Podcasts about green room award

Backstage with Dean Bryant and Dear Evan Hansen at Sydney Theatre Company. Dean Bryant is an award-winning Melbourne-based director and writer who moves between plays, musicals, opera, cabaret and, most recently, screen. A Little Night Music received the 2024 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Musical and Best Director of a Musical, and Hubris received the award for Best New Australian Work. This follows his reception of the 2022 Sydney Theatre Award and 2023 Green Room Award for his direction of the Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company co-production of Fun Home. Presented and Produced by Regina Botros Red Velvet Productions

On this episode of Do It Again But Better, Jess chats to actor, writer, theatre maker, audiobook narrator and Shakespearean star, Elizabeth Brennan, as they recall their early days at Monash University, a shared audition experience involving a whole lot of making out, their mutual love of Blue Heelers, and Lizzie's various transport-related auditions that ended in disaster. There's a whole bunch of Steiner School myth-busting, and the only personality quiz you'll ever need: are you an Abigail, an Elizabeth, or a textbook Mary Warren?Elizabeth is a Green Room Award winning theater maker, writer and actor. Aside from stumbling her way into Disney+ series The Clearing, she has collaborated extensively with Bloomshed on such productions as Paradise Lost, Bad News, The Nose, Animal Farm and A Dodgeball Named Desire. She has played multiple characters over the last seven years for The Australian Shakespeare Company's summer program, in between narrating a multitude of romantically inclined audiobooks and working with such company's as Bell Shakespeare, The Rabble and Cultural Infusion. Further credits include the solo cabaret Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Ham, The Anzac Centenary Roadshow, The Crucible and several murder mystery themed corporate events.Lizzie will be performing once more with Bloomshed in The Importance of Being Earnest at fortyfivedownstairs from August 1-11th 2024.You can find Lizzie on Instagram at @lizziebrennnnnnYou can find your host, Jess Stanley, on Instagram at @jstanny or at www.jessicastanleyactor.comYou can check out Jess's theatre company, Spinning Plates Co. at @spinningplatesco or at www.spinningplatesco.comYou can follow the Do It Again But Better podcast at @doitagainbutbetterThis podcast was created, recorded and edited on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Always was, always will be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First Nations youth from Rubibi (Broome) and youth from Girrawheen Senior High School in Boorloo (Perth) unite in an energetic double bill in response to Co3's engagement project CONNECT 2024: THE INSIDE, delivered by Co3 Artistic Associate Dave Mack and Co3's Teaching Artist Team. Throughout Term 2, these youth participated in Co3's in-school dance residency and workshop program which involved an immersive virtual reality arts experience created by Artistic Director, Raewyn Hill. CONNECT 2024: THE INSIDE engages with themes of belonging and displacement and explores how youth consider and respond to their built and natural environments. This creative dance response in Boorloo brings our young people together from across Western Australia in a safe and inclusive environment - to voice, to exchange and to dance! Youth dancers ‘Burrb Wanggarraju Nurlu' created by Artistic Director Tara Gower from Rubibi will be presenting a devised response titled Retaliate. Youth from Girrawheen Senior High School will be presenting their devised response titled The Return, mentored in the program by Co3 Teaching Artists Jessica Pettitt and Alex Kay. This event isn't just about dance — it's about empowerment, expression, and forging connections. Supported by Act Belong Commit, we invite you to join us in celebrating our youth in what will be a wonderful and disarming showcase of movement and expression. Move with us. David Mack is an award-winning dancer with more than 20 years of experience performing with companies including Sydney Dance Company, Rambert Dance Company. Phoenix Dance Theatre, West Australian Ballet and Co3 Contemporary Dance. Throughout his career, he has performed principal and soloist roles in works by many notable classical and contemporary choreographers, receiving a nomination for a Helpmann Award and winning a Green Room Award and Australian Dance Award for his performances in William Forsythe's Qunitett and Rafael Bonachela's Frame of Mind.

One of Australia's most respected actors, Nadine Garner's career has spanned film, television and theatre for more than 30 years. Nadine recently performed on stage in the Melbourne Theatre Company's The Almighty Sometimes and Belvoir's production of Tell Me I'm Here to rave reviews. Her recent screen credits include the ABC crime drama series Savage River and Scott Major's debut feature film Darklands which premiered on Stan. Nadine's other television credits include the Network 10/Channel 5 (UK) series Lie With Me, the Stan original series Bloom, My Life Is Murder and Mr Black for Network 10, The Blake Mysteries: Ghost Stories Telemovie for the Seven Network, ABC's The Doctor Blake Mysteries, the Seven Network drama City Homicide, ABC comedy It's A Date, Blue Water High, The Henderson Kids, G.P, The Flying Doctors, Boys From The Bush, and RAW FM for which she was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama. Nadine's feature film credits include Ben Hackworth's debut feature Celeste which premiered at the 2018 Melbourne International Film Festival, Ana Kokkinos' The Book Of Revelation, Darren Ashton's Razzle Dazzle and Amanda Jane's The Wedding Party, which earned her a New York City International Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1988, Nadine received an AFI Award for Best Actress for her role in Mull and in 1995, she received a Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Supporting Actress and an AFI Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in Metal Skin. Nadine has worked for many of Australia's theatre companies performing both contemporary and classical pieces including The Lifespan of a Fact which earned her a Green Room Award Nomination for Outstanding Performance , Emerald City (co-production with QT), Photograph 51, Di and Viv and Rose, The Distance, The Weir, Private Lives, The Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard for MTC; A Little Night Music for Watch This National Theatre; Zebra! and Life After George for STC; Miss Julie for Perth Theatre Company; Romeo & Juliet and Taming of the Shrew for The Australian Shakespeare Company. She starred in Sam Mendes' production of Cabaret and received a Helpmann Award and Green Room Award for her performance as Fraulein Kost. In 2011, Nadine wrote and directed the short film Afterglow which was nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Screenplay. Nadine returns to the Musical stage in July for William Finn's Elegies, being presented at 45 Downstairs in Melbourne. In August she is in Sydney making her Opera House debut in a unique presentation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Since graduating from WAAPA in 2006, Lucy Maunder has cemented her reputation as one of Australia's musical theatre leading ladies performing in a huge range of roles over the last 17 years.Most recently she appeared as Winifred Banks in the critically acclaimed Cameron Mackintosh/Michael Cassel Group/Disney revival of Mary Poppins. Prior to this Lucy starred in Victorian Opera's production of Kurt Weill's anti-capitalist musical Happy End as Lillian Holiday. The start of 2022 also saw her play the protagonist Alison Bechdel in the acclaimed MTC/STC Australian premiere production of Fun Home (Green Room and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for Best Performer in a Leading Role in a musical). In between seasons of Fun Home, Lucy reprised her role of Mrs Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Crossroads Live) for which she received a Helpmann Award nomination.Following the devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic to the Arts, Lucy was lucky enough to appear in the first main stage commercial musical to return after the shutdown of all theatre as Catherine in Pippin for Crossroads Live. Her other recent career highlights include Cynthia in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Michael Cassel Group, Green Room Award nomination), Miss Honey in Matilda: The Musical (Louise Withers/RSC, Helpmann Award nomination), The Spirit of Christmas (QPAC), There's Something About Music (The Little Red Company), Heather Chandler in Heathers (ShowWork Productions), Patty in Tim Finn's Ladies in Black (QTC/MTC), Rizzo in Grease (GFO, Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations), Cinderella in Into the Woods (Victorian Opera, Helpmann and Green Room Award nominations), Georgia Hendricks in Curtains (The Production Company), Gertrude Lawrence in Noël and Gertie (CDP Theatre Producers, Glug Award for Best Actress in a Musical), Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera (STC/Malthouse/Victorian Opera), Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (TML Enterprises), Emma in Jekyll & Hyde (TML Enterprises) and Anne in A Little Night Music (Opera Australia). Lucy also created the role of Lara in the world première of Doctor Zhivago opposite Anthony Warlow (GFO, Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations).Lucy's film credits include The Eternity Man (Channel 4 UK/ABC) and the lead role in the short film Identical, amongst other commercial and television appearances including the National Anthem at the State of Origin, The Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols (Channel 9) and appearances on The Morning Show (Channel 7) and Today Extra (Channel 9).Lucy's one-woman show Irving Berlin: Songs in the Key of Black toured Australia to rave reviews at venues such as the prestigious Spiegeltent, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, His Majesty's Theatre Perth and La Salon at Claire's Kitchen. Her album featuring arrangements and musical direction by Daniel Edmonds is available across all streaming platforms.Lucy is over the moon to be starring as Roxie in Chicago, a true bucket list moment.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Sarah joins Regina to talk about how she has paved her way in as a director and the things that interest her. As well as her latert production No Pay? No Way! on at Sydney Theatre Company.      Sarah Giles is an award-winning opera and theatre director. Described by Limelight Magazine as one of Australia's most thoughtful theatre-makers, she has a passion for comedy and opera and has directed over 25 productions for companies including Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, State Theatre of South Australia, Malthouse Theatre, Griffin Theatre, The Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Chamber Opera, Opera Queensland, State Opera of South Australia and West Australian Opera.  Sarah is a freelance artist, who works as a director, dramaturg and adaptor. She works across Australia and is based in Naarm / Melbourne where she lives with her family. Sarah received Helpmann Award and Green Room Award nominations for Best Direction of an Opera for her world premiere Victorian Opera production of Lorelei which won Best New Australian work and Best Design at the Green Room Awards where it was nominated in five categories.

In this episode, Adam and Budi speak with Master Clown Fabio Motta.Fabio Motta is an award-winning performer, clown, and teaching artist who has performed and devised theatre in Australia, Italy, and the United States. He has trained and is a graduate of international arts institutions including The Academia Teatrale Veneta (Italy) and HB studio in New York and has worked with renowned artists and teachers such as Carol Rosenfeld, Larry Moss, Lyndsey Davies, Austin Pendleton, Philippe Gauliere, Zack Fines and Giovanni Fusetti. Working extensively as an actor in Australia and abroad with companies like the Australian Shakespeare Company, Born in a Taxi, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, and The Russian Arts Theatre, he also has multiple TV and film credits to his name including Ronny Chang International student, Utopia season 4, Carla Cametti PD, Canal Road, Apparitions, Slant and Little Tornados. His critically acclaimed solo show SPOT had a sold-out season in 2021 at Theatre Works and raving reviews in his return season in 2022 at the Explosive Factory as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Most recently, he has received a Green Room Award for 'Best Performer' for his solo show SPOT in 2022.He is a certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and the regional coordinator for Australia and New Zealand. He is also the artistic director of the Clowning Workshop where he runs ongoing workshops. Fabio has taught at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, HB studio, and the Ume Group (Physical Theatre Ensemble New York) in the United States. In Melbourne, he runs classes in Clowning, Fitzmaurice Voicework®, Mask, and games for theatre as a freelance.He has taught at 16th Street Acting Studio, Brave Studios, The Victorian College of the Arts, St. Martin's Youth Theatre, and The National Theatre Drama School Melbourne.Integrate spiritual practice into your training and unveil the profound, spiritual depths of acting with Budi Miller, an internationally renowned expert in Balinese Performing Arts Training.. Join this transformative workshop where Budi will guide you through his uniquely crafted spiritual acting techniques, honed over 25 years of meticulous research and global actor coaching. Benefit from Budi's extensive experience in training actors for both screen and theatre.

