Short wait for long weekend

THE countdown is on to the 14th annual Noosa Long Weekend Festival, with the event now only one month away and tickets selling fast to the 75 live music, dance, theatre, supper clubs, cabaret, literature, food and visual art events being held between 14 and 26 July.
Festival director Ian Mackellar said the response to this year’s line-up had been overwhelmingly positive, with a number of events having sold out weeks in advance.
“An Evening with the Queensland Ballet led by artistic director Li Cunxin (author of autobiography Mao’s Last Dancer) has been so popular that we have scheduled another performance,” he said.
“Dusty Live in Concert starring Monique Montez has sold out, as has a number of food related events and the premier seating for the Opera Australia production The Magic Flute.”
Mr Mackellar said last year’s festival was undoubtedly a hard act to follow with more than 10,000 visitors to 35 venues and locations.
“But we’ve worked hard to lift the bar even higher in 2015 and are thrilled to have Opera Australia perform a fully staged production of its acclaimed opera The Magic Flute – the last opera ever written by Mozart – to the Sunshine Coast for the first time,” he said.
“The cast and orchestra will open the festival on Tuesday 14 July and will set the stage alive with an Egyptian-themed set and costumes straight from the 1930s.”
Mr Mackellar said other festival highlights included an exclusive performance by internationally acclaimed concert pianist and Steinway artist Julian Gargiulo, direct from New York’s Carnegie Hall and David Williamson’s brand new comedy, Dream Home, boasting an all-star cast from Sydney and Queensland based on the true cost of buying property in Sydney.
“We are also delighted to welcome back Melody Beck with Johanna Allen in a double-bill program – Leading Ladies – and we have the quick-witted and fiery group Los Nachos Trios touring Australia for the first time,” he said.
Mr Mackellar said the 2015 Noosa Long Weekend Festival features more than 75 events at various locations around Noosa including literature events, forums, live music, theatre performances, interactive art, films, cabaret and supper clubs.
To find out more about the 2015 Noosa Long Weekend Festival or purchase tickets, please visit www.noosalongweekend.com, call The J booking office on (07) 5329 6560 or visit The J at 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Junction.
You can also follow the festival on Facebook or Twitter.