May Session: Sunday in the Bar with Sondheim

Born and raised in Adelaide, Angélique made her professional debut in La Bohème (State Opera South Australia, dir. Gale Edwards) at the age of 10. Continuing in the world of opera, she also featured in Ode To Nonsense (Slingsby Productions, dir. Andy Packer). She is currently rehearsing to play Johanna in ECMT’s upcoming production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, with direction by James Millar. Most recently, she played the role of Claire De Loone in On The Town: in Concert with the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra (ECMT, dir. Erin James), Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (ECMT, dir. Joseph Simons), was a Featured Artist in Death, Divorce, and other Happy Endings (ECMT, dir. George Torbay) and a Chorister in Chess: The Musical (StoreyBoard Entertainment, dir. Tyran Parke).

She will be in the Graduating Class of 2023 at ECMT and then hopes to continue her career in Music Theatre.

Daniel has worked in a variety of areas in Musical Theatre since 2007. He previously studied singing with Brian Gilbertson and dance at the North Eastern Academy of Dance. Recently he has performed as, Jerry-Daphne in Sugar, Joe in 9 to 5: The Musical, Judge Aristide Forestier in Can-Can, Sky in Mamma Mia, Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde, and Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, all for The MET and will be performing in Therry Theatre's production of Company in June.

Darcy is currently in his third year of studying Music Theatre at Elder Conservatorium. He just recently finished a season at the Sydney Opera House performing in the Australian Ballets production of Swan Lake. He is currently in rehearsals for ECMT’s production of Little Women where he’s playing the role of Theodore ‘Laurie’ Lawrence. His first production at ECMT was the first-year showcase Magic, Myths and Monsters (dir. Joesph Simons). At the end of last year Darcy played Lord Farquaad in ECMT’s Shrek The Musical, and earlier in the year he understudied the roles of Anthony Hope and Adolfo Perelli in the ECMT’s third year production of Sweeney Todd. Other performances include, Adelaide Festival Centre’s Piano Bar performing with Trevor Jones (Adelaide Cabaret Festival), and Don Quixote in Oh What a Knight! (Track Youth Theatre, dir. Sophie Jevons). Darcy recently starred in a short film, directed by Christopher Jordan, that was nominated for the 2022 VCAA Top Arts Awards and subsequently featured in the NGV Top Arts Exhibit.

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!

Ellie Esdene McMahon is a Queensland-based performer who is currently studying a Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide. She recently completed her Diploma of Musical theatre at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Whilst training at WAAPA she played the role of the Drowsy Chaperone in their production of The Drowsy Chaperone. Ellie also achieved her Certificate III in dance in 2021 whilst studying at Launch Performing Arts Centre where she trained in Tap, Commercial Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Broadway Jazz, and Ballet, and was lucky enough to be trained by Mr Mark Wilson in various styles of ballroom throughout 2019.

In 2020, Ellie landed a lead Voice-Acting role in the upcoming game Project Haven produced by Code 351 Games and has since landed many more roles in games and audio dramas. Her other credits include Half-time Dancer for the AFL Grand Final (Nathan Mark Wright), Ensemble in Matt Ward Entertainment’s production of Fame, Sarah in Hellion: A Horror Anthology produced by Drive By Night productions, an extra in the Inbetweeners 2 produced by Film4 Productions and Bwark Productions, and an extra in Ticket to Paradise. Her amateur credits include Polly in Crazy For You (Michelle Hopper-Doyle),  Mrs Lyons in Blood Brothers, Pam Short in Strictly Ballroom, Astrid Pollard in Spontaneous Human Combustion and Jane Banks in Mary Poppins. For her role in Spontaneous Human Combustion she won the Outstanding Actress Award presented by the Gold Coast Drama Festival.

This is Emily’s first time performing at Broadway Sessions. Emily returned to Adelaide recently after living for some time in Melbourne and the UK and is excited to be back in the Adelaide community theatre scene. Emily played Cinderella in G&S’s production of Into The Woods last year, and is thrilled to be donning a wedding dress again to play Amy in Therry Theatre’s upcoming production of Company.

Jack Keukenmeester is a 16 year old singer, actor and developing dancer. Of Canadian-Australian descent (with a hint of Dutch), he has been performing since the age of 7 when he won his school's talent competition for singing - although he initially signed up to dance! Jack's love of music theatre started when he was cast as Jojo in Adelaide Youth Theatre's 2020 production of Seussical Jr. Since then, Jack has been in many productions. Most recently Jack wrote and performed an 8 minute cabaret set for Hive Inspire's Chrysalis during the 2024 Adelaide Fringe. Jack is excited to be cast as Ram Sweeney in Pelican Productions upcoming production of Heathers the Musical. Jack is currently in his second year at ACPA Academy/Thebarton Senior College Special Interest program, where he is on a mission to be a triple threat.

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.

Most recently, Jaxon performed in the Fringe-award winning Show Fountain Lakes: A Very Foxy Parody Musical, where he played the role of Kel Knight.

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.