Josh Piterman In 2023 Josh Piterman  returned to the stage in London to star as Jean Valjean in the West End production of Les Misérables. His West End debut, actually came as he took on the most coveted role as The Phantom in the brilliant original production of The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's theatre in 2019, a role he was delighted to reprise in 2022 in the Opera Australia production both at the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne. Josh is a superlative musical theatre performer and classical crossover artist who has been working consistently on Australian and UK stages for more than 15 years. His past credits include being a part of international pop opera group The Ten Tenors, Tony in the 2010 Australian production of West Side Story, Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger in the 2015/16 Australian season of Cats (a role that won him the Green Room Award for best supporting actor in a Musical), Corny Collins in the UK tour of Hairspray and Gerry Goffin in the 2017/18 Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. The initial, 12 month COVID deferral of the 2021 Phantom of the Opera season allowed Josh to perform at a staggering array of events including; Performance of a Lifetime with the MSO at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the Australia Day Live Concert outside the Sydney Opera House, the National Anthem at the MCG Boxing Day Test, and he wowed audiences with his performance of Music of the Night at The Australian Open Tennis Finals. Josh also performed numerous solo concerts, events and fundraisers in just about every Australian state in that time.Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBkBuzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850

Mozart's The Magic Flute will be presented by Opera Australia during their Summer season in early 2024. At the helm of the production is Director Kate Gaul. An artist of tremendous invention and imagination. The production she conjures will thrill and seduce, as this opera favourite is brought to vivid life. Assisting Kate as Movement Director is frequent collaborator, Andy Dexterity. His eclectic style and command of the physical always delights and sheds enlightening perspective. Both were guests in early seasons of the STAGES podcast. It was a treat to catch up with them once again to hear what's been happening in their worlds and what we can look forward to in the world of The Magic Flute. Kate has been directing full-time since completing the NIDA Director's course in 1996 and has established herself as a distinctive and inventive director, with productions for such companies as Pinchgut Opera, Belvoir St Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Griffin Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company. Kate's productions include The End of Winter, Camp!, Good With Maps, The Trouble with Harry, The Ham Funeral, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Britten), Misterman, Invisible Circus, Il Matrimonio Segreto (Conservatorium of Music), Castor et Pollux (Pinchgut Opera), The New Electric Ballroom and Carmen (OzOpera). Andy Dexterity is a Green Room Award-nominated performance maker primarily recognised for his unique brand of movement, fusing dance, physical theatre and physical languages. Andy is fascinated by the way we communicate and interact as a species and Andy creates playful work with the intention to empower, connect and transcend linguistic boundaries. The Magic Flute plays the Sydney Opera House February 1st to March 16th, 2024The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Jason Langley is an award-winning director (2016 Green Room Award for Direction, Loving Repeating, Vic Theatre Co), with over thirty years of variously experience as actor, director, dramaturg, mentor and teacher- Directs the Australian premiere of the 'Hello Girls' musical;  Hear more of the true story of female telephone operators that helped turn the tide of World War I and their decades-long battle for equality and recognition, paving the way for future generations in the armed forces. Tickets: The Hello Girls Watch performances: ~ "Twenty" from 'The Hello Girls, Hayes Theatre 2024 season launch Follow: Jason Langley Let Me Entertain You- Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | Youtube

Christian questions whether Josh can sell his abandoned basketball for profit. He's simply a man looking for answers.  Josh's comedy group Game Boys won a freakin Green Room Award! So we discuss what genuine surprises we still have in life and if it's rude to send messages and be on social media during a speech.  Finally Christian tells the longwided story of an old man bumping him on the train. Do we give elderly people too much of a pass these days? Both Josh and Dion also have some tales of people being unaware of others personal space.  We also play Copy Cat and Time to Think. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook to see clips from the show: linktr.ee/welcometopatchwork For a couple of dollars a month you can sign up to our Patreon page and get a bonus Patch every off week! Check out: www.patreon.com/welcometopatchworkSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/welcometopatchworkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Australia's most versatile performing artists, Todd McKenney is an award winning and critically acclaimed performer on stage and screen. As an actor and the leading man of song and dance in musical theatre productions, he has entertained Australians for 40 years, from the main stage to intimate venues. It's not surprising that Todd McKenney is a household name. National exposure came with his delicious portrayal of the acerbic adjudicator on Dancing with the Stars - a television juggernaut that has completed multiple seasons. Todd's stage credit roll and career highlights include his most notable role of Peter Allen in the Australian hit production The Boy From Oz, in which he performed over 1000 shows nationally and became one of the longest running and most successful musical productions in Australian history. Todd's first professional musical role was in 1983 in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance. His career followed with lead and headline roles in Cats, 42nd Street, West Side Story, Crazy For You, Born Yesterday, Camelot, Pirates of Penzance, Cabaret, Strictly Ballroom, La Cage aux Folles, Singin' In the Rain, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Orpheus In the Underworld for Opera Australia, Annie the Musical, Grease, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks and Anything Goes.  In 2018 he stepped into the stilettos and successfully took on the role of Frank N' Furter in The Rocky Horror Show in Melbourne. In 2019 Todd stepped out on stage as Australia's Greatest Showman in the title role of Barnum, and most recently played Lord Farquaad in the hit musical Shrek and Lord Chancellor Sebastian in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. As a dancer, his journey started at the age of three at his mother's dancing school in Perth, training in jazz, tap, acrobatics and ballroom dancing. He represented Australia in ballroom and Latin American dancing, winning many international dance titles. Amongst his Australian awards for performance in musical theatre he has two Mo Awards, the Variety Club Heart Award, the Glug Award, the Green Room Award, two Australian Dance Awards and a Helpmann Award. On the small screen Todd has starred in the hit show Winners and Losers on the 7 Network.  He has also appeared as a guest judge on Australia's Got Talent, hosted on a range of morning Television programs and appeared as an entertaining guest across all networks. On radio Todd co-hosted Sydney's MIX106.5 breakfast radio program with Sonia Kruger for two years and is a regular guest on the airwaves. In 2020, Todd played Lewis in the award winning feature film Unsound. On the small screen Todd has appeared in the acclaimed ABC series Significant Others; an engrossing, intelligently crafted six-part series about a missing persons case.  On a personal level, Todd had the delight of becoming a father in 2007 and his daughter Charlotte is the light of his life. He is a student of Auslan sign language and has worked within the deaf community all around Australia. Todd is also a keen supporter of The Grace Centre For Newborn Intensive Care at the Children's Hospital at Westmead and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Over the past year, Todd has starred as Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray the Musical and Sebastian in Cinderella. In 2023 he commences a tour of his one-man show - Todd McKenney sings Peter Allen and lots more! A perfect way to celebrate 40 years on the boards! For dates and details go to www.toddmckenney.com.au The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages). www.stagespodcast.com.au

One of Australia's most versatile performing artists, Todd McKenney is an award winning and critically acclaimed performer on stage and screen. As an actor and the leading man of song and dance in musical theatre productions, he has entertained Australians for 40 years, from the main stage to intimate venues. It's not surprising that Todd McKenney is a household name. National exposure came with his delicious portrayal of the acerbic adjudicator on Dancing with the Stars - a television juggernaut that has completed multiple seasons. Todd's stage credit roll and career highlights include his most notable role of Peter Allen in the Australian hit production The Boy From Oz, in which he performed over 1000 shows nationally and became one of the longest running and most successful musical productions in Australian history. Todd's first professional musical role was in 1983 in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance. His career followed with lead and headline roles in Cats, 42nd Street, West Side Story, Crazy For You, Born Yesterday, Camelot, Pirates of Penzance, Cabaret, Strictly Ballroom, La Cage aux Folles, Singin' In the Rain, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Orpheus In the Underworld for Opera Australia, Annie the Musical, Grease, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks and Anything Goes.  In 2018 he stepped into the stilettos and successfully took on the role of Frank N' Furter in The Rocky Horror Show in Melbourne. In 2019 Todd stepped out on stage as Australia's Greatest Showman in the title role of Barnum, and most recently played Lord Farquaad in the hit musical Shrek and Lord Chancellor Sebastian in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. As a dancer, his journey started at the age of three at his mother's dancing school in Perth, training in jazz, tap, acrobatics and ballroom dancing. He represented Australia in ballroom and Latin American dancing, winning many international dance titles. Amongst his Australian awards for performance in musical theatre he has two Mo Awards, the Variety Club Heart Award, the Glug Award, the Green Room Award, two Australian Dance Awards and a Helpmann Award. On the small screen Todd has starred in the hit show Winners and Losers on the 7 Network.  He has also appeared as a guest judge on Australia's Got Talent, hosted on a range of morning Television programs and appeared as an entertaining guest across all networks. On radio Todd co-hosted Sydney's MIX106.5 breakfast radio program with Sonia Kruger for two years and is a regular guest on the airwaves. In 2020, Todd played Lewis in the award winning feature film Unsound. On the small screen Todd has appeared in the acclaimed ABC series Significant Others; an engrossing, intelligently crafted six-part series about a missing persons case.  On a personal level, Todd had the delight of becoming a father in 2007 and his daughter Charlotte is the light of his life. He is a student of Auslan sign language and has worked within the deaf community all around Australia. Todd is also a keen supporter of The Grace Centre For Newborn Intensive Care at the Children's Hospital at Westmead and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Over the past year, Todd has starred as Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray the Musical and Sebastian in Cinderella. In 2023 he commences a tour of his one-man show - Todd McKenney sings Peter Allen and lots more! A perfect way to celebrate 40 years on the boards! For dates and details go to www.toddmckenney.com.au The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages). www.stagespodcast.com.au

