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Cast Announced For New Australian Production Of Steel Magnolias

Producers Neil Gooding and Alex Woodward today are thrilled to announce an all-star cast featuring some of the country’s most recognisable and celebrated television actors for the upcoming production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Under the direction of Lee Lewis, this dazzling new Australian production brings together an extraordinary ensemble led by Lisa McCune, Belinda Giblin, Debra Lawrance, Mandy Bishop, Jessica Redmayne and Lotte Beckett – a line up that reads like a who’s who of Australian television, now uniting on stage for one of theatre’s most cherished plays. Written by Robert Harling, the timeless tale of STEEL MAGNOLIAS will tour to QPAC, Brisbane from April 2026, Theatre Royal Sydney in May 2026, Wollongong and Canberra in June 2026, His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth in July 2026 and Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre from July 2026. Tickets are on sale now.

In the role of M’Lynn is Gold Logie winner and leading lady of stage and screen Lisa McCune (Blue Heelers, The 39 Steps) joined by Home and Away icons, Belinda Giblin (Amadeus, Doubt) as Ouiser and Debra Lawrance (Harry Potter and The Cursed Child AU and UK, A Christmas Carol) as Clairee. Acclaimed performer Mandy Bishop (Wharf Revue, Blue Heelers) plays Truvy while current Home and Away star Jessica Redmyane (800 Words, The Great Gatsby) plays Shelby. Newcomer Lotte Beckett (Julia, The Election Monologues) joins this elite line up in the role of Annelle.

Director Lee Lewis said “Once upon a time I wished for the best cast ever for Steel Magnolias…. Lisa McCune! BRILLIANT! Belinda Giblin! LEGEND! Deborah Lawrence! FABULOUS! Mandy Bishop! OUTRAGEOUS! Jessica Redmayne! GORGEOUS! Lotte Beckett! PERFECT!!!! Yes, said my fairy godmother, you shall have a ball.”

Lewis continued, “Assembling a magic cast for this very special play has been a real joy. This story means so much to so many people and I can’t wait to bring everyone together to revisit all the love, laughter and tears that fill Truvy’s salon. A dream cast for a play that lives in all our dreams.”

Jessica Redmayne, Lisa McCune, Debra Lawrance, Mandy Bishop, Belinda Giblin, Lotte Beckeet (c) Benny Capp_4676.jpg

Step inside Truvy’s beauty salon, the heart of a small Southern town, where local women share their joys, struggles and a little neighbourly gossip. From weddings and babies to divorces and funerals, they face life’s highs and lows with humour, courage and impeccably styled hair. When tragedy strikes, it’s in these familiar walls that they find comfort, support and the unbreakable bonds of friendship that carry them through.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS originally opened in Australia at the York Theatre at Sydney’s Seymour Centre in May 1988 and toured to Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre, featuring a cast which included Maggie Dence, Nancye Hayes, Melissa Jaffer, Genevieve Lemon, Pat McDonald and Nicole Kidman making her professional stage debut.

Bursting with sass, warmth and Southern charm, STEEL MAGNOLIAS delivers laughter, love and unforgettable heart.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS
By Robert Harling
Director – Lee Lewis
Composer & Sound Designer – Brady Watkins
Set and Costume Designer: Simone Romaniuk
Lighting Designer – Paul Jackson
Producer – Neil Gooding Productions and Woodward Productions
By Arrangement with ORiGiN Theatrical
On behalf of Samuel French Ltd, A Concord Theatricals Company

SEASON DETAILS

BRISBANE
Venue: Playhouse Theatre, QPAC
Season: 30 April – 10 May
Performance Times: Tue-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7:30pm, Wed, Thurs & Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm & 6pm (times vary weekly)
Prices: From $89 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: qpac.com.au or phone 136 246
Groups 8+ call (07) 3840 7466

SYDNEY
Venue: Theatre Royal Sydney
Season: 13 – 31 May
Performance Times: Tue-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7:30pm, Wed, Thurs & Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm, 3pm & 6pm (times vary weekly)
Prices: From $59 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: theatreroyalsydney.com or 1300 163 808

WOLLONGONG
Venue: Illawarra Performing Arts Centre
Season: 3 – 11 June
Performance Times: Tues 6:30pm, Wed 11am or 1:30pm, 6:30pm or 7:30pm, Thurs 1:30pm & 6:30pm, Fri-Sat 7:30pm, Sat & Sun 1:30pm (times vary weekly)
Prices: From $89 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: merrigong.com.au or (02) 4224 5999
Groups 8+ call (02) 4224 5999

