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We’re virtual millionaires

Today this website will join the exclusive millionaires club. We’ve notched up more than a million visits since our beginning on January 21, 2008.
And the majority of our visitors have clicked to us this year. The breakdown of figures shows that for our first year, 2008, we had 37,848 visits, in 2009, the number had risen to 96,198. In 2010 the number rose even faster to 366,658 - and so far this year we have had 500,872 visitors.

A big welcome to all our visitors - and a million thanks for supporting Geelong’s most comprehensive entertainment media.

Jen leads Geelong’s Chorus Line

Jen Stirk (pictured right) has the lead role of Maggie heading an impressive cast list for new company Centrestage’s upcoming musical A Chorus Line. The big show opens this week and has already has sold out its opening night. The full cast as announced is: Zach, Andy Carroll; Don: Ryan Scott; Mike: Chaise Rossiello; Connie: CJ Sismaet; Greg: Jules Hart; Cassie: Jessie Oliver; Shiela: Julie Corneby; Bobbi: Sally-Anne Jones; Bebe: Marika Cook; Judy: Petice Malviste; Ritchie: Jordan Doroschuk; Al: Xavier Robertson; Kristine: Kimberlee Bone; Val: Heidi Watson; Mark: Nick Ng; Paul: Xavier MeGettigan; Diana: Shani Clarke; Tricia: Cath Blackie/Hughey; Vicki: Kate Murray; Louise: Shelly Skinner; Butch: David Greenwood; Tammy: Sophie Thompson and Fran: Catherine Hill.
Find full booking details on the Comprehensive Diary

Brill new musical hits the Woodbin

Geelong’s PACD Productions opens a fresh new musical in

Rep’s Woodbin Theatre mid July. Titled Brill, the show is based around the music that came from New York’s Brill building in the 1950s and 60s. Then, the building was called Manhattan's Hit Factory, famous for kick-starting the careers of musicians such as Carol King, Neil Sedaka, Paul Anka, Jim Croce and Burt Bacharach. The new Geelong show is the creation of Geelong musician David Fox who is using some of the region's premier voices. These include Cindy Lee, Davina Smith Crowley (right), Emily Donoghue, Andrew Ward, Jamie McGuane and Lachy Joyce. The show’s songs include modern classics like Natural Woman, River Deep Mountain High, On Broadway, One Fine Day and You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling.

Brill opens in the Woodbin Theatre July 15. Find booking details on the Comprehensive Diary.

Almost Eurovision in Geelong

GSODA - the senior group - will present a wickedly funny parody of TV’s Eurovision shows when Euröbeat - Almost Eurövisioń opens in August at GPAC’s Playhouse Theatre. The show will be directed by Christian Cavallo, who has chosen a sterling headed by presenters Paula Kontelj and Shane Lee introducing singer/dancers Tony Wasley, (the very busy) Jen Stirk, Ian Nash-Gilchrist, Jackson Thomas, Aaron Taylor, Declan Robinson, Emily Donoghue, Jenna Irvin, Jess Dolley, Jordan Middlekoop, Kethly Hemsworth, Melina Charles, Olga Kehridakis, Rhys Carlson, Britany Vredenbregt, Dom Rousetty, Fritze Punsalang, Jemma Lowther, Jesse Alvarez, Joel Anderson, Laura Dillon, Michael Hawthorn, Sanella Osmanovic and Saskia Norvington.

Check the Comprehensive Diary for dates, times and booking details.

Brandon directs The Little Shop in the Shed

Drysdale’s Blunt Productions has announced the cast and crew for its Little Shop of Horrors to be presented at the Potato Shed in July. The comedy horror/musical will be directed by Brandon Davey assisted by Lorraine Hall.

Lead actors include: Audrey, Melanie Potter; Seymour, Daniel Caciolo; Mushnik, Derek Ingles; Crystal, Kate Michalek; Ronnette, Sam Clark; Chiffon, Karen Walton and Orin, Shelise Robertson. Audrey the plant is operated by puppeteer Jamie Peter and voiced by Rob McLeod. The support cast/chorus includes Robyn Neilson, Rebecca Smith, Julie Budzienny, Janny Morissy, Paulette Gainger, Mark Walton, Lauren Collins and Claire Drever.

find dates and booking details on the Comprehensive Diary.

