August Session: Our 5th Birthday-Off To School

Amber Fibrosi is an Adelaide performer and musician who performs regularly in gigs. Over the years she has been involved in several performances, most recently performing as a pianist and back-up vocalist for Jennifer Trijo’s Adelaide Fringe Festival Cabaret show Someday. Amber has performed as a soloist for Trevor Jones Piano Bar in the Cabaret Festival. Amber also played Radio Voice, a Greasette and understudied Sandy in AYT's production of Grease. She played the role of ‘Wendy’ in Adelaide Theatre Academy’s Fringe show of Peter Pan , along with being a soloist in another fringe show Musical Moments. Amber has also been a featured ‘Defying Gravity’ soloist in the Catholic Schools Music Festival in 2019 and since graduating from school has been gaining further experience in the music industry. She enjoys writing her own music as an outlet of self expression. Amber is currently studying a Bachelor of Music Theatre at Adelaide University.

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.

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.

Cooper is a singer, dancer, actor, musical theatre nerd, studying music theatre at VCA in 2024. He was part of the 2022 Class of Cabaret program. Cooper receives his vocal coaching from the fabulous Carolyn Ferrie and dances at Barbara Jayne Dance Centre. If he’s not at the piano playing and writing music, you will find him busking on Jetty Road Glenelg or playing vinyl.

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.

Gab is in his final year of training at the Elder Conservatorium of Music studying Music Theatre. He is originally from Perth, WA. Gab started performing at the age of 13 and has been involved in many productions in Perth, the latest being Heathers for the Perth Fringe Festival. Since moving to Adelaide to study, he has been involved in various ECMT productions, the latest being the Australian premiere of the new Joey Contreras song cycle, In Pieces.

Originally from country South Australia, Jayden has been studying the performing arts since the age of six. He completed his full time training at the Australian Company of Performing Arts in 2019 before venturing overseas to work for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines on board the Rhapsody of the Seas.

Previous to this, Jayden’s professional credits include: ‘Toby’ in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (TML Enterprise’s, 2013), Stateless (ABC/Matchbox Productions), Gen Z – Teen Pop Group (Shane Dawson International, 2017), Performer for the Pacific School Games Opening Ceremony (Future Casting, 2017). He has also worked with the Australian Ballet in child cast roles in ballets such as The Silver Rose and Swan Lake.

In the past, Jayden has been extensively involved in youth theatre productions around Adelaide, featuring as ‘Barnum’ in Barnum (March Productions, 2019), ‘Fiyero’ in Wicked (AYT, 2018), ‘Shrek’ in Shrek the Musical Jr (AYT, 2018) and ‘Archie’ in 13 the Musical (2017), to name a few.

Jayden now resides in Melbourne hoping to pursue a career on the stage.

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!!!

Originally from the US, Jeri Williams immigrated to Adelaide in 2011. She’s a born performer, growing up singing in choirs, glee club, a pop/R&B girl group, and musical theatre. She got her start in theatre performing in the ensemble of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at age 16. After school, Jeri got a job singing in an acapella group at a theme park in Florida, which led to being cast as Wendy Darling by Disney Cruise Line. Jeri spent her early 20s working and performing on various cruise ships with her husband.

Since making Adelaide her home, Jeri has delved into the local theatre scene on a few occasions, being cast in leading roles in NLTC’s Into The Woods (2012) as the Baker’s Wife; G&SSA’s Guys & Dolls (2015) as Adelaide and NLTC's Mack and Mabel (2016) as Mabel.

When life gets too busy for a full show schedule, Jeri enjoys singing with the Civic Park Carols Choir and joining in for a sing at Broadway Sessions as often as possible.

Kristin is a music teacher, musician, and performer based in the Adelaide Hills. Favourite musical theatre roles include: Muriel (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Hills Musical Company 2022); Laura (High Fidelity - Hills Musical Company 2021); Vivienne (Legally Blonde - The MET 2021); Simone (Shane Warne The Musical - Segue Productions 2020); Elizabeth (If/Then - Segue Productions 2018); Cathy (The Last Five Years - Segue Productions 2017); Clara (The Light In The Piazza - Davine Productions 2016); Inga (Young Frankenstein - Marie Clark Musical Theatre 2014); Smitty (How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying - Marie Clark Musical Theatre 2013); and Ensemble/Lady of The Lake Understudy (Spamalot - Marie Clark Musical Theatre 2018). Kristin will be playing Ms Gardner/Female Authority Voice in Carrie The Musical with Hills Musical Company in November 2023.

Kristin holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the Elder Conservatorium, majoring in Classical Piano, and has extensive accompanying and pit experience. Music Direction credits include: Heathers: The Musical (Segue Productions 2019); Calamity Jane (Marie Clark Musical Theatre 2014); Poor Expectations (Investigator College 2014); Mulan Jr (Investigator College 2013); and Honk! (Investigator College 2011).

Kristin teaches piano, voice, violin and music theory, and loves seeing students grow in confidence as they develop their skills in music.

