Latest news with #ShortlandStreet
Scoop
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Chicago – The Musical Opens This Week
Press Release – Sandra Roberts CHICAGO – THE MUSICAL OPENS THIS WEEK Directed by Michael Hurst Get ready, Auckland—the razzle dazzle is about to begin. The global smash-hit Chicago the Musical opens on Thursday night, bringing all the scandal, sass, and show-stopping glamour of the roaring '20s with it. This explosive new production lights up the stage at the Bruce Mason Centre before sashaying its way to Christchurch and Dunedin for strictly limited seasons. Taking centre stage in this bold new production is a stellar line-up of Aotearoa talent, led by entertainment icon Jackie Clarke as the indomitable Mama Morton, alongside musical theatre powerhouse Nomi Cohen (Kinky Boots, We Will Rock You) as the sly and ambitious Roxie Hart, and Lily Bourne (Shortland Street, Fun Home) as the sharp and sizzling Velma Kelly. They're joined by screen and stage favourite Joel Tobeck (Shortland Street, One Lane Bridge, Avatar: The Way of Water) as the slick, silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn, seasoned actor Andy Grainger (Jersey Boys, The Brokenwood Mysteries) as Roxie's loyal husband Amos Hart, and multi-discipline artist Hannah Tasker-Poland (Legend of the Seeker, Ash vs Evil Dead) as the fiery inmate Liz. Helmed by acclaimed Kiwi theatre director Michael Hurst ONZM, this striking new staging of Chicago promises to deliver all the scandal, sass and showstopping musical numbers that have made it a global sensation—including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and Razzle Dazzle. Joining him in sculpting the show's dynamic visual world is celebrated choreographer Shona McCullagh MNZM while the elaborate set is being created by award-winning designer Chris Reddington. These showstopping performances are supercharged by some of New Zealand's finest musicians, with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra bringing the heat live on stage in their home cities. Based on real events and created by the legendary Broadway trio John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, Chicago is a searing satire on celebrity and justice, set in a world where fame is the ultimate currency and murder is just the opening act. Chicago centres on Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who dreams of being a vaudeville star. She's cheating on her sweet but dim-witted husband named Amos — and when her lover tries to end their affair, she kills him in a fit of rage. Getting thrown in the Cook County Jail seems like a surefire end to Roxie's dreams of stardom, but her sentence ends up being her ticket to fame. Her lawyer, the smooth-talking Billy Flynn, helps her concoct a defence that earns the press' sympathy and gets her face on the cover of every newspaper in Chicago. And while in jail, Roxie meets Velma Kelly, an established vaudeville star who murdered her husband and sister. The women begin as rivals, as Roxie seeks to steal Velma's lawyer (Billy) and her spotlight, but they come around to an unlikely alliance. Chicago is a spectacle full of social satire, intrigue, love, betrayal, rivalry and friendship, a pageant of music and dance that adroitly shifts between reality and fantasy, as Roxie Hart's world moves from prison to the courtroom to the stage. With a trophy shelf that includes six Tonys, two Oliviers, a Grammy, and six Academy Awards, Chicago is the longest-running musical revival in Broadway history and continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Don't miss your chance to experience the scandal, seduction and showbiz of Chicago the Musical—live on stage this winter. It would be a crime to miss it.
