Time Out Arts & Culture Awards 2024: Best Musical Nominees

This faithful revival of the bewitching blockbuster sees the show fly into Melbourne for the third time in 15 years with an abundance of pine-hued pizazz. At first glance Wicked might read as a fairytale-adjacent flight of fancy, but this sparkling spectacle is rich with sociological themes and political allusions. More than a simple family musical, this principled tale asking why wickedness happens (or is perceived to happen) will likely always remain relevant.

*Wicked is showing at the Regent Theatre until July 28, 2024.

Nearly three decades on from Rent’s Broadway premiere, this fresh Australian production prevailed in bringing new life to a narrative that follows a close-knit group of artists in New York’s East Village. The key? A diverse, youthful cast brimming with talent that left audience members audibly enraptured. This outstanding cast realised Rent’s full potential as a musical that’s at times as hopeful as it is devastating. 

The “Matilda for grown-ups” comparisons were true: this Australian premiere burrowed all the way down into the depths of despair and climbed triumphantly back out again, all within two snappy acts. A musical adaptation of a film about becoming a better person runs the risk of feeling twee. However, Tim Minchin’s zingingly clever lyrics and Danny Rubin’s gutsy book took the essence of the film and extracted considerably more depth and grit to give the musical its own more mature personality.

An underfunded aged care facility might not be the most likely setting for a musical, but renowned comedy writer Tom Gleisner’s first foray into the art form – produced by the Melbourne Theatre Company – managed to find the necessary tonal balance to deliver an exuberant, joyous and thought-provoking experience. An original local production of this standard – especially one with such a vital message about the quality of life that can be enjoyed by all ages – is undoubtedly something to be celebrated.