At The Hayes

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking back on some of Hayes' most successful productions, inviting members of the creative team and cast to share what they think made the show so special.   This week on the pod we have Ryan Gonzales, Olivia Vasquez, Luisa Scrofani & Tim "Timomatic" Omaji to discuss Lin-Manuel's hit-before-hamilton, In The Heights, that played At The Hayes from March 2018. 

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking back on some of Hayes' most successful productions, inviting members of the creative team and cast to share what they think made the show so special.   This week, Director Richard Carroll gets to chat with the stellar folks of Calamity Jane - a production which went on to tour multiple times around Australia. Featuring Jane herself, Virginia Gay, Rob Johnson & Musical Director Nigel Ubrihein. 

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking back on some of Hayes' most successful productions, inviting members of the creative team and cast to share what they think made the show so special.     This week we're starting with Sweet Charity, our first production - opening back in 2014. On the pod we have director Dean Bryant and "Charity" herself, Verity Hunt-Ballard - our host is Producer and Chair of Hayes Theatre Co, Lisa Campbell/ 

There is a reason that Nancye Hayes is called Australian Musical Theatre Royalty, apart from maintaining her position at the top of the musical theatre tree for over half a century, Nancye’s majestic air portrays a grace and refinement that only royalty can have. As I sat down to talk with Nancye about her career and her life, my initial nerves slowly melted away as she shared in her gentle way, an indefatigable passion for her career and intimate stories about her life so far. It was so wonderful to gain insights into the woman I have known and revered for over 30 years. Nancye brings these stories to The Hayes in her new one woman show appropriately named “Hayes at The Hayes” as a part of the October cabaret Series. Directed by Jason Langely, musically directed by Michael Tyack and devised by Tony Sheldon (a creative dream team), you will see perhaps a part of Nancye that you have never seen before. Race to book your tickets to see Nancye headlining a double bill with Cath Alcorn and Phil Scott in “30 Something" and Daniel and Chiara Assetta in “Siblingship”. "Hayes at the Hayes" plays from the 2nd to 13th of October . Tickets and times are available online at hayestheatre.com.au or call box office on 02 8065 7337

In today's episode Margi D sits down for a brief chat the man of many successful hats - actor/director and artistic director Mitchell Butel on his latest directorial project, the wonderful Caroline or Change. Also joining us is the very talented Elenoa Rokobaro taking on the titular and coveted role of Caroline and finally the two young boys playing Noah, who forms an endearing friendship with Caroline in a time when the most significant social movement of the 20th Century is about to erupt.  Caroline or Change is a story of people in crisis both internally and externally and how they deal with that crisis without losing hope. A story that will leave you uplifted and your hearts singing. Book and lyrics by Tony Kushner and Music by Jeanine Tesori. Director Mitchell Butel Musical Director Lucy Bermingham The show previews August 23rd and runs to September 21st Monday to Saturday. Tickets available at www.hayestheatre.com.au or call (02) 8065 7337 to book.  You will leave the theatre with your hearts soaring - so don't miss out and book now!   

Today I’m with celebrated Australian choreographer, and now choreographer/director of the upcoming production “Catch Me If You Can” -  Cameron Mitchell. Cameron has many strings to his bow, he is a performer, choreographer, teacher and now a director, all of which could be preceded by any glowing superlative you can think of. Today he talks about the show, his past, present and future and what it feels like to make the transition from performer to choreographer to choreographer/director. Cameron is an absolute delight and I doubt you will meet anyone more passionate about his craft. “Catch Me If You Can -The Musical” is based on the 2002 movie of the same name which in turn was based on the 1980 autobiography of Frank Abgnale Jr – a genius con artist that managed to con millions of dollars by faking it in professions he had never trained to do. With a swinging 60’s score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, it sounds like it’s going to be a cracker. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Book By Terrance McNally, Lyrics By Marc Shaiman, Music By Scott Whittman and Marc Shaiman Presented by LPD in association with Hayes Theatre Co Director and Choreographer Cameron Mitchell Assistant Director Lisa Callingham Musical Supervisor Steven Kreamer Musical Director Anthony Cutrupi Costume Designer Christine Mutton Sound Designer Dave Bergman Lighting Designer Jasmine Rizk Set Designer Kelsey Lee Producer Lauren Peters Production Company LPD Cast includes Jake Speer, Simon Burke, Tim Draxl, Penny Martin, Jessica Di Costa, Monique Salle, Heather McInerney, Stacey Thompson, Erica Stubbs, Jordan Angelides, Jarood Draper, Riley Sutton, Joel Houwen The show runs from July 19th to August 18th Tuesday – Saturday. Be sure to tune in next week for the first of my DIY Interviews with the brilliant Queenie Van de Zandt.  

