Broadway Sessions Fringe – Miscast

23 Sunday February 2020
When: 6:30pm Where: Norwood Live, Norwood Hotel Tickets: $15-22

About this Session

So! You’re a performer! A pretty amazing one at that, right? A triple threat with a killer range that can do anything we throw at you. Well. Almost anything.

There’s that one sore spot. That one role you’ve coveted your whole life…

If you know in your heart of hearts that you would walk into an audition room and blow the socks off that panel with your rendition of ‘Tomorrow’, if only you weren’t a hairy 6ft7 man with sleeve tats from Glasgow, then Broadway Sessions – Miscast is for you!

This month we are giving you, yes YOU, the opportunity to play that part you’ve always wanted to play but are so completely, entirely, unbelievably, wrong for. This is your CHANCE to finally break free from the suffocating limitations of casting briefs and transcend all expectations. All you have to do is register your song choice and get ready to send shockwaves through the musical theatre world.

How would the story change? What new perspective or understandings will arise? It’s a super fun evening where dreams come true!

 

Doors open at 5:45pm. Food and beverages are available from the bar.

Pre-purchase single tickets and tables from Adelaide Fringe to secure your spot. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door.

For your chance to perform, visit our registration page and submit two song options (from a musical or by an established music theatre writer) to express your interest. Registrations open on Thursday 28 November and close on Sunday 9 February.

Session Setlist

Act 1
The Schuyler Sisters (Hamilton: An American Musical) – Casmira Lorien, David MacGillivray, Jordan Coulter, Lindsay Prodea
Good Morning Baltimore (Hairspray) – Jaxon Joy
The Confrontation (Les Misérables) – Carly Meakin, Eloise Quinn-Valentine
Where Is The Life That Late I Led? (Kiss Me, Kate) – Eilish Webb
Moving Too Fast (The Last Five Years) – Charlotte Kowald
On The Steps of the Palace (Into The Woods) – Jordan Coulter
Go The Distance (Hercules) – Nikki Long
Boyband (Happy People) – Alisa James
Proud Of Your Boy (Aladdin) – Phoebe Rodger
As If We Never Said Goodbye (Sunset Boulevard) – David Gauci
Act 2
What Is This Feeling? (Wicked) – Louis Cann, Max Ziliotto
Honey, Honey (Mamma Mia)* – Chad Crittle, Gavin Cianci, Gus Smith, Ray Cullen
Gethsemane (Jesus Christ Superstar) – Mikari Zollo Semmler
Poor Unfortunate Souls (The Little Mermaid) – Jethro Pidd
You’ve Got To Pick-A-Pocket Or Two (Oliver) – Grace Colsey
King of the World (Songs For A New World) – Amelie Peters
You’ll Be Back (Hamilton: An American Musical) – Nha-Uyen Tran
Breathe (In The Heights) – Robbie Mitchell
She Used To Be Mine (Waitress) – Ron Abelita
Fantine’s Death (Les Misérables) – Casmira Lorien, Mark Oates
Loud (Matilda) – David MacGillivray
* promoting an upcoming show

Session Hosts

Casmira Lorien (she/her)

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.

Mark Oates (he/him)

Mark is an award winning South Australian performer whose credits include the Adelaide and Brisbane Festivals, State Opera South Australia, SINGular Productions, Co Opera, Various People, Aerial Artists Australia, and MOatesArt Productions.

In 2022 Mark was nominated for an Adelaide Critic's Circle Award for his body of work. He premiered the dual roles of Ian Duncan and Don Dunstan in Neil Armfield's Ruby Award-winning Watershed: The Death Of Dr Duncan for the Adelaide Festival – while for State Opera South Australia he performed Lt Tom in Voss and Gastone in La Traviata, as well as embarking on a national tour of Love Burns, completing the first orchestration workshop of When The Rain Stops Falling and appearing in Bright Lights, Big Dreams.

Previous Adelaide Festival appearances are Mozart Requiem (2020), Bernstein Mass – featured Street Singer (2012) and Le Grande Macabre - Ruffiak (2010).

In State Opera of South Australia's 2023 season Mark will be appearing as the Defendant in Trial by Jury and in Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore, as well as hosting the Tra La La Bar for the Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, with further exciting projects to be announced. In 2021, Mark appeared as Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd and Jack in Love Burns, and opened the year in Carousel. Further highlights with the company include Njegus in The Merry Widow, Arjuna in Satyagraha, John Styx in Orpheus in the Underworld, The Cantor in Maria de Buenos Aires (co production with Leigh Warren Dancers – Adelaide Festival Centre Playhouse and Brisbane Festival). Mark is a proud and long-standing State Opera South Australia artist, both as a chorister and a principal performer.