One of Australia's most versatile performing artists, Todd McKenney is an award winning and critically acclaimed performer on stage and screen. As an actor and the leading man of song and dance in musical theatre productions, he has entertained Australians for 40 years, from the main stage to intimate venues. It's not surprising that Todd McKenney is a household name. National exposure came with his delicious portrayal of the acerbic adjudicator on Dancing with the Stars - a television juggernaut that has completed multiple seasons. Todd's stage credit roll and career highlights include his most notable role of Peter Allen in the Australian hit production The Boy From Oz, in which he performed over 1000 shows nationally and became one of the longest running and most successful musical productions in Australian history. Todd's first professional musical role was in 1983 in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance. His career followed with lead and headline roles in Cats, 42nd Street, West Side Story, Crazy For You, Born Yesterday, Camelot, Pirates of Penzance, Cabaret, Strictly Ballroom, La Cage aux Folles, Singin' In the Rain, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Orpheus In the Underworld for Opera Australia, Annie the Musical, Grease, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks and Anything Goes.  In 2018 he stepped into the stilettos and successfully took on the role of Frank N' Furter in The Rocky Horror Show in Melbourne. In 2019 Todd stepped out on stage as Australia's Greatest Showman in the title role of Barnum, and most recently played Lord Farquaad in the hit musical Shrek and Lord Chancellor Sebastian in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. As a dancer, his journey started at the age of three at his mother's dancing school in Perth, training in jazz, tap, acrobatics and ballroom dancing. He represented Australia in ballroom and Latin American dancing, winning many international dance titles. Amongst his Australian awards for performance in musical theatre he has two Mo Awards, the Variety Club Heart Award, the Glug Award, the Green Room Award, two Australian Dance Awards and a Helpmann Award. On the small screen Todd has starred in the hit show Winners and Losers on the 7 Network.  He has also appeared as a guest judge on Australia's Got Talent, hosted on a range of morning Television programs and appeared as an entertaining guest across all networks. On radio Todd co-hosted Sydney's MIX106.5 breakfast radio program with Sonia Kruger for two years and is a regular guest on the airwaves. In 2020, Todd played Lewis in the award winning feature film Unsound. On the small screen Todd has appeared in the acclaimed ABC series Significant Others; an engrossing, intelligently crafted six-part series about a missing persons case.  On a personal level, Todd had the delight of becoming a father in 2007 and his daughter Charlotte is the light of his life. He is a student of Auslan sign language and has worked within the deaf community all around Australia. Todd is also a keen supporter of The Grace Centre For Newborn Intensive Care at the Children's Hospital at Westmead and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Over the past year, Todd has starred as Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray the Musical and Sebastian in Cinderella. In 2023 he commences a tour of his one-man show - Todd McKenney sings Peter Allen and lots more! A perfect way to celebrate 40 years on the boards! For dates and details go to www.toddmckenney.com.au The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages). www.stagespodcast.com.au

This week, for our final episode of Season 3 of Speak The Speech, we are joined by one of Australia's most popular and successful screen and theatre actors, Lisa McCune. Lisa performs Desdemona's speech from Act 4, Scene 2 of Othello and delves into the language of the piece. She also talks about playing Gertrude in Bell Shakespeare's 2020 production of Hamlet, the difference between performing on stage and screen, and what she's learned across her acclaimed career.    Lisa McCune has earned an impressive collection of awards as an actor, including four Gold Logies for Most Popular Personality on Australian television. She recently starred in Girl from the North Country, as well as the Network Ten comedy series How To Stay Married and Bell Shakespeare's production of Hamlet.    After graduating from the WA Academy of Performing Arts, she landed the role of Maggie Doyle in the police drama Blue Heelers, which went on to become one of the most popular and enduring programs on Australian television, making her a household name. Her other screen credits include The Potato Factory, Ex PM, It's A Date, Sea Patrol, Rake, MDA, and Hell Has Harbour Views.    On stage, she's starred as Maria in The Sound of Music, which she followed with her Green Room Award-winning performance as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. She earned a Helpmann nomination for her performance in The King and I, and has also appeared in Shane Warne The Musical, South Pacific, Into The Woods, and Guys and Dolls. 

Jude resists her impulse to tell a sad a sad and traumatic story, instead finding happiness in the most unlikely of rubbish places: school.Jude Perl has been performing music and comedy for nearly a decade, touring, recording and winning 3 Green Room Awards for Best Original Songs, a Green Room Award for Best Cabaret Artiste and Best Cabaret at Melbourne Fringe. She's sold out seasons at Melbourne Comedy Festival, packed shows at The Hotel Cafe in LA and Ronnie Scott's in London and in 2012, Jude was one of 10 finalists in the prestigious National Jazz Awards at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival. Another time, she choked on a moth. Who knows what she'll do next.Queerstories an award-winning LGBTQI+ storytelling project directed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events around Australia. For more information, visit www.queerstories.com.au and follow Queerstories on Facebook.The Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased from your favourite independent bookseller or on Booktopia.To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About This Episode: We were absolutely delighted to have acclaimed contemporary circus director, producer, and performer Natano Fa'anana join us for the APATA Award presentations for performing arts student of the year so we relished the chance to share Natano's journey as an artist and maker with you! Drawing inspiration from his Samoan roots Natano has carved a unique path that has achieved national and international recognition through his work as a multi-faceted artist for a string of renowned companies. He earned his stripes as an ensemble member with award winning Meanjin company Polytoxic (2007 – 2012) , co- founded Briefs Factory International in 2008 with brother and fellow performer/director Fez Fa'anana and brother-in-law Mark Winmil. Going on to co-found, direct, produce and perform with internationally acclaimed contemporary company, Casus Creations. It was here Natano solidified his place on the international stage through works such Knee Deep, Driftwood, You & I, Chasing Smoke and Aunties Fiafia. Natano was Director and co-producer, for Chasing Smoke, Australia's first all indigenous contemporary circus show which was nominated for a Matilda award and took home the Green Room Award 2017 for Best Circus and Physical Theatre. Currently Natano is producer at Moogahlin Performing Arts company which solely and specifically produces and supports First Nations work. Independently Natano has a string of awards both as a performer and director. Significantly winning two Matilda Awards for We Live Here in the categories for Best Circus and Physical Theatre Show and Best Director, in conjunction with co-director Bridget Boyle. Based on the stories of parents, siblings, and guests of Hummingbird House, Queensland's only youth hospice, We Live Here explores themes of resilience, chaos, and the beauty of a moment shared. Created by a team of highly skilled young circus performers. Adding to his folio Natano was awarded the prestigious Sidney Myer Fellowship 2019 acknowledging his contribution to Humanities through the Arts. In 2020 Natano became a recipient for The Churchill Fellowship to further research diversification of the theatre industry through cultural protocol and practise. In 2021 Natano was a Senior Producer at YIRRAMBOI Festival. Occurring biannually YIRRAMBOI is a First Nations lead and focused arts festival based in Melbourne. Today Natano juggles all of the above as a director in the ever-shifting landscape of contemporary arts and advocates for change by creating pathways for the next generation of cultural arts practitioners. Taking the time, where possible, to connect with remote communities across Australia and beyond and communities like ours here at APATA. Access Pdf Transcript HERE Visit Natano's Podcast Page HERE www.apata.com.au Reach out to Natano Fa'anana Casus Creations website: casuscreations.com natano@casus.com.au

“As much as I struggled with the works themselves in terms of these broader themes, and I guess what was important to me; I do love the art. The craft of getting your mouth around Shakespeare. I love the language.” This week on Speak The Speech, we are joined by award-wining actor, director, and dramaturg Rachael Maza. Rachel talks to us about working with John Bell and Jim Sharman on The Tempest for Bell Shakespeare in 1997, her work as Artistic Director of ILBIJERRI Theatre Company and taking First Nations works overseas, and how she feels Shakespeare sits alongside First Nations theatre and the reclaiming of language. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that this podcast episode contains the names of people who have died. Rachael Maza is Yidinji, Meriam and Dutch. She is an award-winning actor, director and dramaturg, and has been Artistic Director of ILBIJERRI Theatre Company since 2008. A Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts graduate, her outstanding performances have been acknowledged with a Green Room Award and a Sydney Theatre Critics Circle Award. She's worked as a presenter for ABC's Message Stick program, and has appeared in major Australian productions such as the feature film Radiance and the stage production of The Sapphires. Her directing credits include Stolen, Jack Charles V The Crown, Foley, Which Way Home and Heart is a Wasteland. She currently sits on the board of Force Majeure and on the ACMI Indigenous Advisory Group.  She is a Member of the Order of Australia and has also received a Touring Legend Drover Award, an Australia Council of the Arts Award for Theatre, and an Honorary Doctorate from Edith Cowan University.

Declan Greene is the Artistic Director of Griffin Theatre Company and works as a playwright, dramaturg and director. He was previously Resident Artist at Malthouse Theatre. As a playwright, his work includes Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography, The Homosexuals, or ‘Faggots', Melancholia, Moth, and Pompeii L.A. Declan co-founded queer experimental theatre company Sisters Grimm with Ash Flanders in 2006, and has directed and co-created all their productions to date, including: for Griffin Independent and Theatre Works: Summertime in the Garden of Eden; for Malthouse Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company: Calpurnia Descending; for Melbourne Theatre Company: Lilith: The Jungle Girl; and for Sydney Theatre Company: Little Mercy. As a director, his credits include: for Griffin: Dogged, Green Park, Whitefella Yella Tree; for Malthouse Theatre: Wake in Fright; for Malthouse Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company: Blackie Blackie Brown; for Sydney Theatre Company: Hamlet: Prince of Skidmark; for ZLMD Shakespeare Company: Conviction. Declan has won awards including the Malcolm Robertson Prize, the Max Afford Playwright's Award, an AWGIE for Theatre for Young Audiences and the Green Room Award for Best Original Writing. Declan has just launched the 2023 season for the Griffin Theatre Company. He joined STAGES to elaborate on the season and to reflect on his unique role as an Artistic Director and as one of our most exciting and inventive theatre-makers. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Recipient of Best New Podcast at 2019 Australian Podcast Awards. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages). www.stagespodcast.com.au