After a busy 2023, Maddy is excited to be back on stage performing at Broadway Sessions. She has performed with Pelican Productions in their annual musical theatre camps for the past five years where she has had some wonderful roles including Mal from Descendants. In 2021 she played the role of Summer in School of Rock (Pelican Productions) alongside her wonderful vocal coach and mentor, Mim Sarre. Maddy has more recently played the role of Matilda in her schools production of Matilda, the loveable seagull Scuttle in the The Little Mermaid Jr (Shane Davidson Presents) and was fortunate to be selected as a soloist in the Public Primary Schools Festival of Music in September, 2022.

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!

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.

Oliver is 22 years old and a current second year student at the Elder Conservatorium’s Bachelor of Music Theatre. He has been performing in musical theatre since 2008 and has worked as a music director, performing arts teacher and private singing teacher. At ECMT, Oliver has performed as Ensemble/Beadle Bamford (U/S) in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (dir. James Millar), a featured soloist in the first year showcase Magic, Myths and Monsters (dir. Joseph Simons), and will perform in November as Pig (Bricks)/Lord Farquaad (U/S) in Shrek The Musical (dir. Erin James). Before university, he played Dewey Finn in School of Rock (Pelican Productions, dir. Jen Frith), Seymour Krelborn in Little Shop of Horrors in the Adelaide Fringe Festival (Adelaide Theatre Academy, dir. Michelle Davy) and performed as Marty the Zebra in Madagascar: A Musical Adventure in the U.S. Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta (Adelaide Youth Theatre). Earlier this year, Oliver travelled interstate to perform as a backing vocalist in HELLO: Erin Jae’s Tribute to Adele as a part of the Under The Stars Festival (Australian Shakespeare Company).

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.

At 23, Scarlett has been passionate about performing since she was young. She began dancing at Barbara Jayne Dance Centre when she was 3 years old where she developed her singing and dancing skills for 13 years and has now begun focusing on her passion for musical theatre. Scarlett graduated Concordia College in 2017 as the Dux of Solo Vocal Performance where she was and will continue to be taught by her singing teacher Rosie Hosking.

With 18 years of combined performing experience, Scarlett's love for the stage has never ceased, with her previous roles including Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray, and Campbell Davis in Pelican Production's production of Bring It On the Musical's first season and its 2018 return season - for which she received a TASA nomination for 'Best Youth Female Actor'. Her most recent musical accreditation included a performance season of Godspell with Lydian Productions and Irregular Productions. In addition to this, she was also selected to perform as a featured soloist at the nationally televised 2018 Elder Park Carols By Candlelight. Her professional accolades in Adelaide have also included working with Ding Productions and Shane International each year for varying statewide productions. She has also been contracted with Royal Caribbean International (Miami) as a featured lead vocalist since January 2019 and has recently returned from a 10 month LA season with them. She’s set to resume her overseas work with them for another year, beginning in October 2022.

Steph's love for musical theatre started in 2017 when she was part of Adelaide Theatre Academy's performance of Singin' In The Rain. She has worked with theatre companies such as Adelaide Theatre Academy and Pelican Productions, performing in many shows such as The Lion King Jr, Moana Jr, and Pelican Production's Music Theatre Camp. Steph is also heavily involved in drama and the arts at Pembroke School, recently understudying Donna in their production of Mamma Mia. She has been taking singing lessons since 2015 and dance and acting classes since 2018. Steph hopes to continue in theatre and performing onstage in the future.

Trinity has been involved in numerous musical theatre shows, plays and cabaret performances. She has acted in roles such as Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Tallulah (Bugsy Malone), Titania and Lysander (A Midsummer Night's Dream) and Dragon (Shrek). All roles she has acted will always be ones she treasures, and each has furthered her experience as a performer. She is grateful for every experience she has had and she hopes that she will continue to bring people joy through her performance.

Zak is currently in his third year at the Victorian College of the Arts studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre). He has been passionate about theatre for as long as he can remember, undertaking both on and offstage roles for a variety of productions. He has completed a Certificate IV in Commercial Dance at Gravity Dance, specialising in tap, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, ballroom and ballet.

Zak’s choreography credits include Singin’ in the Rain JR (2017, TB Arts, Fringe Festival), A Peter Combe Extravaganza! (2017, Something on Saturday) and A Night on Broadway (2014, Glenunga High School). Zak made his professional debut with State Opera of South Australia’s production of Hansel and Gretel. Since then, he has played many memorable roles such as Boq in Wicked the Musical (2016, Matt Byrne Media), Mary Sunshine in Chicago (2017, Emma Knights Productions), The Tinman in The Wiz (2013, GIHS), Danny in Grease (2014, GIHS), Bert in Mary Poppins (2014, GIHS) and also appeared as a featured dancer in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2016, G&S Society of SA).

An avid performer, he has entertained at many events around Adelaide, such as the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Royal Adelaide Show and Adelaide's Clipsal 500, as well as at private functions, weddings and parties. Zak also works as an entertainer for Nickelodeon and Showtime Attractions and has performed in many children’s shows with them.

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.