By Nic Conolly
This week’s entertainment spotlight takes centre stage with a distinct focus; celebrating cabaret, live performance, Australian Broadway talent, and behind-the-scenes storytelling. Together, these stories show how the performing arts continue to thrive from local Australian stages to major international theatre events. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival runs from June 4th to 21st, bringing music, comedy, storytelling, and theatrical flair to South Australia, while Australian performer Kyla Bartholomeusz also enters this week’s spotlight through her recent Tony Awards appearance alongside P!NK. These highlights set the scene for a column that moves from local stages to global recognition, showing the range and reach of musical theatre. This connects with the launch of In the Green Room, a new short interview segment that gives readers a closer look at performers, preparation, creative processes, and the people behind the stage magic. Overall, this week’s segment opens the curtain on a vibrant celebration of performance, where Australian artists, cabaret culture, and musical theatre stories all share the spotlight.
Adelaide
Current: Adelaide Cabaret Festival
The spotlight turns to South Australia this week, with the Adelaide Cabaret Festival running from June 4th to 21st and bringing music, comedy, storytelling, and theatrical performance to the stage. This year’s program features performers with strong connections to musical theatre, cabaret, and live music, making it a rich celebration of artists who know how to hold a room.
Baylie Carson, whose credits include Jagged Little Pill, SIX, Mean Girls and Ride the Cyclone, appears in Baylie Carson Is Handsome-ish: Click here
Vidya Makan, known for her work as Eliza in the Australian production of Hamilton and for originating Catherine Parr in the Australian tour of SIX, presents Work in Progress Showing: Click here
Mahalia Barnes, who stepped into musical theatre as Mary Magdalene in the Australian tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, brings her powerhouse vocals to Mahalia Barnes Sings the Rose: Click here
Casey Donovan, whose stage credits include The Sapphires, We Will Rock You, Chicago, 9 to 5 The Musical, & Juliet, Sister Act and Kimberly Akimbo, in Casey Donovan: This Is Me – Amy Winehouse Special: Click here
Together, these artists show the range of cabaret as a form that can move between musical theatre, concert, comedy, personal storytelling, and tribute. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival continues to offer audiences the chance to see performers up close, where the voice, the story and the stage presence all share the spotlight.
Auckland
How very! Heathers the Musical is heading to The Civic, Auckland from June 10th to 14th, 2026 bringing all the dark comedy, killer vocals and “Big Fun” audiences could ask for. Direct from London and New York, the cult musical follows Veronica Sawyer as she navigates the cruel corridors of Westerberg High, where popularity can be seriously dangerous. Wickedly funny, deliciously dark and packed with a killer soundtrack, this is one show musical theatre fans will not want to freeze out.
For further information, visit: https://www.aucklandlive.co.nz/show/heathers-the-musical
Brisbane
Must close June 14th – Georgy Girl: The Seekers Musical
Playing at Twelfth Night Theatre, Georgy Girl: The Seekers Musical is giving Brisbane audiences something to hum about. This official Queensland premiere production, presented by On the Boards Theatre Company, celebrates the story and songs of The Seekers in a professional independent production full of nostalgia, heart, and those unmistakable harmonies.
Ticketek Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=GEORGIRL26&v=TTN
Twelfth Night Theatre: https://twelfthnight.com.au/events/
Current – Beetlejuice the Musical
Brisbane, Brisbane, Brisbane…Playing all month at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre, Beetlejuice the Musical brings Tim Burton’s cult classic to life in an irreverent, high-energy Broadway hit. Featuring an original score by Australia’s own Eddie Perfect, this production is strange, spectacular, and seriously fun.
Official Website: https://beetlejuicethemusical.com.au
Tickets: https://www.qpac.com.au/whats-on/2026/beetlejuice-the-musical
Melbourne
Current – The Book of Mormon
Hello! Playing all month at the Princess Theatre, The Book of Mormon is the outrageously funny, multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway satire from the creators of South Park. Bold, cheeky and wildly popular, this musical comedy continues to be one of Broadway’s biggest crowd-pleasers.
Official Website: https://thebookofmormonmusical.com.au/
Princess Theatre / Marriner Group: https://marrinergroup.com.au/shows/the-book-of-mormon-2026
Tickets: https://thebookofmormonmusical.com.au/tickets/melbourne/
Current – Waitress the Musical
Now playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Waitress the Musical is serving up a sweet slice of Broadway with plenty of heart, humour and just enough pie to make you question your interval snack choices. Featuring music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, this deliciously heartfelt musical follows Jenna, a waitress, and expert pie-maker, as she searches for a fresh start.
