February Session: Fringe 2017

Amelie Peters is an award winning, classically trained vocalist, international performer, songwriter and BAST accredited vocal coach.

Amelie holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice (Performance and Pedagogy) from the Elder Conservatorium of Adelaide. Her professional performance work includes Carmen (2019) and Carmina Burana (2020) with the State Opera of South Australia as well as successful tours in Australia and the US, where Amelie was invited to sing at the Soho Playhouse in New York City. Her credits as a vocal director for youth theatre include High School Musical 2 (2016), Hairspray the Musical (2018) and Mary Poppins the Musical (2019.) Amelie has also produced and performed original music in Cabernet the Cabaret (2019) and Cabernet Refined (2020) at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

While she specialises in classical voice, Amelie also has a strong background in musical theatre, jazz and contemporary music. She has worked with renowned opera singers, musical theatre composers and Broadway stars from around the world.

Amelie’s ability to inspire, guide and nurture talent has led to consistently outstanding results for her private students and vocal ensembles, making Amelie one of the most sought after young vocal coaches in Adelaide.

Volleyball player turned actor Andrew Smith was a member of the inaugural graduating cohort of the Elder Conservatorium’s Music Theatre Program. During the course he played the Male Adults in Spring Awakening (dir. George Torbay 2019), Herr Schultz in Cabaret (dir. Erin James 2021), and Father Alexandrios in Mamma Mia! (dir. Zoe Komazec 2021). After graduating he, alongside 3 other graduates, co-founded EXEUNT (Pursued By A Bear) Productions and performed in their inaugural show: Rodgers and Hammerstein's A Grand Night For Singing (dir. Erin James 2022) in the Adelaide Fringe earlier this year. Other credits include Peach Cobbler (dir. Laura Desmond 2020) and Shakespeare in the Bar (dir. Tony Knight 2021). He has also appeared on the game show Challenge Accepted (dir. Brayden Green 2019/20) on Channel 44.

Beth is 10 years old and has been singing and dancing with Pelican Productions for 3 years. She played the role of Molly in State Opera’s recent production of Innocence and sings with her school rock band. Beth loves art, piano, climbing trees and creating songs with her friends. Singing makes her feel happy.

Buddy is a high school drama teacher who loves to perform. He has worked with a number of amateur theatre companies in Adelaide and has played many over-the-top characters (whilst breaking many bones in the process).

Carly started choral singing at a young age in the Adelaide Girls Choir. She performed with "Voiceworks Adelaide" during her tertiary studies and more recently has sung in the Adelaide Symphony Chorale. Her love of singing initially stemmed from performing with choirs, whilst her passion for performing in musicals started in 2005, when she was part of the MS Society's production of Les Misérables.

Since then, Carly has performed in Gilbert and Sullivan's productions of Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar and Oliver. She has also performed in Davine Productions' Violet, It's Only Life, Beautiful The Carole King Musical, Summer of 69 and A New Brain.

Carly is a High School Music Teacher by trade and is currently the arts coordinator of Gleeson College. Her favourite part of her job is allowing her students to have the experience of performing in musicals. Some of her students from Gleeson are still heavily involved in the Adelaide music theatre scene and some have sung in Broadway Sessions here. She loves the thought that her past students are continuing on with their love of music and musicals.

Casmira is an experienced performer and teacher with a great passion for storytelling. Highlights have included performing the role of ‘Violet’ in Davine Productions’ Violet (for which she won the TASA award for Best Female Performance 2017) and 'Fantine' in the G&S Society's production of Les Misérables (for which she was nominated for a Curtain Call: Best Female Performance 2018).

In 2018 she performed in Edges with Irregular Productions for the Adelaide Fringe, ‘Shelby’ in Steel Magnolias with IpSkip,'The Lady of the Lake' in Spamalot with Marie Clark (winner of Best Ensemble Curtain Call 2018), and the ‘Sour Kangaroo’ in Seussical with Northern Light. In 2019 Casmira played nine characters in Judge Jackie: Disorder in the Court with Davine Productions (which won Best Ensemble and Best Musical at the 2019 Curtain Call Awards, as well as the TASA for Best Musical) and Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme in Assassins for Hills Musical Company.

Professionally, Casmira has acted and provided voices for several short films and children’s productions. She also spent many years directing and music directing musicals for Adelaide Theatre Academy, including Snow White and Alice in Wonderland for the Festival Centre’s ‘Something on Saturday’ program. Her fondest memories are working with Peter Combe in directing and choreographing his Adelaide Fringe shows from 2013-2015.

