Setting aside the dubious ethics behind the premise and the absolutely outdated idea that a woman needs validation from a man to be accepted by the world, Pretty Woman The Musical raises the question: Is it still possible to have fun hanging out with a singing billionaire and a lady of the night? Well, the answer to that question is, sort of.

The redemption of this musical comes via the excellent singing voices of the cast and the staging and blocking of the large ensemble. The energy level was high, as was the physical prowess of the dancers. The sound was augmented by the impact of a live band located at a higher audience level than sequestered down in a pit.

The pedigree of the creative minds behind the production is also stellar, with two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell providing creative direction and Grammy winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance providing the musical score. The cast, which includes Samantha Jade, Ben Hall, Michelle Brasier, Tim Omaji and Douglas Hansell, also contributes with fine voices and strong stage presence.

Regardless of the highly questionable ethos of the nineties era rom coms and films of that period in general, adapting the Pretty Woman story to the stage is handled with a modicum of taste and a downplay of the tawdry aspects that could derail things for a modern audience. See it and enjoy it for what it is and can provide, a slick time out on the town.

Pretty Woman: The Musical is currently playing at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane until 23 November 2025!
Rob Hudson
www.prettywomanthemusical.com.au

Head to Hollywood with the dazzling stage adaptation of one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time – Pretty Woman: The Musical! 

Bursting with glamour, charm and all the iconic moments you know and love, this joyous musical hit will premiere at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre this October.

Featuring direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Hairspray), an electrifying original score by Grammy® winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ’69”, “Heaven”), and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, this sensation brings a Hollywood classic to life like never before.

Vivian and Edward are unlikely soulmates who overcome all odds to find each other – and themselves. Brought to life by a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music, Hollywood, and Broadway, Pretty Woman: The Musical is a guaranteed big night out that will lift your spirits and light up your heart.

Pretty Woman: The Musical
From 5 October 2025
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane
www.prettywomanthemusical.com.au

In July 1985, the ground-breaking musical production had its Australian Premiere in Sydney, heralding an era of the British “mega-musical” in Australia. The new Australian tour will open this week at its original home, Theatre Royal Sydney, before playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide from September, Crown Theatre Perth from November and at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne from December.

“CATS is a legendary show that I’ve admired for over 40 years. A sparkling fusion of music, dance and verse, it was revolutionary when it first opened and enticed new audiences into the world of musical theatre,” said John Frost. “I’m thrilled to bring the original production of CATS back to Australia to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and I know Brisbane audiences will love to revisit one of their favourite shows. Australia has an enduring love for CATS and it’s time to let the memory live again.”

The coveted role of Grizabella, the former “glamour cat” ostracised by the Jellicles, will be played by Gabriyel Thomas, who recently starred as Michelle and sometimes in the lead role of Deloris Van Cartier in the Australian tour of Sister Act. Gabriyel’s other credits include The Sound of Music, Ragtime and the Australian and US tours of Hairspray.

Audience favourite Todd McKenney will play the dual roles of Bustopher Jones and Asparagus, the Theatre Cat. Most recently seen as The Wizard in Wicked and as Felix Unger opposite Shane Jacobson in The Odd Couple, Todd played Tumblebrutus in the original Melbourne season of CATS from 1987 to 1988, very early in his stage career, and is thrilled to revisit the show nearly four decades later.

Classical performer Mark Vincent returns to the musical theatre world as Old Deuteronomy, the wise and beloved patriarch of the Jellicle tribe. One of Australia’s most celebrated classical crossover artists, Mark’s career spans ten albums, multiple international tours, and performances at some of the world’s most prestigious venues. This will be Mark’s third musical following his roles as Billy Kostecki in the Australian tour of Dirty Dancing and Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the Dame Julie Andrews-directed production of My Fair Lady.

Most recently seen as Roxie Hart in the sold-out national tour of Chicago and the boutique musical No Love Songs, Lucy Maunder is taking on the role of Jellylorum, who watches out for the kittens and takes care of Asparagus. Since graduating from WAPPA in 2006, Lucy has performed lead roles in Mary Poppins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Pippin, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Matilda the Musical and Doctor Zhivago amongst others.

The rebellious cat Rum Tum Tugger who likes to cause mischief amongst the Jellicle tribe, will be played by Des Flanagan. Best known for playing Christian in the Australian tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Des has just completed a season in Sydney as Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks’ The Producers.

WAPPA graduate Jarrod Draper has been cast as Munkustrap, the tabby tomcat who is the storyteller and protector of the Jellicle tribe. Most recently playing Artie Green in Sunset Boulevard in China after performing the role in Melbourne, Sydney and Singapore, Jarrod has also starred in Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Promises, Promises.

Returning to CATS after many years will be Leigh Archer, as the kind, motherly character Jennyanydots, also known among the tribe as the “Gumbie Cat”. Leigh played Demeter in the 1992/93 Australian and Asian tour of CATS, and has since performed in Strictly Ballroom, West Side Story and Moonshadow.

The remainder of the company includes Axel Alvarez (playing Mr Mistoffelees), Sarah Bourke (Tantomile), Olivia Carniato (Demeter), Mia Dabkowski-Chandler (Bombalurina), Tom Davis (Skimbleshanks), Ella Fitzpatrick (Jemima), Charlie Follows (Bill Bailey), Joshua Gordon (Coricopat), Chaska Halliday (Cassandra), Dominique Hamilton (swing), Claudia Hastings (Victoria/ White Cat), Aimee Jones (swing), Savannah Lind (Rumpleteazer), Joe Miller (swing), Jake O’Brien (Mungojerrie), Xavier Pellin (swing), Guy Pik (Carbuckety), Rania Potaka-Osborne (Alonzo), Edward Smith (Admetus/ Macavity), Thalia Smith (swing) and Tod Strike (swing).

Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS has been captivating audiences around the globe since it opened at the New London Theatre (now known as the Gillian Lynne) in 1981, where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances, winning both the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. Since then, CATS has been presented in over 50 countries, translated into 23 languages and has been seen by over 81 million people world-wide. On Broadway, CATS played for 18 years and won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical.

The musical tells the story of the Jellicle cat tribe. On just one special night of the year, all Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to “The Heaviside Layer” and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.

The timeless musical score includes the hit song Memory, which has been recorded by more than 150 artists including Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Nicole Scherzinger, Johnny Mathis, Liberace and Barry Manilow. With “timeless music, spectacular sets and a superb cast” (Daily Mirror), breathtaking choreography and of course the unforgettable Memory, CATS is a magical musical like no other.

Waitlist now for Brisbane tickets at www.catsthemusical.com.au and let the memory live again.

Cats the Musical
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane
From February 2026
www.catsthemusical.com.au

Anthony Warlow returns as Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, the role he has played twice before in Australia to great acclaim and in which he made his Broadway debut. One of Australian theatre’s greatest leading men, Anthony recently played the cunning and charismatic lawyer Billy Flynn in the national tour of Chicago. His extraordinary musical theatre roles include in The Phantom of the Opera (as The Phantom), The Wizard of Oz (The Wizard), The Secret Garden (Archibald Craven), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), Les Misérables (Enjolras), My Fair Lady (Henry Higgins), Man of La Mancha (Don Quixote), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Sweeney Todd) and A Little Night Music (Frederik Egerman).

With a career spanning two decades, Debora Krizak takes on the delicious role of Miss Hannigan. One of Australia’s most critically acclaimed leading ladies of musical theatre, Debora has starred in shows such as Mel Brooks’ The Producers, A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity, Cabaret, Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You and Billy Elliot. She has also played feature roles in John Frost and Opera Australia’s productions of Anything Goes and Cinderella.

Rising star Mackenzie Dunn will play Lily St. Regis. Most recently starring as Rizzo in Grease, Mackenzie has also played Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, Squeaky Fromme in Assassins, Francine in Jersey Boys, Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime, Bubba in Summer of the Seventeenth Doll and understudied and performed the role of Princess Fiona in the Australian tour of Shrek.

Keanu Gonzalez will step into the role of “Rooster” Hannigan after also recently playing Kenicke in Grease. At the age of 16, Keanu was cast in his first musical, understudying the lead role of Scott Hastings in Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom the Musical. This was followed by Bernardo in West Side Story, Charles Lee in Hamilton and understudying the lead role of Alexander Hamilton, Greg in A Chorus Line, Alonzo/Rumpus Cat and Rum Tum Tugger understudy in Cats and as Kassim understudy in Disney’s Aladdin.

Most recently seen in Australia in Jekyll and Hyde, Broadway actor Amanda Lea LaVergne will play the role of Grace Farrell. Amanda’s credits include Annie, The People in the Picture, Grease and Radio City Christmas in New York, plus Bring It On, Guys and Dolls, 9 to 5, Crazy for You, An American in Paris, Anything Goes, Chicago and Gypsy.

In his first musical theatre role, Greg Page, the original Yellow Wiggle in the globally beloved children’s entertainment group The Wiggles, will be playing President Roosevelt. A trained musician and accomplished vocalist, Page’s passion for performing began early, and he quickly became a household name as part of The Wiggles. During his time with the group, Greg co- created numerous hit songs, television series, and live tours, helping to cement their place as icons of children’s entertainment.

“I’m so excited that Anthony has agreed to return to play Daddy Warbucks, the role that took him to Broadway during the last Australian tour of Annie. What a joy to welcome Deb Krizak, Mackenzie Dunn and Keanu Gonzalez back for another Crossroads Live show, and to cast Amanda Lea LaVergne in her first Australian tour and Greg Page in his first musical,” said John Frost. “I’m so looking forward to finding the talented young Queensland actors who will play Annie and the orphans during the Brisbane season. Annie is one of the most delightful and inspiring musicals of all time, and I know Brisbane will enjoy seeing the sun come up on it again.”

One of the most awarded and loved musicals of all time, with its iconic score featuring classics like It’s the Hard-Knock Life, Tomorrow, Easy Street and N.Y.C, Annie is truly a timeless masterpiece, with a book and score written by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin.

Based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” which debuted in 1924 and ran for over 80 years, the musical Annie burst into popularity in 1977 when it opened on Broadway. The musical won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book (Thomas Meehan) and Best Score (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin), the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, and the Grammy® for Best Cast Show Album. After the Broadway run of almost six years, it has played in more than 22 countries worldwide including the UK, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Australia. Annie became a smash-hit movie musical in 1982 starring Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney and Carol Burnett that is adored worldwide and a fixture of popular culture references.

A celebration of hope, family and friendship. This small but mighty young girl has returned to stick out her chin and grin once more!

Annie the Musical
Lyric Theatre, QPAC
From December 2025
Tickets on sale from 6 May. Waitlist now at anniemusical.com.au