The best musicals in Sydney

Few musical references are as iconic as those from Grease. A simple "rama lama lama" or "a wop ba-ba lu-bop a wop bam boom!" may invoke joyful nostalgia, transporting you back to the first time you witnessed John Travolta's gyrating hips or “our” Olivia Newton-John's sweet Sandy smile. For me, it takes me back to my own high school musical experience. With my Pink Lady jacket and Pink Lady sunglasses, the Grease stage is where I first forged my life-long love affair with musical theatre and the passionate community that came with it. That is what musicals are forged on: passion – and this production of Grease: the Musical at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre has an infectious amount of it. Before the 1978 film adaptation cemented Grease’s place in the global pop culture consciousness, this show set in the working-class youth subculture of 1950s Chicago was first staged in 1971. Like any rebellious teen tale, Grease tapped into the angst of young people of the time; it had a '50s style and a '70s attitude. Everyone wanted to be as cool as Kenickie (played here with delectable zeal by Keanu Gonzalez, who has also appeared in Hamilton and West Side Story), as bold as Rizzo (the eye-catching triple threat Mackenzie Dunn, as seen in Hairspray), or as sweet as the nervous Doody (Tom Davis). There were definitely elements of my high school production that built my confidence, brought me out of my shell, and changed my perspective – but the plot wasn't one of them. The musical numbers were jo

This is it, we have found the yassification of Shakespeare. Fuelled by a playlist of certified pop hits, this jukebox romp billed as “the greatest love story ever remixed” poses a simple but provocative question: What if, instead of joining Romeo in eternal slumber, Juliet decided to live? A contagiously joyous musical spectacular, & Juliet has finally landed at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre after being met with critical acclaim on Broadway and the West End, not to mention the rapturously received Australian debut in Melbourne.  Filled with sing-a-long-able chart-topping bangers made famous by the likes of Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry and more from the songbook of Grammy-winning Swedish songwriter/producer Max Martin, the Aussie cast is overflowing with talent in this feel-good, flashy production. & Juliet is Shakespeare remixed for the girls, the gays and the theys... [but does it] really cut it as the feminist reclamation that we are promised? Will you be entertained? Absolutely. Does & Juliet set a new standard for jukebox musicals? Yes. Will you see one of the most diverse and charismatic casts of triple-threats ever assembled on an Australian stage? Heck yeah. Does the story deliver on the feminist retribution we are promised? Not quite. “What if Juliet didn’t kill herself?” Anne Hathaway (played by the enthralling Amy Lehpamer) posits to her husband, William Shakespeare (the ever-charming Rob Mills). “She’s only ever had one boyfriend, and frankly, the endi

Following the commanding Broadway Revival in 2023 starring Ben Platt and a sell-out season in Melbourne, Tony Award-winning musical Parade is coming to dock in the Harbour City. Hitting the Sydney stage in May 2024, Parade is a moving examination of one of the darkest episodes of America's history. With a book by acclaimed playwright Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy) and a rousing, colourful and haunting score by Jason Robert Brown (Songs for a New World, The Last Five Years, Bridges of Madison County), this is the true story of an unsolved murder that divided a nation. Set in early 20th century Atlanta, Georgia, with its legacy of slavery and the Civil War, the story follows Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-raised Jew, who is put on trial for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan. Undercurrents of racism and bigotry, and a mistrial, result in Frank’s condemnation by a conservative community still grappling with the aftermath of the 1906 Atlanta race riots. A sensationalist publisher fans the flames of religious paranoia to demonise and scapegoat Frank – coupled with a janitor’s false testimony, Frank’s fate is sealed. His only defenders are a governor who risks being politically ostracised for following their conscience, and his Southern Jewish wife who finds the strength and love to become his greatest champion. “Bringing this production of Parade to Sydney in 2024 is thrilling for us as a company,” said director Mark Taylor (Next to Normal, Rent). “Now, more than ever before, it feels

The lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak roller coaster accident. When they awake in Limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites them to compete to win a prize like no other – a shot at returning to life. Sounds like a pretty wild ride, right? This is the premise of Ride The Cyclone, the runaway viral musical sensation that’s been causing a stir online with the youths – and now it’s Sydney’s turn to strap in, with the Aussie premiere crossing over at Hayes Theatre Co as part of their exciting 2024 season from May 23.  Bursting with witty, memorable songs and featuring some of the most compelling characters in modern musical theatre, this remarkable show makes a uniquely uplifting and deeply funny case for what makes a life worth living. This hilarious and exhilarating production is a labour of passion for the Hayes’ artistic directors Richard Carroll and Victoria Falconer, who are keeping the fires burning at Sydney’s heart of musical theatre and cabaret.  The fresh young cast that will slay on the stage comprises Natalie Abbott (Zombie! The Musical, Muriel’s Wedding) as Constance, Bailey Dunnage (aka Aubrey Haive from RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under) as Noel, Lincoln Elliott (The Hello Girls, Sunshine Super Girl) as Mischa, Justin Gray making his professional debut as Ricky, Ava Madon (A Little Night Music, The Lucky Country) as Jane Doe, and Karis Oka (Fangirls, Six) as Ocean, with understudies Mel O’Brien (Fangirls) and Alec Steedman (