Scoop
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Chicago – The Musical Opens This Week
Directed by Michael Hurst AUCKLAND THIS THURSDAY 31 JULY | BRUCE MASON CENTRE | TICKETMASTER CHRISTCHURCH 17 – 24 AUGUST | ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL | TICKETEK Get ready, Auckland—the razzle dazzle is about to begin. The global smash-hit Chicago the Musical opens on Thursday night, bringing all the scandal, sass, and show-stopping glamour of the roaring '20s with it. This explosive new production lights up the stage at the Bruce Mason Centre before sashaying its way to Christchurch and Dunedin for strictly limited seasons. Taking centre stage in this bold new production is a stellar line-up of Aotearoa talent, led by entertainment icon Jackie Clarke as the indomitable Mama Morton, alongside musical theatre powerhouse Nomi Cohen (Kinky Boots, We Will Rock You) as the sly and ambitious Roxie Hart, and Lily Bourne (Shortland Street, Fun Home) as the sharp and sizzling Velma Kelly. They're joined by screen and stage favourite Joel Tobeck (Shortland Street, One Lane Bridge, Avatar: The Way of Water) as the slick, silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn, seasoned actor Andy Grainger (Jersey Boys, The Brokenwood Mysteries) as Roxie's loyal husband Amos Hart, and multi-discipline artist Hannah Tasker-Poland (Legend of the Seeker, Ash vs Evil Dead) as the fiery inmate Liz. Helmed by acclaimed Kiwi theatre director Michael Hurst ONZM, this striking new staging of Chicago promises to deliver all the scandal, sass and showstopping musical numbers that have made it a global sensation—including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and Razzle Dazzle. Joining him in sculpting the show's dynamic visual world is celebrated choreographer Shona McCullagh MNZM while the elaborate set is being created by award-winning designer Chris Reddington. These showstopping performances are supercharged by some of New Zealand's finest musicians, with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra bringing the heat live on stage in their home cities. Based on real events and created by the legendary Broadway trio John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, Chicago is a searing satire on celebrity and justice, set in a world where fame is the ultimate currency and murder is just the opening act. Chicago centres on Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who dreams of being a vaudeville star. She's cheating on her sweet but dim-witted husband named Amos — and when her lover tries to end their affair, she kills him in a fit of rage. Getting thrown in the Cook County Jail seems like a surefire end to Roxie's dreams of stardom, but her sentence ends up being her ticket to fame. Her lawyer, the smooth-talking Billy Flynn, helps her concoct a defence that earns the press' sympathy and gets her face on the cover of every newspaper in Chicago. And while in jail, Roxie meets Velma Kelly, an established vaudeville star who murdered her husband and sister. The women begin as rivals, as Roxie seeks to steal Velma's lawyer (Billy) and her spotlight, but they come around to an unlikely alliance. Chicago is a spectacle full of social satire, intrigue, love, betrayal, rivalry and friendship, a pageant of music and dance that adroitly shifts between reality and fantasy, as Roxie Hart's world moves from prison to the courtroom to the stage. With a trophy shelf that includes six Tonys, two Oliviers, a Grammy, and six Academy Awards, Chicago is the longest-running musical revival in Broadway history and continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Don't miss your chance to experience the scandal, seduction and showbiz of Chicago the Musical—live on stage this winter. It would be a crime to miss it.
NZ Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Ed Sheeran adds second Christchurch show to January 2026 New Zealand tour
Ed Sheeran performed to an adoring crowd of a record 48,000 fans at Sky Stadium in 2023. Photo / Brady Dyer From Auckland, Sheeran will travel to Wellington for a midweek concert on Wednesday, January 21 at Sky Stadium, before finishing the New Zealand leg in Christchurch and heading westwards to Australia. Sheeran's Christchurch shows at Apollo Projects Stadium will be his first in the city in 11 years. Aotearoa: Sheeran's second home To date, the Perfect singer has sold more than 2.5 million tickets to his previous shows across Australia and NZ, making him one of the most in-demand acts in Australasia. He's also one of the few artists to have songs totalling more than one billion streams on Spotify, with his 2017 hit Shape of You breaking multiple records across platforms. Sheeran's adoration of NZ and its fans is well documented. In 2021, he told ZM's Fletch, Vaughan and Megan he would have bought a house in Wellington a decade ago if it weren't for his strong ties to the United Kingdom. The crowd at Ed Sheeran's concert at Eden Park stadium in 2023. Photo / Alex Robertson In 2014, he even made a special appearance in Aotearoa's longest-running TV Soap Shortland Street, treating the residents of Ferndale to an impromptu song. His song I See Fire was written especially for Peter Jackson's second Hobbit film, with the hitmaker also spotted making a pilgrimage to Hobbiton, Matamata. During his last NZ visit, a technical hitch forced him to play an acoustic set at the first of his two Eden Park concerts. Despite the glitches, feedback from the tour was overwhelmingly positive, with Sheeran praised for his showmanship and good-hearted nature. 'I'm sad that I'm leaving in a couple of days,' he told the crowd at the time, revealing how NZ fans helped The A Team become his first big hit. 'But every time I come back here, I feel like one of your own.' Earlier that day, he had performed to a set of lucky schoolkids at Kōwhai Intermediate and Manurewa Intermediate, something he often does on his Kiwi tours. Ed Sheeran: The Loop Tour NZ Auckland- Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17 - Go Media Stadium Wellington - Wednesday, January 21 - Sky Stadium Christchurch - Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25 - Apollo Projects Stadium Frontier Members can access presale tickets from Monday, July 28. Tickets go on sale to the general public from Tuesday, July 29. For full tour and ticket information visit
