October Session: A Trick or Treat Spooktacular

Abi has been dancing since she was two but her first taste of musical theatre was in 2017 with NLTC in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Abi has been a regular in Adelaide's youth theatre scene with various roles including Fiona in Xavier Secondary College's Shrek, Ariel in The Parks Youth Theatre production of Little Mermaid Jr and most recently Anna in Pelican Youth Theatre's production of Frozen Jr She is currently studying at a part-time dance program while completing secondary school and hopes to pursue a career in performing arts.

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.

Bethany trained in musical theatre at Associated Studios London in 2020, Gertrude Opera (now Australian Contemporary Opera Co.) and the Elder Conservatorium of Music in classical voice performance. She was a guest artist for Cunard Cruise Line on the Queen Elizabeth World Voyage. Her opera credits include Suor Angelica (Cordelia's Potted Opera), La Voix Humaine (BK Opera) and La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi (Co-Opera). In 2022, Bethany performed her comedy cabaret, Broadway Baby, at both the Adelaide Fringe and Adelaide Cabaret Fringe. She has now debuted her cabaret, JUDY & LIZA, and featured her favourite Liza Minnelli numbers at CabLive and with Dr. Trevor Jones at the Piano Bar for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Kodi has been on stage since the moment she knew what performing was – first on a makeshift couch/cushion stage at home, then as a member of her church choir, followed by training with the Australian Girls’ Choir for 12 years and Adelaide Theatre Academy for 10. Kodi has also worked as a performing arts and private singing teacher at Theatre Bugs/Adelaide Theatre Academy and Harvest Rain.

Her passion for performing has taken her around Australia, Europe, the USA and Singapore on tours with the Australian Girls’ Choir, and as part of the Qantas Choir. Kodi has also shared the stage with several well-known names, singing and dancing alongside the likes of Hugh Jackman, Jessica Mauboy, Andre Rieu, David Campbell and Leo Sayer, as well as South Australian favourite, Peter Combe.

Locally, musical theatre has always been Kodi's preferred genre, and her performance credits include Margot (Legally Blonde), Brigitta (The Sound of Music), Jovie (Elf Jr), Violet Moore (Footloose), Mrs Potts (Beauty and the Beast Jr), and The Cat in the Hat (Seussical Jr), as well as performing in numerous shows in the Adelaide Fringe.

In November, Kodi is performing as Anna in High Fidelity with the Hills Musical Company.

24-year-old Dylan Rufus has been part of the South Australian theatre community since 2011, assuming various roles onstage, offstage, and within production teams. Dylan’s onstage work has seen him in productions of Grease, West Side Story, Oklahoma, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweeney Todd, and Spring Awakening, amongst other plays and pantomimes. Previous personal standout roles include Orin Scrivello D.D.S. in Little Shop of Horrors (2018, Adelaide Theatre Academy), Principal Gowan/Veronica’s Dad/Kurt’s Dad in Heathers (2019, Segue Productions), and John Hinkley, Jr. in Assassins (2019, Hills Musical Company). Lately, Dylan has been contributing to the musician side of musical theatre, playing guitar for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (2020/2021, Davine Productions) and Mamma Mia! (2021, Northern Light Theatre Company).

Outside of theatre, Dylan has recently completed his Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in English (University of Adelaide), as well as a Masters in Teaching (Secondary) (University of South Australia).

Ellis Dolan toured as Eddie/Dr. Scott in The Rocky Horror Show, and with the company of School of Rock as an Understudy for Dewey Finn and as a Swing – travelling all over Australia, China, and New Zealand.

He spent 2017 studying Musical Theatre at NIDA; appearing in the Sydney Theatre Company production of Chimerica as part of the NIDA Ensemble.

He has appeared in several productions around Adelaide, including Evita (The Met) in which he portrayed Che; The Producers (HMC) as the Stormtrooper; Oliver! (Shane Davidson Presents) as Bill Sykes; as well as ensemble roles in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (HMC) and Jesus Christ Superstar (G&S Society). Off-stage, he acted as Assistant Director for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Smokey Joe's Cafe (HMC).

He also toured across Australia, portraying the role of Peter Dutton, as part of Abbott: The Musical (George Glass Productions), performing as part of the Canberra Comedy Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival, as well as a sell-out run in the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Outside of performing, Ellis is a writer – having completed his Honours in Creative Arts: Creative Writing at Flinders University. He’s currently struggling through the third draft of a novel and is constantly side-tracked by wanting to write reviews and film analysis; because of this, nothing seems to get done, but he has a lot of fun doing it.

