entertainmentgeelong.com
SIX Geelong 2011 seasons were launched December 2010.
Here’s how we reported them..
GPAC’s near-Perfect launch scored a nine
Geelong Performing Arts Centre general manager Jill Smith launched the venue’s 2011 theatre season with a little help for actor Eddie Perfect. The new season, she said, was overwhelmingly about great storytelling: it comprised “nine incredible stories.”
GPAC’s season begins with Love Letters, a story of enduring yet ill-fated love, featuring TV favourites Ian Stenlake and Rachael Beck (left). 
Then comes Breast Wishes, an uplifting new Australian musical, which, its blurb says, ‘tells of life, love, family and silicon.’
The comedy continues with Peter Houghton’s Commercial Farce, which takes the magic of traditional farce and updates it.
In Rainbow’s End (right) we gain an insight into early fifties Australia, seen through the eyes of three generations of Koori women.
Then two icons of Australian theatre, Nancye Hayes and Reg Livermore, take to the stage in the world premiere tour of TURNS, a journey through the colourful and much loved world of pantomime and follies. That’s the promo poster on the left.
A gripping story of war and coming of age emerges in the new Australian play Capture the Flag, by award-winning playwright and director Toby Schmitz.
Then a social drama from Joanna Murray-Smith with The Gift, an intriguing insight into modern moral dilemmas.
The season moves into the sporting arena with Krakouer, based on the lives of footballers Jimmy and Phil Krakouer, and closing the season will be Namatjira, the deeply moving story of painter Albert Namatjira, whose beautiful images told important narratives about our nation.
In addition to the Theatre Season program, GPAC is bringing Oz Opera’s La traviata, for one show only in The Playhouse.
Geelong Performing Arts Centre general manager Jill Smith launched the venue’s 2011 theatre season with a little help for actor Eddie Perfect. The new season, she said, was overwhelmingly about great storytelling: it comprised “nine incredible stories.”
The comedy continues with Peter Houghton’s Commercial Farce, which takes the magic of traditional farce and updates it.
Then two icons of Australian theatre, Nancye Hayes and Reg Livermore, take to the stage in the world premiere tour of TURNS, a journey through the colourful and much loved world of pantomime and follies. That’s the promo poster on the left.
A gripping story of war and coming of age emerges in the new Australian play Capture the Flag, by award-winning playwright and director Toby Schmitz.
Then a social drama from Joanna Murray-Smith with The Gift, an intriguing insight into modern moral dilemmas.
The season moves into the sporting arena with Krakouer, based on the lives of footballers Jimmy and Phil Krakouer, and closing the season will be Namatjira, the deeply moving story of painter Albert Namatjira, whose beautiful images told important narratives about our nation.
In addition to the Theatre Season program, GPAC is bringing Oz Opera’s La traviata, for one show only in The Playhouse.
GPAC offers discounts for booking five shows, bigger for all nine.
Rep offered a tasty handful
Rep offered a tasty handful
Geelong Repertory society unveiled its 2011 season in a warm occasion at its Woodbin Theatre home. Australia’s oldest continuous-running theatre company had chosen a rich mix of dramas, comedies and modern classics for its five-play season.
The Rep season begins with an intense Australian drama - John Misto’s Shoe-Horn Sonata which was based on the true-life experiences of Australian nurses captured by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore in WWII - and directed in Geelong by the experienced Geoff Gaskill.
Then comes a modern
Irish social drama I Do Not Like Thee Dr Fell which enjoyed a sell-out season in Dublin’s Abbey Theatre and is now directed by Rep’s Colin Urquhart. Then comes a new version of an old classic, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr Jeckyll & Mr 
Hyde directed by Travis Eccles followed by the American theatre classic Twelve Angry Men directed by Russell Campbell (since changed to Doubt - A Parable). The season ends with a now-traditional big laugh, the madcap Carol Burnett comedy Moon Over Buffalo - which was renamed Over The Moon for its long London run starring Joan Collins. In Geelong, it will be directed by Scott Beaton.
Discounted season tickets are available for three, four or all five plays.
Then comes a modern
Discounted season tickets are available for three, four or all five plays.