I love my job, I get to talk to the most interesting people none more so than Benita de Wit, director of "Razorhurst" and one of the stars from the show – Amelia Cormack (co-starring with Debora Krizak). Not only are these wonderful gals interesting, passionate creatives with a lot to say about the way of the world, they are both ex-pats fresh from New York, taking time out from their busy schedules in NY to bring you the Australian Premiere of this exciting new piece about the rivalry between two of Australia’s most vicious gangsters, who just happen to be women – Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh. Brought to you by The Hayes Theatre Company "Razorhurst" premieres Monday to Saturday from June 14th to July 13th 2019. Book and lyrics by Kate Mulley Music by Andy Peterson Director – Benita de Wit Musical Director – Lucy Bermingham Starring – Amelia Cormack and Debora Krizak Running time approx. 90 minutes Tix available at www.hayestheatre.com.au

In today's episode, Margi D talks to two wonderful performers who will be kicking off the Hayes Theatre Cabaret Series from Friday the 26th to Sunday the 28th of April. Kerrie Anne Greenland (Eponine in the 2014 "Les Miserables tour) presents her homage to songs from the movies in “Pictures: Songs from Movie Musicals” and Steven Kreamer (Musical director extraordinaire) steps out from behind the scenes to tell his story in “I Sing Songs”. Two very different cabarets in content and style but both fabulous and a chance to see talent at it’s very best, so I would go and see both of them! Tickets are selling very fast so here are the dates and times only two weeks away! Book now at hayestheatre.com.au Kerrie Anne Greenland: “Pictures : Songs from Movie Musicals” Produced by Neil Gooding Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co Friday 26th – 8.30pm Saturday 27th – 2pm and 7pm Sunday 28th – 7pm   Steven Kreamer: “I Sing Songs” Presented by Steven Kreamer in association with Hayes Theatre Co Friday 26th – 7pm Saturday 27th – 8.30pm Sunday 28th – 5pm  

We are back! And talking all things Spamalot. The Hayes Theatres opens it’s doors for the first time in 2019 with the much anticipated “Monty Python’s Spamalot”. Directed by The Hayes’ very own Richard Carroll and choreographed by Hayes favourite Cameron Mitchell with musical supervision by Conrad Hamill. Today Margi D talks to cast member Marty Alix and director Richard Carroll This hilarious show promises to be a fantastic night in the theatre with one critic describing it as – “..a wonderful night, and I fart in the general direction of anyone who says otherwise” (Charles Spencer – Daily Telegraph, London)  “Monty Python’s Spamalot” (book and lyrics by Eric Idle, Music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle) runs from March 6th – April 6th 2019. Don’t miss out! Book online at www.hayestheatre.com.au or ring box office on 02 8065 7337 See you there!