He made his directorial debut with Edges as part of the 2018 Adelaide Fringe Festival and loved every second of working with such fine people.

Ethan is 15 years old and is currently receiving vocal coaching from Ben Francis as well as being a member of the Showstoppers class with Adelaide Theatre Academy. Ethan most recently performed the role of Dr Doolittle in Adelaide Theatre Academy’s October production of Dr Doolittle jr. He has also played the roles of Fred Casely in Chicago, George banks in Mary Poppins, Smee in Peter Pan, Eddie in the production of 13: The Musical, and Noah Claypole in Oliver! in 2018. This is where his love for theatre began and has continued to grow.

Ethan is currently a year 9 student at Gleeson College, after moving from St. Pauls where he performed in two St Pauls and Kildare musicals.  Ethan be featured in next year’s Adelaide theatre academy’s Fringe production of the Musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as the Lead caracticus Potts. Ethan's favourite musician is Ben Platt however, he enjoys most genres of music. His favourite Broadway musicals are Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton, and Shrek.  His dream roles would be to play Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton, Shrek in Shrek and Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen.

Grace Carter is an upcoming musical theatre performer based in Adelaide. She is a high school graduate from the class of 2019, and throughout her time at school, she studied both music and drama. Her love of musical theatre began in year 12 while playing Nessarose in her school's production of Wicked. Her other experiences include playing the Rose Seller in Oliver! (St Aloysius College, 2017) and Rapunzel in Into the Woods (Elephant in the Room Productions, 2020).

Grace has, so far, had a busy 2021. She performed at the February session of Broadway Sessions: You're Menken me Crazy. Her most recent musical theatre role was as Peron's Mistress in the G&S Society of SA's highly reviewed production of Evita. Grace has just come off the success of her debut (and, regretfully, self produced) cabaret show NeverAfter - A Cautionary Tale of Marriage (as told by a child of divorce). She hopes to bring this show to the 2022 Adelaide Fringe Festival.

Harrison is 10 years old and is a passionate actor, singer, filmmaker and musician. In 2021, Harrison starred as Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Gavroche in Les Misérables, both with Adelaide Youth Theatre. He will star as Young Simba in Lion King Jr and feature in All Together Now! in the coming months. At Prince Alfred College, Harrison is the lead singer in the Junior Rock Band, sings in the Junior Vocal Ensemble and Junior Voices, and won Most Promising Voice and Best Solo Performer in the Prep School (2020 and 2021). Harrison won back to back State Titles in the IPSHA State Poetry Recital as a year 4 and 5 and earned High Distinction in the Trinity College London drama exams. He won Best Sound and Best Editing in the 2019 and 2020 Princes Film Fests for his original short films and won two of five major prizes (Best Film-Prep and Best Cinematography) in this year’s Princes Film Fest 2021. Harrison is a chorister with the St Peter's Cathedral Choir and studies piano. When he isn't rehearsing, Harrison enjoys mixed martial arts, Garageband, creating in Roblox and playing with his little brother, Weston.

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!!!

Even though he has no credentials or experience, Joshua moved to London in 2016 to pursue a career in watching musical theatre. Sadly, this was a costly move so he resorted back to youth and social work in south London. One time a lady came up to him and asked if he would be in a Sainsbury’s Christmas television commercial. He was flattered. Joshua hopes to ride on the coattails of his sister Sophie’s success in the hopes of bagging a reality television series for himself and getting famous for all the wrong reasons.

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.

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 Urinetown, 42nd Street, Crazy 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.

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.

Michael is thrilled to be performing with Marie Clark for the first time. A Melbourne native Michael’s first Adelaide show was last year’s production of Les Misérables (G&S Society).

Michael hopes to see you at Spamalot.

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.

Nicholas has been an active member of the Adelaide theatre community for over a decade and has amassed a diverse catalogue of performances across a variety of media, ranging from opera to improvised comedy. Notable roles include Marius in Les Misérables, Major-General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance, George Grossmith in Tarantara! Tarantara!, Benny in RENT!, Jack in Into the Woods, and Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest.

In addition to theatre, Nicholas is also a current board member of the of the Festival Statesmen Chorus, a local award winning a capella association. With that group, he has enjoyed success in the Adelaide Fringe Festival as the writer and co-director of Tough Boys (2020) and Choir Boys (2019), with the latter receiving a Weekly Award. Other Adelaide Fringe appearances include five seasons of the popular improvised musical show Vicarious Cabaret with the troupe ‘Spoonerise This!’, of which he is a founding member.

