Disney's Aladdin musical set to launch at Capitol Theatre Sydney 2016

Disney's blockbuster 1992 film Aladdin, was recreated into a spectacular theatrical production in the US last year and became an instant Broadway musical hit, will open at Sydney's Capitol Theatre in August 2016. Estimates by the NSW Government predict that more than 120,000 visitors will be arriving, bringing to the economy a $39 million bounty for the state in visitor expenditure.

Following its Broadway launch last year, the show is also set to run in London, Tokyo and Hamburg.

The musical production will feature the most popular songs from the original movie score by Alan Menken, including the Oscar-winning "A Whole New World". The movie, based on the ancient lore One Thousand and One Nights starred the voice of the late Robin Williams as Genie, in one of Robin's most memorable roles. Since the Broadway production launch in 2014, more than 1 million theatregoers have seen the musical.

Stuart Ayres - The Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events - said he hopes Aladdin will follow on from the success of other Disney musical hits such as The Lion King, which attracted more than 600,000 visitors.

"It's got such a fantastic track record, it's not just for children, it's for everyone." Mr Ayres said of Aladdin. "It's a genuine Broadway comedy, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will inspire you. It does all the things that Disney has been doing to families and people around the world for many, many years now."

On set of Aladdin the musical - magic carpet scene

Sydney was chosen as part of the show's performance schedule due to the city being a world theatre capital where the company has much success with previous productions of The Lion King, Mary Poppins and Beauty and The Beast.

Especially The Lion King - which is still showing in Melbourne and set to move to Perth next month - has been an theatrical Goliath with estimates that the show has racked in global ticket sales of more than US$6.2 billion dollars, giving the musical title of the most lucrative production in entertainment history.

"At this moment in time, when everyone has got their face in their smartphone, or their tablet or computer, record numbers of people are coming to see shows on Broadway," Disney Theatrical Productions president Thomas Schumacher said.

Tickets for Aladdin at the Capitol Theatre Sydney will go on sale in March 2016.

Disney is also deep into the process of writing the musical version of Frozen - the highly anticipated production that many wonder whether the show may surpass the popularity of The Lion King - possibly due for release between 2017-2018.

Adam Jacobs as Aladdin and Courtney Reed as Princess Jasmine stars in "Aladdin" Broadway production

Girls Night In Fundraising for Pink Ribbon Day

At Metro Hotel on Pitt, we have been working hard to continue our dedication to fundraise for worthwhile causes.

So far our fundraising and social responsibility efforts have raised over $2,500 for charities and offered in excess of 100 hours volunteer time.

October is about Girls Night In - for Pink Ribbon Day - to help Cancer Council minimise the threat of breast or gynaecological cancer through successful prevention, best treatment, support and world-class cancer research.

Upcoming Girls Night In night with Metro Hotel on Pitt:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1631277340495155/
http://nsw.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/MetroHotelonPitt1
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/girls-night-in-metro-hotel-on-pitt-tickets-18984122020

• Where: Metro Hotel on Pitt - 300 Pitt Street Sydney, NSW 
• Date: 27th October 2015
• Time: From 18:00 (6pm) to all night
• Details: Pink theme + food available. We are organising fun games between 20:00 – 22:00 (8-10pm) and a couple of movies! 

About Pink Ribbon Day
Every day in Australia, around 50 women are told they have breast or a gynaecological cancer. Sadly around 12 Australian women will die from women's cancers each day.

Thanks to advancements in cancer research and prevention, the five year survival rate for breast cancer has increased by 17% from 1982 to 2012. The five year survival rate for women with a gynaecological cancer increased by 7% in the same period.

Your donations big and small, help Cancer Council work towards better treatments and prevention, provide hope for more survivors and support for women diagnosed with breast or a gynaecological cancer.

Social responsibility & community events at Metro Hotel on Pitt

Every month, staff at Metro Hotel on Pitt have been participating in events and helping charities to give something back to the community and more. 

What we have done so far in 2015:

• March: Earth Hour – all public spaces candle lit and all energy savings in place that day, encouraged guests to do so also.
• April: ANZAC day – supported Legacy Sydney with sales of coffee/tea during the march that raised over $700 https://legacy.everydayhero.com/au/metro-hotel-on-pitt We also offered 10 cents tea and coffee to war veterans.
• May: InstaPhoto walk – Engaged with Sydney’s biggest festival through local photography http://metrohotelonpitt.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/vivid-photowalk-competition-winner.html and
  metrohotelonpitt.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/vivid-sydney-festival-photowalk.html
• June: Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea – held a staff bake and share event which raised $130 through donations to help cancer research https://secure.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?Referrer=%26Referrer%3ddirect%252fnone&RegistrationID=888905#&panel1-2
• July: Sydney Homeless Connect – 25% of our employees volunteered their time to be chaperones for the day. We are also washing the 200+ volunteer shirts before and after the event. Here they have thanked us on their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyhomelessconnect/posts/1124538430894713?notif_t=page_tag
• August: OzHarvest fundraiser at City2Surf – lead by Simon and supported by our amazing staff, we've fundraised $1.5K for OzHarvest - money will help rescue and deliver an additional 3000 meals to Aussies in need: https://city2surf2015.everydayhero.com/au/metro-hotels-sydney
• September: RUOK Day – Metro Hotel on Pitt held a series of events to encourage conversation, promote friendship, comradery and hopefully raise the awareness of the campaign to highlight depression and offer emotional support to staff: http://www.metrohotels.com.au/metro-hotel-on-pitt-asking-ruok/
• October [LATEST]: Girls Night In – fundraising event on Pink Ribbon Day for Cancer Council to help fight women's cancers through prevention programs, support services and world-class cancer research: http://nsw.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/MetroHotelonPitt1
• November [COMING UP]: Movember – an event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as depression in men, obesity, prostate cancer and other male cancers, and associated charities.

Jerry Hall Bringing The Graduate to Sydney

Jerry Hall bringing The Graduate to Sydney

Jerry Hall is reprising her role as seductress Mrs Robinson for the very last time in the Sydney season of The Graduate.

Having already wowed audiences in this iconic piece of American culture in the West End, on Broadway and in Perth and Melbourne, Hall will make her way to Sydney's Lyric Theatre for a strictly limited season starting December 2.

'I am so thrilled the stars have finally aligned and I am bringing the sultry Mrs Robinson to Sydney,' the Texan Hall said in a statement.

'As this will be the last time I play this role it makes the Sydney season very special to me.

Adapted from Charles Webb's novel and the Oscar winning film, The Graduate is both a poignant coming of age story and a dark comedy.

The play is set against a soundtrack of some of the most memorable songs of the sixties including Wouldn't It Be Nice by The Beach Boys, Everybody's Talkin' by Harry Nilsson and, of course, The Sound Of Silence and Mrs Robinson by Simon Garfunkel.

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said the NSW Government was 'delighted' to have secured the farewell season of The Graduate through tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, and anticipated the production would deliver more than $1.6 million to the NSW economy.