One of musical theatre’s most celebrated songwriters takes centre stage this March, as A Night At The Musicals presents Side by Side with Sondheim at the Brisbane Powerhouse for a strictly limited season from 12 -14 March 2026.
This original staged concert celebrates the wit, complexity and emotional depth of Stephen Sondheim’s body of work – brought to life by an exceptional cast of Australia’s leading musical theatre performers.
Running for just four performances, in the Underground Theatre at Brisbane Powerhouse, Side by Side with Sondheim offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience Sondheim’s music in an intimate ‘in the round’ setting, where lyric, story and performance is front and centre for the audience.
The production features a powerhouse line up, including Courtney Monsma, fresh from international success and best known to Australian audiences as Glinda in Wicked.
Joining her will Sarah Morrison (Mamma Mia, Come From Away), James Shaw (Rent, The Secret Garden), Renae Suttie (The Swing Collective), Lachlan Greenland (Cirque Alice), Jordan Koulos (& Juliet, Grease), and Erica Wild (Rocky Horror, Cinderella). Erica was recently announced as joining the cast of A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.
Backing the cast is a featured quartet, Josh Whitten, Paige McKay, Liam J. O’Byrne and Laura Garrick, vocally underscoring Sondheim’s music throughout the show.
Together, the cast will perform hits from Company, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd and beyond. They will also perform lesser-known gems and thoughtfully re-imagined favourites, thanks to expert Musical Direction by Michael Keen.
Director Alex Watson says the production is as much about the performers as it is about the composer:
“Stephen Sondheim demands the very best from performers, musically, emotionally, and intellectually. This cast represents an extraordinary cross-section of Australian musical theatre talent. Side by Side with Sondheim gives them the space to really tell these stories. It’s intimate, it’s actor-driven, and it’s going to be a treat for Brisbane audiences.”
Whether audiences are lifelong devotees or discovering Sondheim’s work for the first time, Side by Side with Sondheim promises an evening of sharp humour, humanity and unforgettable music.
With only four performances available, this limited Brisbane season is expected to sell quickly.
Side by Side with Sondheim is presented by A Night At The Musicals and runs 12 – 14 March 2026. Underground Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street New Farm Qld 4005.
Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=ANIGHTAT26
Website https://brisbanepowerhouse.org/events/side-by-side-with-sondheim/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/anatmbris/
Images supplied.
