Musical theatre typically draws strong audiences in Adelaide where a troupe dedicated to the genre has just launched a professional company that will produce Catch Me If You Can in November.
How a sick day took Jake from Gladstone to star in Phantom of the Opera
Off sick from school, it was "love at first sight" for Jake Lyle the first time he saw Phantom of the Opera. Now the central Queensland talent is playing his dream role as Phantom on Sydney Harbour.
Topic:Opera and Musical Theatre
Fri 27 Mar 2026 at 12:06pm
The high stakes of premiering new works at the Adelaide Fringe
Forget getting any rest — actually, forget about a full night's sleep at all, because once you pass the point of no return in the production of a new show, the hits keep coming, the stakes get higher, and that deadline creeps closer and closer.
Topic:Performing Arts
Tue 10 Mar 2026 at 10:03am
The Lion King musical returns to Sydney for a third time
The Lion King musical makes its return to Sydney in April with the cast and crew opening its doors to rehearsals for a sneak peak.
Topic:Opera and Musical Theatre
Mon 23 Feb 2026 at 7:25pm
Statues unveiled of opera star who succeeded before Melba
An effort to bring new recognition to a Tasmanian opera star who became world famous, but who died poor, culminates in the unveiling of two statues of her in Hobart.
Topic:Opera and Musical Theatre
Sun 15 Feb 2026 at 3:47pm
Kylie's red Padam Padam outfit stars in DIVA exhibit
The exhibition at Melbourne's newest museum, featuring Kylie Minogue's catsuit and Elton John's Louis XIV-inspired 50th birthday outfit, celebrates the power of divas through time.
Topic:Fashion
Wed 31 Dec 2025 at 11:09am
Marg won a Tony for a one-woman Dorian Gray and now dresses 85 in Carmen
Growing up, Aussie Marg Horwell wanted to be an actor, but soon found she had an affinity for set and costume design that has taken her to Broadway.
Topic:Opera and Musical Theatre
Tue 25 Nov 2025 at 10:09am
'Who says opera's boring?' Star US singer is an advocate of opera for all
Joyce DiDonato is one of opera's most in-demand mezzo-sopranos. She shares her passion for inclusivity and advocacy ahead of her first Australian tour.
Topic:Opera and Musical Theatre
Thu 13 Nov 2025 at 3:10pm
Sydney Festival celebrates 50 years in 2026. Here's what's in store
The 50th anniversary of Sydney Festival — and the first from new artistic director Kris Nelson — features a mix of Australian and international artists taking over spaces across the city.
Topic:Arts Festivals
Thu 6 Nov 2025 at 7:43pm
Phar Lap turns 100 in 2026. This year, two musicals inspired by him debut
As the 2025 Melbourne Cup approaches, two musicals celebrating — and satirising — the life of Phar Lap premiere, with "Australia's greatest racehorse" brought to life with an actor and a puppeteer.
Topic:Opera and Musical Theatre
Thu 30 Oct 2025 at 8:00am
Social media performance and secret locations in Perth Festival line-up
Perth Festival unveils a diverse program making use of unconventional event spaces, but large-scale opening and closing events are markedly missing this year.
Topic:Arts Festivals
Sat 25 Oct 2025 at 11:32am
Whoever said cars can't fly hasn't seen Back to the Future the Musical
In the 1985 film Back to the Future, the DeLorean takes to the skies. So too in the musical production.
Topic:Opera and Musical Theatre
Sat 4 Oct 2025 at 5:37pm
Rocky Horror at 50 is still a home for misfits and dreamers
The Rocky Horror Picture Show film still screens in cinemas around the world, captivating a new generation of cinemagoers.
Topic:Popular Culture
Sun 28 Sep 2025 at 7:51am
John Farnham's comeback becomes main-stage musical as Whispering Jack turns 40
Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical is one of 13 plays coming to Sydney Theatre Company next year, alongside shows starring David Wenham and Miranda Otto.
Topic:Theatre
Mon 15 Sep 2025 at 7:30pm
Listen to the world's biggest and longest-running music festival on ABC Classic
The BBC Proms bring together the best musicians from around the world. Here's your guide to listening on ABC Classic through September.
Topic:Classical Music
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 1:10pm
The world-famous musicians who still call Australia home
From conducting elite orchestras to starring in brand new operas, Australian talent, like Simone Young and Siobhan Stagg, is shining bright on international stages.
Topic:Music
Thu 4 Sep 2025 at 3:17pm
A new opera based on one of the world's oldest stories wins big at the 2025 Art Music Awards
Composer Jack Symonds and Sydney Chamber Opera have taken out multiple awards at the annual celebration of art music in Australia.
Topic:Music Awards
Thu 21 Aug 2025 at 9:32pm
Remembering the 'gentle spirit' who hosted first seasons of Play School
Donald Macdonald was many things over his 87 years, including a Play School host, a playwright, and a friend.
Topic:Theatre
Thu 24 Jul 2025 at 5:15am
Why Raygun hit a nerve —and what it says about all of us
There's an elite club of Olympic losers who we love to celebrate. A year on from Raygun's infamous performance, Australian Story investigates why she isn't one of them.
Analysis by Greg Hassall
Fri 17 Oct 2025 at 3:10pm
Conductor behind 'symbolic' ABC news theme to lead Darwin orchestra
One of Australia's pre-eminent opera maestros, best known for reorchestrating the ABC's radio news theme, will soon lead the Darwin Symphony Orchestra — with grand plans to take the community ensemble to the world.
Topic:Opera and Musical Theatre
Fri 20 Jun 2025 at 6:52am
The Beetlejuice musical was 'going to die'. This is how it was saved
Beetlejuice the Musical wasn't expected to make it through 2019, following low ticket sales and negative reviews. The show came back from the dead, and is now in Melbourne.
Topic:Opera and Musical Theatre
Thu 19 Jun 2025 at 6:00am