Dolly Parton Announces Australian Tour

US country singer Dolly Parton is returning to Australia in 2014 for a national tour. Parton will bring her Blue Smoke World Tour Down Under in February, promoter Live Nation announced on Monday."Australia, here I come again.

We have a lot of new and exciting things for the show and can't wait to share it with you. I love my fans in that part of the world.

You've been so very good to me for so many years and I know that we're gonna have a wonderful time," Parton said in a statement.Parton, best known for her hit 9 to 5 and her 1983 duet Islands in the Stream with Kenny Rogers, last toured Australia in 2011.

Her The Better Day World Tour! was lauded as her most successful Australian tour of her 45-plus year career after performing to record-breaking crowds across the country. Tickets go on sale on November 1.

Sydney Opera House Celebrates 40th Birthday

LET the festivities begin - the Sydney Opera House 40th anniversary goes into full swing from today, its official birthday. 

An Etihad Airbus A340-600 will perform an aerial salute to the iconic building from 10.45am, flying at a low altitude of about 1200 feet above ground to mark the occasion.

There will be an official cutting of the cake and happy birthday singalong from 10am.

The Opera House is hosting a range of exhibitions, performances and events but the celebrations will culminate in a world class concert next Sunday night, featuring a diverse range of artists from Baz Luhrmann to Megan Washington, John Butler and Deborah Mailman.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will also take part in the special event with Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary in attendance.

The Opera House was designed by late Danish architect Jorn Utzon and was officially opened on October 20, 1973.

Some of the world's biggest names have taken to its many stages, among them Joan Sutherland, Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman, Luciano Pavarotti and Sammy Davis Jr.

Lion King Tickets On Sale Now!

Got tickets to the Lion King musical?  Stay close to Capitol Theatre at Metro Hotel on Pitt!

Book this Lion King Package for $260.00* per night including:

• One night's accommodation in a Superior Deluxe Queen Room
• A bottle of wine on arrival
• 2 course Pre-theatre Dinner at Palace Hotel Sydney for 2 adults
• Extended check-out to 12 noon the following day

Book this hotel package: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/special/254

Don't have tickets to Lion King? Get tickets now from Ticketmaster website: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/Disney-Presents-The-Lion-King-Australia-tickets/artist/820969

See PDF for full show schedule to pick your date: Capitol Theatre Show Schedule Lion King

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“THERE IS SIMPLY NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT” The New York Times

Seen by over 65 million people, Disney’s landmark musical event The Lion King is a worldwide phenomenon that will redefine your expectations of theatre. Brilliantly re-imagined by acclaimed director Julie Taymor, Disney beloved film is transformed into a spectacular theatrical experience which has won over 70 major international theatre awards.

Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains, this breathtaking production explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and unforgettable music including Elton John and Tim Rice’s Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata and the academy award winning Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

Stereosonic - Two Days of Entertainment, One Epic Experience

Returning in 2013 as a two-day festival across the country, for the first time ever in Australia, the worlds biggest acts from all spectrums of the electronic world, will be playing at one event.

Take part in an experience unparalleled by any other. One that showcases the world’s most illustrious music talent on offer, supported by groundbreaking production and a spectacular festival environment that will allow you to immerse yourself completely in the world of Stereosonic.

Expect the unexpected and ensure you leave your inhibitions at the door. The countdown to Australia’s biggest music festival commences now.

Don’t Hesitate. Don’t think twice. Don’t miss out. Summer starts here.

STEREOSONIC 2013 NATIONAL TOUR DATES:

SYDNEY - Saturday 30 November & Sunday 1 December - Sydney Showgrounds, NSW

PERTH - Saturday 30 November & Sunday 1 December - Claremont Showground*, WA

ADELAIDE - Friday 6 December & Saturday 7 December - Adelaide Showground, SA

MELBOURNE - Saturday 7 December & Sunday 8 December - Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, VIC

BRISBANE - Saturday 7 December & Sunday 8 December - RNA Showgrounds, QLD

Get Tickets at Ticket Master

Grand Final Week Schedule - NRL Footy Finals

The Telstra Premiership Grand Final Lunch replaces the traditional Grand Final Breakfast for the first time. The lunch will be broadcast live on FOX Sports and is attended by the Telstra Premiership Grand Final teams, club officials, NRL guests, sponsor and commercial partners and media.

Thursday, October 3: NRL Grand Final Fan Day and Teams Presentation, Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour (10am-2pm family activities; 3-5.30pm team presentation and activities on stage);

NRL Grand Final Members Party, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Haymarket (5-7pm); and 
Channel Nine Grand Final Footy Show, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Haymarket (7.30-9.30pm)

Prior to and following the official NRL Grand Final Teams Lunch, the day is devoted to Rugby League fans and members with three exciting events.

Skills clinics, family-friendly activities, will be part of the FREE NRL Grand Final Fan Day at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour. The teams will be presented on stage between 3.15-4pm.
The NRL Grand Final Members Party at the Sydney Entertainment Centre is an invite-only event for NRL Club members.

Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.com.au for Channel Nine’s Grand Final Footy Show at the Sydney Entertainment Centre from 7.30-9.30pm which will feature members of the Grand Final teams in their final appearance before Sunday’s Telstra Premiership Grand Final.

Friday, October 4: Grand Final Fun Day (MUST REGISER), Cathy Freeman Park, Sydney Olympic Park (10am-3pm)

Up to 800 young fans will get a taste of an NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final Day when they experience all the excitement and atmosphere of Rugby League’s biggest day of the year.