At just 24 years old, Chelsea is already making waves in the professional music industry, working as a songwriter, specialist vocal coach and speech pathologist. Chelsea graduated from the Elder Conservatorium Jazz degree in 2019 with some the highest marks in her cohort, having been selected by James Morrison as a Vocal Jazz Scholarship finalist in 2018 & 2019. Chelsea has since completed a Master of Speech Pathology, recently travelling to Sydney to present her research on perfectionism in the professional performer at the Australian Voice Association National Conference. In 2022, she also travelled to Los Angeles to attend an Artist Development Program, meeting some of the music industry's leading songwriters and industry experts, including those that work with the likes of Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Tori Kelly and more. Chelsea is passionate about empowering performers through holistic and evidence-based voice science and hopes continue travelling around the world engaging in leading research and working with professional performers. With a strong background in Music Theatre and after a long hiatus from Broadway sessions, Chelsea is grateful to be sharing the stage with some of the best!

Dharini Rajaramanan developed her passion for performing and musical theatre at a young age which grew stronger after showcasing in a number of school productions and performing in various vocal ensemble groups. Since completing school Dharini worked as a studio assistant at the Studio and Star Factory, a world class vocal coaching and artist development studio and has appeared in a few community theatre productions. In 2016, she performed in Marie Clark Musical Theatre’s production of Rent, where she understudied the role of Mimi and performed in the ensemble. Dharini also appeared in a musical theatre showcase at the University of Birmingham as a lead soloist. Dharini played the character Pat in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of Kinky Boots in 2019 and most recently appeared as Lucinda in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of Into the Woods in 2022. After spending the last few years focusing on her career in Clinical Psychology, Dharini is very excited to be back on stage. Dharini is excited to perform in the 2023 Adelaide Fringe production of Bimbo and is honoured to be a part of a show that challenges harmful stereotypes.

Em is a 24-year old teacher back down under on a break from Ye Olde Englande. She began performing at age five but didn't enter the magical land of musical theatre until the age of 12. She enjoys reading, history, piña coladas, getting caught in the rain, and obviously, musicals.

She has performed and crewed for many shows. The highlights of her time treading the boards include playing Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun (UHS), Bet in Oliver! (G&S), and possibly her favourite role at the tender age of 12 - the Pirate King (Pelican Productions). Other credits include Les Misérables (G&S), Thoroughly Modern Millie (G&S), Cinderfella the Pantomime (Royal Holloway), Young Frankenstein (MCMT), Calamity Jane (MCMT), Music Theatre Camp 2008 - 2013 (Pelican Productions).

Hannah Smith (she/her) is originally from Murray Bridge and moved to Adelaide to study technical productions and work for the Adelaide Fringe. Her passion is directing having directed 9 plays and musicals under her production company Hannah Catherine Productions. This year she aims to secure grant funding to put on Bumming with Jane by Tahli Corin as her first-ever show in Adelaide. After focusing on the tech side of the theatre for a long time Hannah enjoys every special occasion she can get singing in front of an audience.

Jared is currently rehearsing the role of The Baker in G&S’s production of Into The Woods. Prior to that his he performed the role of Che in G&S’s Evita (2021), which won him an award nomination for Best Male in a Musical in the Theatre Association of SA’s 2020-21 Theatri-CAL Awards. Also in 2021, Jared played the role of Lt Wessen in Therry’s The Hello Girls (nominated as Best Musical in the same honours). His list of on-stage appearances since 2009 is extensive with roles with G&S, Therry Theatre, The Hills Musical Company, The Met and Davine Productions. Notable roles include Gilbert Chilvers in Betty Blue Eyes, Raoul in Phantom of the Opera, Chris Scott in Miss Saigon, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance, Munkonstrap in CATS, Freddy in My Fair Lady, and Man One in John Bucchino’s It’s Only Life. Professionally, Jared has performed as part of the chorus in State Opera of South Australia’s productions of Madame Butterfly, The Merry Widow, and Carmen. 

Jess has been involved in Adelaide's theatre scene since 2015, from Guys and Dolls to The Addams Family, to (most recently) A New Brain with Davine Productions. Working as a Stage Manager and general backstage all-rounder, for companies such as Adelaide Festival Centre, State Opera, and Slingsby; they still love to perform – though it's mostly in the car on the way to and from work!

Kaitlyn played her dream role of Christine Dae in Phantom of The Opera at just 16 years old. She also travelled around Europe for her final year of high school singing as the lead soprano and soloist, and on her travels through Italy she performed in the Vatican. Recently, Kaitlyn has spent her year traveling around Australia working with Opera Australia and has been focusing on her theatre management. She loves having the chance to perform when she can.

Karen has been involved with a number of theatre companies in Adelaide over the last 15 years. Some of her stage highlights include Oliver, Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Avenue Q and Spamalot. Although she had a seven year run off stage in the role of "Mother of two", she recently made the return to the theatre by playing Ursula in Disney's The Little Mermaid, and in the ensemble of Les Misérables with Northern Light Theatre Company and Granny/Cinderella's Mother/Giant in Into the Woods with the G&S Society of South Australia.  You will also be able to see Karen in the upcoming production of Urinetown at the Hills Musical Company in the role of Old Ma Strong.

Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Lauren Renée got an early taste of performing, putting on visionary "plays" in her parent's lounge-room. The love affair continued as Lauren sang in several choirs and performed in musicals throughout her high-school career, training in Classical Voice and culminating in a performance as Betty Rizzo in St Andrew's School's 2006 production of Grease.

After a sabbatical, Lauren made her return to the musical stage playing romantic lead Amalia Balash in Therry Dramatic Society's She Loves Me in 2014. She also appeared with the Metropolitan Musical Theatre Company of South Australia in their 2014 production of My Fair Lady, capping off the year playing Gracie in Soul Factor Gospel Choir's Christmas musical, For Unto Y'all.

In July 2015, Lauren appeared as the title character in the SA Premiere of Disney's and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins: The Broadway Musical produced by Matt Byrne Media. She was also very excited to take on some of Stephen Sondheim's most famous work in the acclaimed Hills Musical Company production of Company later that year, and the chance to capture another childhood icon in a tip to Katharine Hepburn's Tracy Lord in Therry Dramatic Society's The Philadelphia Story in 2016. Both shows were nominated for Adelaide Theatre Guide Curtain Call Awards 2016.

Lauren is now embarking on her first major project for 2017, as Rita - a lively Liverpudlian hairdresser - in IpSkip Productions' upcoming version of Willy Russel's Educating Rita.

Mark has trained throughout Australia and New York studying Musical Theatre at Schools including The Victorian College of the Arts (VCA Bachelor of Musical Theatre), APO Arts Academy (Advanced Diploma Musical Theatre), and Broadway Dance Centre (Scholarship Program). Mark is most well known from his appearances on The Voice, most recently in this years series making his way on to Team Ricky!

This ignited that theatre bug which led Mark to tour Australia, Asia, America and Europe with multiple musicals/productions including Kinky Boots (Australian Tour), Godspell (Australian Revival), Hello, Dolly! (Australian Revival), Hairspray Arena Spectacular (Tour), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (NCL European Tour), and Magic to do – Stephen Schwartz (USA/Euro Princess tour 3.0). Mark is proudly represented by Emma Raciti Management, and is excited by the opportunities that are popping up within South Australia in the Arts!

Most recently Mark has been working with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra as the vocal captain for Disco Wonderland for the Brisbane Festival. Mark is about to head out on tour for the Japanese and Australian tour of Burn The Floor as their lead vocalist.

Megan is a graduate of the Music Theatre program at the University of Ballarat and has been performing in theatre and cabaret in Adelaide and beyond for over fifteen years, including a two-year stint in the U.K., where she performed her show The Girl Who Won't Grow Up and premiered a new, as yet untitled piece, at the Pheasantry in London.

She has written and produced several cabarets and concerts, and produced the South Australian and amateur premiere of Matthew Robinson's Sing on Through Tomorrow in 2014. Favourite roles in amateur theatre have included Laurey in Oklahoma!, Phoebe in The Yeomen of the Guard, and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.

In 2018 Megan premiered a new cabaret at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, climbed Rocky Mountains once more as a part of The Pirates of Penzance (on the Popeye!), directed the Australian Premiere of Buffy Kills Edward, a Musical Parody, and is playing Petra in A Little Night Music for the G&S Society and Carrie in Rules for Living with the Adelaide Repertory. And that's only the stuff that's confirmed!

Nanami Ogushi is a 17 year old who took part in the Pelican Productions Musical Theatre Camp this year and absolutely loved it. Nanami has always loved singing and has been going to singing lessons for a few years now – but officially found her passion and confidence for performing after participating in Pelican Productions. She played the lead of Mrs Potts in the show Beauty and Beast for Pelican Productions.

Nina is better known in Adelaide for her choreographic work, Hairspray (Adelaide Youth Theatre), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Pelican Productions), Music Theatre Camp 2015 and 2016 (Pelican Productions), Legally Blonde Jr (Shane Davidson Presents) among others. However, Nina is an accomplished musical theatre performer. Nina has performed in London and Liverpool in the UK but since moving to Australia in 2007 she has focused on her teaching and choreographic works. Nina is thrilled to have this long over due opportunity to indulge in her first passion, Musical Theatre.