Official Website: https://waitressthemusical.com.au/
Tickets: https://waitressthemusical.com.au/tickets/melbourne/
Opening This Week – Stella
A brilliant new Australian story is stepping into the spotlight with STELLA– A New Australian Musical, receiving its world premiere season at the Alexander Theatre from 12–20 June 2026 for seven performances only. The musical explores the extraordinary life of literary icon Stella Miles Franklin, moving beyond My Brilliant Career to celebrate the woman, writer, and creative force behind one of Australia’s most significant cultural legacies. With book, music, and lyrics by Monique diMattina, STELLA promises a powerful new chapter for Australian musical theatre.
For further information, visit: https://stellathemusical.com
Sydney
Current – Anastasia
Playing through July 5th at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, Anastasia is taking audiences on a journey to the past and all the way from imperial Russia to 1920s Paris. This sweeping Broadway adventure follows a young woman searching for home, identity, and belonging.
Official Website: https://anastasiathemusical.com.au/
Sydney Lyric Event Page: https://www.sydneylyric.com.au/anastasia/
Tickets: https://anastasiathemusical.com.au/tickets/sydney/
Current – The Lion King
Playing all month at the Capitol Theatre, The Lion King is ready to make audiences feel the love tonight. Disney’s visually stunning Broadway phenomenon roars to life with world-class puppetry, breathtaking staging and iconic music by Elton John and Tim Rice.
Official Website: https://thelionkingmusical.com.au/
Capitol Theatre Event Page: https://www.capitoltheatre.com.au/the-lion-king
Tickets: https://thelionkingmusical.com.au/tickets/
Current – Tootsie
Now playing at TEATRO at the Italian Forum, Tootsie is dressing Sydney up in big laughs, bigger ambition, and enough showbiz chaos to require a quick-change artist on standby. Making its Australian premiere, this fast-paced Broadway musical plays with identity, ego, and the lengths one performer will go to for a role because sometimes breaking into show business takes heels, heart, and an exceptionally good wig.
Official Website: https://teatroitalianforum.com.au/date/tootsie/
Ticketmaster: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/tootsie-tickets/artist/2728443
Current – Hair
Opening at Theatre Royal Sydney, Hair is letting the sunshine in with peace, love, rebellion, and a whole lot of rock-musical energy. Presented by the Australian Shakespeare Company and directed by Glenn Elston OAM, this major professional tour features a fully professional cast, crew and live band. Expect big voices, big hair, and even bigger flower-power vibes.
Official website: https://shakespeareaustralia.com.au/productions/hair-sydney
Tickets: https://www.theatreroyalsydney.com/events/season-2026/hair/
Current – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The con is on at Hayes Theatre Co, with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels playing until June 21s. Based on the hit 1988 film, this Tony-nominated musical comedy follows two competing conmen on the French Riviera as they charm, scheme and swindle their way through a deliciously deceptive game of musical mischief. With music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane, this sharp, stylish, and seriously cheeky production promises quick wit, farce, glamour, and a few dirty rotten tricks along the way.
The production stars Rowan Witt, Blake Erickson, Kristina McNamara, Jordan Shea, Aurélie Roque, Scarlet Lindsay, Oliver Clisdell, Emma Feliciano, Brendan Godwin, Madelene Kirkwood, and Christopher Tendai.
For further information, visit: https://hayestheatre.com.au/event/dirty-rotten-scoundrels/
Perth
Current – Footloose: The Musical
Playing until June 14th at The Regal Theatre, Footloose: The Musical is cutting loose in Perth with all the high-energy choreography, big 80s anthems and dance-floor rebellion you could want.
Official Website: https://footloosethemusical.com/perth/
Regal Theatre Event Page: https://www.regaltheatre.com.au/
Ticketek Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=FOOTLPER26
Current – MJ The Musical
Opening at Crown Theatre, MJ The Musical is ready to moonwalk into Perth for its final Australian tour stop. This explosive Broadway musical celebrates the life, artistry, and iconic moves of Michael Jackson.
