Type – Comedy, Dark comedy, Musical Theatre, Broadway hit
If you liked – Avenue Q, The Producers, Titaníque
Gutenberg! The Musical: A rapturous tale of two dreamers hoping their musical will make it to the Broadway stage
The Hayes Theatre, in Potts Point, is almost 10,000 miles from the bright lights of Broadway in New York City, but they have more than enough theatre magic to transport you to Manhattan’s theatre district. Director Richard Carroll (A Murder For Two, The Pirates of Penzance) has pulled off something absolutely wonderful in this Australian production of Gutenberg! The Musical since its smash hit run on Broadway in 2023-24.
That Tony-award nominated Broadway run saw Josh Gadd and Andrew Rannells reunite over a decade after The Book of Mormon, filling the 1094 seat James Earl Jones Theatre each night. In Sydney, Stephen Anderson (Titanique, Mary Poppins, Matilda the Musical) and Ryan González (In The Heights, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Peter and the Starcatcher) ably fill the huge boots worn by Rannells and Gadd, packing all of Gutenberg! The Musical’s laughs, feels and big numbers into the 111 seat space. The venue and the budget may be pocket sized in comparison, but this show is massive, with a heart as big as an elephant.
Gutenberg! The Musical was the brainchild of writers Anthony King and Scott Brown. They were listening to slush-pile musicals sent in on tape and CD by hopeful novices dreaming of fame on Broadway. The writers found themselves comparing these wildly eccentric stories to the by-the-numbers new musical readings they sat through at night.
Somehow the slush-pile musicals and readings merged as King and Brown wondered: what’s the worst idea for a musical? Gutenberg! was then born. From humble beginnings, the show gradually evolved and grew over 19 years. Eventually their love letter to musical theatre hit Broadway, while King and Brown earned Tony and Emmy-nominations and co-wrote the book for Beetlejuice the Musical.
Gutenberg! is the story of Bud and Doug, a pair of starry-eyed musical lovers who step away from lip-syncing to songs in a retirement home to follow their dreams of creating a Broadway Musical. The show isn’t their musical – it’s Bud and Doug performing a zero-budget live reading in the hopes of impressing a big time Broadway producer.
It’s a universal story, a tale we can all relate to. Who among us hasn’t dreamed of writing a Broadway Musical about a medieval German inventor? It’s impossible not to root for Bud and Doug. Their enthusiasm, creativity and boundless joy are infectious. The audience were rapt, cheering, laughing and giggling uncontrollably.
At the heart of Gutenberg! is the love of storytelling and song. Their musical is conjured out of thin air, with your imagination creating the dirty thatch roofs, floors with rats and feces, and the dancing chorus line. Do you need spectacle? Enormous stage sets, lavish costumes and masks, real fireworks? No. You need characters you will love, a brilliant script and a wonderful story, well told.
Music Director Zara Stanton deserves special mention in her key role as the best funeral pianist in Goulburn, brought in to accompany Bud and Doug. Hats off to choreographer Shannon Burns for movement and dance routines, including wrangling over 100 hats!
Scenic design by Lochie Odgers perfectly evokes the DIY aesthetic of Bud and Doug’s handmade performance, with the coloured duct tape marking out the imagined rotating stage a highlight. Lily Mateljan’s costume design is perfect, and Veronique Benett’s lighting design heightens the drama and comedy with theatrical flair.
Is GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL worth seeing in Sydney?
Gutenberg! The Musical is a real joy. This hilarious show bursts out of the Hayes Theatre like a bottle rocket. Committed, brilliant and heartfelt performances from Anderson and González, ably supported by Stanton make this an outstanding, unmissable hit.
Tickets and Practical Info for Gutenberg! in Sydney 🎟️
A Hayes Theatre Company production
Season 10 April – 10 May 2026
Tickets: boxoffice.hayestheatre.com.au
CAST & CREATIVES
Doug: Stephen Anderson
Bud: Ryan González
Standby Bud and Doug: Daniel Raso
Director: Richard Carroll
Music Director: Zara Stanton
Choreographer: Shannon Burns
Set Designer: Lochie Odgers
Costume Designer: Lily Mateljan
Lighting Designer: Véronique Benett
Sound Designer: Liam Roche
Assistant Director: Jeremi Campese
Production Manager: Abbey Pace
Stage Manager: Sherydan Simson
Assistant Stage Manager: Georgia Sealey
Dialect & Vocal Coach: Benjamin Purser
