Stage spectaculars

War Horse

There aren’t many plays as successful as the National Theatre’s epic staging of WarHorse. Since Joey first cantered onto the stage of the Olivier Theatre in London in 2007 – and then galloped all the way to Broadway and the West End – it’s been amassing fans and honours. That original production, about a boy and his horse in the midst of World War I, is returning to Sydney, complete with a British cast and spectacular puppetry. àSydney Lyric, The Star, 80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont 2009. 136 100. warhorseonstage.com.au. $59.90-$149.90. Feb 15-Mar 13.

Shrek: the Musical

This stage version of the much-loved 2001 DreamWorks Animation movie tells the ogremeets-princess story you know and love. It features a stellar bunch of songs by Broadway heavyweight Jeanine Tesori (and one particularly important one from the film). Ben Mingay will be greening up for the title role, while Lucy Durack plays Princess Fiona, with Todd McKenney as Lord Farquaad and Marcia Hines as the dragon. à Sydney Lyric, The Star, 55 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont 2009. 136 100. shrekthemusical.com.au. $49.90$215. Jan 1-31.

School of Rock: the Musical

The musical version of the 2003 Jack Black movie features a score by Andrew Lloyd Webber. A struggling muso fakes his way into a private school classroom to earn a little extra cash as a substitute teacher. But he soon finds himself as an unlikely mentor for these high achieving kids – and turns them into a kick-ass rock band. The prodigiously talented kids in the cast play the music live night after night. àCapitol Theatre, 13 Campbell St, Haymarket 2000. 136 100. au.schoolofrockthemusical.com. $69.90-$184.90. Until Feb 16.