musical theatre – John McRae Photography & Studio

April 26, 2023April 27, 2023

La Cage Aux Folles – at the State Theatre

A second season of La Cage Aux Folles was staged at the State Theatre. Not only did I manage to shoot part of the dress rehearsal but I also attended the opening night and shot the red carpet at the beginning of the evening. This also meant that for the first time I got to sit in the audience and actually see the show performed from start to finish as a “normal” person.

Paul Capsis was stunning in the role of Albin. Also the chemistry between Georges (Michael Cormick) and Albin (Paul Capsis) was just magic. I loved the dancers (Les Cagelles) and the choreography (Choreographer: Veronica Beattie)…really well done. In fact the whole cast was perfectly drawn. It was a delight to be thoroughly entertained by all the colour and movement and I found myself completely engaged and invested in the story and the dialogue.

Obviously I wasn’t the only one that liked the show. Here’s a review posted in “Time-Out”

The Red Carpet is always fun…….

Riley Spadaro (Director), David Hawkins (Producer) & Veronica Beattie (Choregrapher)

A few images of the rehearsal……

September 28, 2022October 26, 2022

La Cage Aux Folles in Sydney

La Cage Aux Folles will be playing in Sydney at the Concourse at the end of November. Tickets available at Ticketek here:

Directed By Cameron Menzies
Musical Direction by Craig Renshaw
Choreography by Veronica Beattie George
Production Design by James Browne
Lighting Design by Karen Norris
Wigs and Make-up Design by Drew-Elizabeth Johnstone
Sound Design by Anthony Lorenz

The iconic Paul Capsis will be joining an all-star cast including Michael Cormick to delight Sydney audiences. We captured some images of Paul at the studio recently in preparation for the production. Here are some behind the scenes shots of Paul getting ready for publicity imagery. As always it is a joy to work with Paul. His ability to make you laugh is unsurpassed.

Paul in makeup with Vincent Wang (MUA), watched on by La Cage Aux Folles producer David Hawkins

September 26, 2022October 26, 2022

Bells Are Ringing

CASTS & CREATIVES

Directed by Luke Joslin
Musical Director Su Hee Cho
Choreographer Matthew Jensen
Design Angela Meany
Production Assistant/SM Alexis Worthing
Producer Michelle Guthrie

Starring Penny McNamee
with Andrew Cutcliffe, Wayne Scott Kermond, Octavia Barron Martin, Ava Madon, Drew Livingston, Vincent Huynh, Dean Vince, Emily Cascarino, Joel Houwen, James MacAlpine, Chloe Malek, Siena Elchaar

The Hayes Theatre, Potts Point, is well known for its staging of musicals and theatre productions. One such production is the musical, Bells Are Ringing. This piece is part of a Hayes Theatre’s initiative whereby long standing musicals are selected as part of a “forgotten musicals” genre.

What is also interesting in these productions is that the cast comes together and is given the scripts one day before the musical opens to the public. This means that the cast is challenged with the formidable task of presenting something which is almost not rehearsed…..to the point that they cast members read from scripts on stage as part of the presentations. This creates a captivating set of conditions as the audience is simultaneously invested in the outcome.

As Penny MacNammee states in a recent interview, “The unique and thrilling experience that comes with performing a Neglected Musical, is three-fold for me. Firstly, the challenge of learning and staging a show in just a day, the thrill of performing that show in front of a live audience who are invested in the process, and finally the joy of rediscovering and presenting a forgotten, but cherished musical!”

I was asked to shoot for the production on their first public performance of the show. It was a great experience to capture the moment. The following is a selection of shots…..

If you missed this production at the Hayes make sure you catch one of their works in the future. Keep up to date by visiting their web site here: The Hayes Theatre, Sydney.

May 26, 2021July 22, 2021

Trevor Ashley launches new looks

Trevor Ashley, the Australian musical theatre actor, cabaret and drag artist based in Sydney, is continually inventing new characters and new looks.

Currently he has been working on the Drag Hag podcast and providing re-caps of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under (to see episode 4, click here).

At the studio Trevor posed under the lights showcasing a series of vibrant, extravagant and fun new alter egos with costumes by Frida Las Vegas, under the master touch of Daniel Cater (aka Dallas Dellaforce) who took care of hair, make-up and styling.

As a chameleon and from my experience of working with Trevor since the early 2000s, I never quite know who is going to be channeled on set…..Liza, Shirley, Edna or one of his brand new superstars.

April 17, 2016April 17, 2016

Magic happens when Witches come out to play……..

I had the pleasure of working with 4 beautiful and talented woman for the promotional shoot for an up coming musical extravaganza, “Witches”, to be performed with the SSO at the Opera House.

They were Helen Dallimore, Lucy Durack, Amanda Harrison and Jemma Rix and boy, was it fun to work with these witty and enthusiastic ladies. Make-up, hair up and up!….and scrumptiously designed dresses by the talented, Jaimie Sortino. Continue reading “Magic happens when Witches come out to play……..”