Student News Media

Monday, January 2, 2012

Annie The Musical

Annie The Musical, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
The Star Lyric Theatre To Open Annie The Musical In Sydney

The Star, owned and operated by Echo Entertainment, has organised a media call for this coming Tuesday 3rd January at the Lyric Theatre.

We will be attending to cover the ever-popular Broadway musical Annie prior to the official opening night of the show at 7pm on Thursday January 5, 2012.

Three musical numbers from the show will be performed, and afterwards producer John Frost and lead cast members Anthony Warlow, Nancye Hayes, Todd McKenney, Chloe Dallimore, Julie Goodwin and Alan Jones will be giving interviews and be available for photograph opportunities and more.

The musical numbers will be:

It’s the Hard Knock Life – featuring the children’s cast

Easy Street – featuring Nancye Hayes, Todd McKenney and Chloe Dallimore

A New Deal for Christmas – featuring Anthony Warlow, Julie Goodwin, Alan Jones and the ensemble cast.

Based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip “Little Orphan Annie”, the musical Annie burst into popularity in 1977 when it opened on Broadway. After running there for nearly six years, it has played in over 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.

Annie is full of toe-tapping hits which have become staples of musical theatre repertoires worldwide and now, 34 years on, it remains one of the most loved and universally appealing musicals of all time.

Annie plays in Sydney until March 25 before a national tour.

It all marks another interesting development in the Australian casino wars, as agency, Media Man has been calling it for a few years now, and it will be interesting to see how Melbourne based competitor of The Star, Crown Casino, responds with their entertainment line up, which is also ramping up on the west coast on Australia with the newly named Crown Perth (formally Burswood Entertainment Centre).

The battle for the Australian entertainment dollar continues, and certainly Sydney's The Star is going full speed ahead and betting that world class entertainment will remain paramount in the quest to bring more punters to land based casinos and entertainment complexes.

Media blurb we secured...

The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including It's the Hard-Knock Life, Easy Street, N.Y.C. and the ever-optimistic Tomorrow, Annie is one of the most awarded and loved musicals of all time. Reprising one of his all-time favourite roles as the charismatic and sophisticated New York ‘zillionaire' Daddy Warbucks, is Anthony Warlow. He will be joined by the ever-popular Nancye Hayes playing everyone's favourite villain, Miss Hannigan. Todd McKenney, Chloë Dallimore and Julie Goodwin also bring their talents to this delightful musical. And in a special treat, radio star Alan Jones will join the cast in the role of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A MESSAGE FROM PRODUCER JOHN FROST

It gives me great pleasure to bring ANNIE back to Australian audiences. When I produced this show 12 years ago I was overwhelmed by the response it received. ANNIE is such a well known, well loved production that appeals to so many different age groups. Its popularity means that it is staged once a year in many countries around the world, and I have no doubt that the Australian audiences are well and truly ready to see it again.

This time around, I am especially delighted to be able to work once more with Australia's favourite leading man, Anthony Warlow and theatrical legend Nancye Hayes.

To be taking this wonderful show and the star studded cast on tour in 2012 presents a unique and exciting opportunity to reach a new generation of Australians and it gives me enormous pleasure to think that people Australia wide will again be able to experience this special production.

Websites

The Star
www.star.com.au

Annie The Musical
www.anniethemusical.com.au

Lyric Theatre
www.lyrictheatre.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

IP Publicity
www.ippublicity.com.au

Media Man News
www.mediamannews.com

Casino News Media
www.casinonewsmedia.com

Music News Australia
www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Jamiroquai

Jamiroquai, a photo by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Sydney’s biggest New Year’s Eve party: Jamiroquai, Culture Club and Pet Shop Boys, as well as Australia’s very own Guy Sebastian, Pseudo Echo and Lyndsey Ollard

Sydney Resolution Concert Series is thrilled to announce Sydney’s biggest New Year’s Eve party, which will be staged at Sydney’s Glebe Island overlooking the iconic Sydney Harbour on Saturday December 31st 2011. The inaugural Sydney Resolution Concert Series will feature international superstars including Jamiroquai, Culture Club and Pet Shop Boys, as well as Australia’s very own Guy Sebastian, Pseudo Echo and Lyndsey Ollard.

Sydney Resolution Concert Series is sure to be an unforgettable night of music and festivities, showcasing some of the biggest acts in the world against a backdrop that only Sydney can provide.

With unobstructed, stunning views of the city and the fireworks display, there is no better place to be on New Year’s Eve than Glebe Island. See 2011 out with a bang with some of the world’s biggest classic and contemporary artists, playing all the songs you know and love.

Sydney’s Glebe Island will turn into a ‘mini city’ for this very special event, with a custom-built venue providing the very best in entertainment and bars, an incredible on-site ‘village’ showcasing Sydney’s best local and international food, and a unique array of retail and market stalls.

