Rejoicify Melbourne! Tickets for “Broadway’s Biggest Blockbuster” (NY Times) at the Regent Theatre are on sale from today for performances from 6 March 2024. Earlier this week, the massive WICKED hot air balloon flew over Melbourne, heralding the return of this glorious show to its original Australian home, and Lord Mayor Sally Capp was on hand to welcome the two stars, Courtney Monsma and Sheridan Adams, to Melbourne.
Almost 20 years since its premiere on Broadway, WICKED remains one of the most successful and popular musicals in the world. Winner of over 100 major awards including the Grammy Award, the Olivier Award, six Helpmann Awards, three Tony Awards® and six Drama Desk Awards, WICKED is “A Complete Triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry and think” (USA Today).
The musical has played in 16 countries around the world including Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, The Philippines, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, and has been translated into six languages. WICKED has become the 4th longest running show in Broadway history (surpassing CATS).
The novel Wicked by Gregory Maguire, published in 1995, has sold 5.5 million copies, with 5 million of those sold since 2003 when the musical opened. Buoyed by the musical’s success, the novel has appeared on bestseller lists for close to two decades since its initial publication.
Producer John Frost for Crossroads Live on behalf of his co-producers, said, “We’re thrilled that WICKED will return to its original Australian home at the Regent Theatre, and by the extraordinary numbers on the ticketing wait list, Melbourne audiences must be thrilled too. A proven blockbuster all around the world since it premiered, it has become one of the most loved musicals of all time.
WICKED is a musical phenomenon and appeals to everyone from 8 to 80. People love it for so many different reasons – some come for the engrossing story, some for the astonishing sets and costumes, some for the soaring ballads, some for the deeper messages, and some to see the life-affirming friendship between the two young women who grow up to be Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. Get your tickets Melbourne, as they’re sure to be snapped up fast.”
The stellar Australian cast is led by Courtney Monsma as Glinda, the bubbly popular girl who becomes “Glinda the Good”, and in her debut in a lead role, Melbourne-born Sheridan Adams as Elphaba, the girl born with emerald-green skin who grows up to become the “Wicked Witch of the West”. Robyn Nevin plays the role of Madame Morrible, Todd McKenney is the Wizard, Liam Head plays Fiyero, Adam Murphy is Dr Dillamond, Shewit Belay plays Nessarose, Kurtis Papadinis is Boq, and Zoe Coppinger is the Elphaba Standby.
The talented group of performers comprising the WICKED Ensemble and Swings includes Christian Ambesi, Conor Bann-Murray, Brittany Carter, Olivia Castagna, Eli Cooper, Matt Cranleigh, Joseph Donovan, Sage Douglas, Bayley John Edmends, Todd Jacobsson, Rohan Khanna, Andrew Kroenert, Elisha Zion Lee, Jordan Malone, Emily Monsma, Matilda Moran, Jackson Reedman, Amelia Sanzo, Edward Smith, Ksenia Teliatnikova, Lucas Van Rhijn, Jessica Vellucci, Mietta White and Jun Woodfield.
Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other young women meet in the land of Oz. One born with emerald-green skin is smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. The other is bubbly, blonde, ambitious and exceptionally popular. They become rivals, then friends…until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.”
“If every musical had the brains, heart and courage of WICKED, Broadway really would be a magical place” - Time Magazine
“WICKED’s production values are exceptional. A POWERFUL PIECE OF THEATRE” - The Australian
“WICKED is splendiferous as ever! The show works because it explores the complexity of moral choices and the prices we have to pay for making them. It’s a reminder of how musicals can support complex stories when you have a book writer of the quality of Winnie Holzman, great songs by Stephen Schwartz and a rich, visually splendiferous production, as directed by Joe Mantello. And, of course, the green girl and the blonde girl, as they refer to each other, are everyperson figures. We’re all either one or the other.” – Chicago Tribune
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production features musical staging by Wayne Cilento with original direction by Joe Mantello. WICKED is produced by in Australia by John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia, Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
Experience the unforgettable, award-winning musical WICKED in Melbourne in 2024.
@WickedInOz
#WickedInOz
MELBOURNE SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Regent Theatre, Melbourne
Season: From 6 March 2024
Performance Times: Wed-Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm & 6:30pm
Prices: From $79.00 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: ticketek.com.au or phone 1300 111 011
PHOTO CREDIT: SDP MEDIA Sam D’Agostino
STELLAR CAST ANNOUNCED FOR BROADWAY SMASH RENT AS TICKETS GO ON SALE IN
PERTH, CANBERRA AND NEWCASTLE
A stellar cast was announced today for the new Australian tour of the multi-Tony Award winning rock musical by Jonathan Larson, RENT. Tickets go on pre-sale today in Perth, Canberra and Newcastle, with general public tickets on sale from Thursday 2 November. Tickets for Brisbane and Melbourne seasons are already on sale.
