Cast Announced For The Addams Family At Hayes Theatre

Feature-The Addams Family

Joshua Robson Productions and their team behind the sell-out success of The Producers returns to conjure up another deliciously dark delight, bringing the Tony Award®-nominated global smash The Addams Family to Hayes Theatre Co from 11 July. Tickets are on sale now via www.hayestheatre.com.au.

At the heart of this gloriously gothic household stands Morticia Addams, embodied by double Helpmann Award–nominated triple threat Erika Heynatz (Legally Blonde, Menopause the Musical), whose elegance is as sharp as her wit. Opposite her, the ardently devoted Gomez Addams finds his match in acclaimed Filipino-Australian performer Marcus Rivera (Miss Saigon, City of Angels), promising a romance that burns as brightly as it does bizarrely. Emerging from the shadows, Wednesday Addams—the ultimate princess of darkness—will be brought chillingly to life by recent NIDA graduate Jenny Guigayoma (Nine, Peter Pan). Meanwhile, her delightfully devious younger brother Pugsley takes mischievous form in Georgia Oom (Werkaholics, Footloose), whose penchant for chaos keeps the household on edge. Hovering somewhere between the strange and the sublime, Uncle Fester will be ignited by the electrifying Evan Lever (The Normal Heart, Muriel’s Wedding), guiding the story with peculiar charm. Adding fuel to the family fire, Deborah Galanos (The Boomkak Panto, Stop Girl) unleashes her comic prowess as the unapologetically anarchic Grandmama. Towering—both in stature and presence—Elliot Aitken makes his professional debut as the ever-loyal, ever-lurking Lurch.

In a delicious twist of fate, Teagan Wouters (Bonnie & Clyde, The Wedding Singer), who originated the role of Wednesday in the original Australian production, returns to the Addams universe as Alice Beineke—a woman on the brink of polite society collapse. Her tightly wound husband Mal Beineke will be played by Rory O’Keeffe (HMS Pinafore, Playing Beatie Bow), while their seemingly “normal” son Lucas—harbouring a secret of his own—comes to life through First Nations performer Alexander Tye (Once on This Island, Footloose The Musical). Completing this cryptic clan are the Addams ancestors, rising from beyond in the forms of Mae Li Cowell, Nathan Fernandez, Jayden Prelc and Paloma Renouf, with Kayla Ingle-Olson and Joey Phyland lurking in the wings as swings.

When Wednesday Addams, the ultimate gothic outsider, falls for a perfectly “normal” boy, everything the Addams family holds dear is turned upside down. As the two families meet for one fateful evening, secrets are revealed, boundaries are tested, and chaos is delightfully unleashed. With an extraordinary original score and a story to die for, The Addams Family promises a wickedly entertaining night for audiences of all persuasions.

Directed by Julia Robertson (The Producers, Metropolis), with musical supervision by Zara Stanton (Dear Evan Hansen, In The Heights) and choreography by Shannon Burns (Gutenberg! The Musical, The Producers), this bold new production will push boundaries and breathe new (after)life into a beloved classic.

Director Julia Robertson said “Our version of The Addams Family will dive headfirst into why these characters have captivated us for decades, celebrating their boundless passion for life (and death), their wildly creative and expressive ways of communicating, and their fearless embrace of all things unique and darkly fascinating. We’re allowing the subconscious to take centre stage as emotion overrides logic and the ordinary transforms into something poetic, playful, and deeply human. The Addams don’t just live outside societal norms, they inhabit a reality entirely of their own making, shaped by ritual, instinct, and imagination. Inspired by the original artist, Charles Addams himself, our production will lean into striking composition; stylised, surprising, yet unmistakably Addams!”

“I am so excited to unveil this extraordinary cast; an honest, dark, deliciously funny, and fiercely talented ensemble of storytellers ready to revel in the weird and wonderful world of The Addams Family. Each performer brings a thrilling breadth of experience and a bold individuality to these iconic roles, infusing them with fresh energy, unexpected nuance, and their own wickedly delightful flair. Audiences are in for something truly special!”

