July 10, 2023, 7:21 am

Aaron Robuck brings Leo Frank to the stage

The production will showcase two Jewish actors in the lead roles, including Aaron Robuck – who will bring his experience of growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, to the role – and Montana Sharp as Lucille.

By Hannah Schauder

UK tour of Miss Saigon. Photo: Johan Persson

July 3, 2023, 6:00 am

Where heartache and hope intertwine

Miss Saigon has been captivating audiences since it first premiered in 1989. A haunting story with a magical musical score, it's once again set to transport audiences to Vietnam with a new production premiering at Sydney Opera House. Jessica Abelsohn looks at the musical's journey.

By Jessica Abelsohn

Adrian and Sarah playing Tevye and Golde in ACR Theatre's production of Fiddler in 2017

July 2, 2023, 7:02 am

A fiddler on the stage

It's a classic story, steeped in tradition yet portraying an evolution of culture. A tale of empowerment, transformation and ultimately family. And for Adrian Glaubert and Sarah Cossey-Glaubert, it's about time that the Jewish people of Melbourne had their own, home-grown and authentically Yiddishkeit production.

By Jessica Abelsohn

June 29, 2023, 12:11 pm

Cinderella story gets a new look, but needs more work

The AJN reviews Midnight – the Cinderella Musical, a new home-grown musical that has premiered at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre.

By Danny Gocs

June 28, 2023, 11:53 am

A twist on Cinderella

'It’s really a fairytale that needs upgrading. We really need a Cinderella who’s not waiting for a prince to sweep her off her feet and solve all her problems for her and ride off into the sunset'

By Jessica Abelsohn

June 20, 2023, 6:42 am

The experience of migration

"We began to explore the image of the boastful rooster as a hero, which in turn led us into questions of journeying, migration and the status of claims to the ownership of animals, objects and ideas."

By Hannah Schauder