Official Website: https://mjthemusical.com.au/
Crown Theatre event page: https://www.crownperth.com.au/entertainment/crown-theatre/shows/mj-the-musical
Tickets: https://mjthemusical.com.au/tickets/perth/
The Buzz… Recently Announced Shows
Middle Raged – A Musical Meltdown
Touring across Penrith, Canberra, Wagga Wagga and Wyong this July 2026, Middle Raged – A Musical Meltdown is set to ignite Australian stages this July, bringing menopause, midlife and female rage into the spotlight with humour, music and zero apologies. Created by Queenie van de Zandt and Tiffany Noack, the bold new Australian production transforms real stories from women across the country into a fearless celebration of ageing, changing and reclaiming visibility. The show features a powerhouse cast including Queenie van de Zandt, Valerie Bader, Carita Farrer Spencer and Zuleika Khan, supported by an all-female live band. Audiences can expect iconic songs made famous by artists such as Missy Higgins, Tim Minchin, Sia and P!nk, alongside original material by Gillian Cosgriff.
Rather than treating midlife as something to hide, Middle Raged turns hot flushes, frustration, friendship and reinvention into theatrical fire. Its “Sister Seat” initiative also speaks directly to women who may attend alone, inviting solo ticket buyers to sit beside others and become part of the show’s wider sense of sisterhood. Co-creator Tiffany Noack captures the heart of the production, explaining that women in midlife are “hungry for something that is both entertaining and empowering.” This sense of recognition is what gives the show its emotional strength: it is not just about laughing at the chaos of menopause, but about honouring the wisdom, power and freedom that can emerge from it.
Premiering in Penrith, Canberra in July 2026, Middle Raged – A Musical Meltdown promises to be more than a night at the theatre. It is a loud, hilarious and heartfelt reminder that when women are told they are “over the hill,” the view from the top might just be spectacular.
Tickets for Middle Raged are available from the official website, https://middleraged.com.au/
The 2026 tour includes performances at The Joan in Penrith on July 3rd – 4th, Canberra Theatre Centre from July 8th – 11th, Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre on July 14th and 15th, and The Art House in Wyong on July 18th and 19th.
Bring It On
From the Tony Award winning powerhouse behind Hamilton and Avenue Q comes Bring It On The Musical, a turbo charged, beat dropping, high flying explosion of music, movement, and attitude. Inspired by the hit film Bring It On, this electrifying Broadway smash throws you straight into a world of fierce rivalries, killer choreography, and next level talent. Bring It On The Musical is bold, explosive, and unapologetically fun, a full throttle celebration of ambition, identity and finding your crew. Get ready to feel the beat, raise the stakes and bring it.
The extended season commences at The National Theatre, St Kilda on July 11th with tickets and further information available from https://booktickets.com.au/bringiton/
Brisbane Festival
Brisbane Festival is bringing musical theatre energy to the Brisbane stages this September with a mix of feel-good performance, original local storytelling, and operetta-inspired work. These productions show how musical theatre can move beyond traditional Broadway-style shows, blending live music, comedy, community stories, and theatrical spectacle. Key highlights include The Choir of Man, a West End hit filled with pub-style harmonies, live instruments and popular songs; Community Choir: The Musical, an original Brisbane-set musical about an unlikely choir heading towards competition; and Brisbane Cheryomushki, a satirical operetta reimagined through a local lens. Together, these shows offer audiences different versions of musical storytelling, from uplifting ensemble performance to new Australian work and classical-meets-contemporary satire. This variety makes Brisbane Festival an exciting space for musical theatre fans, because it celebrates both familiar crowd-pleasers and fresh theatrical voices. Overall, the festival gives musical theatre a strong place in Brisbane’s cultural calendar, proving that song, story, and stagecraft continue to take centre stage. Information can be found at https://www.brisbanefestival.com.au
Jersey Forever
Oh, what a night this is set to be! Jersey Forever reunites the original four Australian stars of the record-breaking mega-hit musical Jersey Boys: Bobby Fox, Glaston Toft, Scott Johnson, and Stephen Mahy for a one-off special live concert on August 7th. Seventeen years after the groundbreaking Melbourne premiere of Jersey Boys at the Princess Theatre, the boys are working their way back to the stage and proving they are still in fine four-part harmony. Reuniting for this special concert event, they will bring audiences the absolute best of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in a live performance only the original boys could deliver. The concert will feature crowd favourites from the beloved musical, including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man, My Eyes Adored You, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Let’s Hang On, Working My Way Back to You and many more. Backed by an incredible 10-piece big brass band led by Melbourne’s Jack Earle, the night promises big vocals, big memories, and that unmistakable Jersey sound. Audiences can relive the magic, moves and music of the original four Australian Jersey Boys as Bobby Fox, Stephen Mahy, Scott Johnson, and Glaston Toft come together once more for Jersey Forever. Let us hang on because this reunion is one musical theatre fans will not want to miss.
