April Session: Performer’s Choice

Alana is a periodontal nurse, a teacher and former student at TIDC Performing Arts Studio and a New York Film Academy Musical Theatre graduate and scholarship recipient. International shows include; Here Lies Love (‘Public Theatre’ Dir Alex Timbers), A Cabaret Tribute NYC (Dir Stafford Arrima) and Precious Moments Singapore Tour. During her time in New York, Alana was dance assistant to Deidre Goodwin Chicago (Broadway and Feature Film) for two years for the Broadway Dreams Foundation in NYC.

Local productions include Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie, G&S Society) Oklahoma! (Ado Annie, Emma Knights Productions), Chicago (Emma Knights Productions), Catch Me If You Can (Marie Clark), Flower Children (Davine Interventionz), and Leader of the Pack (Crystals,U/S Ellie, NLTC) amongst others. Her dance and television work includes being a backup dancer for MC Hammer and appearing in Australian TV series McLeod's Daughters, Neighbours and Totally Wild.

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.

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.

One of Chloe's earliest memories is twirling and singing in an Adelaide Crows football guernsey. Following this passion, she landed her first professional role in the touring production of Turandot in 2008, as well as starring as Ariel in the 2013 Australian premiere of The Little Mermaid. Chloe loved being part of Big Dreams – a 2019 Book Week show.

Throughout her time at WAAPA, Chloe has had the opportunity to play Cora in Atlantis (Matthew Robinson. Workshop) and Diane Lorimer in 42nd Street (dir. Jason Langley) as well as being a featured soloist in both Rent (dir. Adam Mitchell) and Chicago (dir. Crispin Taylor). Chloe filmed Vivid ‘magination, a music video with WASA where she played female lead Drew which was released in 2018.

Most recently Chloe returned from performing in Disney’s PJ Masks live show in Singapore with Marilla productions.

Danielle started performing at age 5 within her school and also in the Australian Girls Choir. She landed her first lead role in a musical at age 6 starring as Henny Penny in the year 1 & 2 production of The Sky is Falling, where she was seen pulling actors into their correct spots and mouthing everyone's lines. Nothing much has changed... You may have seen Danielle recently, since returning to theatre after havinga child, in Northern Lights Les Misérables playing a crazy lady of the night who quite partial to a porcelan doll, asleep throughout G&S's Into the Woods as Sleeping Beauty, or in Northern Lights Catch Me If You Can in the Ensemble. You will next be able to see her belting out some pop bangers as a Diva in G&S's Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in September 2023.

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.

Ebony has done Broadway Sessions a few times and has found that it is much more daunting than singing alone in the car, but it's also much more rewarding. Having not done any theatre work in about 5 years now, Broadway sessions and car-aoke (car karaoke) are some of the few performance opportunities she has. Of course, this doesn't stop her from performing every role during a song in her head.

EJ made her first journey to a theatre to photograph a show with her parents when she was only 8 months old. It seems that she was destined to be on the stage. She has appeared in a number of Adelaide Youth Theatre productions including as a Silly Girl in Beauty and the Beast (2015), and as Attina in The Little Mermaid (2016). In 2017 she performed in Fiddler on the Roof with Therry Dramatic Society. Most recently she performed Tightrope from The Greatest Showman as part of Pelican Productions - Music Theatre Camp (2019), winning the Spirit of Performance award for her involvement. Her favourite role to date has been playing Thea in Spring Awakening with the Hills Musical Company (2017).

Since the time she was just 4 years old, Emma has loved performing. She first realised her passion for musical theatre when she participated in her high school’s production of Grease as an eager year 8 student. As a now just as eager 21-year-old, she has since proudly been a part of many great shows. Some of her favourites include the roles of Tracy and Elle Woods in her school's productions of Hairspray and Legally Blonde, Lily St. Regis in Adelaide Youth Theatre’s Annie, Ruth in G & S society’s Thoroughly Modern Millie, Melita in Spring Awakening by HMC and most recently Girl Bad Idea Bear in HMC's Avenue Q. Emma is also very excited to be a member of the Elder Conservatorium's brand new musical theatre course and cannot wait to see where it leads her.

Finnegan is 16 years old and has loved performing from a young age. He has developed his passion for music and theatre as a company member of Pelican Productions and since he was 7 years old has played 13 lead roles in their musicals and shows.

Finnegan also loves to dance and trains in jazz, tap, ballet and contemporary dance with Accent on Dance and is currently completing Stage 2 dance at MQDE. In 2013 Finnegan made his professional debut in the role of 'Jeremy' in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (TML Enterprises) at the Adelaide Festival Theatre. In the same year he enjoyed his first film role in the short film Young Hearts directed by Tim Hodgson and played the title role of Amahl in the opera Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Adelaide Festival Centre. He also participated in a developmental workshop for SINGular Productions/State Opera's Innocence Lost.