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Ed Sheeran adds second Auckland show to January 2026 New Zealand tour
Ed Sheeran performed to an adoring crowd of a record 48,000 fans at Sky Stadium in 2023. Photo / Brady Dyer From Auckland, Sheeran will travel to Wellington for a midweek concert on Wednesday, January 21 at Sky Stadium, before finishing the New Zealand leg in Christchurch and heading westwards to Australia. Sheeran's Christchurch show, scheduled for Saturday, January 24 at Apollo Projects Stadium, will be his first in the city in 11 years. Aotearoa: Sheeran's second home To date, the Perfect singer has sold more than 2.5 million tickets to his previous shows across Australia and NZ, making him one of the most in-demand acts in Australasia. He's also one of the few artists to have songs totalling more than one billion streams on Spotify, with his 2017 hit Shape of You breaking multiple records across platforms. Sheeran's adoration of NZ and its fans is well documented. In 2021, he told ZM's Fletch, Vaughan and Megan he would have bought a house in Wellington a decade ago if it weren't for his strong ties to the United Kingdom. The crowd at Ed Sheeran's concert at Eden Park stadium in 2023. Photo / Alex Robertson In 2014, he even made a special appearance in Aotearoa's longest-running TV Soap Shortland Street, treating the residents of Ferndale to an impromptu song. His song I See Fire was written especially for Peter Jackson's second Hobbit film, with the hitmaker also spotted making a pilgrimage to Hobbiton, Matamata. During his last NZ visit, a technical hitch forced him to play an acoustic set at the first of his two Eden Park concerts. Despite the glitches, feedback from the tour was overwhelmingly positive, with Sheeran praised for his showmanship and good-hearted nature. 'I'm sad that I'm leaving in a couple of days,' he told the crowd at the time, revealing how NZ fans helped The A Team become his first big hit. 'But every time I come back here, I feel like one of your own.' Earlier that day, he had performed to a set of lucky schoolkids at Kōwhai Intermediate and Manurewa Intermediate, something he often does on his Kiwi tours. Ed Sheeran: The Loop Tour NZ Auckland- Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17 - Go Media Stadium Wellington - Wednesday, January 21 - Sky Stadium Christchurch - Saturday, January 24 - Apollo Projects Stadium Frontier Members can access presale tickets from Monday, July 28. Tickets go on sale to the general public from Tuesday, July 29. For full tour and ticket information visit
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Kiwi Home Buyers Near $30 Thousand Dollar A Minute Decision
A new survey from Trade Me has revealed Kiwi house hunters open home behaviours - with admissions of peeking in bathroom cabinets and at family photos, to insights on time spent at viewings. Those seriously considering a property spent an average of 28 minutes at an open home, according to the survey of more than 1,000 people who have attended a viewing in the last two years. Trade Me Property figures show the average asking price for a property in Aotearoa in June was $829,650 which puts time spent deciding to buy at $29,630 a minute. Trade Me Property Customer Director Gavin Lloyd says the survey findings are illuminating. 'Purchasing property is a huge decision and likely the biggest financial one people will have to make, and yet you could spend longer listening to The Beatles Hard Day's Night album or watching an episode of Shortland Street, than some do at an open home for a place they wish to buy. 'No doubt, by the time you factor in due diligence the overall decision time increases; however, it does serve as a timely reminder for those seriously considering buying to take the time to scrutinize the purchase, get a building report, check the LIM and titles and research the neighbourhood. Being well-informed can not only save unforeseen costs down the line, but can lead to a more confident decision.' Further survey findings found nearly a quarter (23%) of those who had recently purchased property, visited more than 20 open homes before buying and 59 per cent agreed to feeling an emotional attachment to a property. 'Finding and buying a home is as much an emotional journey as it is a financial one. There are many feelings tied up in the process, from the excitement of finding 'The One' to the stress that can come with making what is a significant investment - it can be a rollercoaster.' Of those polled, 72 per cent said they looked inside wardrobes, 69 per cent in cupboards and drawers, 58 per cent tested the water pressure, 39 per cent admitted to peeking in bathroom cabinets and 14 per cent spent time looking at photos and personal items on display. 'More than half admitted to placing a fair to great amount of attention on cosmetic features such as the colour of walls, flooring and other surfaces which was somewhat surprising given these features are not permanent, or easily changed to better suit a buyer's taste,' says Gavin Lloyd. Survey methodology The survey was conducted by Trade Me's User Experience team in June 2025 and collated responses from 1,008 New Zealanders aged 18-80 years old.
