Hot tickets: Your travel planner for a year of shows

With spectacular musicals being staged in capital cities across the country, it's time to make your travel plans. Pictures by Daniel Boud and Jeff Busby.

Hoist the curtains. Prepare to hum along with the songs. And don't hold back on the applause. After the pandemic all but crushed live performance in recent years, musicals have roared back into theatres around Australia.

There are so many it can be hard to keep track of what's opening next. "Hamilfans" are thrilled their favourite show is heading to Brisbane in January. Opera Australia is sending Carmen to Sydney's Cockatoo Island. And a new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will premiere in Melbourne - with a surprise star turn - before heading to Sydney.

Certainly, Australians love musicals. Live Performance Australia figures show we spent $337 million on musical theatre tickets during 2019 before we ever heard of COVID-19. That figure fell to $67 million in 2020 as lockdowns shuttered theatres just a few months into the calendar year (still, we managed to enjoy The Book of Mormon, Billy Elliot the Musical, Shrek the Musical, Chicago and Six the Musical).

As fans know, there's nothing like being uplifted by a musical and stepping back out onto the street with a song (or two) in your heart and a spring in your step. The good news is there's plenty of joy waiting to be experienced with these shows below.

Capitol Theatre, Sydney, until December 18; Crown Theatre Perth from February 22, 2023, returns to Melbourne from August 20

When ushers stroll the aisle pre-show with signs reading, "No photos, no singing," you know you're no longer in the before times. It hardly matters, as this free-wheeling, raunchy eponymous adaptation of Baz Luhrmann's 2001 film, Moulin Rouge! features so many inventive musical mash-ups (tango version of Roxanne, anyone?) that you'd be hard-pressed to guess what's coming next. The original soundtrack is fleshed out with more recent hits from Lady Gaga, Sia and Adele, performed by a wonderfully diverse cast. moulinrougemusical.com

PRE/POST-SHOW: Explore Darling Square's buzzy laneways; try Steam Mill Lane's Nakano Darling for fried chicken, gyoza, noodles and beer. nakanodarling.com.au

Princess Theatre, Melbourne, booking until December 18

This record-breaking production, which first hit Melbourne as a two-part extravaganza, is now trimmed into one magical 3.5-hour outing. Set 19 years after the final Harry Potter book, this story features multiple generations of witches and wizards as Harry's son struggles with the family legacy. au.harrypottertheplay.com

PRE/POST-SHOW: Greek institution Stalactites is one of the most magical restaurants around. Check its otherworldly ceiling as you order from a menu that includes a broad kids' selection. stalactites.com.au

QPAC, Brisbane, October 22-December 11; Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, January 29-April 2

With mind-bending magic that will puzzle even those in the front row, gravity-defying dancing and flying, origami-like set design, fetching performances (especially from the child actors) and earworm songs such as Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, this story of the world's most famous nanny is a "practically perfect" romp. marypoppinsmusical.com.au

PRE/POST-SHOW: Wander into South Brisbane's buzzy Fish Lane - packed with hip bars and eateries, cafes and coffee shops, murals, neon and fairy-lights. explorefishlane.com.au

Sydney Lyric, October 23-January 22, 2023

Pumpkin? Tick. Glass slipper? Tick. A masked ball? Tick. Opera Australia's production of this Tony Award-winning Broadway musical is a fresh take on the age-old fairy-tale. That includes the casting of Shubshri Kandiah, an Australian performer of Indian descent, in the role of Ella (Cinderella). cinderellamusical.com.au

PRE/POST-SHOW: The Lyric is within The Star Sydney complex where you can grab a gourmet ice-cream from Gelato Messina, a casual bite in the food court or something ultra-sophisticated at Sokyo or Black steakhouse. star.com.au

Theatre Royal Sydney, from November 5; Canberra Theatre, June 2023

This is a heart-warming show about how Newfoundlanders rallied to look after 7000 plane passengers diverted to their small town in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Come away amazed at the inventiveness of what can be done with a few chairs on stage - and at the kindness of strangers. comefromaway.com.au

PRE/POST-SHOW: Sip a nightcap at Castlereagh Street's Porter House Hotel, one of the city's newest hotels that combines a heritage property with a neighbouring new build. porterhousehotel.com.au

Cockatoo Island, Sydney, November 25-December 18

Cockatoo Island's steampunk industrial surrounds will form a dramatic backdrop for Carmen, Opera Australia's first opera set on the Sydney Harbour outpost. To match the drama of the setting, the production will include motorbike stunts, crashed cars and fireworks. opera.org.au

PRE/POST-SHOW: With a dedicated shuttle departing from King Street Wharf, as well as public ferries chugging out from Barangaroo and Circular Quay, take your pick from dining beforehand (try one of Barangaroo House's three venues or Lana at Hinchcliff House near the Quay) or the island's pop-up eateries. barangaroohouse.com.au, lana.sydney

Sydney Coliseum Theatre, December 16-31; Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, January 4-15; Crown Theatre Perth, January 19-26

Head to the Opera House of western Sydney for Madagascar The Musical, adapted from the DreamWorks animated film about a bunch of animal friends who escape from New York's Central Park Zoo. The show includes puppets, colourful animal costumes and new songs. madagascarthemusical.com.au

PRE/POST-SHOW: West HQ, formerly the Rooty Hill RSL, is now a slick all-in-one entertainment and dining precinct that houses the 2000-seat Sydney Coliseum Theatre. The excellent eateries include CHU Restaurant by China Doll, Steak & Co by Sean Connolly and Pizzaperta Manfredi. westhq.com.au

Adelaide Festival Theatre, December 27-January 8; Sydney Lyric, February 5-March 5

