Alison Ashley is pretty and smart and rich. She's moved into Erica Yurken's class at school.
And Erica's not happy about it.
HATING ALISON ASHLEY is the hilarious Australian story of two very different girls. Erica and Alison find that they're rivals in many areas, but perhaps they're not so different from each other after all.
The play is a dramatisation of the much-loved 1980's novel written by Robin Klein, that will be brought to life on stage at new theatre in January 2004.
HATING ALISON ASHLEY will be directed by Lyn Collingwood ('Colleen' from 'Home and Away'!). It's the perfect school holiday show for kids and adults.
Scenic Ilustrator: Cheryl Ward; Set Design by Tom Bannerman; Lighting design by Spiros Hristias; Sound design by Bernard TeubenCast includes: Marion Baird, Kate Cooper, Natalee Duncan, Sharn Hammond, Lori Killesteyn, Greg Livermore, Erin McMullen, Erica Nelson, Kimberley Parkes, Bartholomew Rose, Steve Vasquez, Heath Wilder
Season: Fri 9 Jan - Sat 24 Jan 2004When FALSETTOS won the Tony
awards for Best Book and Score in 1992, it was hailed as groundbreaking:
the first musical to explore the complexities of gay (and straight)
relationships in an unexpectedly changing world. It is New York City in 1979
and Marvin wants Trina (his ex-wife), Jason (his 10 year old son) and Whizzer
(his gay lover) to be a tight-knit normal Jewish family. But Trina is
breaking down, Marvin and Whizzer are breaking up, and Jason likes his
Dad's lover more than his Dad. Mendel (Marvin's shrink) falls for Trina,
Marvin loathes Mendel, Trina wants Jason to see a psychiatrist, Jason likes
girls but his father loves boys, while the lesbians from next door love
each other. Together, these unlikely lovers navigate life and love in
the Big Apple, until Whizzer falls ill to a mysterious disease on the
eve of Jason's Bar Mitzvah....
By William Finn and James
Lapine, this funny, witty and acerbic musical is
an affirmation of the
importance of family and friends, where sexuality is
secondary to our capacity to
love.
Directed by Brendon McDonall
(Love's Triumph - Darlinghurst Theatre), with
Musical Director Michael
Huxley (Only Heaven Knows - 1995 Australian
production), the cast
includes Marianne Patton (The Stars Come Out - Mardi
Gras, Closer Than Ever -
London), Todd Goddard (Shout! - original Australian
tour, Assassins - new
theatre), Nathan Carter (Jolson, Assassins - new
theatre), Garth Saville
(African Gothic, Assassins - new theatre), Meagan
Caratti (Get Happy - Star
City, New York Cabaret Convention), Victoria Imber
(Sydney Cabaret Convention,
Julius Caesar - Bondi Pavilion) and Liam Gibson
(Carmen, Orpheus in the
Underworld - Opera Australia, Eureka! - Australian
premiere).
Director: Brendon McDonall
Musical Director: Michael
Huxley
Set Design: James Browne
Lighting Design: Tony Youlden
Cast: Meagan Caratti, Nathan
Carter, Liam Gibson, Todd Goddard, Victoria
Imber, Marianne Patton,
Garth Saville
Where: 542 King Street,
Newtown
When: Opens Thurs 12
February at 8pm
Plays to: Sat 13 March.
Performs: Wed - Sat @ 8pm,
Sun @ 5.30pm (no show on Sat 6 March)
Tickets: $30 / $25
Bookings: 9519 8958 (*new
booking number)
SPECIALS
Preview-by-Donation ($5
suggested minimum)
Wednesday 11 Feb @ 8pm
Super-Priced-Sunday: All
tickets only $10
Sunday 15 Feb @ 5:30pm
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL!
...and more exciting Mardi
Gras events from new theatre....
For senior highschool students and all those with a passion for Shakespeare, DOUBLE TAKE will utilise four directors and four casts, providing an opportunity to compare and contrast different directorial approaches.
Two directors bring to life scenes from 'ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA', while another two tackle 'THE TEMPEST'. Come and help yourself to a double serving.
New Theatre reveals what the future may bring as Shakespeare's great political tragedy follows Richard, Duke of Gloucester, on his murderous quest for the throne.
New Theatre's production dives into a murky world sometimes in the future. Globalisation has failed, civilisation has broken down, survival of the fittest reigns supreme, and an evil without remorse is threatening to gain power.
Here Richard's real deformity is not physical, but a pathological thirst for the power which he desires above everything else.
For Richard, it's nothing personal. People who get in his way become "collateral damage". Still, love him or hate him, he'll take you on one hell of a ride.
In a world of terror, globalisation and political corruption, New Theatre's Richard III holds up a mirror to the civilisation that creates such a "monster". It is a representation of one possible future based on today's global trends and the move away from humanity.
