A Potted History NOVA Music Theatre originated from the Box Hill Light Opera Company. The name was changed so that the company could present a wider range of musical productions, not just operatic style performances. Since then, NOVA has progressed from presenting shows in school halls to the highly technical, high quality shows of today. The last productions as Box Hill Light Opera were The White Horse Inn and Carousel, performed in the Box Hill High School hall.
In 1972. NOVA decided to perform Camelot as its first production and to stage it in the Alexander Theatre because of the better facilities. It was a fine production and an Australian amateur premiere. This was followed by Hello Dolly in the same venue .... another premiere! Finding it hard to attract audiences from Box Hill and surrounding areas it was decided to try Kew High School because of its proximity. NOVA stayed at Kew for some time, but still the audience seemed to want to stay near home.
NOVA moved to Nunawading High School presenting many productions both large and small. A tremendous challenge for such a small venue.
NOVA then moved to the Whitehorse Centre in Nunawading. The first production in this venue was Brigadoon in 1986, followed by many others in the ensuing years. The last NOVA production in The Whitehorse Centre was Wizard of OZ in 2019. The centre was rebuilt and opened in 2023. NOVA moved into the new theatre "The Round" in October 2013 with the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical "Cinderella".
NOVA presents two musicals a year, in March and October. Nova has been nominated for, and received, a large number of Music Theatre Guild and Lyrebird Awards.
NOVA has an executive and a committee which is elected at the AGM each year. Current committee members are:
| Chairman | Lyn Handy | Programme Coordinator | Brian Leaver | |
| Artistic Director | Noel Browne | Ticket Secretary | Lyn Handy | |
| Finance Manager | Glenys Browne | Public Relations/Social Media | Ella Leyden | |
| Secretary | Wayne Robinson | Children's Coordinator | Julie Wright | |
| Membership | Jane Wootten | Wardrobe Manager | Felicity Hill | |
| Assistant Secretary | Kay Roberts | Lyrebirds/Guild Respresentative | Jess Lewis |
1973 |
Camelot |
Hello Dolly |
1998 |
Meet Me In St. Louis |
Pirates of Penzance |
|
1974 |
The Boyfriend |
Oklahoma |
1999 |
Oliver |
South Pacific |
|
1975 |
Oliver |
The Sentimental Bloke |
2000 |
Mack and Mabel |
Les Miserable |
|
1976 |
Melodramas |
Melodramas |
2001 |
42nd Street |
Mame |
|
1977 |
Melodramas |
Where's Charley? |
2002 |
Chess |
My Fair Lady |
|
1978 |
The Boyfriend |
Kiss Me Kate |
2003 |
Singin' In The Rain |
Scarlet Pimpernel |
|
1979 |
Me and My Girl |
- |
2004 |
Follies |
Jekyll and Hyde |
|
1980 |
Fidler On The Roof |
No No Nanette |
2005 |
Anything Goes |
Carousel |
|
1981 |
Oliver |
- |
2006 |
A Chorus Line |
Gigi |
|
1982 |
Guys and Dolls |
Man of La Mancha |
2007 |
Cats |
Thoroughly Modern Millie |
|
1983 |
The Sentimental Bloke |
- |
2008 |
The King and I |
Cabaret |
|
1984 |
Camelot |
- |
2009 |
Sound of Music |
South Pacific |
|
1985 |
Hello Dolly |
Anything Goes |
2010 |
Little Women |
OKLAHOMA! |
|
1986 |
Brigadoon |
My Fair Lady |
2011 |
Chicago |
Beauty & The Beast |
|
1987 |
Man of La Mancha |
Irene |
2012 |
Miss Saigon |
42nd Street |
|
1988 |
Pippin |
Fiddler On The Roof |
2013 |
Sweeney Todd |
Gypsy |
|
1989 |
No No Nanette |
Showboat |
2014 |
My Fair Lady |
Cats |
|
1990 |
Oklahoma |
Kiss Me Kate |
2015 |
Evita |
Grease |
|
1991 |
Oliver |
The Music Man |
2016 |
Legally Blonde |
Wicked |
|
1992 |
The Boyfriend |
Hello Dolly |
2017 |
Godspell |
Les Misérables |
|
1993 |
Carousel |
On Your Toes |
2018 |
Guys and Dolls |
Doctor Zhivago |
|
1994 |
Guys and Dolls |
Annie |
2019 |
Beauty & The Beast |
Wizard of Oz |
|
1995 |
Sweeney Todd |
Babes In Arms |
2023 |
Ladies in Black |
Cinderella |
|
1996 |
Sound of Music |
The King and I |
2023 |
Ladies in Black |
Cinderella |
|
1997 |
Show Boat |
Fiddler On The Roof |
2024 |
Oliver! |
Brigadoon |