Well known and regarded on the concert stage, Mark also mentors Class of Cabaret for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, works extensively with Primary Schools Music Festival and regularly tours with Aerial Artists Australia in Le Aerial, including Perth Fringeworld, Adelaide Fringe, Auckland Fringe, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Arts Centre and Port Douglas. Mark is Associate Producer and regular host of Broadway Sessions, Adelaide's long running monthly music theatre focussed, curated open mic night.

Session Performers

Alisa James

Alisa has been performing in musicals in Adelaide for over 10 years. Alisa's favourite roles include Gary Coleman in Avenue Q (MBM, 2011), Reno in Dusty (The Met, 2011) and Enid in Legally Blonde the Musical (Hills, 2014). Most recently Alisa performed in Violet (Davine Interventionz) for the Adelaide Fringe. Currently Alisa is rehearsing for Aida with the Hills Musical Company. Alisa has trained in jazz, tap, contemporary and hip hop dance and has vocal tuition with Kirsty Roberts.

Amelie Peters

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.

Carly Meakin

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 Lorien (she/her)

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.

Chad Crittle

Such mystery. Such wonder.

Charlotte Kowald

Charlotte Kowald has been singing as long as she can remember, beginning performing Pocahontas songs in her backyard at the age of 3. Although she has explored various genres and instruments, Charlotte has always loved musical theatre and has played roles in musicals such as Cats and Seussical. She has studied under many vocal teachers through her life and is now in her second year of Jazz Performance (Voice) at the Elder Conservatorium of Music.

David Gauci (he/him)

David Gauci, proudly from Adelaide’s western suburbs, wouldn’t stop singing from an early age – so much so that the Sisters of St Joseph at primary school wished he’d just shut up and do maths.

At Woodville High, teachers and parents suggested – after David showed interest in acting or journalism – a career in accounting. He did study accountancy but also theology and music (Elder Conservatorium). David was introduced to opera and classical singing but went down the dark path of corporate functions, cabaret and music theatre. He worked in piano bars for 20 years in Adelaide, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney and Townsville.

David wrote cabaret shows New York According to Bernstein, The Sinatra Show and The Broadway Show, performed with co-writer and accompanist Matthew Carey in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Townsville and Darwin.

He performed at the inaugural Adelaide Cabaret Festival and again in 2016 when he returned with the award-winning It was Worth the Weight. David also wrote and performed in The Big Book of Broadway, Cole’s Girls, Leading Men I’ll Never Play and Wireless.

He was equal winner in the 2015 Australian Cabaret Competition Adelaide final and most recently performed in the Australian Touring production of Hairspray as understudy to the role of Edna Turnblad – adding to professional stage roles in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney

David’s also appeared in TV commercials and films, e.g. The Brush Off, directed by Sam Neill.

This led to forming his own Davine Interventionz Productions in 2013 with a string of shows he’s produced, directed and/or designed to glowing reviews and a welter of awards. And David’s still singing!

David MacGillivray

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 (they/she)

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.

Eloise Quinn-Valentine

Eloise Quinn-Valentine loves to tell stories on stage, and has performed in a variety of musicals, plays, cabarets, and choirs from a young age. Recent highlights include Othello and Seagull (Independent Theatre, 2022), The Hello Girls (Therry Theatre, 2021), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Davine Productions, 2020), Jerusalem (University of Adelaide Theatre Guild, 2019), It’s Only Life (Davine Productions, 2018), Violet: a musical (Davine Productions, 2017), and The Crucible (Royal Holloway University of London Drama Society, 2017). Eloise works and volunteers as an educator across a variety of disciplines and contexts, and particularly loves teaching others about faith, storytelling, compassion, and justice.

Gavin Cianci

Gavin "fell" into Musical Theatre back in 2008 when he was asked by good friend Paula Cooney to audition for The Witches of Eastwick. He was fortunate enough to get in and hasn't looked back. Since then he has played various roles. He was a nasty Nazi in The Sound of Music, a prison guard in Hairspray, Cinderella's Father in Into The Woods and was even the Beast double in Beauty & the Beast and the Phantom double in The Phantom of the Opera. Gavin's favourite role is a toss up between 3... Chad in All Shook Up, The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance and Glen Guglia in The Wedding Singer.

