September Session: Performer’s Choice

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.

Amelia has been singing her whole life, starting with Adelaide Girls Choir when she was just 5 years old. She was a clarinettist while at school and after graduating in 2010, Amelia began her tertiary studies on classical clarinet. However, after seeing her first opera, La Sonnambula, she fell in love, switched to classical voice and has never looked back. She now has a keen interest in European languages and loves singing Lieder and French Art Song. Amelia recently completed her Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice with honours in 2019.

Annabelle is 15 and is a emerging singer songwriter. She loves music theatre and has performed in many roles in both youth and professional productions and is an active member of her school's music department, and performs at ABODA and Generations In Jazz in the school's specialist choir and playing French Horn and Trombone. Annabelle is a two time Grand Champion of the Vocal Division at the Balaklava Eisteddfod, and also placed first this year in her age category for Music Theatre singing 'With You' from Ghost the Musical. She is also a two time Grand Champion of the Vocal Ensemble 2-3 Voices' Category singing with her brother William.

Bennett is a passionate performer who has had a love for singing since as long as they can remember, they started taking singing lessons at age eight and their love only grew from there. They started acting/singing/dancing lessons at Theatre Bugs at age ten and began to fall in love with musical theatre from there. With an extensive resume, Bennett has performed in many shows such as The Little Mermaid Jr (Pelican Productions), Peter Pan (Adelaide Theatre Academy), Moana Jr (Adelaide Theatre Academy), Beauty And The Beast Jr (Adelaide Youth Theatre), Mary Poppins (Adelaide Theatre Academy), 13: The Musical (Adelaide Youth Theatre), Chicago: High School Edition (Pelican Productions) and earned their first title role in the recent production of Dr Dolittle Jr (Adelaide Theatre Academy) to name a few.

Bennett has also performed in many cabarets, the 2020 Junior Theatre Festival and was chosen from there to be part of OzTheatrics’ pilot program for Finding Nemo Kids and also recently got selected to travel with OzTheatrics to America for their 2023 Aussie All-Stars group. Bennett one day hopes to perform professionally all over the world and to inspire other young performers to work hard and follow their dreams.

Deon began performing at the age of 13 when he performed in Disney’s The Little Mermaid with the Adelaide Youth Theatre (AYT). He has since played many roles for AYT including Fiyero in Wicked, Roger in Grease, and Horton the Elephant in Seussical the Musical. Deon has also performed for other companies around Adelaide including as J. Pierrepont Finch in March Production’s How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Ensemble in The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of SA’s Kinky Boots, and as a Private Dempsey in Therry’s Hello Girls earlier in 2021. Deon is happy to have come full circle and be performing The Little Mermaid once again, as one of his dream roles, Prince Eric.

Adelaide born and bred, Emma Kavanagh toured internationally with the Australian Girls Choir, and completed a year of study in Classical Voice at Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium, before graduating with a Bachelor of Musical Theatre from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

Emma was honoured to perform as the Guest Vocalist on Mirusia Louwerse’s 2018 From the Heart Australian tour and recently was featured on Mirusia’s Duets Album with the single The Flower Duet. Emma appeared as a headliner artist in the Australia Day Live Concert at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, where she performed the Flower Duet with Mirusia, musically directed by John Foreman and broadcast nationally on ABC. Emma was selected as a Semi-finalist for the 2020 Rob Guest Endowment Award. She made her operatic debut as La Conversa/Sorella Cercatrice in Mopoke Theatre Company’s 2022 production of Suor Angelica directed by Nicholas Cannon, performed in Verdi’s Messa da Requiem at the 2023 Adelaide Festival, and is looking forward to making her State Opera of South Australia debut in Pirates of Penzance this year.

Finnegan has been performing from a young age and has developed his passion for musical theatre as a company member for Pelican Productions. His stage credits include: (TML Enterprises) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as 'Jeremy Potts', (Emma Knights productions) The Sound of Music as 'Rolf' and he was part of The 60 Four for the 2020 Adelaide Fringe Festival Season. Finnegan is currently studying at Patrick School of The Arts in Melbourne under the direction of Andrew Hallsworth.

