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WEST SIDE STORY ON SYDNEY HARBOUR BREAKING BOX OFFICE RECORDS
With less than two weeks to go until opening night, West Side Story on Sydney Harbour is on track to break box office records with ticket sales already exceeding 40,000.
The first Broadway musical to be performed on the famous overwater stage is selling more tickets than any previous Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour event, including 2015’s spectacular Aida, which currently holds the box office record of 55,000 tickets for the whole season.
With a stellar combination of world-class talent, an iconic harbourside setting and a brand new production, tickets are selling fast with many performances close to being sold out.
Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said the production is an incredibly unique opportunity to enjoy one of the world’s best outdoor operas.
“Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is one of NSW’s great major event success stories; attracting thousands of visitors from all around the globe every year. This year’s production of West Side Story — secured and supported by Destination NSW in partnership with Opera Australia — really is the ultimate show, with fantastic singing, dancing and theatre all coming together to tell a powerful story in front of the spectacular backdrop of Sydney Harbour,” Ms Chipchase said.
Last week, media got a sneak peek of the construction of the West Side Story set on one of the world’s most elaborate overwater stages, as set designer Brian Thomson’s New York-inspired design started to come to life in front of the iconic Sydney skyline.
A nine-metre long subway car covered in original graffiti art was craned onto the stage, with the set also featuring Maria’s bedroom and the bridal shop, an arm of the Stature of Liberty and a giant 15-metre tall highway overpass that runs 30 metres across the stage.
West Side Story tells the tale of star-crossed lovers Maria (Julie Lea Goodwin) and Tony (Alexander Lewis) in a 1950s take on Romeo and Juliet, with the original choreography by the legendary late director Jerome Robbins and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Performances are scheduled from March 22 through April 21 2019 at Mrs Macquarie’s Point. Visit opera.org.au
REGIONAL NSW BROADCAST INTO THOUSANDS OF AUSSIE HOMES
The sensational sweeping landscapes of the Great Western Plains was broadcast live into the homes of Australian viewers last weekend, as Channel Seven’s national breakfast program Sunrise took to the road to explore regional NSW.
The broadcast, with Sunrise’s resident weatherman James Tobin, took place from Cameron Park, Wellington, during the popular Saturday morning slot, which included six live segments broadcast between 7am to 10am from Cameron Park.
Residents, community groups and local entrepreneurs gathered together to see behind the scenes of the Sunrise team's live broadcast, and enjoy a free sausage sizzle organised by the Dubbo Regional Council. The Wellington visit was followed by a trip to Emu Logic in Tooraweenah on Sunday.
The Snowy Mountains will also hit the small screen when the country’s longest running travel and lifestyle program Getaway, starts filming in the region this week. The Snowies is a magical destination year round where visitors can enjoy everything from a summit walk to Australia’s highest peak and fly fishing in pristine mountain waters in warmer months, to skiing and snowboarding in colder months.
Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said both the Snowy Mountains and Great Western Plains features are part of a suite of ongoing activity secured by the State’s tourism and major events agency, with the goal of raising the profile of regional and rural NSW and to convert interest into bookings.
“It is imperative our State remains at the forefront of tourism in Australia and these initiatives will put the spotlight on our incredible rural and regional destinations,” Ms Chipchase said.
Image Credit: Wikid Photography
VISSLA SYDNEY SURF PRO TO HIT WAVES AT MANLY
The Vissla Sydney Surf Pro, proudly supported by Destination NSW, will run for nine days from tomorrow at Sydney’s beautiful Manly Beach.
The first two days feature up-and-coming surfers in a World Surf League (WSL) Pro Junior Qualifying Series event.
From Monday, some of the world’s best male and female boardriders — including 11 times WSL champion Kelly Slater — return to Manly to kick their competitive campaigns into gear prior to the start of the 2019 Championship Tour.
More than 250 surfers from around the world will be vying for a spot in the finals of the WSL QS 6,000 event next Sunday 24 March.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said not only will the world’s surfing elite grace our shores, but there are a number of activities for locals and visitors to take part in such as sand sculpting displays, a sustainable surf board shaping workshop and a surf photography exhibition.