With a celebrated career spanning over 25 years, David is one of Australia's most acclaimed leading men. Based in New York City, David is currently starring as the Duke of Monroth in the North American production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical and is delighted to return to Do You Hear the People Sing? after appearing in the show since its inception in Shanghai, Manila, and Taipei. David gained critical acclaim for his portrayal of Chris in Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil's new production of Miss Saigon which earned him Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for "the year's most truthful and moving stage portrayals" (Sydney Morning Herald). He received a further Helpmann Award nomination for his performance as Fiyero in Wicked. David was awarded a Green Room Award for Best Actor as well as Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for his portrayal of Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde and was awarded Theatre People's Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of The Baker in Victorian Opera's production of Into The Woods. In 2018, David was nominated for his fourth Helpmann Award and second Green Room Award for his portrayal of Tick in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Relocating to New York City in 2014, David received a Connecticut Critics Circle Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance of Dan in Next to Normal and starred as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables which co-starred and was directed by Tony Award winner Terrence Mann. He starred as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes, as Father in Ragtime and originated the role of Max Bronfman in the new, reworked production of Rags with Stephen Schwartz. Other Australian performances include; the dual roles of Adam and Noah in the Australian premiere performance of Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden (Theatre People Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical); Malcolm in The Full Monty; The Beast in Beauty and the Beast; Greg in The Boy From Oz; Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees; John Brookes in Little Women; Prez in The Pajama Game; Perchik in Fiddler On The Roof alongside Topol; John in Andrew Lippa's John & Jen; Oscar in The Wild Party; Orville Wright in Richard Maltby Jnr and David Shire's new musical Take Flight; and Jimmy Smith in the Australian premiere of Thoroughly Modern Millie. David originated the role of Bud in the Australian premiere production of the two-man comedy, Gutenberg! - The Musical; created the numerous male roles in the Australian premiere of Breast Wishes; and received a GLUG Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in LOVEBiTES. David began his professional career in the original Australian productions of The Boy From Oz and Mamma Mia and was awarded a MO Award for Best New Talent in 1997. In concert, David toured with Michael Ball on his Australian tour; performed with Lea Salonga in Vietnam; performed with Stephen Schwartz in Stephen Schwartz and Friends; with Andrew Lippa in Lippa and Friends. In 2016, David starred alongside Sutton Foster, Aaron Tveit, Betty Buckley, Joanna Ampil and Helen Dallimore in Defying Gravity - the songs of Stephen Schwartz. David has released two solo albums, 'Til The Night Is Gone and At This Stage. He premiered his solo show, ‘Til The Night Is Gone to sold out audiences at the 2010 Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Newcastle's Civic Theatre and returned to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2014 to headline the Australian premiere of Picture Perfect. David's most recent solo show, Time Is a Traveller premiered to a sold out, extended season at the Hayes Theatre and toured nationally to great acclaim, being awarded the Theatre People's Award for Best Male Cabaret in 2014. Do You Hear the People Sing? plays the Hamer Hall, Arts Centre, Melbourne, September 27th and 28th. Then the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, September 30th to October 2nd www.davidharrisofficial.com The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favouri

Bev Killick is the definition of Too Far! Bev has gained attention from some of the biggest names among Australian comedians, all due to her unique ability to get people laughing and unable to stop. She keeps the laughs rolling, making her a very authentic voice among well-known comedians today. Bev has recently been the voice for “Aunty Mavis” in small animated film titled: “Little Johnny,” though she is involved in much more than this now and has been in the past.Many might know her from her bosom presence with “Bosom Buddy of Busting Out,” where she performed as one of the Bosom buddies. Bev also had a grand role in the infamous “Berlei Ad” affiliated with The Uplifting Tour of Australia, directly linked in with “Busting Out.” Her well bosomed figure gets attention to, but it is her ability to get everyone roaring in laughter everywhere she performs that counts the most!Bev has had opportunities other stand up comedians only dream of, having performed for more than 250,000 people by traveling with the sensational Puppetry of The Penis that has obviously gained her attention from critics and fans. The producers of the show wanted her for her originality and true comedic nature. Through this she has had appearances all across Australia, helping her name to become better known. She's also had the grand pleasure of working with Weird Al Yankovic, Gina Riley and Jane Turner with the production of Kath and Kim. If that isn't eye-catching enough, she held a panel member position with Beauty and the Beast, and has appeared as a guest on the famous show Pizza.Many shows that Bev has performed in have been nominated for numerous awards, with one of these being Joker Poker. This was nominated for a Green Room Award due to the innovation and originality that went into its creation. You might have also seen Bev at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and her appearance on ABC's MDA. She is an amazing comic, and one you would be more than happy with at your event. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Described by the New York Times as ‘thrilling and engaging – universal, profound… and uplifting' Joan Didion's celebrated memoir is brought to life by Green Room Award-winning actor Jillian Murray... LEARN MORE The post Jillian Murray – The Year of Magical Thinking appeared first on Sunday Arts Magazine.

My guest is Alana Valentine. Alana Valentine is a multi-award winning playwright Librettist and screen writer. Her works include:-  The Sugar house, Ladies Day, Paramatta Girls, Letters to Lindy, Barbara and the Camp Dogs with Ursula Yovich which is being adapted to the screen and won both a 2019 Helpmann Award and 2020 Green Room Award for Best Original Score, as well as a Helpmann for Best Musical and Green Room for Best New Australian Work. Also Alana is a long time dramaturg with Bangarra Dance Theatre and most recently worked on Wudjang Not the Past for Sydney Festival . She has recently worked on Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan, writing the libretto with Christos Tsiolkas and was directed  by Neil Armfield for Adelaide Festival. She has more than 20 published works including two books of non-fiction including BOWERBIRD: The art of making theatre drawn from life (2018). She has written for radio television and screen and is here to talk about ….Wayside Brides - Till the 29th May, 2022.

With over 230 episodes in the STAGES archive, it's time to revisit conversations featured in previous seasons. STAGES spotlights such episodes, in case you missed them first time ‘round - or so you can simply savour a second listen. Either way, you'll be accessing precious oral histories from the people who were there, on and around our stages.Donna Lee comes from a long line of performers. Show business is the family business. Donna belongs to the fifth generation of her family, to embrace performance as a career. As a child she travelled the country and performed with her parents. Her father Frank Cleary, was a juggler and variety performer; and her mother Gloria Dawn, was one of Australia's most versatile actors on the legitimate stage and musical theatre.Donna has been acknowledged with a Green Room Award for her role as Ado Annie in Oklahoma, and garnered a swag of Mo Awards for her cabaret work.Extensive work in musical theatre has seen Donna feature in shows such as Les Miserables, Summer Rain, Fiddler on the Roof and Dames at Sea. Television work has seen her reside in Summer Bay, Ramsay street and Wandin Valley.Donna is a font of knowledge and an exuberant guest. She loves a chat and a laugh, and celebrating a rich arts heritage.The Stages podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Josh Piterman is an established young musical theatre performer and classical crossover artist who has been working consistently on Australian and UK stages over the past 15 years. His past credits include being a part of international pop opera group The Ten Tenors, Tony in the 2010 Australian production of Westside Story, Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger in the 2015/16 Australian season of Cats (a role that won him the Green Room Award for best supporting actor in a Musical), Corny Collins in the UK tour of Hairsprayand Gerry Goffin in the 2017/18 Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. His impressive West End debut came as he took on the most coveted role as The Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera in 2019 a role he will reprise in Sydney and Melbourne in 2022/23.   In our new series, we interview performers in the entertainment industry, in this episode your host Elizabeth McIntyre and special guest Josh Piterman cover topics such as; Growing up in Melbourne Australia; Finding his passion for performance in high school; His dedication and motivation through university; The roller coaster of life, and his mindset to get through setbacks and hard times; How Josh remains so optimistic; COVID-19's impact on the performance industry; and much more...   This episode and many others can be found on all major platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Rate & Subscribe to our podcast to never miss out a new episode. You can also let us know who you want to hear next and what topics we should talk about by leaving us a Review on Apple Podcasts.   Mentioned in this episode: Josh Piterman The Phantom of the Opera Melbourne Australia Think Brick Awards   Social & Links Follow @ThinkBrickAustralia on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook Follow @joshpiterman on Instagram

The ever charming William Zappa takes Regina from the beginning moments of an actor on stage, to his early life in repertory theatre, to head of the movement department of the VCA, to preparing the Iliad for the stage. William Zappa's career has crossed continents and spanned four decades of elite performances in film, television, and theatre. After training at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, William worked for The Bristol Old Vic, Marlowe Theatre, Dukes Playhouse and the Theatre Royal - Stratford East. Moving to Australia in 1976 to take up a post as Head of Movement at the School of Drama, Victorian College of the Arts he returned to acting full time in 1981. Since then he has forged a career as one of our finest actors having played major roles for Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Ensemble, Belvoir Street, State Theatre of South Australia, and Griffin. Stand-out roles include Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman (SATC) his award winning thirteen characters in Bell Shakespeare's Government Inspector (Green Room Award), Anthony in BSC'c Anthony and Cleopatra, Max in Rock and Roll (STC, MTC), and Edward Damson in Gift of The Gorgon (STC). He also won two awards for his portrayal of Thenardier in Les Miserables, the role which inspired him to write Winter's Discontent, his critically acclaimed one man show, which has just completed a season at The Darlinghurst Theatre. Film work includes: Men's Group, The Monkeys Mask, The Rage in Placid Lake, Head On, Bootmen and a New Zealand Film Best Actor Award nomination for Crush. Television work includes: City Homicide, All Saints, Grass Roots, GP, and a Penguin Award for Best Actor in Women of the Sun.

Josh Piterman is an established musical theatre performer and classical crossover artist who has been working consistently on Australian and UK stages over the past 15 years. His past credits include being a part of international pop opera group The Ten Tenors, Tony in the 2010 Australian production of Westside Story, Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger in the 2015/16 Australian season of Cats (a role that one him the Green Room Award for best supporting actor in a Musical), Corny Collins in the UK tour of Hairsprayand Gerry Goffin in the 2017/18 Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. His impressive West End debut came as he took on the most coveted role as The Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera in 2019. From such an inspiring catalogue of work and unbeatable work ethic, we delve in to burn out mode through this episode with Josh and the toll it can take on your Mental Health and Wellbeing if you don't allow yourself to pull back and speak out. We also talk openly about his advocacy towards normalising the conversations around Mental Health especially with Men and learn of the tools he used on his own journey when he experienced severe burn out. To find out more information and to keep up to date with Josh, simply head to his socials @joshpiterman or his official website at: https://www.joshpiterman.com.au/ To find out more information about the Imperfectly Perfect Campaign, our Global Efforts and how you can get involved simply head to our official website at: imperfectlyperfectcampaign.org A big thank you to our Voice Over Artist: Mike Christensen (thevoicemonkey.com)