The who's who of Australia's entertainers (Shane Jacobson, Todd McKenney, Rhonda Burchmore and Rob Mills) star in this big-hearted show, set in the 1960s, about a dance-loving teenager (played by Carmel Rodrigues), who becomes an overnight sensation and campaigns for social change. Jacobson plays Edna Turnblad, the bouffant-haired character played by John Travolta in the 2007 movie. hairspraymusical.com.au

PRE/POST-SHOW: Check to see what's on at The Lab, Adelaide's new immersive performance space that includes a dazzling 50 square metres of LED screens. thelabadl.com.au

Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, booking until January 15; Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane, from January 27, booking until March 19

A musical about an American revolutionary, statesman and founding father of the United States sounds about as exciting as an election campaign. Yet, thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda's thrilling book, music and lyrics, along with strong word-of-mouth, tickets to this show about the life and death of Alexander Hamilton run red-hot wherever it opens. Come January, it's Brisbane's turn to try and keep up with the rapid-fire singing and dancing that injects hip-hop sensibilities into the traditional Broadway format. hamiltonmusical.com.au

PRE/POST-SHOW: Enjoy river views with a meal and drinks at Arbory overlooking the Yarra. arbory.com.au

State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, from October 30-January 29, 2023

Amy Manford, who plays the female lead of Christine in this refreshed production originally scheduled to open in Australia in 2021, describes the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic as "the musical of all musicals". See why with new staging that includes special effects, from the chandelier to the underground lake. au.thephantomoftheopera.com

PRE/POST-SHOW: Before metaphorically plunging into Parisian catacombs, enjoy the French-inspired all-day menu at Her Bar or head to the rooftop for a nightcap. her.melbourne

Regent Theatre Melbourne, from November 11; Capitol Theatre, Sydney from February 11, 2023

This Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice family classic, based on a biblical tale, is filled with familiar tunes such as Any Dream Will Do. Euan Fistrovic Doidge stars in the title role, with Paulini as Narrator. In Melbourne, former AFL player Shane Crawford will play Pharaoh. josephthemusical.com.au

PRE/POST-SHOW: This summer's ephemeral installation in the NGV Garden is Temple of Boom, Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang's wild reimagining of the Parthenon. Opens November 16, free entry. ngv.vic.gov.au

FROZEN THE MUSICAL

Crown Theatre, Perth, until November 13

Perth is about to let it go ... the Disney musical is a heart-warming story for all ages. frozenthemusical.com.au

SIX THE MUSICAL

Crown Theatre, Perth, from November 24; QPAC Playhouse, Brisbane, from December 30

Think Tudor history doesn't sound like fun? This sassy tale about Henry VIII's six wives will make you think again. sixthemusical.com

WE WILL ROCK YOU

Touring nationally from January 13, 2023-January 21, 2024

This jukebox musical, with Ben Elton penning the story showcasing Queen's songs, has been critically mauled since its 2002 premiere. An arena tour might improve things, along with Courtney Act playing the Killer Queen in every city bar Sydney. The tour kicks off at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, continuing to Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle. wewillrockyouarena.com

tick, tick...BOOM!

Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, February 1 to 5; QPAC Playhouse, Brisbane, March 4-5

This bio-musical about Rent composer and creator Jonathan Larson, who died just before Rent's debut, makes its Australian mainstage premiere. ticktickboomthemusical.com.au

& JULIET

BRISBANE

BUDGET: From the four-star Courtyard by Marriott Brisbane South Bank, which opened in 2021, enjoy a pretty riverside stroll through the South Bank Parklands to reach the city's entertainment precinct. marriott.com

MID-RANGE: With panoramic views over the Brisbane River, river-inspired curves and a striking look-at-me pool, W Brisbane is hard to beat - especially when it's only a short trot over the bridge to QPAC. marriott.com

SPLASH OUT: Until Queen's Wharf Brisbane opens (bringing luxury hotels including a Ritz-Carlton), make do at one of Emporium Hotel South Bank's 143 suites. Some of the rooms include river-view tubs and inner-city Maserati transfers. emporiumhotels.com.au

SYDNEY

BUDGET: Thanks to an edgy makeover unveiled in 2019, Pyrmont's Terminus Hotel (a hop and a skip from Star's Lyric Theatre) is now a posh pub with nine rooms. The kitchen turns out meals that are a cut above the usual pub fare. terminuspyrmont.com

MID-RANGE: The ultra-hip Ace brand arrived in Sydney in May. The Surry Hills hotel - where some rooms come with a turntable and vinyl-record selection - is a short walk from Haymarket's Capitol Theatre. And if you're inspired to pen a song post-show, the hotel can lend a guitar. acehotel.com

SPLASH OUT: Barangaroo's Crown Sydney is one of the Emerald City's most premium addresses. Splash out on a room with views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House and bring your swimmers to enjoy the spectacular sunset-facing pool on level five. crownsydney.com.au

MELBOURNE

BUDGET: The 172-room Movenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer, which opened last year, celebrates creativity and indulges chocoholics, showcasing the work of Melbourne photographers and hosting a daily "chocolate hour". movenpick.com

MID-RANGE: Sandwiched between Her Majesty's and the Princess theatres in the East End Theatre District is Lancemore Crossley Street, an art house hotel, complete with rooftop terrace, that recently underwent a chic $10 million renovation. lancemore.com.au

SPLASH OUT: In May, the 360-room Sofitel Melbourne on Collins - a grande dame of the city's hotel scene - unveiled a $15 million facelift that added timber shutters and even more French elegance to every room. sofitel-melbourne.com.au