To round off another amazing year of theatre at The Hayes, Margi D takes a look back at all the shows that have earned more stars from the critics than there are in the sky. Plus a sneaky peek at what's to come in 2019 Wishing you all a truly wonderful holiday season and I look forward to seeing you all again At The Hayes in 2019! Merry Christmas, love Margi D

Look out, the British are coming! Andrew Lloyd Webber has finally arrived at The Hayes. Walk this Way Productions in association with The Hayes Theatre Co presents 'Aspects of Love', a glorious musical not seen in Australia since 1993. Margi D sits down to chat with 3 very special people who have come all the way from London to do the show. Partners in life and business, Andrew J Bevis (Aspects' director) and Nathan M Wright (Aspects' choreographer) are Walk This Way Productions and together with actor Wendy Lee Purdy we talk about "Aspects of Love" and their experiences of living and working on the West End. These three are an absolute delight and we share many laughs as well as a few tips for up and coming performers who might want to give London a try! "Aspects of Love" commences on the 22nd of November 2018.  Tickets available at www.hayestheatre.com.au  Book them fast!!

Margi D is joined by Naomi Livingston and Hugo Chiarella, the creators of a brand new Australian musical - Evie May, starring Amanda Harrison. These bright young stars talk about themselves, how the show got started and what it meant to have the support of New Musicals Australia to get Evie May to the stage.  Evie May runs at Hayes Theatre Co from October 12th for a limited season.

New host Margi D talks to stars in the making and the young leads of the current smash hit at the Hayes Theatre Co - 'She Loves Me'. Caitlin Berry and Rowan Witt talk about their young careers, their training and why exactly Stephen Sondheim calls 'She Loves Me' his number one best musical. She Loves Me runs at Hayes Theatre Co, Sydney until September 22nd. www.hayestheatre.com.au

Richard Carroll is joined by Helpmann-winning director Lee Lewis (artistic director of Griffin Theatre Company) and legendary Australian composer and musical director Max Lambert (The Boy From Oz, Miracle City) to discuss their new production of Darlinghurst Nights at the Hayes. Darlinghurst Nights is a classic Australian musical by Katherine Thomson and Max Lambert (based on the poems of Kenneth Slessor), which debuted at Sydney Theatre Company in 1988. The show depicts working class people in Kings Cross and Darlinghurst in the early 1930s. The 30th anniversary production at the Hayes brings the show to the very area it depicts. www.hayestheatre.com.au

Star of Kinky Boots and High Fidelity, Toby Francis joins Richard Carroll to talk about his dual roles as performer and producer, as well as auditioning, casting, and what Cyndi Lauper is really like. High Fidelity plays at Hayes Theatre Co from 18 November 2017 www.hayestheatre.com.au

Elise McCann is best known for her Helpmann Award-winning role as Miss Honey in the original Australian cast of the smash hit musical Matilda, and also to Hayes audiences for her cabaret show Everybody Loves Lucy, where she played Lucille Ball.   Elise talks to Richard Carroll about her life and career - from her first job in Fiddler on the Roof with Topol, to being cast in Matilda against the odds. She also talks about her parallel career as a producer, and the show Carmen: Live or Dead - starring Natalie Gamsu and featuring original music from iOTA - which debuts at the Hayes in 2018.   www.hayestheatre.com.au

Bobby Fox is well-known for his role as Frankie Valli in the original Australian production of Jersey Boys, and also to Hayes audiences for his roles in Blood Brothers and High Society. Now he returns to the Hayes as part of the ensemble 'super-cast' of Dean Bryant's Assassins, which plays at the Hayes until 15th October. Bobby talks to Richard Carroll about his days as a world champion Irish dancer, going on a world tour with Riverdance aged 15, settling in Australia because of an encounter with a 'fella in a pub', and his role as Charles Guiteau in Assassins. www.hayestheatre.com.au

On this special episode, we feature a range of previous guests talking specifically about their experiences of working at the Hayes. Featuring Nancye Hayes, Genevieve Lemon, Mitchell Butel, Virginia Gay, Hayden Tee and Dean Bryant.