Josh Piterman grew up with a love of sport, playing AFL and Tennis. He might have pursued excellence in these arenas but instead his passion for entertaining and singing took him to The University of Ballarat Arts Academy where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) in 2006.His musical theatre credits include playing ‘Bustopher Jones' in Cats, a role that won him the Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor in A Musical; ‘Edward' in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers; Corny Collins in the UK tour of Hairspray; Ramon Gutierrez in An Officer And A Gentleman; ‘Michael' in Grease 2 and ‘The Caliph' in Kismet. Other credits include ‘Giuseppe' in The Light in the Piazza, 'George' in The Drowsy Chaperone and ‘Jamie' in The Last Five Years.Josh commenced his career performing with the International group, The Ten Tenors and then made his mark as ‘Tony' in the 2010 tour of West Side Story. Josh played the role of ‘Gerry Goffin' in the national tour of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. He released his debut album Josh Piterman; a collaboration with John Foreman of contemporary pop songs with a classical twist, on Fanfare Records.Josh Piterman was the most recent Phantom in the brilliant original West End Production of The Phantom of the Opera in London, prior to the COVID shutdown. On the eve of commencing rehearsals for an Australian production of the show, and an opportunity to deliver his Phantom to a home crowd, producers regretfully announced a postponement of the show to 2022, owing to the obstacles presented in this time of the COVID pandemic.In this episode Josh reflects on his stellar career thus far - and the disappointment delivered by the creative hiatus, that has impacted artists around the globe.The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Whooshkaa and Spotify. Or, from where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Zahra Newman and Donna Abela discuss theatre in a “post-COVID” world and systemic racism in the rehearsal room. A graduate of VCA, Zahra Newman has built an extensive list of theatre, television and film credits. In 2016 she was awarded an AACTA for Best New Talent, and received a 2017 Sydney Theatre Award for her performance as ‘Nabulungi' in The Book of Mormon. Other industry recognitions include a Green Room Award, CGA Award and multiple Helpmann nominations. Theatre credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Love and Information for Sydney Theatre Company, Random, The Blind Giant is Dancing, Ivanov, The Government Inspector, Private Lives for Belvoir, Miss Julie, The Effect, The Mountain Top, The Cherry Orchard, Menagerie, Clybourne Park, The Drowsy Chaperone and Richard III for Melbourne Theatre Company and the critically acclaimed Wake in Fright for Malthouse/Sydney Opera House, which she also co-created. Donna Abela is an award-winning playwright. Jump For Jordan won the 2015 AWGIE Award for Stage and the 2013 Griffin Playwriting Award, and is on the 2019-2022 HSC Drama Syllabus. Her body of work includes plays which have won AWGIE awards for radio (Spirit, Aurora's Lament, Mrs Macquarie's Cello), the Human Rights Award for Drama (Highest Mountain Fastest River), and were nominated for NSW Premiers Literary Awards (Tales From the Arabian Night, Jump For Jordan). For Kim Carpenter's Theatre of Image, she wrote two large scale adaptations: Monkey … Journey to the West (2014 Brisbane Festival, 2015 Melbourne Festival, 2015 Sydney Opera House program) and Tales from the Arabian Nights, a widely produced play on refugee themes which was published by Currency Press in 2019.

Elise is most well known for originating the role of Miss Honey in the Australian production of the Royal Shakespeare Company's adaptation of Roald Dahl's Matilda for which she won the 2016 Helpmann Award and the 2015 Sydney Theatre Award, and was nominated for the 2016 Green Room Award for her portrayal of Miss Honey. After over 650 shows and two years in the role, Elise left Matilda in Perth with her final performance on Sunday March 19th 2017. She is also featured in the Channel Seven miniseries Peter Allen – Not The Boy Next Door, playing Peter's sister Lynne Woolnough. Not The Boy Next Door won 7 AACTA's at the 2015 AACTA Awards including Best Miniseries, was nominated for Best Drama at the 2016 Logie Awards and was nominated for Best Television Drama at the 2016 Monte Carlo Television and Film Festival. A graduate of NIDA, Elise's theatrical credits include: Cathy in The Last Five Years (Ensemble Theatre), Ado Annie in Oklahoma and Meg Brockie in Brigadoon (The Production Company), Lucille Ball in the critically acclaimed one woman show Everybody Loves Lucy (Luckiest Productions) for which she was nominated in the 2015 Sydney Theatre Awards. Ali in the 10th Anniversary Australian Tour of MAMMA MIA! (Littlestar); Janet McGregor in the Australian tour of South Pacific (Opera Australia/Gordon Frost Organisation); The World Premier/Australian Tour of Doctor Zhivago (Gordon Frost Organisation); Fruma Sarah in the Australian Tour of Fiddler on the Roof (TML Enterprises); Cordelia in Falsettos (Darlinghurst Theatre Company); Florinda in Into The Woods (Victorian Arts Opera); Little Women (Kookaburra Australian National Theatre Company); My Fair Lady (Opera Australia); Camelot (The Production Company); Side By Side By Sondheim (Enda Markey Presents). Elise is about to appear as Mary Flynn in a strictly limited season of the Stephen Sondheim classic Merrily We Roll Along at the Hayes Theatre.

Martin Croft started his professional career at the age of 17 with appearances on Melbourne TV. Initially trained as a classical singer, his first major show was Jesus Christ Superstar for Harry M. Miller touring Australia and New Zealand. This led to a full career in music theatre and opera, first as performer and then adding director/musical director, writer, teacher, event manager and producer to the list.Martin has starred in most of the major shows of the last 25 years in Australia, the U.K. and USA including Les Miserables, Godspell, Cats, Miss Saigon, and The Phantom of the Opera. He has been a guest principal singer with Opera Australia and he produced and performed in Closer Than Ever, Putting It Together and the award-winning 3 Vile Men. Martin produced, co-wrote and starred in the highly successful Joe Starts Again which received the 2004 Green Room Award for Best New Musical and was invited to the inaugural New York Music Theatre Festival in September 2004.Martin's recent credits as resident director include: Come From Away (Melbourne), Jersey Boys (New Theatricals Australasian Production), Les Miserables (Asia/South Africa Tour), The Boy From Oz (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth), Oliver (Cameron Mackintosh Australia/Singapore), and as director: Into The Woods In Concert at Melbourne's Regent Theatre, Hats Off 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 Hats Off To Sondheim, Chelsea Plumley - Live and Luscious, Nothing's Changed - Nehama Patkin, Alex Rathgeber - Momentary Act, Ship of Fools, Dutch Courage, Boxed In, Kim Smith is Madly Adored, Thrill Me - The Leopold and Loebe Story, Up, Is There Life After High School, Into The Woods, Company, and A Little Night Music. He has also directed numerous award ceremonies, concerts, workshops, cabarets and plays in Australia and overseas.STAGES caught up with Martin in his studio where he imparts infinite knowledge to a new generation of performers. His career has taken him around the world and he shares some of that in this insightful conversation.The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Whooshkaa and Spotify. Also from where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Alex is one of Australia's most versatile leading men. At 24 Alex landed the role of Raoul in London's West End production of The Phantom of the Opera (Cameron Mackintosh), following which he returned to Australia to play Robert the blindfolded, roller-skating, tap-dancing groom in the acclaimed Melbourne Theatre Company production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Alex received a Helpmann Award for his performance as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes (John Frost and Opera Australia) in 2015. Other nominations include the Sydney Theatre Awards for the role of Sid in An Officer and a Gentleman (GFO) and a Green Room Award nomination for Older Patrick in Mame (The Production Company). Alex's stage credits include Simon Stride in Jekyll & Hyde - 25th Anniversary Concert (Concertworks); Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (GFO); Aaron in Curtains (TPC); Carl in Ghost the Musical (Ambassador/GWB/Red Live); Greg in The Boy From Oz (TPC); Brad in The Rocky Horror Show (TML); Joe Kennedy Jr and Jerry in Grey Gardens (TPC); Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden in Next To Normal (Doorstep Arts at Hayes Theatre); and Lancelot in Camelot (TPC). On screen Alex has appeared in Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (ABC), Rush (Network Ten) and Winners and Losers (Seven Network). Alex's debut album Easy To Love celebrates Broadway's favourite composers, featuring duets with Caroline O'Connor, Lucy Maunder and Claire Lyon – available on iTunes and Spotify. ​ Alex is a proud graduate of The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).

Melbourne-born tenor Nick Jones is quickly developing a fabulous career in opera, but it was through musical theatre that he first worked with Opera Australia. In 2012, he appeared in the ensemble of our production of South Pacific, but soon found himself drawn towards opera. Since then, he’s performed roles in a wide range of operas, and recently won the Green Room Award for his portrayal of David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. In this conversation with Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini, Nick talks about learning his craft on our regional tour, perfecting the art of the good bow, and the differences between performing in long-running musicals and opera. He also performs the Serenade from The Student Prince, accompanied by Tahu Matheson.  

Phillip Lowe studied at WAAPA. Theatre credits include: Crazy For You, Showboat, Cabaret, The Producers, Legends, The Sunshine Club, Eurobeat, Dusty, No Way To Treat A Lady, Mary Poppins, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Bloody Brothers and High Society. In 2017, Phillip was nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award for this portrayal of Edward Bloom in Big Fish. Phillip played Keith Potger in Georgy Girl – The Seekers Musical, earned a Green Room Award nomination for playing Harry Bright in Mamma Mia and played Tyler Nelson in the world-first live streamed musical Who's Your Baghdaddy? Television credits include McLeod's Daughters, All Saints, Home & Away, Blonde, Crownies, Anzac Girls and Australia: The Story of Us. Film credits include Thank God He Met Lizzie, Black and White and The Honourable Wally Norman. Phillip is currently starring in Come From Away as Nick & Others!

Joel Granger has recently been seen as Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon (for which he received a Helpmann Award Nomination in 2019 - Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical). Prior to this, he appeared in the Hayes Theatre Company Productions of She Loves Me as Arpad, and Cry-Baby as Baldwin Blandish. His other theatre credits include the roles of Daniel Brady in the 60th Anniversary Gala Concert of Lola Montez for The Follies Company, Harry Beaton in The Production Company's Brigadoon, Big Fish the Musical as Zacky Price, Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd for New Zealand Opera, Warren in Ordinary Days for Pursued by Bear (for which he was nominated for a Green Room Award for Best Lead Male in a Musical), Tom in The Gathering for Vic Theatre Company, Harold Bride in Titanic: The Musical for StageArt, and Bernstein in Dogfight for Doorstep Arts. Joel's television credits include the role of Jack in Channel Nine's True Story with Hamish and Andy and the role of Mark in Please Like Me for ABC/Pivot. He is a 2015 graduate of the WAAPA Music Theatre course, where he was featured as Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde: The Musical, Japheth in Children of Eden, Glad Hand in West Side Story, and Theo in Matthew Lee Robinson's Atlantis. Joel has most recently played Understudy Pippin, Charles and Lewis in the Australian Tour of Pippin.

Established Australian musical theatre performer and classical crossover artist who has worked prolifically since he graduated from Federation University with a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) in 2006. Josh kicked off his career performing with the International pop opera group The Ten Tenors and he then made his mark as Tony in the 2010 Australian production of West Side Story. His other musical theatre credits include Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger in the 2016 season of Cats, a role that won him the Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor in A Musical; Edward in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers; Corny Collins in the UK tour of Hairspray; The Caliph in Kismet; Giuseppe in The Light in the Piazza; Jamie in The Last Five Years and most recently Gerry Goffin in the Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. In 2018 his debut self titled album went to number 1 on both the Aria and ITunes Charts (Classical Crossover) in Australia.

