Brett Debritz's archive

It’s all happening

Brett — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 13:34:00 +0000

The move to my new website, debritz.net, is on - and that’s where you’ll find my new, improved blog. While the contents of this site will remain as an archive in some form or other, debritz.com will eventually point to debritz.net. What’s in all this for you? Well, for starters, there’s the chance to become a registered user and have your say on my posts.

Changes afoot

Brett — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 20:29:00 +0000

I’m back in Brisbane and working hard on the promised changes to this website. The plan is to add some features, change the approach of the blog, and make it all more user-friendly. It will take a few weeks to get everything running smoothly, but I’ll be posting updates here.

Phantom agents

Brett — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 09:42:00 +0000

It’s something an Australian actor could only have dreams (or nightmares) about - appearing in the same show, week in, week out since January 26, 1988. According to Playbill, that’s been the fate of Broadway Phantom of the Opera stars George Lee Andrews, Richard Warren Pugh and Mary Leigh Stahl, who have been with the production from the word go. Phantom is now the longest-running show on the Great White Way and has been the biggest generator of income and jobs in American theatre.
PS: I met composer Andrew Lloyd Webber once. I literally bumped into him on opening night in Melbourne about 15 years ago. All I could do was shake his hand and say “Congratulations”.

From Russia with love

Brett — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 09:54:00 +0000

I have just received an email from a Russian woman called Svetlana, who tells me she is 25, “blonde with blue eyes … I have not children and I have not boyfriend here”. She is hoping to work abroad and is looking for a man from USA, Europe or Canada to “be my guide”. She says she wants to leave Russia “because it is impossible to live here for young pretty woman”. Although I’m not in a position to help her out any way, it seems I received the email in error. And for some reason, my mail server filed it in the junk mail folder …

Stage rumours

Brett — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 18:02:00 +0000

Just as Phantom of the Opera reaches the record for the most-performed musical on Broadway, rumours are gathering pace that the show will be making a return to the Australian stage. Also rumoured is a touring arena version of the evergreen Les Miserables. Just confirmed for a Brisbane run is Fiddler on the Roof, starring Topol.

On the road

Brett — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 16:16:00 +0000

Internet kiosks are few and far between in the NSW Central Highlands, but I expect to be back online early next week.

Picture these

debritz — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 16:20:00 +0000

I probably won’t be able to post for a few days, so here’s some more photos of Tasmania to keep you entertained (or not) in the meantime.

Bigger than Ben-Hur

Brett — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 16:05:00 +0000

King Kong is not so far-fetched after all, according to evolutionary biologist Sue Lieberman. As CNN reports, she told Reuters that gigantism does occcur in primates who live on islands. No news, however, whether there’s any evidence of god-like lions in the depths of wardrobes.

Not Dunn yet

Brett — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 18:28:00 +0000

Former B105 star Jamie Dunn’s 10-year tenure at 96.1 Heat FM on the Sunshine Coast has not yet begun officially, but that hasn’t stopped the station from promoting him. Here’s the teaser web page.
PS: For more information about the new B105 breakfast team of Gabby Millgate, Mike van Acker, Stewart â€˜Stavâ€™ Davidson and Ben Wasley, click here.

Broadway’s booming

Brett — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 15:44:00 +0000

The lights are shining bright on Broadway, with a record year for New York’s theatreland. According to the BBC, ticket sales were US$825million in 2005, up from $749million the previous year. The big hits included Monty Python’s Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays. I suspect Australian theatre has had a somewhat less successful 2005. Still, there’s the promise of a few hits on the horizon - including the musical Dusty, which opens in Melbourne next week and - all being well - will tour the country. Brisbane audiences can catch the tail end of the tour of Dirty Dancing from January 14.