The unsettlingly enchanting musical comedy from Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, writers of the multi award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, will haunt you in the most delightfully spooky way.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY
Producer Joshua Robson Productions (JRP)
Director Julia Robertson
Music Supervisor Zara Stanton
Choreographer Shannon Burns
Music Director Alexander Gaal
Assistant Director/Choreographer Grace Stamnas
Production Designer Dann Barber
Associate Production Designer Meg Anderson
Lighting Designer Jasmine Rizk
Sound Designer Chaii Ki Chapman

SEASON DETAILS
Venue: Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point
Season: 11 July – 9 August
Times: Tues 6.30pm, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, Thurs 1pm, Sat 2pm & Sunday 1pm
Price: Preview tickets from $85, In season prices Adult $95, Concession $89, Groups/Previews from $85
Bookings: www.hayestheatre.com.au | (02) 8065 7337

BIOGRAPHIES
Erika Heynatz (she/her) – Morticia Addams
Marcus Rivera (he/him) – Gomez Addams
Jenny Guigayoma (she/her) – Wednesday Addams
Georgia Oom (she/her) – Pugsley Addams
Evan Lever (he/him) – Uncle Fester
Deb Galanos (she/her) – Grandmama
Elliot Aitken (he/him) – Lurch/Ancestor
Alexander Tye (he/him) – Lucas Beineke
Teagan Wouters (she/her) – Alice Beineke
Rory O’Keeffe (he/him) – Mal Beineke

 

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First Look At The Australian Cast Of Tootsie In Costume

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Rehearsals are well underway as the supremely talented cast of Tootsie, the smash-hit Broadway musical, prepare for the Australian Premiere at Teatro at the Italian Forum later this month. Wigs and sequins have been donned in preparation to bring this nostalgic classic to the stage at Sydney’s newest exciting venue. Tootsie opens on 26 May, with tickets on sale now at www.teatroitalianforum.com.au. Based on the beloved Oscar-winning hit film starring Dustin Hoffman, the Tony Award® winner for Best Book of a Musical promises’ laughs, heart, and a generous dose of nostalgia.

Leading the cast in the dual role of Michael Dorsey and his alter ego Dorothy Michaels, made famous on screen by two-time Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman, is Andrew Bevis (The Lord of the Rings, The Rocky Horror Show). The role of Julie Nichols will be played by Sydney Theatre Award winner Elenoa Rokobaro (Hadestown), while Alana Tranter (Beauty and the Beast) plays Sandy Lester. Brendan Irving (The Rocky Horror Show) plays Max Von Horn, Tyran Stig (Titanique) plays Jeff Slater, Donna Lee (Hairspray) is Rita Marshall, Chris Huntley-Turner (Friends: The Parody Musical) is Stan Fields, and Lachlan O’Brien (The Phantom of the Opera) plays Ron Carlisle.

The ensemble features Sam Austin, Lisa Callingham, Katie Green, Arthur Lees (swing), Maximillian Macdonald, Jessica Parris, Jamie Reisin, Julian Seguna, and Nicole Vella.

Described by The New York Post as “Broadway’s funniest new musical” and praised by Rolling Stone as “musical comedy heaven”, Tootsie is the laugh-out-loud story of a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until one bold, show-stopping act of desperation lands him the role of a lifetime.

Tootsie received 11 Tony Award nominations for its Broadway production, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. With music and lyrics by Tony Award and Grammy Award winner David Yazbek (The Band’s Visit, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (13 The Musical, Shucked), Tootsie has had audiences rolling in the aisles.

This all-new production of Tootsie is directed and choreographed by award-winning director and choreographer Cameron Mitchell (Putting It Together, Sweet Charity) with co- musical direction by Kevin Wang and Nicholas Till (Putting it Together) and costume design by Angela White.

Fast-paced and outrageously funny, Tootsie explores identity, ambition, and ego, all while keeping the laughs coming.

TOOTSIE
Season: From 26 May
Venue: Teatro at the Italian Forum, Norton Street, Leichhardt
Performance Times: Wed–Thurs 7pm, Fri–Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm & 6pm
Prices: $75 for previews (26–28 May); from $85 for remaining dates (a handling fee of $6.95 per transaction applies)
Bookings: www.teatroitalianforum.com.au

 

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Due To Phenomenal Demand Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett Is Extending Their Season!!!

Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett

Due to overwhelming demand, the acclaimed international hit Club Kabarett has extended its current Melbourne season for an extra two weeks, producers Velvick confirmed today. The encore run, now playing through to Sunday, June 7th, at Melbourne’s iconic Meat Market, has proven to be a box office hit and has been met with widespread applause from critics and audiences alike. The production, a celebrated fixture on the international festival circuit with acclaimed seasons from London’s West End to Edinburgh, previously enjoyed a significant success in Melbourne in 2025, securing a Green Room Award for Outstanding Cabaret Ensemble and earning three nominations.

Creative director and producer Tom Velvick’s production design has been widely lauded for its incredible transformation of the Meat Market’s historic Cobblestone Pavilion. Velvick, who has also produced and designed Crown’s Pipers Playhouse this year – has breathed new life into the venue with an immersive design that gives the transformed Berlin club both grandeur and grit. Audiences are immediately immersed in a visceral experience, saturated in red light with stark black and crimson walls adorned with spray-painted German and English phrases.

WHEN: Extension to June 7th 2026
Meat Market, Blackwood Street, North Melbourne

Club Kabarett stars the deliciously salacious and wildly talented, Bernie Dieter, alongside her band of legendary misfits and mischief makers including show favourites, Soliana Erse, a world class contortionist whose moves defy the limits of the human body; the human heatwave known as Jacqueline Furey, a purveyor of the beautiful and bizarre, whether she is swallowing swords or breathing fire; the avante garde drag cabaret artiste, Iva Rosebud, whose work spans Cabaret, Musical Theatre, Drag, Burlesque and Performance Art; and the world renowned circus performer, Jarred Dewey, whose grace and skill as an aerialist have seen him perform on some of the most prestigious stages in the world. Joining this immensely talented group of Club Kabarett favourites in Melbourne this year will be international tap dancer Caleb Cameron, who has been dazzling the stages of the Crazy Horse in Paris with his astonishing dance moves; and the hair suspension viral TikTok sensation, Mel Lee, fresh from the stages of London’s West End.

Photography Jacinta Oaten

 

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Comic Sunshine In A Can For Bondi June 4 And 5

Feature-The CAN Principle

The CAN Principle – The barely believable origin story of a fake guru!

“The CAN Principle is Jonny Pasvolsky’s first production as script writer and performer, and it shows a deft touch for pace and timing.” Diana Carroll – ARTS HUB Every ‘know-it-all’ has a few tall tales and Mervin Gimplik is about to impose his barely believable ones on you!

Direct from sell-out shows at Adelaide Fringe and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, self-proclaimed guru, Merv is bringing his ‘game-changing’ life philosophy to Bondi with one VERY big promise: the sun! Yes, Mervin is promising the sun itself and he’s almost certain he can deliver it!

Inspired by a childhood memory of cracking open a souvenir can labelled “Genuine Australian Sunshine” and finding absolutely nothing inside, the show skewers the modern self-improvement economy. This delicious parody of today’s ‘gurus’ and snake-oil salesmen – written and performed by Jonny Pasvolsky – is a one-man comedy about what it takes to re-invent yourself in the face of failure and the self-proclaimed ‘experts’ lining up to take your money for nothing!

“Jonny Pasvolsky is a clever parody writer and a comedian with excellent timing and superb pacing; he is also a brilliant character actor as he brings Mervin’s absurd story to life.” Clara Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Beneath the satire is a personal thread, drawing on Pasvolsky’s experience migrating from South Africa to Australia and the awkward business of navigating some stark, cultural differences. If you have ever been promised a total reinvention in six easy steps, this one is for you. Merv’s infectious blind optimism and ‘can-do’ attitude (pun intended), will win you over. It’s the quintessential example of believing your own bulldust. And you will too!

“You deserve NOTHING…but… SUNSHINE! And I’m going to show you where it is!” Mervin Gimplik

Best known to Australian audiences for his roles on McLeod’s Daughters, Underbelly, The Moodys, Mr and Mrs Murder to name a few, and internationally for roles in Mortdecai and Westworld, Jonny brings serious screen credentials and NYC stand-up chops to the stage in this smart, biting satire.

The CAN Principle – The barely believable origin story of a fake guru!

Written and performed by Jonny Pasvolsky
Directed by Jo Turner | Produced by Kate Ryerson
Bondi Pavilion Friday June 5 & Saturday June 6 – 7.30pm
Tickets: $25 / Concession, Mob Tix, Under 30’s: $20
All bookings and info: thecanprinciple.com.au

 

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