Directed by Louise Fischer (Dancing at Lughnasa and Lemon Delicious - New Theatre) and designed by Katja Handt (Dancing at Lughnasa - New Theatre, Little Malcolm and his Struggle against the Eunuchs - Old Fitzroy, Rhinoceros - B Sharp), and featuring a cast of twenty one actors, New Theatre's Richard III brings to life one of Shakespeare's most diabolical, yet charismatic villains in a world of uncertainty, terror and a lust for power.
Director: Louise FischerCast: Margaret Barnaby, Ritchie Black, Matt Butcher, Kate Cooper, Sheree da Costa, Mark Daly, Simon Freestone, Diana Holt, Henry Jennings, Rohan Maloy, Fiona Nash, Jenelle Pearce, Caitlin Procter, Kath Perry, Jeffrey Prewett, Kurt Sneddon,Patrick Spicer, David Sutton, Donald Sword, Daisy Tester, Cheryl Ward
When: Friday 16 April to Saturday 29 MaySPECIAL DEALS: ALL TICKETS $10 on Thurs 15 (preview), 22, 29 April 8pm, and Sun 18, 25 April 5.30pm.
BOOKINGS: 9519 8958 20th CENTURY CLASSICCast: Allyson Araya, Bridget Brooklyn, Rebecca Clay, Florette Cohen, Jack Fairweather,Paul Lyons, Rita McCormick, Rhys Robinson, Bartholemew Rose, Leigh Rowney, Steve Vasquez, Liz Young
OUR TOWN spans the first thirteen years of the twentieth century in the life of Grover's Corners, a small town in America's rural New Hampshire. A place where the names on the oldest gravestones are the same as those of the townspeople today. Where the kids share an ice-cream soda, their mothers sing in the church choir, and a girl grows up and really does marry the boy next door. It's the archetypal town of American mythology.
While OUR TOWN imagines a way of life which in reality was never achieved, America today is the shambles of this hope destroyed.
Often interpreted as a folksy American nostalgia piece, scratch the surface and OUR TOWN is no quaint tale of hayseed family life, but a work of social criticism which indicts us with personal responsibility for the way we see our lives. Not so much a play of memories as a play about memory, private and public, it evokes nostalgia to warn against it, and argues instead for an acceptance of transience, and a celebration of life while it is lived. Wilder demands we live here and now, simply and fully. By confronting us with our own mortality the play challenges us to explore our small allotment of years and recognise that small, unknowable fragment of the self that is eternal.
Ultimately, OUR TOWN transcends twentieth-century America and becomes an enduringly relevant work about memory, fantasy, and the power and price of both.
Lee Lewis is a recent graduate of the NIDA Directors' course who has trained and worked extensively in Australia and in America. She recently won Best Director in the annual 'Short and Sweet' theatre festival, as well as directing 'Big Love' at NIDA's Parade Theatre, and 'Julius Caesar' for Theatre Nepean. She will also be directing Danial Keene's play 'Half and Half' at Belvoir Street Downstairs. Lee is also an accomplished performer who has been seen in 'Gabriel' at New Theatre, and most recently in the successful 'I've Got The Shakes' at Darlinghurst Theatre.
Friday 11 June to Saturday 10 JulyAn English version by Michael Briggs.
The last week in the life of one of the architects of the French Revolution, subject of Andrzej Wajda's great film starring the young Depardieu. Is good always good? Is evil always evil? An incredible masterpiece by the passionate 23-year-old genius who during his tragically short career set the course of modern drama. Kim Knuckey as Danton, Donald Sword as Robespierre head an all-star cast. Directed by Anne-Louise Luccarini with Olivia Olley.
Moved Reading.An eye specialist in a charming English village treats a VIP patient from an African republic who turns out to be seeking much more than eye surgery. The doctor finds herself faced with the greatest ethical dilemma of her life. Featuring Pamela Jikiemi and Angela Bauer, directed by Michael Briggs.
A Duras double! Two poignant short plays exploring love that has ended and the role of memory, by the distinguished and much-loved post-war French novelist, screenwriter and dramatist. Casting to be announced.
Directed by Dariusz Kurzelewski.