Geelong - where the Big Musicals play

Sweet Charity, Fiddler On The Roof, The King & I, Little Shop Of Horrors, A Chorus Line, Eurobeat, Spring Awakening and now Pirates Of Penzance... Geelong’s love affair with big musical productions continues at a pace. The eight shows listed above are only those announced so far this year - there are more in the pipeline. Add in the touring musicals arriving as part of GPAC’s theatre season and several original musicals in production for the City’s Potato Shed and Geelong patrons can expect new musicals to be opening throughout 2011 at the rate of more than one a month.

You’ll find them all listed on our Comprehensive Diary.

The Golden Gnome is again up for grabs

Theatresports returns to Geelong July 30 with the second annual ‘Golden Gnome Awards hosted by Geelong Rep. The contest, in Rep’s cosy Woodbin Theatre, pitches teams drawn from most of the region’s theatre groups in a series of zany theatre-based games, each judged by neutral observers with the winning team awarded Geelong’s ‘Golden Gnome’ statue. The coveted carving is at present held by Rep’s team of veterans, who successfully beat five other teams in the inaugural 2010 event.

Guaranteed a fun event, audience tickets will be available at GPAC.

David’s Spring Awakening in midwinter

David Ward (right) has landed the lead role of Melchior in Parcell productions forthcoming rock musical Spring Awakening.

The play’s theme of adolescent love and trials of puberty has attracted a strong, experienced youthful cast including: Michaela Powell, Gabriella Sabatino, Tayla Johnston,

Felicia Fragapane, Tessa Reed, Terri Powell, Tom Reed, Jaxson McLennan, Brad Bowden. Xavier McGettigan and Mitchell Turek. The directors are David Postill & Scott Bradley, musical director is Stacey-Louise Camilleri, vocal director is Anita Barlow-Burman and choreogapher is Mitchell Turek. Spring Awakening opens in GPAC’s Drama Theatre August 5.

Check the Comprehensive Diary for dates and booking details.

Lyric captures the Broadway Pirates

Geelong Lyric Theatre Company has announced its choice of second musical for 2011.

The company will stage the Broadway version of Pirates of Penzance in GPAC’s Playhouse Theatre October 7 - 15. The G & S classic will be directed and choreographed by Stacey Carmichael, with musical director Michael Wilding and vocal director Laura Yates.

The show’s information night is June 1, with auditions will be held later - and tickets will go on sale at GPAC June 20.

Twelve Angry Men give way to Doubt

Geelong Rep has encountered difficulty securing the performing rights to its initially-selected September play Twelve Angry Men. The company has now chosen an alternative play for the dates - and it’s another American Pulitzer-prize winner. The company will now stage Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley which was originally staged off-Broadway in 2004 and has never been performed locally. The Rep version will be directed by Sarah Freeman.

Find Doubt-full details on the Comprehensive Diary page.

Geelong gets to Unlock The Past

A big national history-related exhibition titled Unlock The Past is coming to Geelong early in September. Promoted as ‘a major history-genealogy-heritage event for all Victoria’ the Expo is the only one in the State. Others are in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. The Geelong expo will include lectures, tutorials, workshops and presentations over a weekend at The Arena. The north Geelong venue was chosen, organisers said, because of its range of facilities and ease of access. The Arena has free parking and, at a 40-minute train ride from Southern Cross plus a two-minute walk, we turned out to be much closer and more accessible for Melbourne people than the other proposed Victorian venue at Heidelberg. So there will be a big turn-out of Melbourne genealogical societies and family history research groups as well as Geelong and regional Victorian presenters over the weekend, which is expected to attract up to 5,000 visitors. As part of the Expo, Drop Of A Hat’s Shirley and Colin will be presenting their Hit The Road Digger show which tells the story of building Victoria’s Great Ocean Road with images and the authentic music of the times.
Find dates and times of the Expo on our Comprehensive Diary, and details at the website www.unlockthepast.com.au

Early Bird tickets to the Expo are available online now.