George Kapiniaris is one of Australia's best loved comedy, music and TV stars - having had an incredible impact on Australian popular culture over the last thirty five years. His claim to fame was his starring role in the hugely popular stage show 'Wogs Out Of Work'. Since then, the Australian public has continued to see him use his Greek heritage as inspiration for future roles and performances. George developed his popular style of ethnic comedy at Rusden College in 1985. Straight away he was labelled as a pioneer of Ethnic Humour in Australia. We all loved him as DJ in 'The Flying Doctors' and who could forget his starring role as the manic waiter Memo in TV's 'Acropolis Now' from 1989 to 1992 (a show which he co-produced & co-created). Since 1992 George has also been the front man of his 70's cover band 'The Flares'. In 2004 George was nominated for a Green Room Award for his role of Stretch in the musical 'Oh, What a Night'. other musical credits include 'The Rocky Horror Show' and 'Return to the Forbidden Planet'. His theatre credits include 'The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui' for the MTC, 'The Queen and I ', 'An Evening with Merv Hughes' and Guy Masterson's production of '12 Angry Men'. George's film credits include 'Alex and Eve', 'Big Mammas Boy', 'Thundersruck', 'Bloody Footy', 'Fat Pizza', 'Housos The Movie', 'Closer and Closer Apart' & 'Joey' - George also appeared on the TV series 'Its A Date!'. Kapiniaris was also seen in the controversial mini series 'Underbelly', playing George Defteros - the lawyer to Melbourne's underworld. In 2009 George appeared as a regular panelist on the very popular SBS show "The Squiz". In 2021 George will be touring OZ with his comedy stage show, 'Crazy Rich Ethnics'. He and his Co Stars have received two ACE awards for Best Comedy for their 'Il Dago' Shows and this year he and his team were nominated for Best Comedy for their 'Wildwogs' Production. George has recently played a Vulgarian Spy in The Australian production of 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Musical' and starred last year in The Production Company's Award Winning Show 'Nice Work If You Can Get It!' where he stole the show with amazing reviews. Download the Connecting Greeks app: https://connectinggreeks.com/app.html

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHM8trvA7Jg/ "choosing what can help"Tra Mi Dinh Trà Mi is a Green Room Award nominated dance artist based between Melbourne and Sydney. In June 2019 Trà Mi began working on a solo project ‘Holding’, initially supported by Tasdance’s TRIP program, we cover: dancingimprovisationlegacy and cultural inheritancepointsbecoming 'a boss'incensebeing vietnameseconnection to cultureirish dancingupcoming development - Holdingthe aesthetics of overwhelmdecision making on stageseeking sense through sensationdancing is so human People mentioned: Zachery LopezVictoria ChiuMelanie LaneBranch Nebula - Lee WilsonFully Automated Human TouchPina BauschMiranda WheenJoshua Thomson - Blokes Project links: VimeoTasDance residencyInstagramSydney Fringe

From The Land Down Under to The Big Apple, this singer-songwriter, pianist, writer and comedian just released his new album, Beetlejuice: The Demos! The Demos! The Demos!, and is showing other Australians that it’s possible to make the leap and find yourself working on a Broadway musical (or two). Eddie Perfect is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, comedian, writer and actor. He is now also a Tony Award Nominee after receiving a nomination for best original score for Beetlejuice the musical. During the same season, Eddie also wrote songs and vocal arrangements for King Kong on Broadway. Eddie is a four time nominee and two time Helpmann Award winner for his work in Australia. In 2009, his biographical musical comedy Shane Warne: The Musical won the 2009 Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work. This production also received a Victorian Premier's Literary Award and a Green Room Award. Eddie has recorded solo albums and written and performed in numerous cabaret shows, including Songs from the Middle with the Brodsky Quartet. Following his songwriting career on Broadway, Eddie returned to Australia where he waits to star as Franklin Hart Jr. in Dolly Parton's musical 9 to 5 once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. And most recently he released his fifth album, Beetle Juice: The demos! The demos! The demos!, a new album of demos created for his Tony-nominated score to Beetlejuice. The album also contains 17 cut songs that will be new to everyone's ears. During our conversation, Eddie candidly talks about his process for creating. He describes “kind of a weird trance I go into when I make stuff, where I really think about what it would be like to be in the audience watching it.” He focuses on what he wants an audience to think, feel, or learn in a particular moment. Reflecting on the process for Beetlejuice, Eddie shares that he wrote the opening number for the show over a 5 year period. He also recalls it was during their first previews that Beetlejuice really started building it’s cult like fan base. And it was this fanbase that served as some of the inspiration behind releasing the Beetlejuice demos in the first place. Eddie was blown away by the unique creative responses many fans of the show have had, saying he’s “never experienced anything like that.” His new demo album serves to broaden the universe of Beetlejuice a little bit “for those fans that do really riff off the work.”   In the episode, we talk about:  The intense Beetlejuice fandom  The Beetlejuice preview when they knew the show had struck a chord with people  Reading the reviews of the original 1988 film to cheer them up after their DC reviews  Australia being an importer of Broadway shows  Being in a period of his life now where he is confident with his writing and his process  Working with the cast and creatives of Beetlejuice Juggling work on Beetlejuice and King Kong simultaneously Connect with Eddie: Listen to Beetlejuice: The Demos! The Demos! The Demos! @TheEddiePerfect on Twitter @EdmundPerfect on IG Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. A very special thanks to our patrons who help make this podcast possible! Cheryl Hodges-Selden, Paul Seales, David Seales If you would like to see your name in this show notes or get a shout out on the pod itself, visit ttp.fm/patreon to become a member and show your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Tyack has been a vital presence in the Australian Musical Theatre industry for several decades. His extraordinary contribution has seen him provide guidance and leadership in a variety of musical roles - audition and rehearsal pianist, pit musician, accompanist, musical arranger, composer and Musical Director. He began working as a professional musician in 1974 for J.C. Williamson’s in Melbourne and entered the world of Musicals via their celebrated production of A Little Night Music.He moved to Sydney to conduct the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Chicago then was Musical Director for their productions of The Stripper, Four Lady Bowlers, Jonah, Company, Merrily We Roll Along, Falsettos, Miracle City and Summer Rain, whilst also providing music for several of their plays. He has contributed to the production of many prominent commercial musicals. A vast list includes Cats, Phantom Of The Opera, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Singing In The Rain, The Lion King and Wicked.He has musically directed productions of Side By Side By Sondheim, Chess, The Twenties and All That Jazz, Gershwin, The Wizard of Oz, Jerry’s Girls, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, High School Musical, The Boy From Oz, Tivoli, The Witches of Eastwick (for which he was awarded a Green Room Award), Eureka, Spamalot and the Hugh Jackman tour of The Boy From Oz. Further shows at the helm of the orchestra cover The Production Company’s Dusty, Brigadoon and The Boy From Oz. He garnered another Green Room Award and a Helpmann Award for the musical direction of the Disney/Cameron Mackintosh production of Mary Poppins. Michael’s cabaret and concert credits are extensive too, having worked with Australian and overseas artists including Sutton Foster, Betty Buckley, Trevor Ashley, Toni Lamond, Michael Ball, David Campbell, Geraldine Turner, Caroline O’Connor, Nancye Hayes, Michael Crawford and Judi Connelli; both here and abroad.Michael is passionate about his work and has amassed an extraordinary list of experiences. He has often been on the ‘ground floor’ of much of the musical theatre product produced and created in Australia; and has enjoyed a front row seat to much extraordinary creation. It is indeed a pleasure to welcome 'MyTy', at last, to Stages.

Eddie Perfect is one of Australia’s most diverse, respected and prolific writer/ composer/ performers. His most recent work as Composer of Beetlejuice The Musical on Broadway won him a Tony Award for Best Original Score. Hello! How marvellous! He has already made his mark in the fields of comedy, music theatre composition and book writing, playwrighting, screenwriting, classical music, jazz and acting for stage and screen. He has won multiple awards for his work both as a performer and writer, and has worked with top creatives from Baz Luhrmann and Global Creatures Simon Phillips and Neil Armfield... th elist goes on and on. His biographical musical comedy Shane Warne: The Musical won the 2009 Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work, a Victorian Premier's Literary Award and a Green Room Award. Following his songwriting career on Broadway, where he composed Beetlejuice and King Kong, Eddie has returned to Australia where he will star as Franklin Hart Jr. in Dolly Parton's musical 9 to 5 later this year. Sit back, relax and enjoy Nelly and Eddie, getting their chat on.

About: Garth Paine (USA/AU) born 1962, is a composer, performer and scholar. He was awarded a Green Room Award for Outstanding Creativity, for Escape Velocity (Company in Space) and was a finalist for the Best new Musical Score for Dance in Australia, 2014. In 2018, Garth was researcher-artist in residence at IRCAM/ZKM, developing Future Perfect for spatial audio, cell phones and VR. He presented the Keynote at NIME2016 and a keynote at 2014 Ecomusicologies conference on listening to place. Dr. Paine is a Professor of Digital Sound and Interactive Media at Arizona State University and co-directs the Acoustic Ecology Lab. His music has been performed internationally. Links. Web: https://www.activatedspace.com Soundcloud: http://garthpaine.com Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/garthpaine