Gavin also gets involved backstage and has stage managed Altar Boyz, Xanadu and The Flower Children all for Davine Interventionz. Set construction is another part of theatre that Gavin enjoys being a part of. The Addams Family, Mary Poppins, Spamalot, Avenue Q and coming up in July, Wicked, are all shows he has put his stamp on. Gavin is now looking forward to taking on the role of Frank Sr. in Marie Clark's production of Catch Me if You Can in May.

Grace Colsey

Grace has always loved acting and performing (like, duh) but only started doing youth theatre last year. Her first role was as Fagin in Adelaide Theatre Academy's Oliver! So, ironically, she has actually *been* 'miscast'. However, it was certainly one of the best experiences of her life, helped to solidify her acting style and confirmed that this is what she wants to do for the rest of her life. This year she's participating in the Class of Cabaret programme, and has written her first one-act musical, named Musical! The Musical, which she is attempting to produce for her Research Project. Her dream role is to play Princess Winnifred from Once Upon a Matress, and you may soon see why...

Gus Smith

Gus has been performing theatre in Adelaide with several companies continually since 2003, but did his first show in 2001. That one took him two years to recover !!! During these crazy current Covid times we have been so fortunate to have Broadway Sessions for both performers & audience alike. Whilst he loves performing onstage, cabaret performance is not as common for him so performing at Broadway Sessions will be an enjoyable experience...hopefully for everyone 😉

Jaxon Joy (he/him)

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.

Jethro Pidd (He/Him)

Jethro has been in and around theatre for over 25 years. He is a passionate High School Drama teacher and training to become a certified Fight Director. Recently, he has Directed The Complete Works of William Shakespeare abridged with the Stirling Players.

Jordan Coulter

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.

Lindsay Prodea (he/him)

Lindsay has performed over the past decade in both musical theatre and cabaret, having enjoyed success in various genres: classical roles such as John Brooke in Little Women (The Musical) (Therry Dramatic Society 2013) and Cinderella's Prince in Into the Woods (Northern Light Theatre Company 2012); to contemporary roles such as Abraham in the Adelaide premiere of Altar Boyz (Davine Interventionz 2013), Sonny Malone in Xanadu (The Musical) (Davine Interventionz 2014), George in The Drowsy Chaperone (Hills Musical Company 2013), Kyle the UPS Delivery guy in Legally Blonde (HMC 2014) and most recently Elliott Garfield in The Goodbye Girl (Therry 2015). Lindsay has also appeared in countless other shows, favourites including Urinetown42nd StreetCrazy for You & Les Misérables. Most recently he premiered in Adelaide the role of Fabrizio for Davine Interventionz's 2016 Adelaide Fringe Show, The Light In The Piazza.

Aside from musical theatre, Lindsay has a keen passion for cabaret, having written, co-produced and performed at numerous cabaret events over the years. Stepping out side his usual genre, Lindsay played the role of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby (old sport), produced by Independent Theatre.

Louis Cann

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 Northern Light 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.

Max Ziliotto

Max has been playing percussion for 15 years, and has been involved in numerous music performance groups throughout that time. Attending Marryatville High School 2006-2010, and being a part of the Raiders Drum Corps since 2007, he learned performance etiquette pretty quickly, and grew comfortable performing in front of people. Max participated in the Big Band program at high school, and as such was able to attend Generations in Jazz multiple times. His drumkit playing further improved after high school where, during his studies for his Bachelor of Music (Percussion), he was a part of the Jazz SA Youth Superbands. While studying his Bachelors, Max competed in and won First Place in the 2011 MSO Snare Competition.

Musical theatre has been part of his life since 2009, and as luck would have it, Max has been working with Peter Johns since his very first show! Productions Max has been involved in include: Sweeney Todd, Fame, Spamalot, Beauty and the Beast, Oliver!, Annie, The Full Monty, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Violet, Wicked, Bring It On!, Edges, Beautiful, Mamma Mia, and Les Miserables.

Outside of music, Max has developed a passion for gridiron, and plays for the Port Adelaide Spartans. He is also a personal trainer, and his love for craft beers is pretty strong!

Mikari Zollo Semmler

Mikari Zollo Semmler started vocal training at the age of 10 and commenced acting and dancing classes shortly after; training in Jazz, Tap, and Ballet.

Mikari has participated in many shows and productions; including musicals, solo performances, and cabarets. She has played leading roles such as Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan and ensemble roles in shows; 13 The Musical, Seussical the Musical, Pipi Long Stockings, Madagascar, Wicked, and many more. She has also been to NSW twice to compete in the Junior Theatre Celebration.