Music Society Scholarships available
The Musical Society of Geelong gives annual scholarships for young musicians in a series of instrumental sections. The Society’s Dorothy Glover Award is the region’s most prestigious piano scholarship; but the Society also gives annual awards for brass and string players, woodwind and for small chamber groups. There are different age limits and ‘enrol by’ dates for each section - but the general rule is that the adjudication takes place from July onwards and applications should be in by the end of June.
Find further details on the Society’s website - and for application forms, contact the Society’s president Tim Furness by clicking the link below
president @geelongmusicsociety.asn.au

Shirley dresses back in time

That’s a heritage-listed Shirley Power on the left, at Barwon Park mansion in the guise of Elizabeth Austin.

Elizabeth, widow of Thomas, the mansion’s original builder, lived in it for 40 years. During this time she founded the Austin Hospital as well as Geelong’s Austin Homes.

Shirley was part of a reception for staff and volunteers from the Austin Hospital - and it’s small wonder she looked so good in the part. The dress she was wearing was an exact replica of one of Elizabeth Austin’s 140-year-old originals.

You’ll find more re-enactment details on the Drop Of A Hat page.

Enoch gains new e-skills

That’s Enoch on the left, Drop Of A Hat’s long-time mascot logo. He’s been standing around in all weathers for more than a decade publicising our shows - and this website, too. But now we’ve given his feet a bit of a rest - we’ve taught Enoch computer skills and he’s created an electronic newsletter - titled, you might guess... Enoch’s Billboard.
If you’d like him to email you a copy, just click here.

Fostering the spirit of history

Colin Mockett conducts fun tours of Geelong’s waterfront pointing out the rich history of the region. He’s booked by Probus, tourism and community groups as well as schools for these 1-hour tours. When taking students, he’s usually in the guise of Geelong’s founder, Capt. Foster Fyans. That’s because invoking the spirit of big, brash, Irish, Capt Fyans - who died in 1870 - captures the student’s attention and creates the happiest way to learn - the kids always have a great deal of fun while experiencing history at first hand - from the Captain’s own memory.
Above is Colin as the Captain with a group from Yr 3 Montpellier Primary School in April.

You’ll find details of Colin’s tours on the Drop Of A Hat page.

Gathering a State supporter

That’s Victoria’s minister for multicultural affairs, Nicholas Kotsiras inspecting members of the 42nd Highland Regiment re-enactment group who made up his ‘guard of honour’ at the Geelong Highland Gathering on Sunday March 20. The Minister, in officially opening the event at its temporary Showgrounds site, threw his weight behind the Gathering in its ongoing dispute with Geelong Council over a permanent site for the 154-year-old event. “We will do everything we can to ensure this event gets a permanent site,” he said, after drawing comparisons between Scots and his own Greek heritage. “We both have societies where men wear skirts and play bagpipes”. Later, on the same stage, Geelong Mayor John Mitchell said council would “support the Gathering in every way it can,” provoking wry smiles from the Gathering’s committee. Geelong’s Highland Gathering was ousted from its former home of 60 years, Queens Park, by council officers who had produced a master plan for the venue as a cricket and football arena. The Gathering’s regular date on the third Sunday in March was seen to clash with a cricket finals match.

Keep abreast of the Geelong council & Highland Gathering’s negotiations on this site.

We got SIX Seasons in one month

Geelong last December had the benefit of no fewer than six season launches for 2011; from GPAC, Geelong Rep, Melbourne Symphony, Minya Winery, Drop Of A Hat and CoGG’s Potato Shed venue. That’s Deborah Conway & Willy Zyglier (right) who bring their musical show titled Half Man Half Woman to the Shed in September. You’ll find all six seasons listed and detailed on this website -
just push the Six Seasons listed button above - or click here.

Not only the Virtual Oscars...

Geelong theatre's top awards - alright, they’re Geelong theatre's ONLY award recogni

sing excellence in acting, directing and stagecraft are called the Virtual Oscars and they’re organised and bestowed from this website. The inaugural Geelong Virtual Oscars were presented in December 2009; the 2010 ceremony was held in Cyberspace December 2010, shortly before the State theatre Awards were announced. That’s dual-VO-winning sisters Narelle Bonnici and Sam Symonds (left) clearly bursting with pride about their swag of virtual statues gained from the musical they directed, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown - a surprise packet that topped our list of nominations without taking the ‘Best Production’ VO award. To discover all the 2010 winners - and nominees - click here