RENT will play at the Playhouse, QPAC, Brisbane from 27 January 2024, then State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne from 17 February, Newcastle’s Civic Theatre from 15 March, His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth from 11 May, and Canberra Theatre from 6 June. Head to rentmusical.au for tickets.
Director Shaun Rennie, musical director Andrew Worboys and choreographer Luca Dinardo have assembled some of Australia’s finest singer/actors for an all-new production of this iconic musical. Noah Mullins (West Side Story) plays the role of Mark, a struggling documentary filmmaker and best friend of Roger, an HIV-positive musician recovering from heroin addiction, played by Jerrod Smith (The Lovers). Martha Berhane (Hamilton) is Mimi, a reckless and passionate exotic dancer who lives only for today. The Voice 2023 finalist Calista Nelmes (Jersey Boys NZ) plays spirited performance artist Maureen, Mark's ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend of Joanne, a tough, headstrong Harvard-educated lawyer played by Australia’s First Lady of Soul and R&B, and The Voice 2022 Grand Finalist, THNDO (Dreamgirls).
Philosophy teacher Collins, father-figure, friend and former roommate of Roger, Mark, and Maureen, is played by Nick Afoa (Miss Saigon), with Carl De Villa (Kinky Boots) in the role of Angel, an HIV-positive drag artist with a passion for life in the face of inevitable adversity. Benny, played by Tana Laga’aia (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), is the former friend and current landlord of Mark, Roger, and Mimi.
Completing the cast are Anna Francesca Armenia, Kelsi Boyden (also Resident Director), Mariah Gonzalez, Sam Harmon, Lawrence Hawkins, Josslynn Hlenti (Joanne Alternate), Hannah McInerney, Sam Richardson, Chad Rosete and Theodore Williams.
Step onto the vibrant streets of New York City's East Village, where dreams are born, friendships are tested, and the power of love prevails. Featuring the iconic songs "Seasons of Love”, ”Take Me or Leave Me”, and "La Vie Bohème”, this groundbreaking sensation is more than a musical; it’s a celebration of life, love, and the human spirit.
“For over 25 years RENT has spoken to each new generation of young people, fighting to be heard and seen,” said director Shaun Rennie. “Its timeless message of celebrating life in the face of death remains as relevant today as it did 28 years ago when it first took the world by storm. I am honoured and excited to be directing this national tour of RENT with an incredible cast and creative team. Viva La vie Boheme!”
Jonathan Larson’s RENT opened Off-Broadway in 1996 and quickly became a global phenomenon. The show earned Larson multiple Tony Awards along with a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, a distinction not received again by a music theatre work until 14 years later. Though Larson himself never saw the impact of his masterwork – he died suddenly in the early hours of the day the show opened to the public – its longevity serves as a testament to the emotional resonance of his creation and an embodiment of its ever-present message “no day but today”.
Don't miss the chance to discover the show that took Broadway by storm. Head to rentmusical.au to buy tickets today and experience the phenomenon.