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.

Hope has always enjoyed singing, and undertakes lessons with Sarah Whiteley to continue learning and improving. She is currently preparing for South Coast Chorale and Arts Society's (SCCAS) production of Beauty and the Beast where she will be playing Mrs Potts. This is Hope's second Broadway Sessions, and she is excited for the opportunity.

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 Adelaide, Jessica graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium in 2016 with a Bachelor of Musical Theatre. She made her adult professional debut early 2017 with The 7 Sopranos in their tour of Songs from Stage and Screen, and has since toured with them internationally.

With State Opera of South Australia, Jessica understudied and performed the lead role of Angela, and covered all of the female roles in their tour of Love Burns. She has performed as a soloist in Bright Lights and Big Dreams, and Emerging Artists In Concert. Currently, she is looking forward to stepping into the role of Isabel in Pirates of Penzance. Jessica has also performed in the chorus of La Bohème, Voss, and La Traviata.

Other stage credits include: Nella – Gianni Schicchi (CoOpera), Messa da Requiem (Adelaide Festival), Study Cover La Strega Buona del Nord – Il Mago di Oz (Victorian Opera), Choreographer, TweedleDee – Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland (Australian Contemporary Opera Co.), Mab/Day, Dance Captain – The Enchanted Pig (postponed, ACOCo.), actor/dancer - Don Giovanni (Opera Australia), actor - Il Viaggio a Reims (Opera Australia), U/S Mary Maguire, Ensemble - The Beautiful Game (Manilla Street Productions), Cinderella - Cinderella (Pantomime Productions), and Aurora - Sleeping Beauty (Tivoli).

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

Karen has been involved with a number of theatre companies in Adelaide over the last 15 years. Some of her stage highlights include Oliver, Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Avenue Q and Spamalot. Although she had a seven year run off stage in the role of "Mother of two", she recently made the return to the theatre by playing Ursula in Disney's The Little Mermaid, and in the ensemble of Les Misérables with Northern Light Theatre Company and Granny/Cinderella's Mother/Giant in Into the Woods with the G&S Society of South Australia.  You will also be able to see Karen in the upcoming production of Urinetown at the Hills Musical Company in the role of Old Ma Strong.

Lottie Mumford is 15 years old and attends Concordia College. She has been a member of Hills Youth Theatre for 6 years, and has acted in many of their productions. In 2018 she featured as the lead role in Pollyanna for Hills Youth Theatre. She has also been involved in musicals for other theatre companies, including Harvest Rain. Lottie has always been passionate about singing, and commenced formal singing lessons with Teresa LaRocca in 2019. Lottie also plays piano and flute.

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

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

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

Marli started their performing arts journey at age 5, beginning with ballet, then progressing into contemporary while continuing on with ballet. By the age of 8, singing lessons commenced. Participation in many school holiday performing arts camps resulted in mini musical performances, singing and dancing at many annual Willunga Almond Blossom Festival, singing at school fetes, and participation in the many performances held with Jamae Raw and Performing Arts Australia at Hopgood Theatre and other venues. Marli has continued her singing tuition with Sarah Jane Whiteley for the past 2 years.

Originally from Adelaide, Matthew moved interstate to Melbourne to study Music Theatre at the VCA. After completing his BFA, Matthew made his professional debut in the Australian tour of Jersey Boys (New Theatricals). Since returning to Melbourne, he has performed in The Production Company's Thoroughly Modern Millie, Manilla Productions The Beautiful Game and most recently played the role of Jimmy in the production of Bright Star (Pursued by Bear).

Melanie Cowmeadow made her musical theatre debut as ‘Mrs Teavee’ in AYT’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 2021. Since then she has played her first leading role as ‘Ariel’ in Northern Light Theatre Company’s The Little Mermaid and most recently appeared on the 11th Season of The Voice Australia where she made it to the top 24.

