Performing Arts in 2008

In this dystopia, we meet Keri who is still in love with her ex-girlfriend, too young to legally download porn, and utterly incapable of kissing anyone she actually cares for. So when an imaginary psychologist suddenly beckons Keri into her office, it seems only reasonable to stay to chat.

Featuring a stellar cast, Five Wings is a dark comedy about the line between fantasy and reality, how relationships change people, and the contrast between logic, feelings and perception.

Paris in 1905 - women, men in uniform, wine and waltzes. Surely this is operetta heaven! Anna, newly widowed, comes to Paris to kick up her heels and win back her first and truest love, Prince Danilo Danilovitch.

Sharing his personal stories on stage, the show is all about Frank growing up in downtown Brunswick, covering his father's journey to the 'new country' as well as Frank's fears, loves, and life as an Italian Australian. Frank is part of a unique line-up of comedians who look at growing up in multicultural Australia - a genre of comedy that is a huge hit in Australia.

The show is co-produced by none other than world-renowned King of Italian comedy, Joe Avati, who has recently turned to the production of big comedy acts. Australia's only Sri-Lankan comedian Nish, star of 2007's IL DAGO, will support Frank for the two-month tour.

MUST is proud to present this festival which is aimed at encouraging the creation and sharing of new work, the learning of new skills, the breeding of ideas, the creation of opportunities and, of course, fun!

Events include:

Life Under Lights - Caught in the Act: Theatrical photography exhibition - opening Mon 14th 5-6pm

MUST PRONTO: Performed Readings Of New Theatrical Offerings
Mon 14th 6pm, Tues 15th, Thurs 17th, Fri 18th & Sat 19th at 5.30pm, $2

Dog's Breakfast: Showings of vibrant new works in development, with audience feedback.
Tues 15th - Sat 19th at 8.30pm, $5

MUST Theatre CreD Workshop Series: Creative Development Workshops including Pilates, Stage Combat, Singing, Hip Hop, Directing, Play Generating / Writing, Juggling, Voice, Shakespeare, Auditioning, Commedia dell'Arte, Magic, Bump Ins and Outs, Stage Management, Lighting and more.

For more information or to make a booking call +61 3 9905 8173 or email Yvonne on yvonne.virsik@adm.monash.edu.au.

"MUST ADFest 08: be there, or be artistically underdeveloped!"

The first Australian musical to conquer Broadway, The Boy from Oz was nominated for five Tony Awards in 2004, including Best Musical, and our own Hugh Jackman won the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical. CLOC Musical Theatre, with its outstanding reputation for the highest production values, will present this exciting show in May 2008. You can expect only the best from CLOC, including a top cast, elaborate sets, dazzling costumes and unforgettable songs like 'When I Get My Name in Lights', 'Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage', 'Everything Old is New Again', 'I Honestly Love You', 'Don't Cry Out Loud', 'I Still Call Australia Home' and ' Go to Rio'.

If you love musical theatre and the razzle dazzle of a toe tapping, all dancing, all singing hit show - then don't miss The Boy from Oz.

The two time Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir returns to Australia with their new show African Spirit.

Soweto Gospel Choir have won critical acclaim and performed to full houses around the world, sung alongside Robert Plant, Bono and Peter Gabriel, and have been heralded as the most exciting group to emerge in world music in recent years.

Foggy London streets, horse-drawn hansom cabs, visits to the opera in top hats and descent into the depths of moral corruption- the scene is set for Monash University Student Theatre's production of The Picture of Dorian Gray.

A new adaptation, written and directed by Greg Eldridge and Liam Suckling, will premiere to audiences at the Monash University Student Theatre from May 22-31, 2008.

While having his portrait painted, young nobleman Dorian Gray is introduced to Lord Henry Wotton, one of London's wittiest and most subversive elements. Influenced by Lord Henry's conviction that youth and beauty are the only things worth having, Dorian wishes that his portraitshould age instead of himself.

Featuring lavish costumes, an innovative set and an original score, The Picture of Dorian Gray introduces a remarkable cast of emerging young actors to deliver the trademark wit of Oscar Wilde with skill and timing.

A-List Entertainment presents Jimeoin On Ice From the magical world of Jimeoin comes this smash hit show. See Jimeoin gracefully skate through brilliantly funny observations on the absurdities of everyday life. Get your skates on!

"A Comic Masterpiece" Daily Mail UK

Monash University School Holiday Program (MUSHP) proudly presents Alpha Shows - Aladdin. Aladdin is a classic!