rentmusical.au
@RENTMusicalAU
#RENTMusicalAU
RENT
Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia)
Director: Shaun Rennie
Associate Director: Leah Howard
Musical Director: Andrew Worboys
Choreographer: Luca Dinardo
Lighting Designer: Paul Jackson
Sound Designer: Evan Drill
Set Designer: Dann Barber
Costume Designer: Ella Butler
BRISBANE SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Playhouse, QPAC
Season: 27 January – 4 February
Performance Times: Tues-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm and 6pm (2pm on 28 January)
Prices: From $56 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: qpac.com.au or phone 136 246
Groups 10+ call (07) 3840 7466
MELBOURNE SEASON DETAILS
Venue: State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne
Season: 17 February - 25 February
Performance Times: Tues-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm and 6pm (2pm on 18 February), Wed 2pm (6 March only)
Prices: From $59.90 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: artscentremelbourne.com.au or call 1300 182 183
Groups 10+ call 1300 182 183
NEWCASTLE SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Season: 15 – 17 March
Performance Times : Fri-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm and 6pm
Prices: From $59 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: civictheatrenewcastle.com.au or (02) 4929 1977
PRESALES FROM 31 OCTOBER/ GP SALES FROM 2 NOVEMBER
PERTH SEASON DETAILS
Venue: His Majesty’s Theatre
Season: 11 - 19 May
Performance Times: Tues-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm and 6pm
Prices: From $69.90 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: artsculturetrust.wa.gov.au or (08) 6212 9292
PRESALES FROM 31 OCTOBER/ GP SALES FROM 2 NOVEMBER
CANBERRA SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Canberra Theatre
Season: 7 – 13 June
Performance Times: Tues-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 2pm
Prices: From $59.90 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: canberratheatrecentre.com.au or (02) 6275 2700
PRESALES FROM 31 OCTOBER/ GP SALES FROM 2 NOVEMBER
Photo Credit: Wendell Teodoro
Rejoycify! The producers of the Broadway blockbuster WICKED today announced that the musical phenomenon will fly into the Regent Theatre, Melbourne in March 2024. Waitlist now to be first in line to buy tickets for the Melbourne season at Wickedthemusical.com.au when tickets go on pre-sale from 16 October. Tickets for the general public are on sale from 20 October.
Almost 20 years since its premiere on Broadway, WICKED remains one of the most successful and popular musicals in the world. Winner of over 100 major awards including the Grammy Award, the Olivier Award, six Helpmann Awards, three Tony Awards® and six Drama Desk Awards, WICKED is “A Complete Triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry and think” (USA Today).
WICKED is currently playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre to rapturous praise from critics and audiences alike. The Sydney Morning Herald said WICKED is “Ingenious and beautiful: WICKED dazzles” while Australian Stage called it “Triumphant, a dazzling, spectacular production”. Limelight praised the “Razzle-dazzle spectacle, uplifting girl-power” and the Australian Financial Review the “Exquisite comic timing, impressive, magical”.
The stellar Australian cast is led by Courtney Monsma as Glinda, the bubbly popular girl who becomes “Glinda the Good”, and in her debut in a lead role, Melbourne-born Sheridan Adams as Elphaba, the girl born with emerald-green skin who grows up to become the “Wicked Witch of the West”. Robyn Nevin plays the role of Madame Morrible, Todd McKenney is the Wizard, Liam Head plays Fiyero, Adam Murphy is Dr Dillamond, Shewit Belay plays Nessarose, Kurtis Papadinis is Boq, and Zoe Coppinger is the Elphaba Standby.
The talented group of performers comprising the WICKED Ensemble and Swings includes Christian Ambesi, Conor Bann-Murray, Brittany Carter, Olivia Castagna, Eli Cooper, Matt Cranleigh, Joseph Donovan, Sage Douglas, Bayley John Edmends, Todd Jacobsson, Rohan Khanna, Andrew Kroenert, Elisha Zion Lee, Jordan Malone, Emily Monsma, Matilda Moran, Jackson Reedman, Amelia Sanzo, Edward Smith, Ksenia Teliatnikova, Lucas Van Rhijn, Jessica Vellucci, Mietta White and Jun Woodfield.
WICKED Australia Co-producer John Frost said, “I’m thrilled we’re able to bring WICKED to Melbourne, and play at the beautiful Regent Theatre where Australia’s love for the show began. This is one of the most lavish musical productions to have ever played in Australia, the full Broadway experience. You get your money’s worth and then some, with the lavish sets and opulent costumes, a feast for the eye and the ear.
“The new Australian cast is exceptional and has been embraced by WICKED fans. If you have never seen WICKED, come and see it for the first time and be spellbound. If you have seen it before, I know you’ll want to come back and be enthralled all over again.”
Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other young women meet in the land of Oz. One born with emerald-green skin is smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. The other is bubbly, blonde, ambitious and exceptionally popular. They become rivals, then friends…until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.”
The musical has played in 16 countries around the world including Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, The Philippines, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, and has been translated into six languages. WICKED is now the 4th longest running show in Broadway history.
The novel Wicked by Gregory Maguire, published in 1995, has sold 5.5 million copies, with 5 million of those sold since 2003 when the musical opened. Buoyed by the musical’s success, the novel has appeared on bestseller lists for close to two decades since its initial publication.