“Surfing is engrained in the Northern Beaches cultural fabric. We're the home of surfing in Australia with a proud history as a major surfing destination dating back to 1908, when we played host to the first known body surfing contest, and which includes staging the first World Surfboard Riding Championships in 1964,” Mr Regan said.
SEAN HAYLAN APPOINTED GENERAL MANAGER OF DESTINATION SOUTHERN NSW
Sean Haylan has been appointed General Manager of Destination Southern NSW. Sean has been a Director of Destination Southern NSW since its inception 18 months ago and is currently Economic Development and Tourism Manager at Yass Valley Council. Sean will commence the Goulburn-based role on 2 April.
During his time on the Destination Southern NSW Board, Sean has been involved in the planning and delivery of a range of initiatives — notably establishing the Destination Network’s relationship with the Canberra Region Joint Organisation of Councils, the development of the Board’s Tablelands Positioning Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, and as a passionate advocate for the region’s visitor economy and tourism operators.
Sean brings to the role a broad skill set in tourism and local government and his ability to manage successful teams and deliver outcomes will be an asset to Destination Southern NSW, its Board and the many and diverse stakeholders across the Southern NSW region.
Marlo Perry, who is currently acting General Manager, will return to her substantive position as Industry Development Manager, based in Queanbeyan.
LIGHTNING RIDGE OPAL MUSEUM TO BE BUILT
The Western NSW town of Lightning Ridge will soon be home to a national Opal Museum designed by Australia’s most celebrated architect Glenn Murcutt, and his architect wife, Wendy Lewin. Federal, state and local governments will fund Stage One of the proposed $35 million museum showcasing the human, geological and palaeontological history of the opal fields.
Lightning Ridge has the world’s largest deposit of black opals, and boasts rare opalised fossils from the age of dinosaurs. Among the treasures which will be displayed at the museum are the remains of a 110-million-year-old raptor named Lightning Claw, which measured seven-metres long and had killing talons.
The Opal Museum is expected to “revolutionise” tourism in a region already known for being a world leader in opal-related knowledge, training and certification, with the move gaining interest in Spain, Italy and Japan. The design for the partly subterranean off-grid Opal Museum features an array of thermal chimneys, which will channel hot desert air over a system of water-filled plates.
2019 VANFEST LINEUP REVEALED
The highly successful NSW regional music festival, VANFEST will return in May 2019 with another stellar line-up of international and local DJs and musicians.
The 2019 line-up includes rising Australian star Golden Features, ARIA Award winning electro pop pioneers PNAU, English musician Example and 10-times New Zealand Music Award winners Broods.
Spread across two days, VANFEST is the ultimate road trip to escape the city for a weekend. There’s plenty of entertainment including stalls, pop-up beach bars, VIP experiences, adrenalin rides and camping.
With the support of Destination NSW, local operator Matt Clifton said his team recognises the need for quality entertainment in regional areas.
“It has always been our number one priority to deliver a world-class festival event in the Central West region,” Mr Clifton said.
General public tickets for VANFEST 2019 will go on sale from Monday 18 March 2019.
Visit vanfest.com.au
THE ULTIMATE WEEKEND IN WESTERN SYDNEY
Three of Australia’s most popular spectator sports have joined forces to encourage avid sports fans to spend a weekend in Western Sydney.
Spearheaded by the Western Sydney Business Connection and funded by Destination NSW, The Ultimate Weekend will kick-off on 23 March with Longines Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens, which will feature world-renowned horse Winx at her very last home ground run. On 24 March at Sydney Showground Stadium, the GWS Giants’ will play their opening AFL round against Essendon Bombers, and NRL club West Tigers will play the New Zealand Warriors at Campbelltown Stadium.
Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said the event provides avid sports fans with the ideal opportunity to enjoy a weekend getaway in Western Sydney.
“Racing, AFL and NRL are among Australia’s most popular spectator sports. To have all three in Western Sydney on a single weekend is a major win for the region; turbocharging local economies and driving investment. I strongly urge sports fans and families alike to make the most of this unique opportunity and head to Western Sydney for this blockbuster weekend,” Ms Chipchase said.
