Australian Ballet 2016 season

Whether you’re a cheery Who from Whoville or a self-proclaimed Grinch, there’s no denying the festive season is upon us. And to kick things off in true Christmas spirit, Dr. Seuss’ most memorable villain is set to steal the stage at Hamer Hall, as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra brings the holiday classic to life in concert from December 5-6. Across three special performances, revisit the iconic anti-hero on the big screen as Leonard Weiss conducts the sweeping score from James Horner, the Oscar-winning composer behind Titanic, Braveheart and Avatar. The music will be played live-to-picture, giving you the perfect excuse to swap your annual sofa watch for a night at one of Melbourne’s most magical venues.  Directed by Ron Howard, the 2000 live-action film of Dr. Seuss’ 1957 book stars Jim Carrey as the potbellied, green yeti with an attitude problem who ultimately learns the true meaning of Christmas in a wildly imaginative adaptation that honours the Seussian universe. Expect your heart to grow three sizes with a night at Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas in concert. Tickets range from $49 to $134. Get yours here. 

Hey Melbourne, the Mormons are back! After wowing audiences in Sydney with plenty of "did they really just say that?” humour, The Book of Mormon is heading to the Princess Theatre from February 6, 2026. This somewhat unconventional musical comedy cleaned up at the Tony Awards after it debuted on Broadway in 2011, going on to break box office records and garner near-unanimous critical acclaim when it opened on London’s West End. When tickets for the show’s Australian debut in Melbourne were released in 2015 – nearly a year in advance of opening night – the Princess Theatre recorded its highest pre-sale period of any production in its 159-year history, also going on to win the Helpmann Award for Best Musical. For the uninitiated, The Book of Mormon follows two inept Mormon missionaries from Salt Lake City on their journey to save mortal souls in a corner of Uganda ruled by a one-eyed warlord. It’s the brainchild of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone – hence, you can expect a lot of explicit language – along with Avenue Q and Frozen co-creator Robert Lopez.  So what’s the secret of the show’s success? As Time Out London’s Theatre and Dance Editor Andrzej Lukowski wrote, Mormon was always going to be a hit, but what made it into the Mormania phenomenon is the fact that non-South Park fans love it too. The songs are excellent. Filthy, witty and outrageous, but also sumptuous and note-perfect, they nod to the golden age of the American musical.  As for how the...