Ruby’s passion for musical theatre began at a young age, receiving voice and acting training from industry professionals. Ruby is currently directing Urinetown with Hills Musical Company. Recently, Ruby played Sue in Carrie the Musical with Hills Musical Company, and Rose in Dogfight with St Jude’s Players. She also played Nicola in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society's production of Kinky Boots and was the ‘Turn Back, O Man’ soloist in Godspell, produced by Irregular Productions and Lydian Productions. She  performed as Hodel in the Therry Dramatic Society's production of Fiddler on the Roof, and understudied the title role and performed in the ensemble for Davine Productions’ Violet. Her performing credits also include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical witih Davine Productions, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Les Misérables produced by The Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and in 2023 Kiss Me Kate with Hills Musical Company.

Scott has always had a love of the theatre, but his real obsession began in high school, with performances as the Foreman, Pimp and a Student in Les Misérables, Priam in Paris and Action in West Side Story. Since completing high school he performed non-stop for a number of years, starting with Gerald Bolingbroke in Me and My Girl, an Apostle in Jesus Christ Superstar and Ugly in Honk! (Marie Clark Musical Theatre). After playing Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly! and Asher and the Butler in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Metropolitan Musical Theatre Company of SA), Scott joined Northern Light Theatre Company’s production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast as Monsieur D’Arque to round out 2011. The following year started with an incredible experience: Scott won the role of Henry in Six Foot Something’s pro-am Production of Next to Normal. After a mild performance hiatus in more recent times, Scott starred as Hunter in Irregular Productions sell out 2015 Adelaide Fringe season of [title of show].

If there’s one thing he regrets, it’s not starting singing and performing (publicly of course) at an earlier age. Off-stage (but in the theatre) Scott enjoys both sound and lighting design, and the challenges each of these areas brings to his knowledge of design in the digital world. Broadway Sessions is certainly the start of a new chapter, bringing together many ongoing stories and plot lines, but allowing the love of theatre (musical theatre in particular) to continue in new and exciting ways.

When not strutting his stuff on stage, or manically helping out backstage or in the roof of a theatre, Scott is a web designer & developer, creating sites like this one! You can see more of his work at www.scottreynolds.com.au.

Shannon Day is a 16 year old student currently in Year 11 at Murray Bridge High School.

Shannon has been studying music and singing for 4 years at the Murray Bridge High School and has been doing Vocal Ensemble for 3 years. Shannon sang a variety of songs in The Sound of Musicals in 2016 and played a heroic Prince Charming in Cinderella – a musical play in January 2017.

He is excited to be performing in Broadway Sessions with a song that he thoroughly enjoyed performing at The Sound of Musicals!

Sophie's passion for theatre began at the age of 11 years old in Northern Light Theatre Company's Beauty and the Beast. Since then she has played many of her favourite roles such as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Skylar in Bring it On, Brooke Wyndam in Legally Blonde and most recently Hedy La Rue in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Tom is an actor with an increasingly disconcerting habit of wandering onto cabaret stages. In 2017, he received vocal training at AC Arts and starred in his first two professional productions (Will Eno's Title and Deed and Adam Rapp's Nocturne). In 2019, he directed and performed in the Australian première of Nerve by Adam Szymkowicz, for which both he and co-star Katherine Silbereisen were nominated for ATG Curtain Call Awards.

Outside of theatre projects, Tom has been active in the comedy scene since 2015, both online and onstage, often in collaboration with Sebastian Benn.

Vanessa holds an Advanced Diploma of Design for makeup, specializing in film, TV, theatre and SFX. She has been Head Makeup Artist for various feature and short films and theatre productions. Currently she is performing in G&S Les Misérables as Madame Thenadier and following this Vanessa is producing and performing the role of Claire in Ordinary Days. Her other performance credits include understudy to the role of Bec in Amity Dry’s musical Mother Wife and The Complicated Life with Popjam Productions, Co-Opera’s The Magic Flute throughout Australia and Europe and performing Frasquita in Carmen. Vanessa’s extensive musical theatre background includes Mrs Sowerberry in Oliver!, Ayah in The Secret Garden, Tessa in The Gondoliers, the Fairy Queen in Iolanthe, Annas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Edith in Pirates of Penzance, and Rapunzel in Into The Woods. Vanessa has recently directed and designed The Addams Family Musical for Walford School for Girls.

As a child, you could always find BJ screaming into his SingStar microphone and dancing to High School Musical. These habits evolved into BJ's love for singing and dancing.

BJ Has been floating around the Adelaide Theatre scene for a short while now, but in his short career he has had the opportunity to participate in several shows and portray a variety of characters such as Angry Man #1, Rich Man, And Scared Man #2 in Jekyll and Hyde, Male Ensemble Member in Hello Dolly!, Reverend Henry T Dobson in Anything Goes, and Prince Dauntless the Drab in Once Upon A Mattress.

In 2021 BJ completed his Bachelors of Music Education and Pedagogy at the Adelaide Conservatorium, and is currently putting his skills to use as Assistant Music Director for Marie Clarke Music Theatres upcoming show I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.