Regent Theatre

My first encounter with the viridescent power of Wicked was through the sliding door of a suburban dance studio. Face pressed against the glass, I strained to hear the optimistic refrains of ‘One Short Day’, eyes bulging and dopamine levels skyrocketing. So widespread is the pop-cultural impact of this fan favourite musical, that half of Melbourne likely has a similar memory of discovering Wicked.  This faithful revival of the bewitching blockbuster sees the show fly into Melbourne for the third time in 15 years with an abundance of pine-hued pizazz, after celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Broadway premiere at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. It’s also worth noting that the Gregory Maguire novel that forms the basis of the plot was published back in 1995. After all this time, it’s only fair to check in and ask: does Wicked remain evergreen? The costumes, choreography and sets are as slick as they come, which is exactly what’s expected from a show that’s had this many chances to get it ‘right’. This version of Wicked is not reinventing the wheel – instead it’s the cast who keep the cogs turning in a fresh way.   There’s no mistaking that these performers are magical. While Melbourne always loves to get a show before Sydney, our advantage here is that the cast has had time to fully take command of their characters – and they’re flourishing.  Courtney Monsma’s G(a)linda is slap-your-knees, let-out-a-squeal funny. She re-shapes the virtue-signalling mean girl role and makes Glinda

Praise be! Bonafide showgirl and one of Australia’s most-loved musical theatre stars, Rhonda Burchmore, has been confirmed to join Casey Donovan and Genevieve Lemon in this heavenly musical hit. Rhonda will star as Sister Mary Lazarus in the Melbourne premiere of Sister Act.  If you're not already familiar with national treasure Rhonda Burchmore, it's time for an education – the flame-haired beauty is essentially Australia's number one glamazon. The 63-year-old has popped up in various films, television shows, stage productions and national tours over the decades. Long before she arrived in the South African jungle for I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, she was seen on the West End stage with Mickey Rooney. Burchmore has appeared wearing a nun's habit in a video shared across social media, and in it she says: "I have been performing for 42 years, and this is the most comfy I have ever been." We're sure this showgirl is gonna be a delight to watch. Get it, Rhonda!  After collecting five Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Sister Act will open at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from November (all after a triumphant return to London’s West End earlier this year). In the biggest role of her career to date, Casey Donovan is confirmed to lead the cast of this divine musical comedy. The legendary casting doesn’t stop there, though – joining Donovan in donning the habit is the much-loved Genevieve Lemon in the role of Mother Superior.  Donovan will be stepping into the sparkly shoes of