Sydney Resolution Concert Series will be the hottest ticket in town for New Year’s Eve!
Please be advised that Sydney Resolution Concert Series is a licensed event – all patrons must be over 18 years of age.

Glebe Island is situated on the beautiful Sydney Harbour. All patrons will arrive and depart by ferry or bus service from terminals and wharfs provided by Sydney Resolution Concert Series.

Please note there is no parking at the event. Gates open at 2pm, entertainment commences at 4:00pm and all performances will conclude by 1:45am.

Gates close at 3.00am

Tickets go on sale at 9am on 28th November through Ticketmaster.

Websites

Sydney Resolution Concert Series - New Years Eve
www.sydneyresolution.com/

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia
www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boys, a photo by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer on Flickr.

Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boys, a photo by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer on Flickr.

Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boys, a set on Flickr.

Sydney Resolution New Year’s Eve Concert Review; Jamiroquai, Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys, Guy Sebastian and more

The promotional blurb read Let The Champers Flow, and flow it did.

Sydney Resolution New Year’s Eve Concert was a thumbs up for fans who could afford to pay up to $300, and news media who attended also generally considered it a success.

The much hyped event, pushed along by News Limited's Foxtel - Main Event, and a ton of promotion, appeared to be roughly 75% sold out, which in this financial climate is not that bad at all.

Sydney Resolution was a licensed event with bars offering plenty of beverage options.

It was pitched as Sydney's, if not Australia's biggest New Year’s Eve Concert and party, and the fans and performers were pumped for it.

The full line up was Jamiroquai, Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys, Guy Sebastian, Pseudo Echo and Lyndsey Ollard.

Glebe Island has never seen so many big name performing artists in one place, and they may not again - unless promoters Andrew McManus and partner, Universal Music Group, decides to do follow up Sydney Resolution shows on the same sight in the future.

Early on - 3pm, the crowd was very light, but as the night rolled on the place filled up to a very acceptable level.

At 4pm it was time for the show to officially begin with Lyndsey Ollard kicking off, soon after making an announcement that "I'm not a man hater" (pointing to some of the themes in her songs). Another memorable part of her act was when one of Ollard's dresses split on the right side at bust level, but trained eyes in the audience suggested that it was in fact a staged wardrobe malfunction. Her music and performance was fine and a good opener for the loaded entertainment line-up. Her One Night Stand number was eclectic and witty, as it was promoted.

Pseudo Echo, innovators of ‘80s electro-pop sound in Australia, did not disappoint. Lead Brian Canham joked that he felt "a bit like a Wiggle" in reference to playing in sunlight, which got a nice crown reaction. He also pointed out "the five young ladies helping with crowd participation". Canham knew the crowd was still building up and you could tell he and the band members appreciated being part of the special evening. As you would expect, the first strong crowd reaction was for 'Listening' (if you don't recall, it goes like this... I say You say

Weren't you listening, Now it's too late, You're not listening, I say You say, Weren't you listening, Now it's too late, You're not listening. Their biggest pop was for 'Funky Town', which most of the audience got on their feet for.

Next up was Australia's own Guy Sebastian who looked and sounded great. In the line up to the event fellow performing artist Jamiroquai told the press that he didn't know who Guy Sebastian was. This didn't seem to bother Guy who put on a great show.

By the time 7.30pm and darkness came over us it was time for the Pet Shop Boys - Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. They are electronic dance-pop pioneers without question and one of the world’s bestselling artists. Thankfully they performed their classics 'It’s A Sin' and 'Always On My Mind', that got many fans to their feet. Their music videos, dance choreography and overall visual effects were extremely impressive, especially for a shared stage.

At about 9pm the "family friendly" fireworks went off, which teased the crowd for the main event fireworks on the stroke of Midnight.

Jamiroquai, who celebrated his 42nd birthday yesterday, was arguably the main event for most fans, hit the stage at 10pm, and he brought it. The night before he told press one of his new year resolutions was to "get laid more". Whatever the case, the man was high on energy and fed off the frenzied crowd. He sure knows how to engage an audience and his unique sound and cool dance moves explain why he's sold more than 25 million album sales worldwide. Front-man Jay Kay, is obviously the main reason for the mega success of the group, however he also has many very solid performers in support.

Boy George's Culture Club, the final act of the show hit the stage after the New Year's Eve firework, and almost all the crowd got on their feet. George sounded good for a 50 something man who has gone through considerable life issues in recent years. Does 'The Boy' plan to commence a national or world tour? Not so sure, but he still has his legion of fans in Sydney and around the world.

Well done to all the artists, the performers, the roadies, Flourish PR, and everyone else involved in putting together a heck of a concert, in a strained economy no less. The concert delivered, and so did Sydney's world class fireworks. We hope Sydney's in for more 'Resolution' concerts in coming years.