Nicholas studied a diploma in classical voice at the Elder Conservatorium and was the recipient of the Clement Q Williams Prize while a student there. He also holds double degrees in Law and Science (Environmental Biology) from the University of Adelaide and by day works as a solicitor specialising in Environment and Planning Law.

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).

Omkar Nagesh has always been passionate about singing and performing on stage. He has enjoyed working with various amateur theatre companies in Adelaide over the past 10 years. Omkar is performing as Barry in the upcoming production of High Fidelity with The Hills Musical Company in opening in November. Omkar was nominated for Adelaide Theatre Guide Curtain Call Awards for Best Male Performance in both his performances as The Engineer in Miss Saigon (The Met 2019, MCMT 2011). Other favourite roles include Leo Bloom in The Producers (HMC 2015), Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast (Northern Light 2011), Jack Worthing in The Importance of Being Earnest (AUFC 2011), Historian/Prince Herbert/Minstrel/et al. in Spamalot (Northern Light 2010), Growltiger in Cats (The Met 2009), and Jake in the South Australian Premiere of Sideshow (HMC 2018).

Having just completed a Bachelor of Music Theatre at Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide, Romy is thrilled to soon begin her professional career at Universal Studios in Singapore! Toward the end of her study, Romy covered the role of Paulette Buonufonte and Enid Hoopes in ECMT’s production of Legally Blonde directed by Broadway’s Nikki Snelson. Prior to this, she covered the role of Fantine in Les Misérables (ECMT, dir. Erin James) and appeared as a featured soloist in the Australian premiere production of In Pieces: A New Musical by Joey Contreras (ECMT, dir. George Torbay). Romy was also fortunate enough to play Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown: The Musical (ECMT, dir. George Torbay). Whilst studying in Adelaide Romy has featured alongside Trevor Jones at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, in the choir of Chess: The Musical (StoreyBoard Entertainment, dir. Tyran Parke) and as a featured soloist in Songs for a New World (ECMT, dir. Mitre Khammash).

Sally started performing as a gorgeous little angelic looking, curly topped red head - she's not so much the angel these days but the fabulous red hair is still a feature. Sally has been involved in South Australian amateur theatre both on and off the stage - the stage is truly her happy place. This is her first foray into the Broadway Sessions world so be prepared.

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

Tielah is a full-time History Honours student at the University of Adelaide who is working towards a Post-Grad degree and also pursues her passion for performing to keep her sane. Her deep-rooted passion for musical theatre has led to roles through many youth theatre productions, and several shows in more recent years. Tielah has featured as an ensemble member for shows such as Sweeney Todd, Cinderella and the Pirates (both 2017, South Coast Coral and Arts Society) and most recently, Assassins (2019, Hills Musical Company). She is currently in rehearsals for High Fidelity with Hills Musical company. Tielah is also involved in many different areas of Hills Musical Company, serving on the committee since 2019 and acting as Front of House Manager on multiple occasions.

Zazie has pizazz and charisma when performing and her love of musical theatre comes through when she gets on stage. Recently performing with Pelican Productions in School of Rock, Zazie is constantly looking to improve her on stage skills and always attempts to 'sell it with her face!'

Zazie has been performing for nursing home folk for 5 years as part of a school program and plays the ukulele, guitar and harp.

Zoe has been doing musical theatre since she was 8 years old, where she spent ages 8-19 doing MTC with pelican productions. Singing is an outlet for her and she absolutely loves it!! Finding time to be in shows while being in University has proven to be difficult, but she is so excited to be here tonight and to be up on stage again!

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.

Paul specialises as a repertoire coach, accompanist and music director. He has worked as a pit musician, accompanist, choir leader and music director in musical theatre and cabaret shows throughout South Australia. He is currently a resident Music Director and Repertoire Coach for the Elder Conservatorium Bachelor of Music Theatre at the University of Adelaide. Paul is also the Choir Director for the ACH Group Sing for Joy Choirs, a social program for older people in the community.

Previous show credits include Music Director for ‘This Girl’ Cabaret - SA Regional Tour (Rachael Beck), Songs for a New World and Spring Awakening (ECMT), Kinky Boots (The G&S Society of SA), Avenue Q (Hills Musical Company), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Northern Light Theatre Company), Bye Bye Birdie (The MET), Wicked (Matt Byrne Media) and Mary Poppins (Whyalla Players). Paul has worked as eyboard Deputy on touring productions of The Sound of Music, Singin’ In The Rain and Mamma Mia and played in numerous Adelaide based productions.