Get ready to pop, six, squish – the musical on everybody’s lips is heading for Sydney with a star-spangled cast. Chicago will razzle dazzle its way to the Harbour City's lush Capitol Theatre in June 2024 after doing time in Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne. Pre-sale for the Sydney season starts on October 9, with general public sales from Friday, October 13 (spooky!).  Returning to the stage to play the powerful and glamorous Velma Kelly is Zoë Ventoura. After starting her career on the musical theatre stage, Ventoura spent many years working on television and in film, and is best known for her roles as Mel Rafter in the original cast of Packed To The Rafters and as Dr Alex Nielson in Home and Away. Joining her as the irreverent and determined Roxie Hart is musical theatre star Lucy Maunder, fresh from playing the role of Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins. Maunder has shone in many musical productions including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fun Home, Matilda: The Musical, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Grease and Pippin. One of Australian theatre’s greatest leading men, Anthony Warlow, will step into the shoes of the cunning and charismatic lawyer Billy Flynn. A beloved and prolific star on Broadway and across Australia, Warlow’s notable musical theatre roles include lead roles in The Phantom of the Opera, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, The Secret Garden, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Les Misérables. As Roxie’s gullible and haples

Lights up! Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ground-breaking debut musical In the Heights is set to spice things up at the Sydney Opera House this winter, with a strictly limited six-week season playing from July 20. This Broadway smash-hit tells the story of three generations living in the vibrant Washington Heights community, layering Latin American rhythms with the energy of the borough – an energising melting-pot of salsa, soul, hip-hop, street-dance, rap, and merengue styles. While you’re gearing up for global sensation Hamilton’s exclusive return Sydney season to blow us all away, you can go back to where it all began with this multiple Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece from the masterminds behind Hamilton.  “This production and this story reminds me of why I ever entered into the world of theatre. It's special,” says Director Luke Joslin (he/him) when speaking to Time Out Sydney. “For me, there isn't another show in my experience that moves and elevates people the way this show does. At its core it’s an overtly humanistic story that transcends continents, cultures and generations. It's the tonic that we need right now – a reminder that community and family and that sense of what is home being the only thing that truly matters in this life.”  The musical unfolds over three days as summer temperatures soar in the Manhattan barrio. We meet our narrator Usnavi (Ryan Gonzalez, they/them – Moulin Rouge!, Jersey Boys, Zombie! The Musical) as he balances commitment to his struggling b

Praise be! Bonafide showgirl and one of Australia’s most-loved musical theatre stars, Rhonda Burchmore, has been confirmed to join Casey Donovan and Genevieve Lemon in this heavenly musical hit. Rhonda will star as Sister Mary Lazarus in the Australian premiere of Sister Act.  If you're not already familiar national treasure Rhonda Burchmore, it's time for an education – this flame-haired beauty is essentially Australia's number one glamazon. The 63-year-old has popped up in various movies, television shows, stage productions and national tours over the decades – long before she arrived in the South African jungle for I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, she was seen on the West End stage with Mickey Rooney. Burchmore has appeared wearing a nun's habit in a video shared across social media, and in it she says: "I have been performing for 42 years, and this is the most comfy I have ever been." We're sure this showgirl is gonna be a delight to watch. Get it, Rhonda!  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sister Act The Musical (@sisteractmusicalau) After collecting five Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Sister Act will open at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from August and Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from November (all after a triumphant return to London’s West End earlier this year). Leading the cast is Casey Donovan, in the biggest role of her career to date. Casey will be stepping into the sparkly shoes of the quick-witted disco diva Deloris (played by Wh

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived… Holy Six! Australia can’t get enough of Six the Musical. The pop-powered global phenomenon has already had multiple record-breaking seasons across the country. And now, due to popular demand, the disgraced wives of King Henry VIII are warming up their voices for another lap Down Under. The tour is kicking off at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from August 2024, before hitting the Sydney stage at the Theatre Royal from October 2024, and bringing it home at QPAC’s Playhouse in Brisbane from January 2025.  Have you had enough of modern royal gossip? Hanging your head in shame over those cracks about Princess Kate secretly getting a BBL? Distract yourself with this modern twist on British Tudor history, it’s packed with pop bangers so catchy that they’ll flush any other thoughts out of your head. As our critic described it in their four-star review: “What if the Spice Girls did a concept album about King Henry VIII’s wives, and Baz Luhrmann directed the concert video?”  That, in a nutshell, is the vibe. More like an 80-minute concert than a traditional musical, Six has become a cultural phenomenon since its premiere in 2017, redefining the boundaries of musical theatre and engaging audiences of all ages. Every year, it is seen by over 3.5 million people worldwide.  The premise is sort of hilarious: all six women who married old mate Henry are forming a pop band, and they’re battling it out to determine who will be crowned the lea

Music theatre fans, hold onto your hats. A new production of a beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber classic is coming our way – and it's bringing a revered star soprano. Sunset Boulevard will shine with the glitz of old Hollywood in a brand new lavish production at the Sydney Opera House for a strictly limited season in August 2024, starring the one-and-only Sarah Brightman. If her name is familiar, it's because she was the *original* Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera on both the West End and Broadway. The British international superstar has since gained global acclaim as a beloved soprano and recording artist, and is now returning to the stage to play her first role in a musical in more than three decades – right here in Australia. Brightman will play the lead role of Norma Desmond in this lavish production from Opera Australia and GWB Entertainment, a character made famous by Glenn Close in the Tony award-winning musical. (Does the phrase "Mr. DeMille, I’m Ready for My Close Up!" sound familiar to you?)  Based on the 1950s film noir by Billy Wilder, Sunset Boulevard features music by prolific composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (the mastermind behind treasured musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Evita and more) and a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. The original 1994 Broadway production won six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book, and had the highest ever ticket pre-sales in Broadway history at the time. The new Austr