Nancye Hayes the official website

Everyone's favourite Mary Poppins Returns!

May, 2022

Disney & Cameron Mackintosh's new production of MARY POPPINS is now playing at the Sydney Lyric.

At its heart MARY POPPINS is a story about family and the infinite possibilities that lie within us all. It's time to rediscover the undeniable magic of childhood and show new generations that anything can happen…if you let it.

See Nancye like you have never seen here before as Bird Woman!

The Casting Couch with Todd McKenney and Nancye Hayes

June, 2021

Effervescent entertainer Todd McKenney is back on the casting couch for a dazzling night of frivolity and this time he's joined by musical theatre legend Nancye Hayes.

After performing side-by-side in two sold-out seasons of Richard Alfieri's SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, these multi-talented performers and close friends reunite to belt out big songs, dish exclusive stories and more. Don't miss an evening of show-stopping tunes and tales with two of Australia's theatre greats.

Nancye appeared in Half Time a new musical about not acting your age!

February, 2021

One remarkable dance team. One big chance. One small twist… You've got to be over 60!

The incredible true story of ten ordinary seniors with extraordinary dreams who audition to dance at halftime for a major basketball team. Only after making the cut do they learn they won't be dancing tap, salsa, or swing–instead, they will bring down the house with a style that is entirely new to them: hip-hop. Take the uplifting journey with these dreamers–and the young coaches who inspire them along the way–as they battle self-doubt, stereotypes, and even each other for a chance to bust a move at center court in front of the 20,000 screaming fans. Together they remind us that in life, when the odds are stacked against you and the challenges seem too great to overcome, it's not the end of the game–it's Half Time.

Nancye to play Marilyn in State Theatre Company South Australia's Ricpord by David Lindsay-Abaire

October, 2019

Abby has lived in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility for four years. She likes reading, peach cobbler, silence and wants nothing more than to live alone. Marilyn has just taken up the spare bed in Abby's room. She loves small-talk, skydiving and wants nothing more than Abby's bed by the window.

Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire's razor-sharp comedy sees two formidable old women duke it out to claim their rightful spot in the nursing home. What starts as a humble bet between two rivals becomes an epic battle of wills that uncovers their darkest secrets.

Viciously funny and charmingly affecting, Ripcord is a story about second chances and a powerful reminder that you should never, ever mess with an old lady.

" The first person to ever give me a mainstage theatre job was Australian entertainment legend Nancye Hayes. It's time for me to repay the favour and I know this role will be one of her greatest triumphs. I can think of no one better than her to pull this particular ripcord on our end of year comedy. " Mitchell Bute.

To help celebrate the 5th year of The Hayes Theatre Company, Nancye will appear in Hayes@theHayes

October, 2018

In Hayes@theHayes, Nancye will introduce you to many of her favourite songs, some that will be very familiar and some that you may never have heard before, while sharing stories from her incredible career. Join her at The Hayes Theatre Company for this new show and help celebrate one of Australia's leading ladies, in the venue named especially for her.

Nancye brings back Madame Armfeldt for Victorian Opera's A Little Night Music this June and July

April, 2019

If anyone can bridge the gap between opera and musicals, it is the incomparable Stephen Sondheim. With his characteristic wit and indelible musical talent comes the most musical of musicals, based on Ingmar Bergman's 1955 film Smiles of a Summer Night.

The summer night smiles three times: first on the young, second on the fools and third on the old. Over the course of a weekend in the country, an entangled group of worldly characters rekindle lost love, court new liaisons, and flirt with romantic possibilities.

Get ready to fall in love with some magical night music as Victorian Opera welcomes a cast of musical theatre, cabaret and opera stars including Ali McGregor, Simon Gleeson, Nancye Hayes, Samuel Dundas, Verity Hunt-Ballard and Alinta Chidzey.

Nancye to play Miss Shingle in the Australian Premiere of A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

August, 2018

A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder is the drop-dead, uproariously funny musical about Monty Navarro, a penniless clerk who discovers he is ninth in line to be Lord D'Ysquith, the Earl of Highhurst. But when the D'Ysquith family dismiss Monty's claim, all eight family members in line to be Earl, surprisingly start dying from unnatural causes! This dastardly plot has been created to feature a single virtuoso performer in all eight roles; triple Helpmann Award winner Mitchell Butel stars in these eight roles joined by Nancye Hayes playing Miss Shingle in the Australia premiere, produced by The Production Company.

This hilarious show enjoyed a three-year run on Broadway and in 2014 was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and won 4 including Best Musical. The score includes song titles A Warning to the Audience, I Don't Understand the Poor, Poison in My Pocket, Better with a Man, Why Are All The D'Ysquiths Dying? and Looking Down The Barrel of a Gun!

Nancye joins star studded cast for Funny Girl - The Musical in Concert at The Sydney Opera House

June, 2018

Nancye Hayes to reprise her role as Mrs Bryce in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's production of Funny Girl - The Musical in Concert at the Sydney Opera House for three big performances from July 12.

