By Nic Conolly
I always feel honoured as a theatre writer to witness the beginning of a performer’s professional career and today’s announcement wasn’t any different. Joining Queensland performer, Georgina Hopson are four bright new stars; Eva Boldery, Kalina Kita, Harvey Rose McClelland, and Holly Murray will shine in Anastasia on QPAC’s stage from September 16th. Talking about Once Upon December; Elf the Musical will make its Melbourne Premiere at Crown Live from November 27th.
For all current and upcoming shows, read on…
WHAT’S ON
Adelaide
Upcoming
September 16th- Menopause: The Musical
Brisbane
Current
QPAC Glasshouse Theatre- The Book of Mormon
Upcoming
QPAC Glasshouse Theatre- September 16th- Anastasia
Gold Coast
Upcoming
The Star Gold Coast- September 4th- Mamma Mia!
Melbourne
Current
Athanaeum Theatre- Menopause: The Musical
Comedy Theatre- SIX
Princess Theatre- A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical
Regent Theatre- Pretty Woman: The Musical
National Theatre, St Kilda- High School Musical on Stage
Upcoming
Athenaeum Theatre- Spamalot
Chapel off Chapel- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sydney
Current
Capitol Theatre- The Lion King
Roslyn Packer Theatre- Heathers
Upcoming
Sydney Opera House- My Fair Lady
Perth
Crown Perth- COME ALIVE! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular
RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Elf
Returning from The North Pole ahead of the festive season, Gareth Isaac pulls Buddy’s oversized tights back on ahead of the Melbourne Premiere of Elf. Also returning are Brianna Bishop, Rose Shannon- Duhigg, Adam Murphy, and Katrina Retallick. Joining them are Colin Lane, Ryan Yeates, Hollie James, Elandrah Tavares, Joel Granger, Jack Coyne, Marina Grace Lee, Lachlan Inwood, Joseph Naim, Max Patterson, Jayden Prelc, Annabelle Rosewarne, and Nicole Vella. Special congratulations to Marina Grace Lee who will make her very sparkly professional musical debut!
Whispering Jack
The cast has been revealed for the world premiere of Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical, with Michael Paynter taking on the role of Australian music icon John Farnham. Joining Paynter are Bonnie Anderson, Stephen Anderson, Shewit Belay, Ben Hall, Madeleine Jones, Oliver Lacey, Laura Murphy, Calista Nelmes, Chaya Ocampo, Trent Owers, Elenoa Rokobaro, Tom Sharah, Ariyan Sharma, Clay Roberts, Harry Targett, Anusha Thomas, and Andrew Waldin. Whispering Jack tells the story of the extraordinary career comeback that produced ‘You’re the Voice’, alongside favourites including ‘Pressure Down’, ‘Age of Reason’, ‘Two Strong Hearts’, and ‘That’s Freedom’. Presented by Sydney Theatre Company in association with Michael Cassel Group and TalentWorks, Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical plays Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre from November 15th, 2026, to January 3rd, 2027.
Click here to see the full cast
IN THE GREEN ROOM WITH… Katie McKee
What is your name, what do you do in MT, and what is one theatre habit you have that would confuse people outside the industry?
Katie McKee – musical theatre performer and actor.
I regularly do vocal warm-ups in the car – I love a good lip trill! I often catch other drivers staring at me as I pull ridiculous faces, but to performers it is just another commute. I also learn lines while cleaning my house. There is something about pairing lines with completely banal tasks – folding washing, stacking the dishwasher, tidying – that helps me lock them in. So, if my house is unusually clean, there is a good chance I am learning a script!
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you earlier in your MT journey?
It is your own race. Be authentic and true to yourself. I spent so much of my early career trying to be a chameleon – shifting myself into who I thought people wanted or needed me to be. Ironically, the work came when I stopped trying to fit a mould and leaned into who I already was. Your individuality is your greatest asset.
What is one thing from your area of MT that you think everyone should try at least once?
Being thrown on to cover a role or track you’ve never actually performed. There is nothing quite like hearing, “You’re on!” and suddenly having to trust that all the preparation is somewhere in your body and brain. It’s terrifying, exhilarating and the most incredible adrenaline rush. Some of my absolute favourite career memories have come from those moments.
What is your go-to beverage order and what does it say about you?
A strong oat flat white! I genuinely love coffee. If I am ordering out and paying a small fortune for it, it had better be good. Life is too short for bad coffee.
After a big rehearsal, show, or production week, how do you unwind without accidentally still thinking about theatre?
I am honestly not very good at switching off. A debrief with my hubby or a close friend usually helps, followed by a bath and a good TV series or book. My non-negotiable, though, is a hot chocolate with magnesium – it is my evening ritual and signals to my brain that it is time to slow down.
What is your dream role, job, or creative opportunity in MT?
I have been incredibly fortunate to play many of my dream roles already – The Baker’s Wife, Mrs Lovett, Nancy, and Madame Morrible. I would love to revisit some of them one day. Still on the wish list are Madame Thénardier and Mama Rose in Gypsy. Beyond musical theatre, I would love to explore more ensemble work and straight theatre. Acting is my absolute passion, and roles like Lady Macbeth or Stevie Gray in The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? really excite me. I am drawn to complex women – characters who live in that fascinating space where grand theatricality meets raw human devastation.
What is the hardest part about playing your current or previous character?
Looking back over my career, the hardest part has not been any one role – it has been finding balance. Being a performer is not a 9-to-5 job; you are constantly looking after your instrument – your voice, your body, and your mind. Sleep, hydration, vocal rest, avoiding noisy environments, eating well, exercising – it all becomes part of the job. It can be incredibly all-consuming, so learning how to protect the person outside the performer is just as important as looking after the performance.
How did you prepare for the physical or emotional demands?
I love the research and rehearsal spaces – the process of discovering a character is one of my favourite parts of the work. The research I do is a foundation rather than a set of fixed choices. It gives me something to draw from while still leaving plenty of room to play, respond to other actors and make discoveries together. Once I understand who a character is, what drives them and why they behave the way they do, the physical and emotional demands tend to flow much more naturally. Acting has always felt quite instinctive to me, but becoming a teacher has made me unpack that instinct and better understand my own process.
What message do you hope the audience takes away from a performance?
That art and creativity are not luxuries – they are fundamental human needs. Storytelling is one of the ways we make sense of ourselves and connect with each other. Theatre can entertain, challenge, comfort, educate and move us, sometimes all at once. I hope audiences leave feeling something. That shared experience is what makes live performance so powerful.
