June Session: ROBBED!

Ben has many years of musical experience. His training has taken him around Australia, to Hong Kong, Paris and to London where has performed in the West End and The Royal Albert Hall. He has a number of musical theatre credits including The Little Mermaid (Prince Eric), Pirates of Penzance (Frederic), Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus) and Barnum (P.T Barnum). Opera credits with the State Opera of South Australia include Cloudstreet! (Lon Lamb), Carmen and La Bohemé. Drama credits with Independent Theatre include Peter and Alice (Peter Pan), Amadeus (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), Brideshead Revisited (Sebastien Flyte) and Old Wicked Songs (Stephan Hoffman).

In 2017 and 2018, Ben produced and starred in Private Peaceful, which won the Theatre Association of South Australia’s ‘DramatiCAL’ award for Best Drama. Ben was also awarded Best Youth Actor for his performance. Off stage, Ben’s accolades include director, musical director, orchestral conductor, producer and writer. Ben has musically directed and conducted several local productions, including Bugsy Malone and 13! with Adelaide Youth Theatre, and Beauty and the Beast with Shane Davidson Presents. He is currently working as Musical Director of Chicago with Pelican Productions.

As co-founder of the highly successful youth performing arts company, Promise Adelaide, Ben has provided opportunities for over 100 young performers while raising over $20,000 for charity organisations. Ben is also the lead vocalist and musical arranger of The 60 Four, where he scales the vocal heights of Frankie Valli in venues around Australia in Adelaide’s first-class ‘60s tribute act.

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

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

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

Having lived in Adelaide for the past three years studying Music Theatre at the Elder Conservatorium, Declan thinks he should get a few more Broadway Sessions performances under his belt before he leaves!

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.

Gianna Guttilla is an Adelaide-based soprano and recent Bachelor of Music graduate (Classical Voice) from the Elder Conservatorium, under the vocal tutelage of Cheryl Pickering. Gianna was delighted to have received the Robert Whinham Prize for the best interpretation of an operatic aria (2018), as well as the Adelaide Choral Society Prize (2019-2020). She was also a member of the chorus and understudy for the role of the Sorceress in SOSA’S Dido and Aeneas (2018).

Gianna has also recently performed as a featured soloist with Recitals Australia as part of their 2021 Autumn Lunch Hour Series. As well as being classically-trained, Gianna has also been fortunate enough to perform an array of musical styles including jazz, pop, gospel and music theatre, having previously performed with Patti LuPone and for Alan Cumming at the 2018 and 2021 Adelaide Cabaret Festivals. Gianna is also an educator who is passionate about music and vocal development, working as a singing teacher and vocal educator at various schools and institutions around Adelaide.

Hayley is going into her third year of studying a bachelor of performance in Classical Voice at Sydney Con. She has lived in the Middle East for most of her life and returned back to Australia when she was 15. Aside from performance in countless musicals, the highlights of her musical career so far have been supporting Hugh Jackman in his roadshow in Australia and performing solo with the Qatar Phillharmonic Orchestra.

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.

Originally from a small seaside town in the South of Australia, Joe is a true triple threat who consistently works on broadening his craft and, accordingly, his horizons. He most recently covered Billy Flynn in both the US National and International tours of CHICAGO. Prior to this, he understudied and performed the lead role of Henri Baurel in Christopher Wheeldon’s An American in Paris (GWB & The Australian Ballet). After making history as one of the youngest graduates from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts' Music Theatre BA, his professional career was launched by following the famous footsteps of Fred Astaire as the leading man in A Fine Romance: The Magic of Fred Astaire (Australian Tour, JTM Productions).

Additional theatre credits include Snowboy in Opera Australia’s West Side Story on Sydney Harbour, Trick in the 20th Anniversary production of The Boy From Oz (The Production Company), Cagelle Clo-Clo in La Cage Aux Folles (Showtune Productions), Player/Understudy Lewis in PIPPIN (GFO), leading man in the premiere season of Just A Couple of Song and Dance Men (JTM Productions), Lad in THE WHO’s Tommy (Victorian Opera), CHICAGO (GFO), Singin’ In The Rain (Prospero Arts), Oklahoma! (The Production Company), Rhonda Burchmore and Rachel Beck’s The Long and Short Of It (Ding Productions) and Curtains (The Production Company). On screen, he features in Dream Deep for Museums Victoria, feature film Beautiful for KOJO Pictures, and in the Superfine music video for band Boys Boys Boys

Katherine knew she was destined for a careeer on the stage, after starring as Mary in her kindergarten nativity play. She has worked professionally as an Entertainer on the Murray Princess cruise ship and has taught singing privately. She has completed her Bachelor of Arts, with a double major in Music and Creative Writing. Most recently she has co written and directed I'M FINE (a musical about teenage mental health). Additionally Katherine has previously musically directing Grease and Beauty and the Beast. But her real passion is for performing on the stage. Katherine loves connecting with a live audience when she plays a character; whether it's tugging at thier heartstrings or making them laugh. Some of her favourite previous roles include The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, The Baker's Wife in Into the Woods and the title role in Calamity Jane.

Kiara has been singing, dancing and acting for as long as she can remember. She enrolled in her first dance class at the age of 2 and studies all genres of dance at TIDC Performing Arts Studio. At the age of 10, she developed a love for Musical Theatre and got her first role in Adelaide Youth Theatre's Bugsy Malone (2015). She has gone on to perform in numerous AYT shows, with highlights being Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Patrice in 13: The Musical, Anna in Frozen Jnr and Katherine Plumber in Newsies Jnr.

