Here are the recently announced 2010 Oscar nominees for acting. The Oscar ceremony will be held on March 7 and for the first time since 1929 we will have co-hosts on the night. Being entertained by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin for a few hours should produce a few laughs.

Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges Crazy Heart

George Clooney Up In The Air

Colin Firth A Single Man

Morgan Freeman Invictus

Jeremy Henner The Hurt Locker

Actor in a Supporting Role

Matt Damon Invictus

Woody Harrelson The Messenger

Christopher Plummer The Last Station

Stanley Tucci The Lovely Bones

Christoph Waltz Inglourious Basterds

Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock The Blind Side

Helen Mirren The Last Station

Carey Mulligan An Education

Gabourey Sidibe Precious

Meryl Streep Julie & Julia

Actress in a Supporting Role

Penelope Cruz Nine

Vera Farmiga Up In The Air

Maggie Gyllenhaal Crazy Heart

Anna Kendrick Up In The Air

Mo’Nique Precious

I wish I could post some behind the scenes photos or blog an interview with a cast member of Jeresy Boys Australia, but alas it is not to be.

However, a few days ago I was privileged to be a part of an education experience for Jersey Boys that involved a walk on the set after the show and a Q&A session with the Company Manager, Resident Director, Choreographer and Musical Director.

Did you know?

• Jersey Boys Australia cost AU $10 million to mount in July 2009, on par with the US $8 million Jersey Boys cost to put on Broadway in November 2005
• Jersey Boys Australia has about 60 people working backstage every night at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, but this only represents half the number needed backstage at The Gershwin Theatre each night for Wicked on Broadway
• all the music in Jersey Boys Australia is played live by a band in a room underneath the stage (with the exception of two bars in the opening number)
• While Jersey Boys Australia is confirmed until April 2010 at the 1,600-seat Princess Theatre, it is hoped Melbourne will be home to Jersey Boys for another six months to come, presumably before moving on to Sydney(?)
  

  Jersey Boys Original Melbourne Cast. Photo: The Age.

• the fore stage of the Jersey Boys set covers the traditional orchestra pit, which was filled with concrete for the hydraulic lifts needed to bring the stand-microphones and actors up from beneath (and will be jack-hammered out again when the show leaves this venue)
• Other than London, Melbourne is the only city outside North America to host Jersey Boys so far
• Two of the original Four Seasons members today have a financial interest in Jersey Boys
• there are actually four Frankie Valli’s in the Jersey Boys Melbourne company (Bobby Fox being the main one) and casting for four men less than 5′ 9″ with “that” falsetto took more than 9 months
• all the actors play their instruments live on stage each performance
• While many compare the jukebox musical style of Jersey Boys to that of Mamma Mia, the audience demographic couldn’t be more different … while groups of women flocked in droves to see Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys audience’s are filled with groups of men! (come on boys!)
• High school students can go to see Jersey Boys in Melbourne on Tuesday evenings and Saturday matinees with their teachers for only $51 (because Jersey Boys is on the VCAA playlist for VCE Theatre Studies)

If you haven’t seen Jersey Boys in Melbourne yet, I’d highly recommend getting in fast. This is a wonderful show and from all reports every bit the quality of Jersey Boys on Broadway.

Jersey Boys Australia

Tickets at Ticketek Australia

I don’t usually post about acting outside the theatre on The Drama Teacher. But, as we all know, many television actors the world over either start or finish their careers on the stage. So, even though there are differences between television and theatre acting … it’s still acting.

It struck me recently how fabulous Julianna Margulies’ performances are as Alicia Florrick on the American legal drama The Good Wife. Her acting is so seamless and believable, it’s an absolute feast to watch.

As we Drama teachers know all too well, our students don’t get out to the theatre that often to see fine performances. Sometimes this is for economic reasons (cheaper for a teenager to see a movie than go to the theatre) and other times the theatre may not be geographically accessible or even “cool” enough for our Drama and Theatre students to see on weekends.

Julianna Margulies as The Good Wife

This is where I believe we sometimes have to resign to the fact that even our most passionate Drama students would prefer to go to the movies ahead of the theatre. I’ve sent my students off to the movies before with recommendations on great film acting, but I can’t recall the last time I told them to watch a TV show for the same reason.

But, I’m so impressed with Julianna Margulies’ acting on The Good Wife, I’ll be telling my Year 12 Drama class to enjoy the show this weekend and take notes in their living rooms on how and why this actress is so impressive? Because in my opinion, Julianna Margulies is the best actress on television at the moment and it is my responsibility for my students studying acting to know that. I’m sure our post-show discussions back in class next week will be very worthwhile, indeed!