The inspiration that got one Auckland teen aiming for the stage was Dorothy, the green and yellow spotted dancing dinosaur on The Wiggles.

Simon Prast graduated from the University of Auckland with a law degree before the lure of the stage proved stronger than that of the bench.

Ralph "Karate Kid" Macchio was happy to oblige with an interview or two to promote the performances of Flashdance, the musical his daughter Julia stars in.

An inspirational drama teacher who travelled from Gisborne to England to see actor Jeremy Irons perform in a play had a welcome surprise at its conclusion.

Hollins doesn't patronise her young audience by sanitising these pivotal scenes, so parents may want to consider how easily frightened their children are.

"Karate Kid" Ralph Macchio arrives in New Zealand this week to see his daughter, Julia, who is starring in Flashdance - the Musical.

Taking dance to provinces and to the young is company focus.

Leading arts organisations are warning of job losses, higher ticket prices and fewer performances as they face budget cuts.

Listing racist remarks and restrictive stereotypes may seem simplistic at first, but this is mere preparation for some smart theatrics.

To celebrate its silver jubilee, Tim Bray Productions is bringing back favourite shows from its repertoire and The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch is first.

Extra dates have been added to the Pop Up Globe following "overwhelming demand", organisers have announced.

Stage show brings 80's movie Flashdance to life, writes Dionne Christian.

Former resistance activist and rape survivor Carmen Aguirre these days channels her revolutionary impulses into theatre and writing, says Dionne Christian.

This third annual season of New Original Dance, showcases the choreographies of four nascent dance makers on a cast of five dancers.

Tim Bray appreciates the past of Auckland's theatre industry and how it has become home.

On April 23, Auckland will be the first city in the world to mark 400 years since the death of playwright William Shakespeare.

Roger Hall's collaboration with British singer songwriter Peter Skellern throws up an entertaining confection celebrating the joys and hazards of grandparenting.

Last year, it staged 111 shows - 62 in its regular programme, 23 in the Fringe, 26 in the NZ Comedy Festival and more than 100 "other" events.

A couple of years ago, playwright Roger Hall well and truly put the "grand" into grandparenting.

One of the largest cultural hubs to be developed in the world could be influenced by one of Auckland's smallest theatres, The Basement.

This Flaxworks production mentions the boyfriends but ignores the image, and instead presents a girlish Jean, enthusiastic and sweet.

No subject is off-limits in Dawn French's stage show Thirty Million Minutes, which tackles even the most harrowing of topics with charm and good humour.

In Antony & Cleopatra the clash of civilisations is set against the intimacy of a tender love story.

Is it a giant diamond, perhaps an icicle, maybe a lighthouse, lantern or even a huge ice block?

One of NZ's most influential dance choreographers was booted out of an Auckland Arts Festival show this week for booing and calling it boring.

The curtains lift, revealing a dancer seated solemnly to one side. All is quiet barring the sound of audience members settling into their seats.

This excellent one-man show is not chatty or casual. Tight, dramatic spotlights focus sharply on the orator in the dark.

Around 30 Aucklanders jumped on and off the White Night Art Bus from Q Theatre on Saturday night and went west.

I've been having dreams of Queenstown/Wanaka lately. I'd like a bit of adventure, so a week of fast rivers and jumping off things and flying high