July Session: Composer Night

Aimee is an avid music lover . She currently attends Tutti Arts and participates in their music program three days a week. Aimee loves performing and will take each opportunity to do so, participating in the performing arts group, singing with the Tutti Choir and Poco Choir, and is also a member of the worlds first all girl disability music group The Sisters of Invention. The Sisters of Invention, have seen Aimee perform at numerous events such as The Special Olympics Closing Ceremony, Womad and The Fringe Festival. Aimee and her music group The Sisters of Invention just released their second album.

Alicia is 13 years old and made her stage debut with the G&S Society playing the role of Marta in The Sound of Music in 2014. It was here that Alicia discovered her love for Musical Theatre and she has been actively involved since. Alicia made her professional debut in 2016 playing the role of Brigitta von Trapp in the Adelaide season of The Sound of Music with the Gordon Frost Organisation. Alicia has performed in several musicals with Pelican Productions, Adelaide Youth Theatre, Shane Davidson Presents, TB Arts and Emma Knights Productions. Alicia has also performed with the Adelaide Rep Theatre, Promise Adelaide, Spark of Inspiration and Peter Combe.

Apart from Brigitta, her favourite roles have been Mayzie in Seussical Jr, and Little Cosette in Les Misérables, and Elle Woods (her dream role) in Pelican Productions Music Theatre Camp. Alicia is a dance student at RSDS and a voice student of Kirsty Roberts and Amelie Peters, and previously Katrina Ryan. Alicia loves performing and is grateful for all of the friendships she has made through Music Theatre.

In her spare time, Alicia enjoys spending time at home with her family and two dogs, Benji & Tilly. She enjoys watching Musical Theatre, Movies, playing Netball, Cooking and spending time with her friends.

Andrew is an established freelance performer and vocal coach who has performed professionally in and around Adelaide. He has been a member of the State Opera of SA’s Chorus since 2009. Andrew‘s first foray into the world of Music Theatre was in 2000, when he was encouraged to audition for the Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s back-to-back production of HMS Pinafore and Trial By Jury, and since then he has not looked back!

Andrew won his first leading role in 2006, and has gone on to play a large number of leading and supporting roles throughout Adelaide’s community theatre. Andrew has been nominated for Best Male Performance by the Critics Circle Awards for his role as Don Lockwood in Singin’ In The Rain, and by the Adelaide Theatre Guide for the same role, as well as his portrayal of The Beast in Disney's Beauty And The Beast. For one of his most recent productions Andrew won the TASA Best Male Performance Award for his portrayal of Edward Bloom in BIG FISH – a show which also won the TASA MusiCal Award. Andrew co-wrote and performed in the sold-out season of Villain-Ville: A Musical Exploration of Villainy and Evil in the 2015 Fringe Festival. His most recent appearances this year include a return to the role of Curly McLain (for the third time) in an outdoor production of Oklahoma (On A Farm) with Emma Knights Productions, The Preacher in Davine Interventionz production of Violet, a return to the role of the Major General in Emma Knights Productions’ fourth season of Pirates On The Popeye, and lastly as Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Andrew played the role of Marius in both seasons of Les Misérables with the Gilbert & Sullivan’s Society in 2008 and 2009, and he is overjoyed to be coming back for yet another season with them only this time as the infamous Javert – a role he has coveted since he was little!

Claire is a child sized adult who likes hats, op shops and short walks along the beach. You might remember her for her classic work as the face of KFC Zinger Burgers back in 1993.

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.

Growing up performing in the Scouts’ Gang Show: Comedy Capers, David developed a love for musical theatre from a young age. Trained at the Centre for the Performing Arts; David has enjoyed performing Shakespeare with the State Theatre, Lightning Strike and Chopt Logic Theatre Companies and has toured in the past with Splash Theatre Company. Turning from professional acting to focus his energy on his family and work for the Anglican Church as a priest, David chooses to do shows that he loves.

It was in Marie Clark's production of Paris in the titular role that David hit the Adelaide scene in musical theatre. David has since performed with Marie Clark Musical Theatre in Miss Saigon (John) and as Carl Hanratty in the 2016 production of Catch Me if You Can. He has worked with Northern Light Theatre Company as Frederick in Pirates of Penzance and Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. David also performed at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2015 with Lazy Saturday Productions' Australian premiere of Darkle. 2017 was a big year of theatre for David starting with Pale Ale Tales, a new work by local writer, Jason Hendy in the 2017 Adelaide Fringe, Jekyll and Hyde with Marie Clark and finishing with Les Misérables as Enjolras with G&S Society. Most recently David performed with the Hills Musical Company in Assassins as John Wilkes Booth.