Mikari really came to love music in the Marryatville Special Music Interest Program, where she auditioned on voice as her primary instrument. Being in the Marryatville Music Program has provided Mikari with many opportunities such as learning several instruments and being involved with many co-curricular ensembles, which have consistently placed first in the Eisteddfods (Concert Choir) and Generations in Jazz (Pops Vocals). She also went on a jazz tour to America last year where she performed around New York and Los Angeles, as well as attending broadway and jazz workshops with well-renowned musicians.

Currently, Mikari is in the Class of Cabaret program working on her set which would've been featured in the 2020 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Nha-Uyen Tran

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 Long (she/her)

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.

Phoebe Rodger (she/her)

Phoebe, aged 18, is currently in her first year of a Bachelor of Music Theatre at the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide. Over the past ten years she has performed in many shows with Pelican Productions, including nine Music Theatre Camps, The Little Mermaid, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Seussical, Annie Jr, Pelican’s USA performing arts tour, Bring it On (Return Season), and In the Heights. Phoebe has also enjoyed playing the roles of Kendra in 13! the musical, and Medda in Newsies Jr with Adelaide Youth Theatre. Last year, Phoebe enjoyed playing the role of Donna in her final school musical, Mamma Mia!

Ray Cullen

Ray is originally from Sydney and since moving to Adelaide a few years ago he has performed in CATS (The Met), Guys and Dolls (G&S) and most recently Big Fish (Therry). In Sydney he performed in a variety of musicals such as Oklahoma – Will Parker (Manly Musical Society), Dusty Springfield – Rodney (Chatswood Musical Society), Jekyll & Hyde – Archibald Proops (Berowra Musical Society) and many more.

Robbie Mitchell

Originally hailing from Brisbane, Robbie has been involved in Musical Theatre since the age of 10. From roles in the chorus to leading roles at centre stage, Robbie’s passion for the theatre developed through his youth and inspired him to study for 2 years in Harvest Rain’s full-time Industry Course (2014-2015), where he had the chance to perform next to some of Australia's most prized theatre veterans as well as up and coming stars. 2017 saw Robbie in his South Australian Musical Theatre debut performing in Spring Awakening for HMC. Since then he has been involved in Assassins also for HMC, and will be appearing in Therry's Titanic in June 2020.

Ron Abelita

Music has always been part of Ron’s life. As part of Novo Concertante Manila, an international award-winning chamber choir in the Philippines, Ron travelled to Europe and Asia performing a wide range of A Cappella music of various genres in competitions and concerts. Since moving to Adelaide in 2010, he found his passion for music theatre in both amateur and professional productions. Ron has done shows including Miss Saigon (MCMT 2011 & MMTC 2019), Bernstein Mass & Ennio Morriconne Live (ASO 2012), Forbidden Broadway (MCMT 2012), The Cross (ACTS 2013 & 2014), Chorus for Andrea Bocelli (ASO 2014), Rent (MCMT 2016), Godspell (IP & LP 2018).

Ron had a fabulous time with G&S' Kinky Boots in his first lead role as Lola in September 2019. Weeks after KB, Ron is covered up from head to toe as Sr Mary Amnesia in MBM’s production of Nunsense A-Men! Ron secretly wishes that like Hamilton, more shows and production outfits will now start to be inclusive and recognise talent over race and culture, to play roles not usually given to people of colour. In February 2016, Ron first took part in Broadway Sessions and is again thrilled to take part in this month's session.

Session Band

Peter Johns (Piano/Musical Director)

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 Cann (Bass)

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.

Max Ziliotto (Drums/Percussion)

Max Ziliotto has been performing since 2004, from concert bands, drumline and big band, to orchestral works and musical theatre. Prior to his acceptance as a Casual Percussionist with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, he completed his Bachelor of Music in 2013 at the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music under the tutelage of Amanda Grigg.

Born in Adelaide, Max began his musical journey under the guidance of Peter Matzick. Attending Marryatville High School, Max gained a wealth of performance opportunities including the Generations in Jazz festival in Mount Gambier. During his Undergraduate studies, Max won first place in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Snare Drum Award in 2011.

Max has been performing with the Elder Conservatorium's Music Theatre students' productions since 2021, most notably playing the drum score for Legally Blonde, directed by Broadway's Nikki Snelson in 2022.

Max was also an active member of the Raiders Drum Corps from 2006-2019, performing numerous times in the city's Christmas Pageant, and on stage with them at Australian Ultimate Drummers Weekend in Melbourne 2015. He has tutored at South Australian Music Camp multiple times, and has been in the house band of Broadway Sessions since its inception in 2015.