Aussie icon Genevieve Lemon joins Richard Carroll for a frank and funny conversation about her roles in Billy Elliot, Priscilla, Prisoner, Neighbours, and the upcoming Melba at Hayes Theatre Co. Melba plays at Hayes Theatre Co from 11 August 2017. www.hayestheatre.com.au  

Olympic gold medal-winning diver turned award-winning cabaret performer Matthew Mitcham talks to Richard Carroll about his life and career(s), including some frank, honest and inspiring lessons learned during his experiences with addiction and depression. Matthew's show Under The Covers plays at Hayes Theatre Co in July 2017. www.hayestheatre.com.au

Tri-continental star of 'Les Miserables' Hayden Tee joins Richard Carroll to discuss playing Javert in Australia, on Broadway and in the West End - and about coming straight back to Sydney afterwards to appear in 'Only Heaven Knows' at the Hayes. 'Only Heaven Knows' plays at Hayes Theatre Co, Sydney from 26 May - 1 July. www.hayestheatre.com.au

Simon Burke talks to Richard Carroll about his 40 years in the Australian entertainment industry - from winning an AFI award aged 13 for the movie The Devil's Playground, to starring in musicals like Les Miserables, Anything Goes and Company.

A re-broadcast of Richard Carroll's January 2016 conversation with Australian musical theatre legend (and Hayes Theatre Co namesake) Nancye Hayes. Nancye talks about her life and career, including leading the original Australian casts of Sweet Charity and Chicago.

Richard Carroll talks to Dean Bryant, director of Sweet Charity and Little Shop of Horrors at the Hayes, and current Associate Director at the Melbourne Theatre Company. They discuss the sometimes rocky development of those two musicals, his work on Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: The Musical, and the place of musicals in the overall Australian theatre landscape. www.hayestheatre.com.au

A three-time Helpmann Award winner and a Hayes favourite, actor and director Mitchell Butel talks with Richard Carroll about making a life as an actor, touring, and auditioning - and the time he was flown to London to tap-dance for Cameron Mackintosh! www.hayestheatre.com.au

Helen Dallimore has been a fixture on Australian stages and screens for 20 years. In 2004 she was the original Glinda in the West End production of Wicked, and in 2012 she won a Helpmann Award for Legally Blonde. She’s currently starring in the hit Channel 9 sitcom Here Come The Habibs. Helen sat down with Richard Carroll for a chat about her life and career.

Richard Carroll talks to Virginia Gay (Channel 7's All Saints and Winners & Losers) about her life and career, including the 2017 production of Calamity Jane at the Hayes, in which she will play the title role.

Richard Carroll talks to the celebrated actor, producer, director and producer Trevor Ashley about Priscilla, Hairspray, and Les Miserables - as well as his one-man shows, and the upcoming Mack & Mabel, which he will direct at the Hayes in November.

David Campbell interviews Australian theatre legend Philip Quast at the Hayes in an intimate, funny and revealing conversation about his life and career. We thank Philip Quast for allowing us to make this conversation available as a podcast. For information on more exclusive events at the Hayes, sign up to our mailing list at www.hayestheatre.com.au

In this episode, we focus on the future of musical theatre in Australia. We visit rehearsals for the Australian Theatre for Young People's rehearsals for Spring Awakening and talk to some of the young cast. Three of the stars of We Will Rock You (who all starred in Hayes shows last year) tell us about combining commercial and independent roles. Director Jonathan Biggins and writer Ian Ferrington give us the low-down on new musical The Detective's Handbook, which premieres at the Hayes this month. And cabaret star Tom Sharah chooses Into The Woods for our regular feature '5 minutes on a favourite musical'.

In this episode - Tom Sharah and Richard Carroll discuss the movie musicals that have been honoured at the Oscars through the decades. We talk to Hayden Tee, who has taken his Javert from the Australian stage to the current Broadway production of Les Miserables. And Kerrie Anne Greenland chooses Chicago for her '5 minutes on a favourite musical'.