David is thankful to his wife for her love and support, and for letting him play.

Eilish Webb is an emerging Australian classical soprano and actress who is currently studying their Bachelor of Music Performance (Classical Voice) at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Eilish has a passion for classical musical theatre, operetta and pantomime. They love to perform in a diverse range of roles. Eilish has performed in lead roles such as: Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls), Wendy Darling (Peter Pan), Little Red Riding Hood (Into the Woods), and Miss Hannigan (Annie) to name a few. They made their directorial debut in 2019 when they directed and stage-managed their own production of The Pajama Game. Alongside their theatrical performing, Eilish maintains their experience for their other passion makeup artistry. They completed their Diploma in Screen and Media Makeup in 2020. Upon completion of their Bachelor, they would love to build their career as a performer and perform in classical or Golden Age musicals and operas in London and New York.

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).

Emily lives in rural South Australia and loves to perform. Roles she has played have been Glinda (The Wizard of Oz), Vi (Footloose), Witch (Into the Woods), Reno (Anything Goes), Crystal (Little Shop of Horrors). Emily has also served as co-director (Into the Woods), Music Director (Little Shop of Horrors, Mamma Mia) and Costume Designer (Footloose, Shrek). Emily has had a brief break from the stage while she studies to become a teacher.

While being a parent and university student in a rural town, Emily continues to persue her love of performing. She has performed in a number of shows and has also served as a production team member. Her favourite roles have been Vi in Footloose and Reno in Anything Goes.

Born into a family with a background in the performing arts, Emma has been immersed in the world of theatre ever since she can remember. Her introduction to Adelaide amateur theatre came when she joined the ensemble of G&S’s Oliver! in both 2013 and 2014, and was involved in the society’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2016. In 2017, Emma fulfilled her lifelong dream to perform the role of Cosette in Les Misérables, also with G&S, and in 2019 joined the cast of Therry's The Pirates of Penzance as Edith. Emma graduated from her Bachelor of Arts at Adelaide University in 2019.

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.

Hannah has taken part in all things performance since a young age: whether that be musicals or cabarets, concerts or choirs, in school or at co-curriculars. She is a lover of the jazz style, and chances are if you find her performing, that's what she'll be singing. Hannah is currently involved in the premier choir at her school, and is working towards completing Stage 1 music in preparation for the Stage 2 Solo Performance course she'll undertake in Year 11.

Hayley is 19 and has been passionate about theatre since joining Adelaide Theatre Academy (formerly Theatre Bugs) in 2007. In 2017 she was in their elite Showstoppers class after six years of their previous top class, Performance Troupe. She performed with Peter Combe for 6 years, joining him on his Australian Tour, soloing, and assisting in choreography. She was in the Festival of Music’s Performance Troupe, soloing in 2011 and 2012. She was in Fagin’s Gang in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Oliver productions in both 2013 and 2014, and sung in the Australian Youth Ballet’s production of Nutcracker in 2015.

Hayley was in Adelaide Youth Theatre’s Hairspray in 2014 and was a Boylan Sister in Annie in 2015. In 2017 she was a featured soloist for Shane Davidson’s Wicked. Her highlights for Adelaide Theatre Academy include soloing in annual Cabarets, the Mirror in Snow White, Tweedle Dum in Alice in Wonderland, Mrs Mayor in Seussical, and Corey Senior in Back to the ’80s. In high school, she danced in the Special Interest Dance Program for 3 years and gained top marks in her drama class in The Black Raven Inn. She has taken vocal lessons for 10 years, the last six being with Randall Boscoe.

As well as performing, Hayley has also stage managed three productions and designed the lighting, visuals, and sound for many other school and charity productions. After a year hiatus to focus on studying Cognitive Neuroscience at UniSA, Hayley is eager to return to the stage at Broadway Sessions.