Alpha Shows Aladdin is a spectacular musical rock concert for children and grown ups of all ages.

ATA Allstar Artists present Antal Szalai & Gypsy Band.

Antal Szalai is considered the best gypsy violin soloist in the world and the recipient of the coveted "Ferenc Liszt Award" in 2005. Come and hear the evergreen traditional Hungarian and International Gypsy melodies as well as some of the most popular highlights from the world of operetta.

Frankston Theatre Group presents Tom Jones by Joan McAlpine.

Based on the 18th Century novel by Henry Fielding, Tom Jones is rich, ripe and rowdy. Follow the adventures of a man much beset by women and Squire Allworthy's adopted son, as Tom falls victim to the charms of one rustic wench after another.

Monash Uni Student Theatre presents: GOTHIC TALES - from two masters of American Gothic story telling realised with chilling precision.

Scarecrow by Don Nigro

In the cornfield next to our house there's a scarecrow, it's been there as long as I can remember, and it's always frightened me." Cally lives with her mother, Rose, whose eccentricities have become increasingly suffocating. Cally escapes across the cornfields where she meets Nick who entices her with the possibility of freeing herself from her mother's control.

and

'Imp of the perverse' from Edgar Allan Poe

A feeling for which I have no name has taken possession of my soul" Three of Poe's tales of terror and intrigue – The Sailor trapped on a mysterious ship, The Murderess awaiting execution and The Mesmerist who attempts to pervert the natural course of death. The unique combination of these three tales creates a powerfully unsettling journey into the realms of loneliness and death.

Wednesday 23 - Saturday 26 July
Tuesday 29 July - Saturday 2nd August, 8pm

MUST Theatre Space
Bookings : 9905 8173

Monash University Student Theatre (MSA) presents:

The Laramie Project by Moiss Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theatre Company directed by Daniel Lammin August 7 –to 16

There was nothing I could do... and I was yelling at the top of my lungs at him, trying to get something outta him... But he didn't move, he didn't flinch, he didn't anything...'

Wyoming: Like No Place on Earth' proclaims the sign that greets visitors to ‘The Equality State'. Ten years ago, this sign took on a very different meaning...

1998. In the town of Laramie, Wyoming, 21-year old Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, brutally beaten and left to die – because he was gay. In the weeks that followed, the members of the Tectonic Theatre Project travelled to Laramie and conducted over 400 interviews with Laramie's residents, uncovering varying reactions to the crime and the impact that it left on the town's community. The resulting stage play is crafted from these interviews. This is The Laramie Project, and it has been described as, "Nothing short of stunning. Not to be missed," by New York Magazine.

2008. Bold young 21-year old director Daniel Lammin is bringing The Laramie Project to Monash. He presents a sharp, insightful production with a highly talented and versatile cast of thirteen actors who each adopt several different roles throughout the piece. This is a fresh new production of an incredible play, named by Time Magazine as one of the most important plays of the last century.

Monash University Proudly presents
Offenbach, Orpheus In The Underworld

Conductor - Benjamin Northey
Director - Linda Thompson
Designer - Jeffrey Paul

Friday 8 August and Saturday 9 August at 8pm

Gasworks Theatre
Gasworks Arts Park
Corner Graham and Pickles St
Albert Park Melways Ref H7 2J

Tickets: $35 / $26
Monash Music Students $23

Bookings: +61 3 9699 3253 or www.gasworks.org.au

Monash Uni Student Theatre (MSA) presents:

A Company of Wayward Saints by George Herman directed by Danny Delahunty.

A commedia dell'arte troupe work through their hilarious in fighting & petty squabbles to mount a show: The great commedia characters; Harlequino (the Manager), Scapino (the Acrobat), Pantalone (the Old Man), Colombina (the Nag) and Ruffiana (the Tart) in all their slapsticky, circusy, vaudevillian glory!

Thursday 21 - Saturday 23 August, 8pm and Tuesday 26 - Saturday 30 August at 8pm

The Shakespeare Society is proud to present the Maid's Tragedy, a Jacobean revenge tragedy that caused such a stir when it premiered in 1609 that it was banned by royalty and still packs a potent punch today.

Written by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Shakespeare's protege), many consider it their masterpiece. While the language of the play is traditional of the era, the action of the play is provocative and edgy.

The Shakespeare Society has a long-standing tradition of creating innovative theatre, and, in Maid's, presents a truly tragic story that includes everything you should expect from a great tragedy – sex, suicide, love, murder and cross-dressing! and reaffirms that such classic works are always worthy of our exploration.