Tickets can be purchased from https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/jersey-forever-tickets/artist/4323539
The Addams Family
They’re creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky and they’re heading back to the Hayes. Joshua Robson Productions is bringing the Tony Award-nominated musical comedy The Addams Family to Hayes Theatre from July 11th, conjuring up a deliciously dark new production filled with gothic glamour, wicked humour, and plenty of afterlife. The devilishly talented cast includes Erika Heynatz as Morticia, Marcus Rivera as Gomez, Jenny Guigayoma as Wednesday, Georgia Oom as Pugsley, Evan Lever as Uncle Fester, Deborah Galanos as Grandmama, Elliot Aitkenas as Lurch. Teagan Wouters returning to the Addams universe as Alice Beineke. With direction by Julia Robertson, choreography by Shannon Burns and musical supervision by Zara Stanton, this production promises to put the “fun” in funeral. Snap snap- this is one family gathering musical theatre fans will not want to miss.
For further information, visit: https://jrpaustralia.com/addams
In the Green Room with … Hayden Tee
This week marks the launch of In the Green Room, a new spotlight segment where we step behind the curtain for a quick chat with an individual in the musical theatre industry. From vocal warm-ups in unexpected places to post-show rituals, stage makeup and life beyond the theatre, this segment gives readers a playful peek at the habits, humour and heart of the people who help bring musical theatre to life.
First up, we are heading into the green room with Les Miserables US Tour‘s Hayden Tee.
What is one theatre habit you have that would confuse people outside the industry?
I often siren just to check my voice is still there. In the middle of the night, walking down the street, at the at the moment, often.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you earlier in your MT journey?
You are enough, stop trying to be someone else. Stop trying to give people what you think they want.
What is one thing from your area of MT that you think everyone should try at least once?
Obviously a full stage makeup look
What is your go-to beverage order and what does it say about you?
A Bloody Mary post show. It says good morning this is actually the beginning of my day lol
After a big rehearsal, show, or production week, how do you unwind without accidentally still thinking about theatre?
At the moment it is all about preparation for RUB cosmetics which I’m about to launch with my sister Linelle
Aussies Abroad
Kyla Bartholomeusz at the Tony Awards
Australian performer Kyla Bartholomeusz stepped into the Broadway spotlight this week, appearing alongside P! NK during the Tony Awards. It was a major moment for Aussie musical theatre talent, with Bartholomeusz representing Australian performers on one of the biggest stages in the industry. From local stages to Broadway’s brightest night, this is the kind of star turn that deserves a standing ovation.
Watch here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1674931633785678
Australian performer Stefanie Jones, who previously appeared in Mary Poppins, is set to join the West End company of Les Misérables, taking on the role of Fantine at London’s Sondheim Theatre from September 7th, 2026. The announcement marks an exciting international milestone for Jones, who joins the long-running production as part of its newly announced summer cast. She will appear alongside Ian McIntosh as Jean Valjean, Oliver Savile as Javert, Harry Hepple as Thénardier, Mina Anwar as Madame Thénardier, Thiago Phillip Felizardo as Marius, Jess Folley as Éponine, Lucia McLaughlin as Cosette and Joe Griffiths-Brown as Enjolras. The landmark musical, based on Victor Hugo’s novel, recently extended its West End run through to March 2027.
Australian musical theatre performer Axel Duffy is set to renew his role as Marty McFly in Back to the Future The Musical, this time bringing his acclaimed performance to UK audiences. Having already stepped into the DeLorean as Marty for the Australian production, Axel now takes the role to the UK, continuing his journey with one of musical theatre’s most iconic characters.
Axel’s impressive stage credits include Will Parker in Oklahoma!, for which he won Performing Arts WA Awards for Best Male Performer and Best Newcomer and Karl in the Australian company of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Now, with the DeLorean ready to hit 88mph once again, Axel is bringing his energy, charisma, and comic brilliance back to Marty McFly – this time for audiences in the UK.
The future is calling, and Axel Duffy is back in the driver’s seat.
WRITER
Stage Door Matters is written by Nic Conolly (she/they) for Theatre Matters, an Australian-based theatre publication. By day, Nic works as a Teacher Aide; by night, they can usually be found loitering in a theatre foyer, pretending this is a personality trait and not a lifestyle choice. Nic’s background includes performing in a travelling Australian circus, teaching circus arts, and being involved in local productions- which explains the dramatic flair and lack of inside voice. They saw their first show, Cats under the Big Top, and have been in a committed relationship with theatre ever since.