Jaxon is an avid 19 year old musical theatre performer and fan in Adelaide. Since he began performing regularly in 2017, Jaxon has explored various outlets of Adelaide theatre, performing in major shows, original musicals, and even his own cabaret. Jaxon’s love of Music Theatre has only grown since finding his niche, a challenge for him as a performer on the spectrum. Some notable roles include Captain Hook in Adelaide Theatre Academy’s Peter Pan (2020), Grantaire and Courfreyac in two productions of Les Misérables; the first with Adelaide Youth Theatre (2021), the latter with Northern Light Theatre Company (2022), and Joe Pesci in Northern Light Theatre Company’s Jersey Boys (2022). Jaxon is also keen within the background of theatre as the youngest MD in the history of Scouts SA's Performing Arts Branch for Adelaide Gang Show, where he initiated the return of a full youth band. Jaxon is also a keen Theatre Technician, working casually in a northern adelaide theatre. Jaxon is currently studying the Bachelor of Music Theatre at the Elder Conservatorium, with an aim to finish at the end of 2025.

Next year, Jaxon will be performing in the Fringe Show Fountain Lakes: A Very Foxy Parody, a Kath and Kim Musical, where he will be playing the role of Kel Knight.

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.

Kiera Turner has been a part of the musical theatre scene since 2015 after graduating with meritorious achievement from Brighton Secondary School's Special Interest Music program. Since then she has participated in Forbidden Broadway (Blackwood Players, 2015), The Little Mermaid (AYT, 2016), Into the Woods (AYT, 2016).

She played her first supporting role as Johanna in Sweeney Todd (SCCAS, 2017) and then as Cosette in Les Misérables (SCCAS, 2018). She has since done Phantom of the Opera (G&S Society, 2018), Miss Saigon (The Met, 2019), as well as playing violin in the orchestra for a number of other shows. Kiera is extremely excited to be playing Princess Ida as her first lead role as she particularly connected to the character. Ida is a kickass young lady who truly believes in the power and intelligence of women and Kiera hopes to bring this to the stage.

Meg has loved performing since she was 4 years old. She has been a committed member of the Australian Girls Choir for 13 years, singing solos in front of 60,000 spectators at sporting events and performing with celebrities such as Hugh Jackman. Meg has also been a part of the Pelican Productions Musical Theatre Camp for 6 summers, playing roles such as Sylvia in Finding Neverland and Peggy in Hamilton.

Since diving into his passion for drama and musical theatre in high school, Nick hasn't stopped! He's performed in a number of plays and through he enjoys traditional theatre, his heart rests with singing. He will never forget his first musical Legally Blonde and has since performed twice at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. He never lets his studies get in the way of strengthening his skills and he enjoys pushing his limits. His 2019 highlights include a radio play of It's a Wonderful Life with Wings2Fly Theatre where he performed several roles, and Heathers The Musical with Segue Productions in the ensemble role of Preppy Stud.

Nicky is originally from Hong Kong. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts (Major in Performing Arts and Screen Studies) at UniSA. Nicky has had a passion for stage performance from a very young age. She participated in productions at the Hong Kong School Drama Festival from 2008 to 2014. In 2017, she was cast as an ensemble member in the Norwood Morialta High School’s production of Chicago The Musical.

Early in 2019, Nicky was cast as an ensemble member in Miss Saigon, produced by The Metropolitan Musical Theatre Company of SA inc. In June 2019, she performed her original songs at both the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and the Cabaret Fringe Festival with her University fellows. Recently, Nicky portrayed Miss Lark in Shane Davidson Presents' Mary Poppins.

2020 has been harsh on the arts industry, however, performing arts students at UniSA has decided to go forward with their final year production. Nicky is currently working as the Assistant Creative Director of the production Mosaic.

Pilates Instructor by day, Performer by night! A passion for Music Theatre, Oriana has been performing from age 8, undertaking Singing, Jazz, Ballet, Tap and Acting with The Johnny Young Talent School under the tuition of renowned mentors Malcolm Harslett, Bec Schembri, Gwen Mackey (OAM), Sue Scott, Rachel Symons, Tina Pollard (nee Casper), Debra Krizak and Kim Spargo. Oriana has completed her Ballet, Tap and Student Teachers' Examinations under the Commonwealth Society of Dancing.

At age 10, saw her first professional performance with Mighty Good Productions Pty Ltd in Humphrey B. Bear and his Magic Lamp with many other pantomimes following. Theatre credits include the roles of July (Annie, The Met), Brigitta (The Sound of Music, The Met). Helene (Sweet Charity, Mayfair Theatre Company) along with holiday entertainment as numerous Warner Bros. Suit Character roles for Conrad & Co Pty Ltd.