In 2014 Finnegan was lucky enough to be one of the top 100 and one of only 3 South Australian's in The Voice Kids (Nine Network). In 2017 he played the fun role of ‘Rooster’ in Annie and this year played the role of ‘Emmett’ in Legally Blonde both for his school, Concordia College. Last year he was also chosen to participate in the pilot program of Newsies JR with Itheatrics as well as playing the title role of 'Horton' for Pelican Productions' Seussical JR. Earlier in 2018 Finnegan travelled to the USA where he participated in a week long Itheatrics pilot program in New York and performed several lead roles with Pelican Productions on the Carnival ship in the Caribbean. He performed the same show in Disney and also played the role of Burt in the Mary Poppins workshop with Disney Performing Arts.

Last year Finnegan played the role of Twig in Pelican Productions’ Bring it On and he can’t wait to play the role again for the return season in August 2018.

At 23, Georgia is still exploring Adelaide's theatre community with wide eyes. With a later start than some, Georgia began performing with Pelican Productions at 14, and continued to do so for six years. Her most recent feat with the company was in 2017 in Bring it On: The Musical, where she played the part of Bridget, earning her a nomination for best youth perfomer.

Georgia has spread her love of the performing arts overseas, by working as a drama instructor in a summer camp in Arizona. She has just completed her Bachelor of International Tourism at Flinders University and most recently starred in the MET's production of High Society as the precocious Dinah Lord. Up next, Georgia will be performing in Davine Productions Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in the 2020 Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Jemma is chuffed that Broadway Sessions is finally back!! She is here for a good time and can't wait to jam with the band and see all of her lovely theatre friends again!! Yay!!!

John is a graduate of the Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the Elder Conservatorium, and has previously completed a BA in Classical Voice at the University of Western Australia, the Certificate course at WAAPA in Musical Theatre, and the Music Theatre Intensive at the Stella Adler Studio NYC. John is also executive producer and co-founder of the theatrical collective EXEUNT (Pursued By A Bear) Productions which most recently performed Rodgers & Hammerstein's: A Grand Night for Singing at the Adelaide Fringe.

Having been singing since the age of 5, Jordan has been involved in music for almost his entire life. He has been involved in many choirs, musicals and other music events throughout his time at school, such as the Generations in Jazz festival, playing Kurt in The Sound of Music, and Jesus in Godspell. Now at University, Jordan seeks to involve himself further in the music scene in Adelaide.

Kirsty grew up in Mount Gambier where they were involved in multiple community choirs and theatre productions, including Little Shop of Horrors as Chiffon and Rizzo in Grease. After moving to Adelaide they played Martha in Segue Productions Heathers in 2019 as well as being involved in choral groups. They took a few years off before returning to the stage again in 2022 with HMC’s Shrek, playing the all so loveable ‘Egg’.

At 17 years old, Lucy is an accomplished performer who has been singing, dancing and treading the boards for as long as she can remember. Lucy is currently in year 11 at Walford Anglican School for Girls where she is Choir Leader and a key member of their principal performing choir, Chanterelle. This year, she has completed year 12 Drama and a Certificate 3 in Dance (Music Theatre) and has most recently played the roles of Annas/Queen Herod/Soul Girl in the Walford Anglican School for Girls x St Peters College production of Jesus Christ Superstar,  the lead role of Laura Black in Angela Betzien's Girl Who Cried Wolf, and as Tangled's Rapunzel in Pelican Productions Music Theatre Camp.

Her previous performing highlights include Ariel in The Little Mermaid Jr (Shane Davidson Presents), Margot in Legally Blonde Jr (Shane Davidson Presents), Cinderella in Into the Woods Jr (Shane Davidson Presents), Rafiki in Lion King Jr (Shane Davidson Presents), Mary Poppins (Pelican Productions' MTC), as well as being a part of OzTheatrics Junior Theatre Festival Australia showcase of Guys and Dolls Jr and the pilot of Mean Girls Jr.

Lucy receives vocal coaching from the glorious Millicent Sarre and dances at GWB Studios.

Maya’s love of musical theatre began at an early age, with her journey in performance beginning with Pelican Productions. Since then, Maya’s theatre credits include The Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s Thoroughly Modern Millie (2016) and Les Misérables (2017), Lydian Productions and Irregular Productions’ Godspell (2018) as the ‘By My Side’ soloist, Marie Clark Musical Theatre’s Anything Goes (2019) as Hope Harcourt, Segue Productions’ Heathers (2019) as Heather McNamara, and most recently Davine Productions' Beautiful: The Carole King Musical as Cynthia Weil (2020). Maya is a primary school Dance/Drama teacher, and she finds so much joy in being able to share her love of musical theatre with her students.