Funny Girl, which starred Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice in both the original stage and film versions, features songs including I'm the Greatest Star, Don't Rain on My Parade, The Music That Makes Me Dance and People.

With the film celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2018, this special concert production directed by Mitchell Butel will feature some of Australia's favourite leading ladies who each night will share the role of Fanny Brice on stage: Michala Banas, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Casey Donovan, Virginia Gay, Verity Hunt-Ballard, Dami Im, Maggie McKenna, Zahra Newman, Caroline O'Connor, Queenie van de Zandt and Megan Washington. The show also stars Trevor Ashley, Nancye Hayes and Don Hany as Nick Arnstein. Presented by Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Nancye and Todd to join forces again with their brand new show Bosom Buddies!

October, 2017

Candid Confessions From Beyond the Curtain

Nancye Hayes is Australia's leading lady of musical theatre
Todd McKenney is Australia's favourite song and dance man
Together on stage, these two stars are brightly shining

Nancye Hayes and Todd McKenney are pals, chums, bosom buddies. In this new show, they reflect on their stage careers and their life in showbiz. They sing, they dance, they reminisce - about the lows as well as the highs. They tell back stage stories never before told and they show video footage never before seen. This true story is, in turns, moving, poignant and hilarious. As part of each performance the audience is invited to ask the questions they've always wanted to ask. Answers guaranteed!

Nancye to play Mrs Forsythe in The Production Company's Brigadoon  at the Arts Centre Melbourne, from 28 October 2017.

August, 2017

Brigadoon is the story of New Yorkers Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas who get lost on their vacation to the Scottish Highlands, and stumble upon Brigadoon, a mythical village that appears for one day every hundred years. Tommy – who has a fiance in New York – soon falls in love with Fiona, a young woman from Brigadoon. And as Tommy learns, to fall in love means staying forever.

Rohan Browne, Australia's leading man of song and dance, stars as Tommy and soprano Genevieve Kingsford makes her Production Company debut as Fiona. The legendary Nancye Hayes is the matriarch Mrs Forsythe, the heart and soul of Brigadoon. Elise McCann is the hilarious Meg, who looks for love in all the wrong places. Luke Joslin is Jeff, Tommy's fun but cynical best friend who doesn't believe in love. Also starring Stefanie Jones, Matthew Manahan, Stephen Hall, Sally Bourne and Joel Granger.

Director Jason Langley, Musical Director Michael Tyack and Costume Desigenr Isaac Lummis who created Dusty last season, return for Brigadoon. They are joined by an incredible creative team.

Nancye to play Minnie in Minnie & Liraz  at the Arts Centre Melbourne, from May 2017.

February, 2017

This riotous new play about two fiercely competitive bridge-playing grandmothers stars Virginia Gay, Nancye Hayes and Sue Jones in a charming odd-ball story that will leave you grinning.

The Autumn Road Retirement Village in Caulfield has a fiercely competitive bridge club, but with old age doing its inevitable work, no bridge partnership lasts for long. When Minnie loses her playing partner in an unfortunate swimming accident, Liraz is desperate for them to team up. You see, Minnie has a granddaughter and Liraz has a grandson. Both are hopelessly single. Laying all her cards on the table, Minnie is bidding hearts.

After her success with Neighbourhood Watch, playwright Lally Katz returns to MTC with a characteristically oddball story of kindly Jewish grandparents and raw ambition. As riotously funny and brilliantly original as you would expect a brainchild of Lally Katz to be, Minnie & Liraz has a misfit charm that will leave you grinning.

Nancye to play Mrs Brice in Funny Girl  at the State Theatre Melbourne in July.

June 2016

The brilliant Caroline O'Connor stars in Gale Edwards' new staging of Funny Girl, a musical about the great Broadway comedienne, Fanny Brice. Told in flashback, we follow her life from stage struck teen to stardom in the Ziegfeld Follies, and her stormy relationship with the debonair gambler Nick Arnstein.

The sensational Australian tenor David Hobson makes his TPC debut as Nick Arnstein. The legendary Nancye Hayes is Fanny's mother, Mrs Brice.

Jule Styne's incredible score includes the unforgettable hits: Don't Rain On My Parade, People and I'm The Greatest Star.

"Caroline O'Connor is a card-carrying musical comedy phenomenon. As Fanny Brice, she is stunningly versatile, attacking with equal skill, gags or drama, choreography or song." – Herald Sun

Nancye to play Hattie in Follies in Concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

May 2016

A stellar line-up of Australian musical theatre stars including David Hobson, Lisa McCune and Nancye Hayes come together for a must-see theatrical event, the celebrated Follies in Concert

With 23 musicians playing the full and original Broadway orchestrations and further all-star casting to be announced, this presentation of the celebrated Broadway musical, with book by James Goldman and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, will be an evening long remembered.

Originally produced on Broadway in 1971, directed by Harold Prince and Michael Bennett, Follies was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning seven including Best Score. The show features the classic hits 'Broadway Baby', 'I'm Still Here', and 'Losing My Mind'.