Alex and Nick host alongside Scriptd a live table read of JB June's WyldCats, the pilot script from one of their listeners. A great cast of talented actors joins us to bring to life this animated episode, followed by a live Q&A and a feedback session with the writer. WyldCats is a satirical animation in a world where a retired ThunderCats-like team of feline warriors reunite in an attempt to battle evil in a modern, technological society. Content WyldCats live table read (00:00:39) Live Q&A (00:52:06) Table read post-mortem and WyldCats feedback session (00:57:12) Links WyldCats pilot script on Scriptd JB June on Twitter Paper Tease episode with WyldCats' teaser About Scriptd Scriptd is a new storytelling platform that connects talented writers with fans and the industry to help find, promote and actualize film and TV's next big scripts. You can join them at https://www.scriptd.com About the Cast Justin Michael Terry (@JustinTheWalls) - Justin Michael Terry is an award winning writer and improviser based out of Los Angeles. He has developed projects for CRYPT.TV, MGM and NEWFORM Digital. With his writing partner, Ryan Marsico, he has developed for MGM and Orion Pictures as well as toured locally and internationally, teaching and performing with their duo improv group, redDoor. Jona Xiao (@JonaXiao) - Jona Xiao has been in over 25+ TV shows and films, including Gifted with Chris Evans and Keeping up with the Joneses with Gal Gadot. In addition, she has voiced lead roles in projects with Disney and Netflix. Fun fact: she is also a flag football quarterback and travels the world on the WFFN USA team. Ryan Marsico (@RyanMarsico) - After graduating FSC with a BA in Acting, Ryan quickly moved to LA to continue his studies. He makes his living teaching, performing, and writing; often with his improv/writing partner in their critically acclaimed duo "redDoor" or he can be seen performing in 'The Resistance' at UCB. His genuine love for comedy, storytelling, and life can be felt not just in his projects, but in everything he does. He currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with his loving wife Carol and their two dogs Prock and Shelpert. Amanda Noriko Newman (@AmandaNoriko) - Amanda Noriko Newman is a Japanese-American actress, writer, director, and fight choreographer. She is an active performer with The Murder Mystery Company and can currently be seen as Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet with The Porters of Hellsgate. Andrew Krug (@OctopusTotem) - Andrew Krug works in voice, stage, and screen. He can be heard on the D&D podcast Encounter Party, Olympus Burger, and the upcoming audio drama Terminal. Ben Prenderghast (@BenjiPea) - Ben Prendergast is an award-winning actor, voice artist, and mocap performer based in Los Angeles. In 2016 he was awarded a Green-Room Award for Best Actor. Film & TV credits include Preacher (AMC), Predestination (with Ethan Hawke), Frontier (NBC), Offspring and Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries. Theatre credits include The Distance for Melbourne Theatre Company, The Flick (Annie Baker – Pulitzer Prize) for Queensland Theatre Company, and numerous productions for the prestigious Red Stitch Actors Theatre, where he is an ensemble member. Stephanie Einstein (@Steph_Einstein) - Based in Los Angeles, Actress and VO artist Stephanie Einstein works on stage, screen, and behind the mic. Recent TV credits include roles on ABC's black•ish and Lifetime's My Crazy Ex. Recent stage credits include Madge in Picnic, Catherine in Proof, and Hermia in Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is a proud Company Member of The Road Theatre in North Hollywood, has narrated over 80 book titles on Audible, and voices international promos and commercials. If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

I have a very special episode for everyone today. It's special for many reasons, but especially special to me because as a young ballerina in training at The Australian Ballet School I used to peer through the studio windows and watch Lucinda Dunn every spare moment I got. As you'll hear in this conversation, at the start, in the middle and at the end... I'm a bit of a gushing mess, because all of a sudden I realised I was sitting across from the ballerina I most admired growing up. When you've spent hours scrapbooking photos of someone and studying their every move to then years later be interviewing them for your podcast, it's a a very surreal moment. Lucinda Dunn received her early training in Sydney with Tanya Pearson before going on to win a Prix de Lausanne scholarship to study at The Royal Ballet School, London. While in London, Lucinda performed with the Birmingham Royal Ballet before returning to Australia in 1991 to join The Australian Ballet. In 2002, Lucinda was promoted to Principal Artist and danced many roles in all of the major classical ballets such as Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Coppélia, Sleeping Beauty, Firebird and Nutcracker. Lucinda has won numerous awards including Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Performance 2008, Helpmann Award nomination for Dance Performer of the Year in 2007 and 2004, Green Room Award for Best Female Dancer in 2005 and a Helpmann Award nominations for Best Female Dancer 2011, 2010. In 2015, Lucinda won an Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer for her performance in The Australian Ballet's Manon. As Australia's longest-serving ballerina, Lucinda announced her retirement in 2014 and received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), for her service to the performing arts through ballet. That same year Lucinda was appointed as the Artistic Director of the Tanya Pearson Academy and the Sydney City Youth Ballet. It might surprise some of you that Lucinda wasn't initially interested in becoming a ballerina. Inspired by her mothers performances on West End in London, her heart was actually set on Musical Theatre. We chat about this and many other topics, like how she almost left The Australian Ballet (many times!), her ridiculously high expectations of herself returning to the stage after having children and wether its harder to make it as a ballerina today... I think some of you will be shocked by how honest and candid Lucinda is with her answers, I know I was, but if I'm really honest I shouldn't have expected anything less from this stunningly unique and fiercely determined woman. I'm always attracted to this kind of person and it's no wonder I couldn't stop starring at her through the studio windows as a 15 year old... I'd like to thank Lucinda for her time during my visit to Sydney and for being such an inspiration to me when I was a young ballerina trying to find her feet in the tough world of professional ballet. Honestly, Lucinda is the epitome of grit and grace. Even though I chose a different path, I'd like to think a slice of my strength and determination came from being in her orbit all those years ago. I wish Lucinda all the very best in her new role as Artistic Director at Tanya Pearsons Academy in Sydney. When I was there to interview Lucinda I had the pleasure of watching some of the classes and it had a beautiful old-school vocational training vibe, rich in history with a heart at the nucleus. A beautiful place for any budding young ballerina with talent oozing out the studio doors. As always, enjoy this very special conversation... Instagram @balancedballerinas + @thebalancedballerina www.balancedballerinas.com Thank you to this weeks sponsor www.mdmdance.com

In a career spanning several decades, David Mitchell has firmly established himself as Mr Entertainment. His broad range of skills has seen him contribute to the industry as a writer, director and producer across all platforms -stage, radio, television, film and live performance.As a writer, he has provided material for performers and personalities including Barbra Streisand, Bob Hope, Michael Parkinson, Barry Humphries, Clive James, Geraldine Turner, Lorna Luft and Danny LaRue. This has given him vast accolades and a repertoire of riveting anecdotes.For the stage he co-wrote the musical Better Known as Bee, about Sydney eccentric Bee Miles. Collaborating with John-Michael Howson and Melvyn Morrow, the triumvirate of writers created the stage musical Shout! The Legend of the Wild One, which broke box-office records around Australia. Their second collaboration resulted in the hugely successful Dusty: The Original Pop Diva, which took $25 million at the box office during its initial run and won four Helpmann Awards and Melbourne’s Green Room Award for Best New Australian production.He is part of the team responsible for the legendary live shows at the venues Capriccio’s and Kinselas in Sydney - performances that are still discussed today.David has co-written the Helpmann Awards and for eleven years was Executive Producer of the top-rating series, This Is Your Life.A prolific freelance television producer, David’s shows include The Mike Walsh Show, Parkinson in Australia, Saturday Night Clive and The Dame Edna Experience.His Australian Royal Bicentennial Concert in 1988 which starred Olivia Newton John, Peter Allen and Kylie Minogue, amongst many others, was described by international showbiz bible, Variety, as “pure, unremitting, unalloyed, entertainment!”The Stages Podcast is available in iTunes, Spotify and Whooshkaa

Maverick Newman is an award-winning Actor/Writer from Melbourne, Australia. He graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts better known as WAAPA in 2018 with a B.A. in Music Theatre. Maverick has already garnered 4 Green Room Award nominations for his debut one-man musical comedy “Finding Felix: A Memoir” of which he toured nationally in 2017-18. The cabaret also led to a Viceland Documentary on SBS. In 2018, after winning the ‘Julie Michael Cabaret Award’ with his so-written and co-starring cabaret ’Tis The Season…, toured the show again around Australia to sell-out crowds. He has so much to share particularly on his journey coming out of the closet and finding himself. Check him out on socials, @mavacado

FROM THE ARCHIVES! In this segment, Viv, Tom and Chirstian speak to Sophie Smyth and Ryan Smedley on their Melbourne International Comedy Festival show The Aspie Hour, which recently won a Green Room Award. Originally aired 2018 Sunday, March 4th, 2018. Segment produced by Christian Tsoutsouvas.

Lauren Langlois is a dancer, actor and choreographer based in Melbourne. Starting dance at a young age Lauren went on to train classical ballet at the Marie Walton-Mahon Dance Academy and also studied contemporary dance at the New Zealand School of Dance. Upon graduating Lauren danced for Australian Dance Theatre from 2008. In 2011, Lauren joined Sydney Dance Company, performing in LANDforms, 6 Breaths, We Unfold, The Land of Yes and The Land of No choreographed by Rafael Bonachela. She also collaborated with Jacopo Godani, performing in his work Raw Models. In 2012 she joined Chunky Move to collaborate with choreographer Antony Hamilton on his work Keep Everything (receiving nominations for Helpmann, Green Room and Australian Dance Awards), before performing in Anouk van Dijk’s An Act of Now (2012), 247 Days (2013), Complexity of Belonging (2014) and Lucid (2016). For Complexity of Belonging she won the 2015 Green Room Award for Best Female Dancer. Lauren was also the recipient of the 2017 Tanja Liedtke Fellowship. She has worked with Lina Limosani on The Tighter you Squeeze, Antony Hamilton on RGB and NYX, Larissa McGowan on Slack, Zero-Sum, Skeleton and Scrap, Prue Lang on SPACEPROJECT and YONI, Stephanie Lake on A Small Prometheus. In 2017, Lauren toured throughout Europe with Lucy Guerin Inc. performing in Motion Picture. In January, she performed in the world premiere of Force Majeure’s You Animal, You which premiered at Sydney Festival. Lauren is about to open Nether, a work that she has choregraphed with James Vu Anh Pham. Opening as part of Chunky Move’s Next Move Season, Nether is an absurd vision of a future that is hurtling towards us.

Donna Lee comes from a long line of performers. Showbusiness is indeed the family business; with Donna being the fifth generation in her family, to embrace performance as a career.As a child she travelled the country and performed with her parents: her father Frank Cleary, a juggler and variety performer; and her mother Gloria Dawn, one of Australia’s foremost actors in music theatre and drama.She has been acknowledged with a Green Room Award for her role as Ado Annie in Oklahoma and garnered several Mo Awards for her cabaret work.Extensive work in musical theatre has seen Donna feature in shows such as Les Miserables, Summer Rain, Fiddler on the Roof and Dames at Sea. Television work has seen her reside in Summer Bay, Ramsay Street and Wandin Valley.Donna is a font of knowledge and an exuberant guest. 