...but also the State Awards

And then, when the two State theatre award ceremonies were held, Geelong celebrities walked away with a small swag of trophies - which neatly mirrored our Virtual Oscars.
First up the Music Theatre Guild Awards were pretty much swept away by a blockbuster production of Singing In The Rain from the

Ballarat Light Opera Company (BLOC). But although the BLOCers seemed invincible, winning best production, best director and a swag of best acting awards, they didn’t net the Best Actress in a Musical trophy. That was brought back along the Princes Highway by our VO best actress winner, Jocelyn Mackay, (left) who played Maria in Geelong Lyric Theatre Society’s The Sound Of Music. Lyric also took away the award for ‘best performer in a cameo role’ which went to Michael Fletcher, for his dim guard in Lyric’s other 2010 musical, Monte Python’s Spamalot.

Meanwhile, at the Victorian Drama League a similar story unfolded with Malvern Theatre Company claiming the majority of trophies for its drama The Subject Was Roses. But Geelong Repertory Company brought home two major awards with our

VO ‘best actor’ Bryan Eaton (lower left) taking the VDL Best Actor in a Comedy, and Morgan Jenkins bringing home Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy award. Both were judged best in the State for their parts in the same production, Geelong Rep’s The Cripple Of Innesmaan.

Our congratulations go to Joc, Bryan, Morgan and Michael - and especially to those involved in the 16 other categories for which Geelong companies won Statewide nominations.

Our new theatre is in the balance...

The region’s new 250-seat theatre, proposed as part of the upgrade to Drysdale’s Potato Shed multi-Arts Centre, is in the balance following the State election. The project had been promised $4 million funding from the former ALP Brumby government, but even six months after its election victory, the incoming Liberal Baillieu administration is yet to say yea or nay to the scheme. Meanwhile the venue’s City of Greater Geelong has released plans for the project, which would see its premier Bellarine Peninsula venue more than double in size, with a larger lobby, gallery space and two new studios replacing the present multipurpose theatre space. The studios would have sprung floors for dance, and have the ability to be opened into a single large rehearsal or performance area. As well as the additional performance spaces, the plans are to upgrade the centre’s green room and convenience facilities. It would remain available for use by the two adjoining schools - Bellarine Secondary College and St Ignatius College - as well as for the local community.

Regular on the Geelong scene

This website lists all of Geelong's music, drama and theatre entertainment on our Comprehensive Diary page. But our city also enjoys a wide range of meetings, groups, sessions and musical events that don't feature on our diary, or in the local media, because they are regular club events. So alongside our diary entries, keep in mind that: the Geelong Folk Music Club holds its weekly free music sessions Thursday evenings from 7.30pm in the back room at the Carlton Hotel, Mercer St, check the website admin@geelongfolkmusicclub.com for more. Then, each Sunday evening there's another free live folk music session at Irish Murphy's pub from around 4.30pm (that’s where the picture above was taken). Also, Geelong's Historical Society meets monthly on the first Wednesday of each month (details from Freda 5278 3530) and our Philosophers Café meets to put the world to rights on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the back room of The Barking Dog Hotel in Pakington St. If you have an event that should be listed here, tell us.
Information included anywhere on this website is free.

Just press the 'Contact Us' button on left.

Our Gallery’s now in cyberspace

Geelong Gallery has put its entire collection of well over 5,000 works of art on a database available through the Gallery's website. Entry is free to the Lt Malop St Gallery - which houses one of most significant art collections in the State - but if you can’t make it in person - or don’t want to risk CoGG’s prowling parking officers - the works are now available online via a number of different search categories including artists' names, the title or date of a work, its medium or credit line. Over 2,000 search results are accompanied by images. The Geelong Gallery is a trailblazer in this regard - very few Australian public galleries have made their entire collection of works of art electronically accessible.The initiative was made possible through a grant from the Gordon Darling Foundation. To view the database, access the Gallery's website geelonggallery.org.au/

Our numbers are up -

and we're commercially courted

This website has been informed that with its present circulation - a base of around 15,000 weekly visits, rising to 50,000 at prime times and totalling 366,658 visits during 2010 - than it could cover costs and even make a profit if it were to sign for pop-ups and commercials on its pages.
But that would go against our founding principals. Be assured that this won't happen in the tenure of the current editor.