CANBERRA
Venue: Canberra Theatre Centre
Season: 17 – 21 June
Performance Times: Wed 6:30, Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7:30pm, Thurs 2pm, Sat-Sun 1pm, Sun 6pm (times vary weekly)
Prices: From $55 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: canberratheatrecentre.com.au or (02) 6275 2700
Groups 8+ call (02) 6275 2727

PERTH
Venue: His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth
Season: 7 – 18 July
Performance Times: Tue-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7:30pm, Wed & Sat 2pm
Prices: From $59 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: artsculturetrust.wa.gov.au or (08) 6212 9292
Groups 8+ call (08) 6212 9291 or email groups@artsculturetrust.wa. gov.au

MELBOURNE
Venue: Athenaeum Theatre
Season: 23 July – 9 August
Performance Times: Tues- Thurs 7pm, Fri -Sat 7:30pm, Wed & Sat 2pm, Sun 3pm
Prices: From $55 (Transaction fees apply)
Bookings: ticketmaster.com.au or phone (03) 9650 1500
Groups 8+ visit ticketmaster.com.au
Groups 20+ email groups@ticketmaster.com.au

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Putting It Together Comes To Sydney’s Foundry Theatre

A dazzling celebration of Stephen Sondheim’s greatest work, Putting It Together, is coming to Sydney’s Foundry Theatre in January. Set at a glamorous cocktail party, the show blends wit, charm and razor-sharp insight as the cast navigate the complexities of love, ambition and desire. Featuring a seamless revue of Sondheim’s most iconic songs, audiences are taken on a journey through the genius of one of musical theatre’s most influential composers and lyricists, all wrapped within a clever and intimate story set at an all-night, black tie party. This once-in-a-lifetime event brings together some of Australia’s finest performers – Caroline O’Connor (Chicago, Gypsy, Sweeney Todd), Michael Cormick (The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty & the Beast), Nigel Huckle (Miss Saigon, West Side Story), Bert LaBonté (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Book of Mormon) and Stefanie Caccamo (Into The Woods, The Lord of the Rings) – alongside Australia’s finest creative team. Together, they deliver extraordinary vocal power, charisma and artistry to Sondheim’s timeless score. Their combined talent transforms the production into an unmissable theatrical experience, a stunning musical celebration of both Sondheim’s brilliance and the best of Australian stage talent.

“It’s not often you get to put your dream cast on stage — but that’s exactly what we’ve achieved here,” said producer Craig Donnell. “Every one of these performers represents the finest Australian talent, drawn from the biggest musicals across Australia, Broadway and the West End. Stephen Sondheim described Caroline O’Connor as ‘the best Mrs Lovett he has ever heard’. Michael Cormick is Australia’s ultimate leading man – Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and The Beast and more.

Bert LaBonte, Nigel Huckle, Caroline O'Connor, Michael Cormick, Stefanie Caccamo.jpg

“We’re so pleased to be bringing Bert LaBonté back to the stage in between his film and television work. Nigel is returning from New York specifically to take part, and Stefanie has been touring the world in The Lord of the Rings. To have them all together on one stage in Sydney is a magnificent achievement.”

Graeme Kearns, CEO of Foundation Theatres, added, “We’re thrilled to be staging this exceptional production of Putting It Together in the intimate setting of the Foundry Theatre. This is exactly the kind of world-class performance we built the theatre for — a place where audiences can experience the very best of musical theatre up close and in comfort. It promises to be a truly special night at the theatre.”

Putting It Together was first performed in Oxford, UK in 1992, directed by Julia McKenzie and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, with a cast led by Diana Rigg and Clive Carter. The original US production in 1993 by the Manhattan Theatre Club featured Christopher Durang, Rachel York and Dame Julie Andrews, making her return to the New York City stage after an absence of more than 30 years. The Broadway production in 1999 starred Carol Burnett, George Hearn, Ruthie Henshall, John Barrowman and Bronson Pinchot. Hearn was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. The revue received its West End premiere in 2014 featuring Janie Dee, David Bedella, Damian Humbley, Caroline Sheen and Daniel Crossley.

Don’t miss this extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime musical event; www.foundrytheatre.com.au/putting-it-together

PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Words and Music by Stephen Sondheim
Devised by Stephen Sondheim and Julia McKenzie
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Musical Supervisor Guy Simpson
Directed and choreographed by Cameron Mitchell
Musical Direction by Kevin Wang
Set Design by Nick Fry
Costume Design by Nigel Shaw
Lighting Design by Trudy Dalgleish
Sound Design by Michael Waters
Creative Producer Sharon Millerchip
Produced by Impresario Productions
Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia)

SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Foundry Theatre, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont
Season: 6 January – 15 February 2026
Performance Times: Tue-Thurs 7pm, Fri-Sat 7:30pm, Matinees Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm & 6pm (performance times vary each week)
Prices: From $69.00 (Transaction fees apply)

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