“A magical Broadway musical with BRAINS, HEART and COURAGE” - Time Magazine
“WICKED’s production values are exceptional. A POWERFUL PIECE OF THEATRE” - The Australian
“A SPECTACULAR ENTERTAINMENT with deep emotions and a serious message” - The Tokyo
“If every musical had the brains, heart and courage of WICKED, Broadway really would be a magical place” - Time Magazine
“WICKED is splendiferous as ever! The show works because it explores the complexity of moral choices and the prices we have to pay for making them. It’s a reminder of how musicals can support complex stories when you have a book writer of the quality of Winnie Holzman, great songs by Stephen Schwartz and a rich, visually splendiferous production, as directed by Joe Mantello. And, of course, the green girl and the blonde girl, as they refer to each other, are everyperson figures. We’re all either one or the other.” – Chicago Tribune
Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Winnie Holzman. The production features musical staging by Wayne Cilento with original direction by Joe Mantello. WICKED is produced by in Australia by John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia, Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
Experience the unforgettable, award-winning musical WICKED in Melbourne in 2024.
Waitlist now to be first in line to buy tickets at www.wickedthemusical.com.au
@WickedInOz
#WickedInOz
MELBOURNE SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Regent Theatre
Season: From March 2024
WAITLIST NOW at Wickedthemusical.com.au
Photo Credit: Jeff Busby
BROADWAY SMASH HIT RENT
TO TOUR AUSTRALIA IN 2024
Award winning producer LPD Productions has declared there is “no day like today” as it announced the multi-Tony Award winning rock musical by Jonathan Larson, RENT, will embark on a national tour in 2024. The musical will commence in Brisbane in January 2024 followed by seasons in Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Canberra, with tickets on sale in coming months.
Step into the vibrant streets of New York City's East Village, where dreams are born, friendships are tested, and the power of love prevails against all odds. Featuring the iconic songs "Seasons of Love,” ”Take Me or Leave Me” and "La Vie Bohème”, this groundbreaking phenomenon is more than a musical; it's a celebration of life, love, and the human spirit.
“With RENT, Jonathan Larson unleashed a phenomenon - it would be difficult to find someone who hasn't at least heard of it,” said producer Lauren Peters. “RENT is the musical of the 1990s and the early-aughts but it has proved itself timeless. The characters who live in the East Village of 1990s New York navigate that which resonates so deeply with us in Australia in 2024: cost of living pressures, the threat of preventable disease, the subtle feeling that all the ways in which we can now communicate belie our disconnection. And all of this sounds terribly heavy but RENT somehow takes all this and turns it into a joyous celebration of connection, chosen family, and life itself - and it's that joy in the face of all of life's adversity and opportunity that is perhaps best captured in its iconic number Seasons of Love, a song which has achieved the rarest of Broadway feats and transcended the show for which it was written.
“I can't wait to bring RENT back to the Australian stage in this brand-new never-before-seen production This show hasn't toured here since 1998! I feel very lucky to be a part of Jonathan Larson's phenomenon, and I know our audiences will feel exactly the same way.”
Jonathan Larson’s RENT opened Off-Broadway in 1996 and quickly became a global phenomenon. The show earned Larson multiple Tony Awards along with a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, a distinction not received again by a music theatre work until 14 years later. Though Larson himself never saw the impact of his masterwork – he died suddenly in the early hours of the day the show opened to the public – its longevity serves as a testament to the emotional resonance of his creation and an embodiment of its ever-present message “no day but today”.
Don't miss the chance to discover the show that took Broadway by storm. Join the waitlist for tickets now at rentmusical.au
Facebook @RENTMusicalAU
Instagram @rent_2024
#RENTMusicalAU
BRISBANE SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Playhouse, QPAC
Season: 27 January – 11 February
Performance Times: Tues-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm and 6pm (2pm on 28 January)
Prices: From $56 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: qpac.com.au or phone 136 246
Groups 10+ call (07) 3840 7466
PRESALES FROM 3 OCTOBER/ GP SALES FROM 5 OCTOBER
MELBOURNE SEASON DETAILS
Venue: State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne
Season: 17 February - 7 March
Performance Times: Tues-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm and 6pm (2pm on 18 February), Wed 2pm (6 March only)
Prices: From $59.90 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: artscentremelbourne.com.au or call 1300 182 183
Groups 10+ call 1300 182 183
PRESALES FROM 25 SEPTEMBER / GP SALES FROM 28 SEPTEMBER
NEWCASTLE SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Season: 15 – 17 March
WAITLIST NOW
PERTH SEASON DETAILS
Venue: His Majesty’s Theatre
Season: 11 - 26 May
WAITLIST NOW
CANBERRA SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Canberra Theatre
Season: 7 – 16 June
WAITLIST NOW