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

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.

Ruby’s passion for musical theatre began at a young age, receiving voice and acting training from industry professionals. Recently, Ruby played Rose in Dogfight with St Jude’s Players, Nicola in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society's 2019 production of Kinky Boots and was the ‘Turn Back, O Man’ soloist in Godspell, produced by Irregular Productions and Lydian Productions. She also performed as Hodel in the Therry Dramatic Society's production of Fiddler on the Roof, and understudied the title role and performed in the ensemble for Davine Productions’ Violet. Her performing credits also include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical witih Davine Productions, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Les Misérables produced by The Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and in 2023 Kiss Me Kate with Hills Musical Company.

Sarah is a highly trained professional vocalist and musician. She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Masters in Teaching. She is both a practitioner and a fan of the Estill Voice Model and Kodaly pedagogical approach. She founded the Sarah Jane Voice Studio in 2015 and coaches voice users of all ages and abilities.

Sarah performs in both private and corporate settings around Adelaide as well as musical theatre. Theatre and cabaret credits include Rent (MCMT), Evita (The Met), Sugar (The Met), Smokey Joes Café (Hills), The Channel 9 Easter Special, The Blues Brothers (Ad Fringe), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Music Director; MCMT), Sex and the Musical (Ad. Fringe, EK Pro), Heathers the Musical (Segue Pro), Shane Warne the Musical (Segue Pro) and her own show depicting the life of the irreplaceable Bette Midler; From A Distance, the Glory of Bette (Ad Fringe). 

She is also a lover of scrapbooking and is obsessed with curious minds magazines!

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.

Sophie is a recent graduate of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) at the Victorian College of the Arts. Before moving to Melbourne, Sophie was heavily involved in the Adelaide theatre scene. She began dancing at the age of 6 which naturally progressed to discovering the allure of music theatre. She has been involved in a variety of cabarets, competitions and musicals including Rent (MCMT), The Little Mermaid as Ariel (AYT), Beauty and the Beast as Belle/Babette (AYT) and The Wizard of Oz as Dorothy (AYT and Gleeson College).

Teresa is a seventeen-year-old performer based in Adelaide, South Australia. Although she was surrounded by the arts from a young age due to her mother being involved in State Opera of South Australia and her father being a classical pianist, it wasn't until she discovered Adelaide Theatre Academy in early 2021 she became active in the local theatre scene. Since beginning classes, she has been in various musicals. Some of her highlights include Cinderellas Mother in Into the Woods (2022), Violet Beauregarde in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2022), and most recently, Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family (2023). She has also taken on leadership roles in her schools music scene; music directing and vocal coach for Lion King Jr and co-choreographing Oliver! She was also selected to sing for The Festival of Music at The Adelaide Festival Theatre.

William is 14 and his music theatre career started at 8 years old when he won the role of Tick's son, Benji in the South Australian season of Priscilla Queen of the Dessert and performed on opening night at Festival Theatre - a very memorable experience. He has gone on to perform key roles in youth music theatre productions in Adelaide - Michael Banks (Mary Poppins), Kurt Von Trapp (Sound of Music), Simba/Young Simba (Disney's The Lion King), Jack (Into the Woods), Chip (Beauty and the Beast) as most recently as Freddie (drummer) in School of Rock.

Will is an active member of his school choirs and musicals and plays bass guitar and drums. He is a two-time Grand Champion of the Balaklava vocal Eisteddfod ensemble Division 2-4 voices performing with his sister Annabelle and earlier this year he established a rock band, Sparrow, being the lead singer and bass player.

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!

Zali Sedgman is currently studying musical theatre in Melbourne at Patrick Studios Australia. Zali has been previously been involved in the community theatre world in adelaide as a performer and director. She also realised the other day that she was a part of the very first Broadway Sessions when she was 10.

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.