2013 AAMI Country Rugby League Player of the Year, Doltone House, Hyde Park (7pm for 7.30pm start)

The Country Rugby League celebrates its night of nights with the announcement of the AAMI Country Rugby League Player of the Year.

Saturday, October 5: Kangaroos Reunion Lunch, SCG (12-4pm)

Reunion of past and present Kangaroos players attending along with Kiwi Internationals in Australia.

Grand Final Fan Site, Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour (3-7pm)

Autograph signing and FREE special live performance by Jessica Mauboy and guests (3-4.30pm – autograph signing; 4.30-7pm – live performances).

Sunday, October 6: 2013 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final Day, ANZ Stadium (from 11am)

Grand Final Day is the culmination of an exciting week of events and a season of amazing Rugby League with over 80,000 fans attending ANZ Stadium to be part of the biggest game of the year.
The Grand Final Precinct will feature Rugby League skills clinics, entertainment, competitions, prizes, giveaways and One Community Ambassadors.

International artist Ricky Martin will headline the Grand Final Entertainment which will also feature a tribute to retiring players and Jessica Mauboy performing the national anthem.

More than 3million viewers across metropolitan and regional Australia are expected to tune into the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final on Channel Nine.

11.00am  -   Gates Open – Telstra Grand Final Precinct
1.30pm  -   Gates Open – ANZ Stadium
1.50pm  -   Kick-off - VB NSW Cup Grand Final 
3.55pm  -   Kick-off - Holden Cup Grand Final
6.53pm  -   Pre-match Entertainment   

• Presentation to Retiring Players
• Ricky Martin Performs
• National Anthem – Jessica Mauboy

7.18pm  - Kick-off - NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final

Grand Final Fan Site/ Live Site, Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour (3.30-9.30pm)

The Grand Final Day fun continues from mid-afternoon as Tumbalong Park becomes a live site where a big screen will broadcast all of the action live from ANZ Stadium with the screening of the 2013 Telstra Premiership Grand Final. The live broadcast will start at 3.55pm with the Holden Cup Grand Final.

Sydney Gears Up for Opera House's 40th Anniversary

The sight of the Sydney Opera House lit up in the city's harbour is always a highlight of any holiday to Australia, but this October it will be more special than ever.

That is because the iconic building is celebrating its 40th anniversary and a series of events have been planned to mark the occasion.

Among them is a star studded concert on 27 October featuring the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Opera Australia soloists.

Ending the evening with a rendition of Beethoven's Ninth will be particularly poignant, as it was played when the Queen declared the venue open in 1973.

Dennis Watkins, artistic director of the event, told the Sydney Morning Herald: 'We will honour the past and also look forward.'

A week prior to the concert, tourists will be able to wander around the Opera House as it will have an open door policy between 9am and 1pm on 20 October, with cake and music also provided.

Agatha Christie's A Murder Is Announced

The producers of last year’s acclaimed tour of The Mousetrap have assembled another stellar all Australian cast to stage one of Agatha Christie's most loved plays, A Murder is Announced.  Featuring Christie’s legendary lady sleuth, Miss Marple, A Murder is Announced establishes firmly Christie’s claim to the throne of detection. The plot is as ingenious as ever, the writing skillful, the dialogue both wise and witty; suspense builds from the very start and is maintained ever so brilliantly until the final revelation.

Judy Farr will play Christie’s much-loved heroine, Miss Marple. 

Joining Judi Farr (in alphabetical order) will be James Beck (City Homicide, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Neighbours) as Edmund Swettenham, as Mrs Swettenham, Carmen Duncan (After The Fall, Another World, Winners and Losers), Robert Grubb (Yes, Prime Minister, MAMMA MIA!, We Will Rock You, The Flying Doctors) as Inspector Craddock, Victoria Haralabidou (Stuff Happens, Thirst, Brides) as Mitzi andJamie Kristian (Underbelly: Razor, The Bill, The Crucible) as Sergeant Mellors/Rudi Scherz. The lady of Little Paddocks, matriarch, Letitia Blacklock will be played by Debra Lawrance (Home and Away, Evil Angels, The Memory of Water) with Nathaniel Middleton (Bell Shakespeare) as Patrick Simmons, Libby Munro (Venus in Fur, The Bind, All Saints) as Phillipa Haymes, Elizabeth Nabben (Winners and Losers) as Julia Simmons. 

Capping off a stellar cast is Deidre Rubenstein (Palace of Dreams, Night Letters, Josh Jarman, Siam Sunset) as Letita’s old friend Dora “Bunny” Bunner.

A Murder is Announced is full of twists, turns, mystery and intrigue that will have you guessing till the very end. If you enjoyed the Mousetrap, you wont want to miss Miss Marple as she works tirelessly to solve whodunit in this Christie masterpiece, A Murder is Announced. Coming to the Comedy Theatre, from October 30 for strictly 5 weeks.

SYNOPSIS

In an English village, you turn over a stone and have no idea what will crawl out. The villagers of Chipping Cleghorn, including Miss Marple, are agog with curiosity over an advertisement in the local gazette which reads: ‘A murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 13th, at Little Paddocks at 6.30p.m.’ A childish practical joke or a hoax? Unable to resist the mysterious invitation, a crowd begins to gather at Little Paddocks home when, at the appointed time, the lights go out and a gun is fired...

WHERE: Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay

Purchase Tickets at Ticketmaster