Millicent Sarre (Mim) is a cabaret artist, singer-songwriter, vocal coach, and musical theatre performer, brought up and working on Kaurna Land. She has toured her original cabaret works Australia-wide; her most recent show Millicent Sarre is Opinionated won ‘Best Cabaret’ of the Adelaide Fringe 2023, and the album of the original songs from the show was released in February 2023. Previous musical theatre roles include Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd (ECMT, dir. James Millar), Hildy in On the Town (ECMT, dir. Erin James), Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (ECMT, dir. Joseph Simons), and Ivy in the Australian premiere of Ivy + Bean: The Musical (The Gemini Collective, dir. Sarah Williams). Mim will graduate with a Bachelor of Music Theatre from the Elder Conservatorium in 2023.

Having started piano lessons at the age of 5, Nha-Uyen has been a musician and a performer since a young age. Upon discovering musical theatre, she joined her school's Musical Theatre Club, which she stayed in throughout her high school years. During this time, Nha-Uyen played Kate from Legally Blonde in her school's musical revue and had the opportunity to direct The Lion King Jr in her senior year. She also featured as an ensemble member in the Grease Arena Spectacular (Harvest Rain, 2017) and Miss Saigon (The MET, 2019).

Nha-Uyen is currently studying her Masters of Optometry at Flinders Uni, but is looking forward to graduating to become the optometrist-ing artist she's always aspired to be!

Nikki is an Adelaide raised performer. Last year she graduated from the Bachelor of Music Theatre degree at Elder Conservatorium Music Theatre. Before ECMT she completed her Certificate IV in Dance at Australian Company of Performing Arts. In 2019 she played Heather Chandler in Segue Productions Heathers. In 2021 she made her Adelaide Fringe Festival debut in Friendly Feminism for The Mild Mannered and was also part of the choir in Chess: The Musical (dir. Tyran Parke). Nikki appeared in the second year production of Urinetown (dir. George Torbay) as Mrs Millennium. She was also the Josephine “Old Ma” Strong and Soupy Sue cover, and performed as Josephine “Old Ma” Strong for two performances. While at ECMT she performed in the third year production of In Pieces (dir. George Torbay). Nikki performed in the ensemble of ECMT’s third year production of Les Miserables (dir. Erin James) and she performed as Kate/Ensemble in the graduation production of Legally Blonde (dir. Nikki Snelson) Nikki has just finished a tour with Echelon Productions performing Way Too Cool for children’s book week in schools and will be moving to Sydney in January.

Robyn has been performing and teaching for over 20 years in various guises. After completing her Bachelor of Music, the stage wooed her and she has since performed with the Hills Musical Company, Northern Light Theatre and Matt Byrne Media. Her favourite performances have included; Rita in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with Matt Byrne Media; Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers and Vera in Stepping Out, for the Hills Musical Company; Sukie in The Witches of Eastwick and Kathy in Singing in the Rain with Northern Light theatre company. Robyn also won the Best Female Performance for her role as Dusty in Northern Light Theatre's Dusty: The Original Pop Diva.

Over the past three years, she has been the lead vocalist for the 60’s band, The Highlights, performed in the 60s Down Under matinee series, and worked as a backing vocalist for the 2017 Adelaide Fringe show, A Tribute to George Harrison. With a background in jazz music, she was also given the opportunity to sing with the Lindy Hip Big Band for two years, and features on their CD.

Robyn has just performed in Northern Light Theatre's season of Mamma Mia, playing the lead role of Donna.

Ruby’s passion for musical theatre began at a young age, receiving voice and acting training from industry professionals. Recently, Ruby played Rose in Dogfight with St Jude’s Players, Nicola in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society's 2019 production of Kinky Boots and was the ‘Turn Back, O Man’ soloist in Godspell, produced by Irregular Productions and Lydian Productions. She also 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’s theatre debut was the role of Grainterre, in the Mayfair Theatre Companys production of Les Misérables in 2001. He went on to play the roles of Levi in Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat (MS Society, Odean Theatre 2001) and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (MS Society, Her Majesty's Theatre 2002). In 2012, Scott was fortunate to perform the role of Jean Val Jean, in Les Misérables 2012 (Shane Davidson Presents) and regards this as the most challenging and rewarding Music Theatre experience.

Scott has sung with popular Adelaide vocal group, Limited Edition, for coming up to twenty years. He works as a firefighter in Adelaide and is married with three kids who are all passionate theatre performers.

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.

Sienna has been performing since a young age and is currently undertaking voice lessons with Millicent Sarre. She's performed as Mrs Potts in Beauty and the Beast Jr (Adelaide Theatre Academy) and Ronnett in Adelaide Theatre Academy's ATG nominated Little Shop of Horrors. Sienna was nominated for TASA's Best Female Youth Performer for her portrayal of Kira in Xanadu Jr and performed as Amy Beecher in March Productions'sold-outt season of Barnum.