For tickets head to www.sydneyswest.com
THE END FESTIVAL RETURNS
Hill End’s unique festival of arts, culture and heritage, ‘The End’, will return for its fourth year from 12-14 April. A celebration of the historic region and its eclectic history, festival-goers can enjoy free live blues, country and folk music acts on the outdoor Golden Age stage, a Makers’ Market of local crafts, the best of the region’s wine, craft beer and food and produce, as well as art installations, exhibitions and ticketed music shows in The Royal Hall.
Visitors can also learn about Hill End’s fascinating past and people, with ghost, gold panning and village heritage tours on offer, as well as a roving theatre performance ‘A Cockle Shell For Ship’, by actress and singer Kim Deacon. The fun will continue in the evenings with a lantern parade through the village, and more entertainment on the Golden Age stage, including a toe-tapping square dance.
‘The End’ is a perfect chance to plan a country weekend getaway to Hill End. For the first time, the festival offers a fuss-free camping experience. Visitors can book a pre-set-up tent in The End Tent Village, with all camping essentials including bedding, ready to go on arrival.
Festival-goers wanting to pitch their own tent can choose from the Village campground and Glendora campground in Hill End. Visit nswparks.info/the-end
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR FOCUS ON JAPAN WORKSHOP
Destination NSW is offering NSW tourism suppliers and destinations the opportunity to attend the Focus on Japan Workshop and Dinner in Sydney on Friday, 31 May with applications now open. NSW tourism suppliers across the State are invited to attend a one-day workshop to be held in Sydney on 31 May to meet with 30 Japanese travel agents. The event is designed to showcase Sydney and regional NSW products and destinations to key tourism partners. Register here
AUSSIES CLAIM VOLLEYFEST GOLD IN MANLY
In an exciting final day of the Volleyfest 2019 at Sydney’s Manly beach and thrill for home fans, Australian volleyball players Becchara Palmer and Nikki Laird defeated USA's Betsi Flint and Emily Day 2-1 (21-19, 16-21, 15-13) to claim the gold! It is the first Beach World Tour (BWT) gold for both Palmer and Laird after years on the tour (Palmer made her BWT debut in 2006 in Warsaw, Laird in 2012 at Sanya). For all the scores, news and more visit the Sydney World Tour 2019 website
WINGS OVER ILLAWARRA TO FEATURE TOP RACE PILOT
Australia’s favourite Air Race pilot and former RAAF Fighter Combat instructor Matt Hall, will be one of the star attractions at this year’s Wings Over Illawarra Airshow at Illawarra Regional Airport on 4 and 5 May. Matt is the only Australian ever to compete in the Red Bull Air Race and has been runner-up three times. Wings Over Illawarra is the major annual air show in NSW.
For tickets visit, wingsoverillawarra
UNDER WESTERN SKIES EVENT IN DUBBO THIS WEEKEND
The inaugural Under Western Skies music event will be held at Dubbo's historic Dundullimal Homestead on the weekend of 16 March. Celebrating the music of the Central West, the family-friendly event will be held in the grounds of the homestead under the Western skies. The performances will start at 2pm and finish at 9pm with food, stalls, drinks and kids activities available. For more details, cost and tickets, visit uwsfest.com
JAZZ ON THE BAY ON SYDNEY HARBOUR
Support leading Australian arts companies by buying a ticket to Jazz On The Bay at Walsh Bay on Sunday 31 March. From noon, you will be able to enjoy food from some of Sydney’s best harbourside eateries, while listening to free, live jazz performances on the precinct’s heritage piers. Jazz On The Bay marks ten years of Sydney’s iconic arts fundraiser, The Walsh Bay Arts Table, and celebrates the long-awaited rejuvenation of the precinct’s heritage piers.
Visit walshbaysydney.com
TOUR CENTRAL WEST WITH BUSHRANGER TWIST
Head to the wild, wild Central West this June long weekend for an immersive countryside tour. The ‘Roaring Days’ food and wine adventure will wind through the gold rush-era villages of Canowindra, Carcoar and Millthorpe, following in the footsteps of one of the region’s most famous locals, the legendary bushranger Ben Hall. The all-inclusive package includes train fare from Sydney to Orange, accommodation, plus food, wines and more.
Visit silvercompasstours