Part of The Three Chillies Cabaret group, this act has performed for numerous events around SA, including the Adelaide Fringe Festival, 2010, 2011 & 2012 receiving a 5 Star review for Hot Chillie Box accompanied by renowned pianist, Matthew Carey.  They performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2009) & Out of the Square as well as a fortnightly residency at Tongue Thai'd Restaurant from 2006-2010. Other Adelaide Fringe credits include lead Female Vocalist alongside Darren Mullen (founder of Hindley Street Country Club) in But I Won't Do That, Swamp Fairy under the direction of Jo Casson (DING Productions) and Sharon Angove.

Swamp Fairy performances include A Night on Broadway, Destination Broadway and Encore. Roles include Hunyak (Chicago), Carmen (Fame), Rumpleteazer (Cats). Oriana is currently a Backing Vocalist with Australia's Elvis Tribute Artist, Mark Anthony as well as International Elvis Tribute Artists at the Parkes Elvis Festival 2018/2019, American Trilogy 2018, Cooly Rocks On Festival, 2023 and Royal Carribean, Blue Suede Cruise 2023.

Sarah is a devoted theatre wife to her touring husband, who is currently performing in The Book of Mormon, and she is loving the chance to see Australia with her family. She has been singing since the age of 7 and has performed in several community theatres in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, as well as a career performing in Kuwait, where she met her husband at an audition. She has performed as a professional vocalist at royal galas in the Middle East and is delighted to be back in Australia where she has worked as a high school English and German teacher before going on maternity leave recently.

Her most notable roles include Aladdin in the pantomime Aladdin, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Fantine in Les Misérables, Dynamite in Hairspray, and Aquata alongside her husband who was King Triton in The Little Mermaid. Her musical inspiration is Eva Cassidy and she adores Motown and one day hopes to watch a broadway production live in New York. She is delighted to once again have the opportunity to perform onstage and leave her two adorable children Daphne and Lucas in good hands for the evening.

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.

Sophie graduated from WAAPA in 2014 where she had the great opportunity and honour to work with such names as Tayna Mitford, Jason Langley, Lisa O'Dea and the head of Performing Arts at WAAPA Andrew Lewis. Throughout her time there she was featured in roles such as Sheila in Hair, Mae Colman in Reefer Madness and Consuela in West Side Story and had the privilege to perform with Hugh Jackman. After moving to Melbourne she took a contract as the lead vocalist on one of Royal Caribbeans newest ships – The Quantum of the Seas. She returns to Australia excited to continue pursuing her dreams of working in musical theatre.

Zachary Baseby is 23 years old and has had a burning passion for all things musical theatre related from a very young age, starting from his first performance in 2008 as Humpty Dumpty in Surprising Old King Cole (Stars on Stage). From there on, he has trained with various acting schools such as Actors Ink., Theatrebugs, Mighty Good Productions, and Heesom Casting before performing in his first musical theatre show in 2017 with The Parks Youth Theatre as an ensemble member in Grease.

Some of Zachary’s theatre highlights over the past few years have been: The Grinch in Seussical (NLTC, 2018), Horton the Elephant in Seussical Jr (Shane Davidson Presents, 2020), Javert in Les Misérables (NOW Productions, 2021), The Wolf in Into the Woods (Adelaide Youth Theatre, 2022), Uncle Fester in The Addams Family (Alternative Theatre Company, 2022), Wadsworth in Clue (Phoenix Variety & Music Group, 2023), Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid (Balaklava Community Arts, 2023) and most recently, the titular role in Peter Pan: A Christmas Pantomime (Blackwood Players, 2023).

Other than theatre, Zachary has also appeared in two short films to date created by students of Flinders University: Plastic Aeroplane (2018) and Rock, Paper, Scissors (2019). He has also appeared in two full length film projects with NOW Productions as the role of Bobby Packer in TEN FOUR, Agent Percash: REWIND, and Detective Jamieson in their spin-off adaptation: RED DAWN.

Recently, Zachary has landed his most recent roles as Cretin in Agatha Twisty: A Murder in Pantoland for the Adelaide Fringe 2024 and venturing into his first show with the G&S Society of South Australia in their May 2024 production of Oklahoma!

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.