They often say laughter is the best medicine, but so is music. Gillian Cosgriff is a singer, songwriter, musician, and comedian. She graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2010 with a Bachelor of Music Theatre and went on to write her first solo show, Waitressing…and Other Things I Do Well, which debuted at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Television credits include Offspring, House Husbands, Fat Tony & Co., Ricketts Lane, and Get Krackin’. She was a backing vocalist for Kate Miller-Heidke’s 2012 album Nightflight and her theatre credits include The Pirates of Penzance (The Production Company), A 3-Handed Mikado with Colin Lane (Lano and Woodley) and David Collins (The Umbilical Brothers), Loving Repeating (Vic Theatre Company), Company (Watch This), and Vivid White (Melbourne Theatre Company). Her solo shows have garnered rave reviews and toured nationally, winning Best Cabaret Melbourne Fringe and a Green Room Award for Original Songs. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the I’m Not Joking community today: petermcgraw,.org Peter McGraw Twitter Peter McGraw LinkedIn

In this lecture, award-winning composer Andrew Fordwill share insights into the creative process of composing, exploring the relationship between music and memory, reflecting on the role that music plays in our lives. Andrew Ford is a composer, writer and broadcaster who has won awards in each of those capacities, including the 2004 Paul Lowin Prize for his song cycle Learning to Howl, a 2010 Green Room Award for his opera Rembrandt's Wife and the 2012 Albert H Maggs Prize for his large ensemble piece, Rauha . He has been composer-in-residence for the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. In 2014 he was Poynter Fellow and Visiting Composer at Yale University and, in 2015, Visiting Lecturer at the Shanghai Conservatory. A former academic, Ford has written widely on all manner of music and published nine books, most recently The Memory of Music (Black Inc., 2017). He has written, presented and co-produced five radio series and, since 1995, presented The Music Show each weekend on ABC Radio National. Andrew is an ANU Coombs Creative Arts Fellow in 2018, and this lecture is one event in a program of featuring Andrew’s writing and music, proudly presented by the ANU School of Music. Light refreshments and a book signing will take place in the Foyer following the lecture. Image: Andrew Ford, courtesy Jim Rolon.

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly). Venus In Fur Directed by Green Room Award winner Kirsten von Bibra and starring Darcy Kent and Lightning Jar’s Tilly Legge, Venus in Fur by David Ives is a whip-smart exploration of sexual politics, gender and power through the lens of sadomasochism. For more visit http://www.fortyfivedownstairs.com/wp2016/event/venus-fur-david-ives/2018-03-09/ Theatre First RSS feed: https://audioboom.com/channels/4839371.rss Subscribe, rate and review Theatre First at all good podcatcher apps, including Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Stitcher, Pocket Casts, audioBoom, CastBox.fm, Podbean etc. If you're enjoying Theatre First podcast, please share and tell your friends. Your support would be appreciated...thank you. #theatre #stage #reviews #Melbourne #Australia #AlexFirst #TheatreFirst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cath Mundy’s work composing original music for theatre has explored diverse ground, including sacredCOWs, The Quivering, which won a Green Room Award for Outstanding Sound Design / Music Score 2007. In 1996 with British singer-songwriter (& husband) Jay Turner, Cath formed acoustic-music duo Mundy-Turner, performing as a vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (violin, piano, ukulele, percussion). Over two decades, they released seven albums, their debut High Life winning a Queensland Recording Association Award 1999 for Best Folk/Ethnic Album. They have toured many countries performing at festivals, venues and events, including supporting The Corrs and Fairport Convention. Cath conducts three community choirs: Freedom Train, Mixed Beans multicultural choir and With One Voice Brisbane. She witnesses first-hand every week the power that group-singing has to make positive change in individual lives and to create healthier, more connected communities. Cath is passionate about empowering all people to reclaim their human right to sing. Today’s Topics: What audiences can learn from a musician and a customer. How we are listening on a number of levels. It’s a skill to listen and train as a choir. They listen to themselves, what’s around them, and the whole group. The difference between local listening, neighborhood listening, and regional listening. How a conductor not only listens to the choir, but they also listen to the audience.   The importance of relaxing. Getting people to play to help them relax. Visual cues and people’s breathing. Changing the shape of their mouths and helping them hear the difference. Shining eyes and an inner smile are signs of being engaged. A surprise visit from John Farnham and the Choir of Hard Knocks. Hearing an intensity of motion beyond the sound. The conductor’s role listening to the audience. The importance of engagement. It can be difficult without the visual, but you can feel their energy. Smiles, brightness of eyes, and an open body facing towards you signals engagement. Making creative choices as opposed to mistakes. The importance of eye contact especially with connecting with the choir and keeping them focused. Reconnecting as a lost listener. Silence is important. Not forgetting to pay attention to the silence. Paying attention to the space and where we breath. Silence can be difficult for some people. A sign of a good friendship is comfortably sitting in silence. Where more emotion gets heard. Links and Resources: Mundy - Turner Freedom Train Cath Mundy on Facebook @cathjay on Twitter Benjamin Zander You’re the Voice John Farnham The Choir of Hard Knocks Quotes: I like to draw my attention to those moments of silence. They might be really small ones, but they are just as important as the notes we are singing. - Cath The contrast between sound and silence is where all that interesting interplay happens. - Cath They were so totally tuned into each other that I felt a total alignment of their sound. - Cath Want to create a big impact? Subscribe to the Deep Listening podcast and never miss an episode.

Samantha Hines studied at New Zealand School of Dance in 2010, before landing her dream job at the Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) in 2012: “It was my dream”. She travelled extensively with ADT with works including G, Proximity, Multiverse and Be Your Self. She was part of the company’s ensemble when they won the Green Room Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble for Proximity in 2013. Samantha was part of the world premiere season of Naught in 2013, choreographed by Daniel Jaber. Since leaving ADT Samantha has had a busy time as a freelancer working on a range of projects including with Stephanie Lake on Pile of Bones. Samantha started 2017 with an amazing performance in Attractor choreographed by Lucy Guerin & Gideon Obarzanek with Dancenorth. For Attractor, Samantha was nominated for the Helpmann award for the ‘Best Female Dancer in a Ballet, Dance or Physical Theatre Production’. Attractor took out the Helpmann award for ‘Best Choreography in a Ballet, Dance or Physical Theatre Production.’ She has recently joined the Dancenorth ensemble, she is loving Townsville and being a part of Dancenorth: “It’s a really nice environment”. She is currently working on a range of works including the upcoming Brisbane Festival season of Attractor. Samantha has a warm and attractive personality that complements her unique and fabulous dance style. She explains: “the weirder you are the more unique you move, the more you are going to get hired for that role”

Recorded live at the AWG's Write Like A Man event at King's Cross Hotel, Donna Abela interviews award-winning playwright Patricia Cornelius. She is known for her confronting plays that often deal with people living on the margins of society, struggling with poverty and prejudice.  Patricia has written over 25 plays, including SHIT, Savages, Slut, The Call amongst many more. Patricia's many awards include a Gold AWGIE, numerous other AWGIEs, a Green Room Award and Patrick White Playwrights' Award.  

DANIEL TOBIAS, Green Room Award winner for Best Writing earlier this year, join hosts Ben and Jonathan to discuss his nationally acclaimed production The Orchid and The Crow. The Orchid and The Crow is being performed at Theatre Works, St Kilda 3rd – 15th May. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DANIEL TOBIAS, Green Room Award winner for Best Writing earlier this year, join hosts Ben and Jonathan to discuss his nationally acclaimed production The Orchid and The Crow.   The Orchid and The Crow is being performed at Theatre Works, St Kilda 3rd – 15th May. 

As part of the Equity Foundation’s In Conversation series, performers are given the opportunity to attend an intimate question and answer session with leading performers, producers, directors, writers and other members of the industry Mitchell Butel Mitchell is a triple Helpmann Award winning actor and singer. His theatre credits include The Government Inspector, Angels in America, Strange Interlude, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, The Laramie Project, A View from the Bridge, Dead Heart (Belvoir), Romeo and Juliet, The Grenade, Summer Rain, The Republic of Myopia, Harbour, Tartuffe, Mourning Becomes Electra, The Café Latte Kid, Summer of the Aliens, Six Degrees of Separation (STC), Tomfoolery, Urinetown, Piaf (MTC), Boeing-Boeing (Dainty), Stones in his Pockets, The Venetian Twins (QTC), Emerald City (Griffin), Laugher on the 23rd Floor (Ensemble), Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl, Woyzeck (Malthouse), Othello (Bell) and Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love (STCSA). Music theatre credits include South Pacific, Orpheus in the Underworld, The Mikado (Opera Australia), Assassins (Silo) Avenue Q (AAP), The Producers, Sugar, Little Me, Hair (Production Company), Grease, Little Shop of Horrors (DAE), Man of La Mancha and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (GFO) opposite Geoffrey Rush. Film/TV credits include Holding the Man, Hiding, The Broken Shore, Mr & Mrs Murder, Bordertown, Wildside, Grass Roots, Rake, The Bank, Two Hands, Dark City and AFI-nominated performances in Strange Fits of Passion and Gettin’ Square. Mitchell has appeared in three solo cabaret shows, Excellent Adventure, Now for the Weather and Killing Time (which is available on iTunes and just completed a sellout season at the Hayes Theatre). Mitchell received Helpmann Awards for The Venetian Twins, Avenue Q and The Mikado and Green Room Awards for Piaf and Hair. Proud member of Actors Equity since 1988 and a member of the National Performers Committee since 2007. He is also a Board member of Belvoir St Theatre. Tony Sheldon Tony Sheldon made his Broadway debut starring in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT at the Palace Theater. He played the role of Bernadette for more than 1750 performances in Australia, New Zealand, London, Toronto and New York, winning the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut as well as nominations for the TONY Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Drama League Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award as Best Actor in a Musical. He was honored with his own caricature at Sardi’s restaurant in Times Square. For his performance in PRISCILLA he won the Toronto Theatre Critics Award and the DORA Award as Best Actor in a Musical in Toronto. In Australia he won the Sydney Critics Award, the Green Room Award, the Glugs Award and the Aussietheatre.com Award for Best Actor in a Musical as well as the MO Award as Musical Theatre Performer of the Year. He was also nominated for the Australian Dance Award and the Helpmann Award. In London he was nominated for the Olivier Award and the What’s On Stage Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Since his arrival in the USA, Tony has appeared as Horace Vandergelder in HELLO, DOLLY! at the historic Goodspeed Opera House, King Pellinore in CAMELOT for Theatre Under The Stars in Houston and in the films CARRY ME HOME with Cuba Gooding, Jr. and BUTTERFLIES OF BILL BAKER with Will Chase. He was featured on the tv series JOAN & MELISSA: JOAN KNOWS BEST and performed on THE VIEW, ROSIE! and THE NBC TODAY SHOW. In Australia, Tony won the 2005 Helpmann Award, the Sydney Critics Award, the Mo Award and the Glugs Award for his performance as Roger de Bris in THE PRODUCERS. He was also nominated for a Helpmann and a Green Room Award for his work in THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK in 2003. Tony played the lead role of Lawrence Jameson in the Australian premiere of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, to rave reviews. Media Super is the principal sponsor of the Equity Foundation.