Simon has been a regular on Adelaide amateur stages since appearing in the ensemble of HMC's Sideshow (2018), appearing in both plays and musicals. Highlights include Kurt in Heathers (Segue Productions, 2019), Charlie Marlow in She Stoops to Conquer (Blue Sky Theatre, 2020), Warner in Legally Blonde (The Met, 2021) and Boland in Dogfight (St Judes Players, 2022). Simon will next be appearing as Tommy in Carrie with HMC. Simon tries to balance theatre with his other hobbies of cycling and running, usually without success.

Tori’s passion for the creative arts can be found through her love for singing and a full-time career in Architecture. Through her studies, Tori found a clear lineage between music and architecture and has enjoyed pursuing her passion for singing more closely now having completed her studies in 2016. Recent highlights include performing as part of the Jones Commentary Choir for the 2019 Adelaide Fringe ‘People’s Choice’ Award-winning Jackson vs. Jackson directed by Charmaine Jones and singing as part of the Music Theatre Trio at the Studio and Star Factory directed by Amelie Peters & Kirsty Roberts.

Following training in classical voice at Elder Conservatorium, and many years as a soloist at weddings, parties and (almost) anything, Wendy’s involvement in theatre has seen her embrace a wide variety of character roles over the past 25 years. These have ranged from haughty Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music, fragile Old Sally in Oliver! and the delightfully dithery Mrs Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone ... to memorable characters created for the busy ensembles of The Goodbye Girl and Big Fish. She has appeared as Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance several times, and can't seem to stop performing in Les Misérables.

Wendy has appeared with Emma Knights Productions as Ruth in Pirates of Penzance (Adelaide Fringe Festival), Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! On A Farm, Mrs Rachel Lynde in Anne of Green Gables and Sister Berthe/Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music.

Will has performed in Emma Knights Productions’ 2018 production of Oklahoma!, as well as Pirates of Penzance and Buffy Kills Edward in the Adelaide Fringe Festival. He was part of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s 2017 production of Les Misérables and went on to play Henrik in G&S’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music in 2018. Will would like to say a special thank you to his tap dance teacher Bec Schembri, for without her tireless and too often thankless guidance over the last two years, he would not be tapping in Marie Clark's upcoming production of Anything Goes.

Peter is a music director, accompanist, repertoire coach, and the founder of Irregular Productions - one half of the brains behind Broadway Sessions.

He has been a theatre music director since 2005, with a number of his shows winning local awards. Theatre Credits include: (as Music Director) Beautiful, Mamma Mia, Les Misérables, Next to Normal, Violet, The Story Of My Life, Songs For A New World, The Light In The Piazza, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, Into the Woods, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, [title of show], Edges, Avenue Q, Bring It On, Singing In The Rain, Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver!, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Chicago, Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music, Urinetown the Musical, Scrooge, The Witches of Eastwick, Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical the Musical, Grease, Once Upon a Mattress; (as Associate Music Director) Kinky Boots; (as Conductor) City of Angels, The Addams Family; (as Associate Conductor) Rent; (as Assistant Music Director) Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, South Pacific, Copacabana; as well as playing keyboard in over 25 other productions.

Besides co-producing Broadway Sessions, Irregular Productions has also staged the South Australian premieres of Songs for a New World, [title of show] and Edges, as well as a new production of Godspell (with Lydian Productions).

Peter is also the music director for Civic Park Carols, Australia's second-largest candlelight carols event, working with some of Adelaide’s finest musician’s and performers, as well as artists such as Justine Clarke, Guy Sebastian, Rachel Beck, and Jimmy Giggle.

Louis has been playing both double bass and bass guitar as long as he can remember. Beginning with lessons at the age of 7, he quickly developed his skills and decided that music was the career for him. Louis began playing for Musical Theatre shows in 2011, with the Northern Lights Theatre Company’s production of Beauty and the Beast, which coincidentally, was the beginning of a long-standing working relationship with Musical Director, Peter Johns! Since, Louis has played for many theatre companies around Adelaide, including Adelaide Youth Theatre, Lydian Productions, Pelican Productions, Davine Productions, Irregular Productions, Marie Clarke Musical Theatre, The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of South Australia, and Hills Musical Company. Some of his favourite shows to play for have been In the Heights, for Pelican Productions in 2019, and Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, for Davine Productions in 2020. In 2018, Louis had the privilege of playing in the pit for the Gordon Frost Organisation’s touring production of The Wizard of Oz. Louis graduated from the Elder Conservatorium of Music in 2016, with a Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance.) That same year, he began performing as a casual member of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra - some of his favourite performances include Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, and Last Night of the Proms at the Adelaide Festival Centre.