It's an Alan Menken special edition of the podcast as the legendary composer gives us an exclusive interview about 'Little Shop of Horrors' and his incredible career. We also hear about the brand new production of 'Little Shop' opening at the Hayes from director Dean Bryant and stars Esther Hannaford and Brent Hill. And theatre and cabaret star Trevor Ashley chooses Menken's 'Beauty and the Beast' for his '5 minutes on a favourite musical'.

We have an exclusive interview with cabaret legend Phil Scott about his career and his most recent one-man show 'Reviewing The Situation', which is returning to the Hayes. Set designers Owen Phillips (Sweet Charity; Little Shop of Horrors), Lauren Peters (The Drowsy Chaperone; Love Bites; High Society; Rent) and Hugh O'Connor (The Fantasticks) talk about the opportunities and challenges for designing in the tiny Hayes space. And 'Little Shop of Horrors' star Josie Lane gives us five minutes on one of her favourite musicals, 'Avenue Q'.

Joining us for an exclusive feature-length interview on this episode of the podcast is the lady herself, Nancye Hayes. The theatre's namesake talks to producer Richard Carroll about her whole life and career, from her childhood in Sydney to her first big break in 'My Fair Lady', through her star-making role in 'Sweet Charity', all the way to appearing in person at the theatre named after her. A treat not to be missed for all fans of musical theatre.

An exclusive interview with Tony award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori, whose show VIOLET is currently playing at the Hayes. A boisterous backstage report from CAROLS BY CABARET, featuring Mitchell Butel, Marika Aubrey, Lucy Maunder, Trevor Ashley, Shaun Rennie, Hilary Cole, Rosa the Russian Beautician, Nancye Hayes and more! And Virginia Gay chooses Hedwig and the Angry Inch for her '3 minutes on a favourite musical'.

Rob Mills on the return of his cabaret show Rob Mills is Surprisingly Good. Reports from Violet rehearsals, and performances of Neglected Musicals' The Goodbye Girl. Matilda star Marika Aubrey talks about this year's Carols By Cabaret. And Kelley Abbey chooses West Side Story for her '3 Minutes on a Favourite Musical'.

Recorded live at Hayes Theatre Co's 'Coming Soon' event on Monday 19th October, and featuring interviews and performances. New shows announced include Little Shop of Horrors, Xanadu, The Detective's Handbook, The Fantasticks, and return seasons of Rent and Reviewing The Situation. Hosted by David Campbell.

We take a look at the current Broadway smash hit Hamilton, and how it’s success mirrors that of our current musical Rent. We get some backstage insight from the Neglected Musicals program. We take a look ahead to the much-anticipated Violet with that show's producers (who are also both appearing in musicals themselves) And Matilda star Elise McCann gives us three minutes on one of her favourite musicals, The Bridges of Madison County.

A backstage report from the cast during a performance of 'High Society'. Cast and crew of 'Rent' give us an update on rehearsals. Award-winning actor Dash Kruck talks about his cabaret show 'I Might Take My Shirt Off'. Inside the New Musicals Australia workshop of 'Melba'. And 3 Minutes on a Favourite Musical - Richard Carroll talks about 'Jerry Springer The Opera'.

Amanda Harrison tells us about her upcoming cabaret show at the Hayes 'Up Close and Reasonably Personal'. David Campbell, Lisa Campbell and Toby Francis discuss what 'cabaret' means, and the state of Australian cabaret in 2015. Previews of cabaret shows in our current season from the artists themselves. Entrants in Hayes Theatre Co's New Musicals Australia program talk about their experience at last month's snapshots. And Kendra Reid from publicity and marketing firm AKA tells our 'Components' panel how to best promote your show.

Marina Prior talks about her cabaret show 'A Prior Engagement', which will headline the Hayes Theatre Co cabaret season 2015. 'Dogfight' star Toby Francis interviews the show's director and producer Neil Gooding about our current production. And musical theatre stars Trevor Ashley, Mitchell Butel and Helen Dallimore discuss making the transition to directing for their upcoming shows at Hayes Theatre Co.