NEW DIRECTIONS SEASON 2004Now in its fifth year, New Directions continues to bring new works and new directors to New Theatre. This year's selection includes the Australian premiere of GAGARIN WAY by Gregory Burke, and the contemporary Australian dramas NAVIGATING by Katherine Thomson and FEATURES OF BLOWN YOUTH by Raimondo Cortese. new theatre is proud to presentPlay 1 - An Australian premiereGAGARIN WAYby Gregory BurkeDirected by Alice Livingstone 27 August - 11 September 2004 In the storeroom of a Scottish computer factory, Eddie and Gary, two accidental anarchists, are making the ultimate political statement. Frank is the target - but he's not playing the game. And Tom? Tom just came back for his hat. Tarantino meets Beckett in this debut play by a remarkable young writer. Since it was first performed in 2001, sell-out seasons at the Edinburgh Festival and the National Theatre in London have been followed by over 20 productions internationally. This black comedy speaks to a world choked by globalization, where the spirit of the individual and the bonds of community have been suffocated by economic rationalism, profit margins and the need to serve 'the big picture'. The writing is tough, the ideas challenging, the outcome shocking. Directed by Alice Livingstone ('Mother Clap's Molly House', 'In Angel Gear'), The cast includes is Rob Flanagan, Jason Langley ('Bat Boy', 'Out in the Open'), Andy Leonard and Phil Scott ('The Wharf Revue'). Joshua Mason ('Our Town') is the season designer with Spiros Hristias as lighting designer. "It's terrific...a tightly spun thriller, a scathing comedy...full of explosive action" The Observer "A sensational debut...grippingly theatrical...exceptionally entertaining" The Daily Telegraph "Bitterly funny...a ton of theatrical dynamite" The Guardian Please note: this production contains violence, and language that may offend some patrons
Play Two:NAVIGATINGby Katherine Thomson.Directed by Juliette Ferrier. By arrangement with HLA Management What would you do if you discovered proof of corruption among people you thought you knew? Would you tell? And if you did, could you survive your friends and neighbours abandoning you one by one? Against a backdrop of small town politics within a rural community, Navigating tracks one woman's journey from naive bystander to courageous whistleblower. Bea, a middle-aged public servant living with her younger sister in a small seaside town, stumbles on damning documentary evidence of deep-seated corruption amongst respected local authorities. Long buried secrets are revealed, bringing to light a cover-up which has had devastating effects on the lives of the two women. Turning for support to one trusted friend after another, Bea finds herself alone and defenceless against a conspiracy of fear and deceit which threatens to destroy her life. A compelling story from one of Australia's finest contemporary playwrights, Katherine Thomson (Harbour, Wonderlands, Diving For Pearls, Grass Roots). Directed by Juliette Ferrier, the cast includes Christine Greenough, John Keightley, Greg Kennedy, Peter McAllum, Jill McKay, Alison Peters and Meredith Porteous. Joshua Mason (Our Town) is the season designer with Spiros Hristias as lighting designer. "An ability to marry the public and the private is but one of the qualities I admire in Katherine Thomson's work....[and] her unsentimental treatment of her characters coupled with her remarkable ear for dialogue" - Associate Professor Paul Thomson, New York University
Strictly limited season: 16 September - 2 October 2004
| SPECIAL FORUM EVENT3pm Sunday 26 September before the 5.30 performance of Navigating. Panel discussion about whistle-blowing and its effects. The panel of high-profile experts will include playwright, Katherine Thomson, and the New Theatre looks forward to a very free open forum on this vitally important topic.
new theatre is proud to present
| Play Three:FEATURES OF BLOWN YOUTHby Raimondo CorteseDirected by Fiona Hallenan Strictly limited season: Thurs - Sat @ 8pm, Sun @ 5.30pm 7 - 23 October 2004 It's the inner city; a student, a stripper, a struggling writer, a cynical idealist and a wannabe tough guy are living in a shared house. Enter a naive skinhead, an ambitious prostitute and their very dangerous landlord and everyone's world implodes. A raw, violent and ultimately provocative Australian drama. Written by Raimondo Cortese this ensemble piece explores what happens to a generation of people who have nothing to rail against and nothing to aspire to. Loneliness and frustration lead to sexual obsessions that unravel in drug use, violence and pushing moral boundaries. This darkly humorous and gritty play is perhaps even more relevant today than when it was first performed in Melbourne in 1997. Directed by Fiona Hallenan the cast includes Les Chantery, Kimberley Hews, Lori Killesteyn, Francesca Savige, Patrick Spicer, Lucy Taylor, Johann Walraven and Gerard Williams. Joshua Mason (Our Town) is the season designer with Spiros Hristias as lighting designer. All tickets: $15 Bookings: 9519 8958Please note: this production contains sexual references, nudity, drug use, violence, and language that may offend some patrons
| Into The WoodsMusic and Lyrics by Stephen SondheimBook by James LapineOriginally Directed on Broadway by James LapineBy arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd Exclusive agent for Music Theatre International (NY)Directed by Pete NettellDesigned by Wayne Harris Featuring Jeannie Lewis as "The Witch" I WISH... Would you be prepared to lie, to cheat, to steal or kill, to make your wish come true? Join Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Jack, the Baker and his Wife, as they venture deep into the woods on a quest for happiness. Face the Witch, flee the Wolf, slay the Giant or break the Curse. Once you've gone into the woods you'll never be the same again. In a stunning new production, director Pete Nettell approaches this classic of modern musical theatre with a fresh and original vision to focus on the deep humanity of the story and the power of the music and lyrics. Imaginative staging, deceptively simply design, pared back musical arrangements and performers physically at one with the space combine to create a world of dress-ups and play, where fantasy and dreams take hold. Proud Sponsor KAWAI Digital and Acoustic PianosSeason: 12 Nov - 18 Dec 2004 Thurs - Sat @ 8pm, Sun @ 5.30pm A Christmas Carolby Charles DickensAdapted and Directed by Lyn Collingwood ***Carols*** Magic*** Santa***Dickson Space, 35 Dickson St NewtownAll tix $15 (no free list) Bookings: 02-95198958
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