Kiara is a passionate, captivating and talented young performer with a bright future ahead of her.

Kristian is 19 years old and has worked in various feature films, commercials and television shows. He’s been involved in acting since 2009, graduating in 2019 from the SA Casting (Ann Peters) three-year course. Kristian has performed in various theatre roles including, Seymour- Little Shop of Horrors (2018 Fringe), Horton- Seussical (2020), Bud Frump- How To Succeed (2020), Kenickie- Grease (2020), Javert- Les Misérables (2021) and Leo Bloom- The Producers (2021). He’s also Assistant Directed two shows in 2019, Barnum! (Fringe) and Into the Woods. Kristian currently studies singing with David Gauci but has been taking lessons since 2009 with various teachers.

Kristin is a music teacher, musician, and performer based in the Adelaide Hills. Favourite musical theatre roles include: Ms Gardner/Female Authority Voice (Carrie The Musical - Hills Musical Company 2023); 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 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.

Lucy has been singing for around 20 years, and has been involved in musicals for the last 15 years. Lucy has previously played roles such as Ms Pennywise in Urinetown, Velma Kelly in Chicago, Jolene in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and performed one of the roles in Godspell. Since moving to Adelaide 10 years ago, Lucy has performed a number of shows with the Gilbert and Sullivan society including Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Sound of Music, The Gondoliers, Princess Ida and has had the opportunity to play Queen Aggravain in Marie Clark Musical Theatre's Once Upon a Mattress. Most recently, Lucy has performed the role of Ulla in the MCMTs 2021-2022 productions of The Producers.

Max has done many shows in his time at school performing in, 42nd Street, The Adams Family, Les Misérables, Stop the Presses and most recently Beauty and the Beast where he will play Gaston. He has done a few shows outside of school with AYT, which he enjoyed and developed many acting skills he now uses today. Currently he is in Year 12 studying Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Drama, with a hope to pursue paramedical science after school, as well as some acting on the side.

Olivia Sutton is 16 years old and is currently in Year 11 at Scotch College Adelaide. Olivia has been performing since she can remember. She started in Theatre Bugs and then joined performing arts at Scotch at the age of 5. Olivia is thrilled to be playing the role of Belle in Scotch College's upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast.

Oscar, 17 years old, has been performing since he was 7. He's performed in over 25 musical theatre productions, including the London Palladium's national tour of The Sound of Music, as Kurt at 10. Oscar's most recent musicals include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as Wonka, Matilda as Miss Trunchbull and Mamma Mia as Sam. He also just performed as 'Jesus' in Jesus Christ Superstar with Pulteney Grammar School. Oscar sings at the Studio and Star Factory with Kirsty Roberts. Oscar has just been cast in the Australian national tour of Grease the Musical in the Ensemble and cover Roger, starting later this year. Oscar is looking forward to performing once more at Broadway Sessions.

Having performed in a variety of musicals ranging from Next To Normal to The Boy From Oz, South East Queensland performer Roh Whittaker is no stranger to the stage. Beginning their training of music theory and performance from age 8, with soon to follow theatre and dance training at secondary school and private academies, they have developed a keen eye for all things Musical Theatre; both on stage and off. They recently began their studies at the Elder Conservatorium studying a Bachelor in Music Theatre under the careful guidance of George Torbay and many others.

Some of their more recent credits include, Billy Flynn in Chicago (ADMT), Angel in Kinky Boots (Phoenix Ensemble), Featured Dancer in The Boy From Oz (Savoyards) and Gabe in Next To Normal (Brisbane Arts Theatre).

This is Sam's first time singing solo at Broadway Sessions, after performing promos for Jersey Boys and The Producers over the last couple of years. Sam most recently performed as Nick Massi in Jersey Boys with NLTC last year, as well as Max Bialystock in The Producers with MCMT. Other roles include: Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar, Papa Ogre/Papa Bear (Shrek The Musical), The Witch’s Father (Wicked), Sketch (Hairspray), Newcomer & Ricky (Avenue Q), Skip Snip (Little Shop of Horrors) and Lou Adler (FlowerChildren).

Ensemble roles include: Legally Blonde the Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot, Les Misérables and a variety of Gilbert & Sullivan productions such as Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore. Recently Sam has enjoyed being “behind the curtain”, providing video and projections for Catch Me If You Can earlier this year, and the upcoming Singin' In The Rain for NLTC, as well as stage managing a number of youth theatre shows directed by his wife Michelle.

Victoria is a musical theatre tragic whose experience in musical theatre largely extend to one fateful middle school musical where she sang Miley Cyrus’ late noughties hit, ‘Breakout’. With that being her peak, she is hoping to surpass it now over a decade later. Early experiences with school choir and singing opportunities fostered a love for the ol’ razzle dazzle, a love which was supplemented by a penchant for being the centre of attention and an adoration for the heavy exposition only musical theatre can provide. Being an alto in a soprano world (by SA’s Festival of Music standards, anyway) found her developing a niche playing male roles – or, at the very least, taking the male parts in duets in her best friend’s car.

By day, Victoria is a PhD student at the University of South Australia, but by night, she aspires to moonlight as an almost-in-tune, maybe-a-little-funny performer.

Zazie (12yrs old) is a born performer and never shies away from a crowd. She has been singing and dancing in nursing homes, The Festival of Music and school concerts all throughout her primary school years. She plays the Ukulele and the Harp, is the lead singer in a GIRL ROCK band and is currently rehearsing for Pelican Productions' School Of Rock.

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.