From the MSO, five classic concerts
In March, Mark Wigglesworth holds the baton for a programme that features Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, soloist Akiko Suwanai; In June, it’s Bernard Labadie in charge for an all-Bach programme, August has Douglas Boyd conducting Beethoven’s Eroica, while September has Sir Andrew Davis conducting the MSO for Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending. The season ends with a flourish - Mozart Masterworks conducted by Japanese maestro Masaaki Suzuki.
The MSO offers discounts for season subscribers.
Minya offered SIX of the best
Geelong’s Minya By Moonlight series - it’s Geelong’s because the Minya winery is just a 15-minute drive from Geelong along the Torquay Road - has six musical Saturday nights at its romantic lakeside outdoor location. The season opens in January, ends with the vintage in April - and covers a wide spectrum of music. As a matter of fact, it kicks off with Spectrum, the old 
rockers, then moves to trad Jazz from Hot ‘B’ Hines (right) before plunging into a rich mix of opera, Broadway tunes and 
humour with Cabaret Latte (left). Then comes Steve Messer’s Strange Country, a big band that moves from Gospel to Bluegrass, followed by a couple of 
entertainment icons together when Judy Small (right) and Ami Williamson take the stage. The vintage ends with top-class piano & guitar from The Wizard & Oz.
Minya doesn’t offer season discounts - but you do get a glass of wine
Minya doesn’t offer season discounts - but you do get a glass of wine
A Magnificent SEVEN from Drop Of A Hat
Geelong’s Drop Of A Hat Productions unveiled its 2011 shows quietly. But don’t be deceived by the lack of fanfare - the list contains a couple of world-class productions, several spanking-new original musicals - one of Statewide importance, a quite deadly comedy and a very unusual Christmas revue headed by the Grumpy Old Men.
The company’s Magnificent Seven 2011 shows are: In March
in March:
Geelong’s Concert Of The Decade IX - the Grand Finale.
Promises to be the best yet - because it’s definitely the last.
Tickets are now on sale through City Hall.
Queen Of the Ivories - the Winifred Atwell Story
told by international star honky-tonk pianist Jan Preston.
Then in Apriln April
Hit The Road, Digger which presents the story behind the building of the Great Ocean Road presented in narration, images and the songs of the time.
In May
Cruising with Shandelle Geelong’s Shandelle Cooke (right) is back! She’s been entertaining on the world’s best cruise liners – and now brings her Caribean show to the Potato Shed!
In June
You’ll Be The Death Of Me... presenting some of the deadly humour found on headstones – coupled with some of the grisliest - and funniest - jokes and songs from beyond the grave presented by Shirley & Colin.
In September
The Return of The Grand Ol’ Opry Show – Geelong’s best country musos recreate a classic show from that other Opry House in Nashville Tennessee
And finally, late in November
The Grumpy Old Men’s Take on Christmas...
Robert, Bryan & Colin with some star guests take a grumpy, jaundiced, musical – and very funny view of the season.
All Drop Of A Hat booking details are on the comprehensive diary page.
While it was 10 out of 10 at The Shed
Drysdale’s Potato Shed tied its 2011 Season launch to its 10th anniversary celebrations, naming next year’s season it’s ‘10 out of 10’ time.
The Launch was a three-way presentation from Cr Jan Farrell, CoGG arts manager Kaz Paton and special guest Barry Morgan - he of the outstanding organ technique.
Mr Barry Morgan’s World Of Organs show in March, which will be followed by
The Potato Shed’s 10th Birthday Bash - selections from memorable shows over the past decade - on April Fool’s Day.
May will see The Keeper, a Gothic tale set in a Victorian-era lighthouse presented by the Cape Otway Light station, while
July has 
The Sum Of Us, David Stevens’ modern Australian classic play about an Okker bloke coming to terms with his gay son. This one features TVs Steve Bisley (right).
August in The Shed sees a concert from Melbourne musical ensemble
Half Man Half Woman.
September will see modern acrobatic circus in the Shed with A4 Circus Ensemble’s Downpour, while October sees the return of comedian Damian CaIllinan with a sequel to his Soprtsman’s Night - this one’s called The Merger: Sportsman’s Night 2.
In October the Venue will be thrown open for its now-traditional Family Fun Day and the season ends in November with The Weather And Your Health, from NSW writer/ performer Bethany Simons.
All the Potato Shed’s 10/10 shows, dates, times and ticket prices - indeed, every show listed above - can be found on this site’s Comprensive Diary page
