Let Me Entertain You

Interview with Chrissie Cartwright, Associate Director and Australian Choreographer for the 40th anniversary Australian tour of CATS. Hear the history behind the musical and an insight of how Andrew Lloyd Webber began putting music to T.S Eliot's poems 'Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats' (the source material), working with the original choreographer Dame Gillian Lynne and bringing this musical back to its original h...

Interview with Gabriyel Thomas [Sister Act, Hairspray] who stars as Grizabella the glamour cat for the 40th anniversary Australian tour of CATS. Hear Gabriyel’s first memory of seeing the original film, Eliane Page’s influential performance on her finding character and as a Swiftie I ask if Taylor Swift’s ‘Beautiful Ghosts’ with Andrew Lloyd Webber from the 2019 CATS film appearing in this production? Watch performan...

ANNIE part 4: Keanu Gonzalez [Grease, West Side Story] stars as Rooster Hannigan and Mackenzie Dunn [Grease, Hairspray] stars as Lily St James for the new Australian production of ANNIE [Crossroads Live], now playing at the Sydney's Capitol Theatre before touring nationwide. Mackenzie is the grand-daughter of Jill Perryman and Kevan Johnston, Australia's first Miss Hannigan and Rooster Hannigan, hear more about growing up knowing a...

ANNIE part 3: Anthony Warlow [Chicago, Phantom Of The Opera] reprises his role as Oliver (Daddy) Warbucks for the new Australian production of ANNIE [Crossroads Live], now playing at the Capitol Theatre before touring nationwide. Hear Anthony discuss his history with the role and show, the exciting new technology and cast assembled and (as over the years named three of Anthony's albums our Album of the Month), I ask if the song, 'W...

ANNIE part 2: Amanda Lea Lavergne [Jekyll & Hyde, Radio City Christmas Spectacular] stars as Grace and Stephanie McNamara makes her professional musical debut starring as (one of the four) ANNIE [Crossroads Live]. The new Australian production of ANNIE is playing at the Capitol Theatre before touring cities, hear more about stepping in the leading role, homework and Amanda bringing her extensive Broadway skills to the Australia...

ANNIE part 1: Debora Krizak [Sweet Charity, A Chorus Line] stars as Miss Hannigan and original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page stars as President Franklin Roosevelt. Debora was one of my first Podcast guests and Greg makes his professional musical debut, very exciting. Hear more about the new Australian production of ANNIE [Crossroads Live], now playing at the Capitol Theatre before touring, the exciting cast assembled and bringing the Wig...

On the opening night of Peter and the Starcatcher at the Capitol Theatre Sydney. Michael Cormick (Centrestage, La Cage Aux Follies) starred in the original production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast [Disney], Hannah Waterman (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, EastEnders) recently starred as Mrs Brill in Disney’s Mary Poppins [Michael Cassel]. I was thrilled to talk to them about the responsibility of taking on roles that many of ...

On the red carpet for Peter And The Starcatcher at the Capitol Theatre Sydney - Damon Herriman (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Judy & Punch) stars as Nigel Martin-Smith, the band manager of 'Take That' in the Robbie Williams biographical musical film, BETTER MAN (Paramount Pictures). Directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman, P!nk: What I Know So Far), filmed in Victoria and the UK, Damon is nominated for an AACTA award....

From the 2024 Sydney Theatre Awards. Andrè de Vanny (War Horse, Swansong, Wicked Science) was awarded, ‘Best Performance In A Leading Role In An Independent Production’, starring as Valene Connor in Martin McDonagh’s play,  The Lonesome West [Empress Theatre] at the Old Fitz Theatre. I was thrilled to catch up with him afterwards to talk about the show in depth and its challenges, as well as discussing his exciting plans moving to ...

From the 2025 Sydney Theatre Awards. Laura Murphy (Zombie!, The Lovers) penned the book, music and lyrics to ZOMBIE! the musical which garnered three awards tonight- Best Choreography (Chiara Assetta), Best Direction (Darren Yap) and Best Musical. Following on from previous interviews, including at last year’s awards, I was thrilled to catch up with Laura. As I wrote in my review I would love to see the Zombie! musical developed in...

From the 2024 Sydney Theatre Awards. Ryan Gonzalez (Moulin Rouge, In The Heights) performed ‘Ride You’, from a new Australian production: Phar Lap the Electro-swing musical (book, music and lyrics by Steven Kramer), which will have its premiere at the Hayes Theatre in 2025. Ryan currently stars in the Australian production of Peter And The Starcatcher that is touring Australia, opening at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from February 2025...

From the 2024 Sydney Theatre Awards. Darren Yap was awarded ‘Best Director’ for ZOMBIE! The Musical [Hayes Theatre]. I was thrilled to talk with him afterwards to find out more about his approach in bringing this new Australian musical from the ‘page to the stage’ for the first time. Also, as I had put in my review, his approach and hurdles in directing a predominately ‘chase and pace’ musical on a static stage. 

Let Me Entertain Y...

From the 2024 Sydney Theatre Awards. Karla Grant, a proud Arrernte woman, is Presenter, Producer and Journalist of NITV current affairs program Living Black, which this year will celebrate its 22nd year on air. I was thrilled to catch up with Karla after the awards for a quick chat to celebrate the First Nations productions that were nominated and had won awards and our indigenous culture within the arts. 

Let Me Entertain You- Ins...

In 1972, the Australian premiere production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s, Jesus Christ Superstar opened at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. In 1992 there was an Australian arena spectacular and a theatrical revival in 1994. London's award winning Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production garnered the Olivier award for 'Best Musical Revival' and in 2024, 52 years since the musical’s first Australian premiere, this new product...

Jesus Christ Superstar (Crossroads Live Australia)- Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock musical has returned to tour Australia in a new UK production that won an Olivier award for 'Best Musical Revival'. Now playing at the Capitol Theatre Sydney where it first premiered in 1972, I was thrilled to speak to Peter Murphy (actor, musician, producer) who stars as Pontius Pilate (Sydney & Perth seasons). Hear more about this musi...

From the opening night of Neil Simon's play, The Odd Couple (Crossroads Live Australia) at the Theatre Royal Sydney, I was thrilled to have a quick catch up with Shane Jacobson -actor, writer, author, presenter and internationally known for his breakout role as Kenny in the mockumentary film 'Kenny' which he also co-wrote. With a career spanning across film, television and stage, Shane recently starred as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray...

Live on opening night of CHICAGO (John Frost, Crossroads Live Australia) at the Capitol Theatre Sydney to capture all the excitement on the red carpet. In order of appearance, My guests are: Stefanie Jones (Mary Poppins) and Aaron Tsindos; Glenn A.Baker; Nicholas Hammond (The Sound Of Music); Julian Kuo, Ashton Lash (Hamilton); Richard Reid; Kerri-Anne Kennerley; Natalie Basingthwaite (Roxie Hart, 2019); Erin Clare; MacKenzie Dunn,...