Two Hit Musicals debuts in Adelaide in 2025

Hallelujah! Sister Act Musical comes to Adelaide 

Sister Act Capitol Theatre (Photo credit: Daniel Boud)

Praise be! Direct from Heaven via London’s West End, Sister Act will debut in Adelaide from Mar, starring Casey Donovan, Genevieve Lemon and Rhonda Burchmore.  

Sister Act is based on the iconic film starring Whoopi Goldberg and features original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar award-winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted, The Little Mermaid). With songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, this heavenly musical is joyous and uplifting in equal measures.  

Opening to rave reviews and sold-out performances in Sydney, Sister Act was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, as well as a total of six Olivier Award nominations across the original West End season and the London revival season. Sister Act also made a triumphant return to London’s West End in Mar 2024. 

In the biggest role of her career to date, Casey Donovan leads the cast as Deloris Van Cartier, the role made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the hit film. Joining Casey in donning the habit are the much-loved Genevieve Lemon in the role of Mother Superior and Rhonda Burchmore as choir leader Sister Mary Lazarus. 

Disco diva Deloris’ life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Placed under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she shouldn’t be found – a convent! Encouraged to help the struggling choir, she helps her fellow sisters find their true voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.  

The cast also includes Sophie Montague, Bianca Bruce, Raphael Wong, James Bryers, Damien Bermingham, Emma Powell, Sally Bourne, Jordan Angelides, Tom Struik, James Bell, Kayla Carter, Gabriyel Thomas Theodore Williams, Patrick Volpe, Jake Ameduri, Simon Fairweather, Elenor Smith Adams, Cara Bessey and Melanie Bird.  

The creative team behind Sister Act includes Alan Menken (Music), Glenn Slater (Lyrics), Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (Book), Bill Buckhurst (Director), Alistair David (Choreographer), Morgan Large (Set & Costume Design), Stephen Brooker (Musical Supervision), Tim Mitchell (Lighting Design) and Tom Marshall (Sound Design). 

Sister Act Capitol Theatre (Photo credit: Daniel Boud)

Composer Alan Menken’s music, songs and scores have become an integral part of the fabric of our lives since his first works were produced nearly 40 years ago. His chart-topping songs have included Beauty and the Beast, A Whole New World, Colours of the Wind and Go the Distance. His stage musicals include God Bless You, Mr Rosewater, Atina: Evil Queen of the Galaxy, Real Life Funnies, Little Shop of Horrors, Kicks, The Dream on Royal Street, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol, Weird Romance, King David, The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, Leap of Faith, Newsies, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, A Bronx Tale and Hercules. 

He is the winner of eight Oscars, with four for Best Score and four for Best Song and holds the distinction of having won more Academy Awards than any other living individual. Other notable awards include 11 Grammy Awards, seven Golden Globes, a Daytime Emmy Award, a Tony for Best Original Musical Score (Newsies), an Olivier Award, three Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Drama Desk Awards. His 2021 Emmy win elevated him to EGOT status, as the 16th person ever to receive an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award.

Be our guest when Brand New Beauty and the Beast opens in Adelaide! 

Beauty and the Beast

Adelaide audiences will experience the romance of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast when the much-anticipated season of the hit musical opens in Adelaide in May.  This will be the first time the show has ever played in Adelaide! 

This enchanting and timeless tale has been brought to life in a reimagined production boasting all the spectacle and grandeur audiences know and love. The incredible new production from the producers of The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Aladdin and Frozen will play at Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre. 

Receiving five stars from The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Courier Mail, Guardian Australia and Time Out Sydney, reviews have remarked on the cutting-edge technology, fabulous costumes and big Broadway-style dance numbers paired with the incredible music by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice brought to life by a live orchestra. 

Beauty and the Beast – Be Our Guest

Beauty and the Beast is a much-loved classic that will fill the hearts of a new generation. Based on the 1991 animated film, the original production of Beauty and the Beast played for more than 13 years on Broadway, remaining to this day one of the top ten longest running shows in Broadway history, and touring to 37 countries worldwide. South Australian audiences will rejoice in the nostalgic and spellbinding songs including Belle, Gaston, Human Again and Be Our Guest.  

With spectacular new sets, costume designs and state-of-the-art technology fused with this beloved, classic story, the timeless romance of Belle and her Beast will be brought to life on stage by a stellar all – Australian cast, starring Shubshri Kandiah as Belle, Brendan Xavier as Beast and Rohan Browne in the role of Lumiere. 

Jackson Head will step into the role of Gaston, Cogsworth will be played by Gareth Jacobs and Jayde Westaby will play Mrs Potts. Nick Cox joins as Le Fou and Rodney Dobson will play Belle’s father, Maurice.  The role of Babette will be played by Hayley Martin and Alana Tranter will play Madame. 

Members of the creative team from the original, ground-breaking Broadway musical have returned to reimagine this classic tale. Olivier Award nominee Matt West directs and choreographs, leading a team that includes original composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice, book writer Linda Woolverton, scenic designer Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward and lighting designer Natasha Katz. The team collectively received five Tony® nominations and a win for Hould-Ward’s costume design, when Disney first debuted Beauty and the Beast on Broadway 28 years ago.