Katie has played such roles in Adelaide as Little Buttercup in HMS Pinafore, Lady Thiang in The King & I, Antonia in Man of La Mancha as well as Footnote in Pratchett Pieces for the Adelaide Fringe Festival. After moving to Melbourne in 2005 she played The Narrator in Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Lt. Janice Fury in M*A*S*H, Pamela Lukowski in The Full Monty and received Lyrebird Award nominations for playing Sister Amnesia in Nunsense & Nunsense 2. She also played one of her dream roles, The Witch in Into The Woods as well as the wonderful Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn in The Music Man. Since moving back to Adelaide in 2015, Katie has portrayed Margaret Johnson in The Light In The Piazza for the 2016 Adelaide Fringe Festival and Jen in John & Jen. She had the opportunity to work with composer John Bucchino on his show It’s Only Life for the 2018 Adelaide Fringe Festival, to be a part of the small ensemble cast of Godspell, and portrayed Judge Jackie Justice in Judge Jackie: Disorder in the Court for the 2019 Adelaide Fringe Festival. Most recently she portrayed Alice Tinker in The Vicar of Dibley.

Katie has Musically Directed The Outsiders, All The New Stuff, Kids On Broadway, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Godspell, Little Shop Of Horrors, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, The Wedding Singer, Seussical The Musical, The Wizard Of Oz, Annie, Once Upon A Mattress and most recently Betty Blue Eyes. She also had the opportunity to co-direct for the first time with Avenue Q in 2014.

Lauren Henderson is a multi award-winning vocalist, composer, actor, educator and mother of two beautiful boys. A versatile musician known for her eclectic tastes in jazz, R&B, soul, hip hop, folk, music theatre and pop, she has had the pleasure of working with artists such as Moonchild, The Idea of North, Joe Chindamo, Nelson Dialect, Matthew Sheens, James Muller, Gian Slater, Michelle Nicolle, Anita Wardell, Anna Goldsworthy, Robyn Archer and The Lost and Found Orchestra (creators of STOMP!). Lauren has an acting degree with honours from Flinders Drama Centre and is certified in the Estill Voice Model. She is passionate about helping people unlock and pursue their creativity.

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.

Mark has trained throughout Australia and New York studying Musical Theatre at Schools including The Victorian College of the Arts (VCA Bachelor of Musical Theatre), APO Arts Academy (Advanced Diploma Musical Theatre), and Broadway Dance Centre (Scholarship Program). Mark is most well known from his appearances on The Voice, most recently in this years series making his way on to Team Ricky!

This ignited that theatre bug which led Mark to tour Australia, Asia, America and Europe with multiple musicals/productions including Kinky Boots (Australian Tour), Godspell (Australian Revival), Hello, Dolly! (Australian Revival), Hairspray Arena Spectacular (Tour), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (NCL European Tour), and Magic to do – Stephen Schwartz (USA/Euro Princess tour 3.0). Mark is proudly represented by Emma Raciti Management, and is excited by the opportunities that are popping up within South Australia in the Arts!

Most recently Mark has been working with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra as the vocal captain for Disco Wonderland for the Brisbane Festival. Mark is about to head out on tour for the Japanese and Australian tour of Burn The Floor as their lead vocalist.

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.

Noah Byrne is a tenor singer and composer who is currently undertaking music studies at Marryatville High School. From an early age Noah has had a love of music, making his opera debut at age twelve with the solo part of Frantik in Leoš Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen with State Opera SA for which he was also in the children’s chorus. Noah has been a regular vocal soloist at the South Australian Primary School Festival of Music, first performing a solo in 2018 and again in 2019 and was a guest artist in 2021 and 2022.

In March 2021, Noah took to the stage in the children’s chorus in the Adelaide Festival production of Neil Armfield’s adaptation of Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, at the Adelaide Festival Theatre, with the ASO and the following year performed in The Armed Man. He has been fortunate enough to travel to Tasmania to be a part of The Festival of Voices and to Mt Gambier for Generations in Jazz. He has just returned from The Junior Theatre Festival in Newcastle where he played Evan Goldman in 13 Jr, Davey in Newsies Jr and Hiccup in How to Train your Dragon Jr. He has performed in Les Misérables with AYT, Kristoff in Pelican’s Frozen Jr. and has recently been selected to participate in the 2024 Class of Cabaret.

Noah was previously a performer in Young Adelaide Voices Concert Choir and is currently the youngest performer in the Festival Statesman Chorus. His dedication to his studies has also rewarded him as winner of the Lobethal Harmony Club’s, Clara Serena Memorial Scholarship in 2022 and more recently is the 2023 June Genders Award recipient through the Male Metropolitan Choir of SA.

Sean Weatherly graduated from the Flinders University Drama Centre in 2002 with Honours. He has performed at several Adelaide Cabaret Festival's in Sing Your Own Musical with Michael Morley. In Melbourne he performed alongside Eddie Perfect and Matthew Robinson in Magnormos' first ever production of Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night. Sean produced Tomfoolery for the Adelaide Fringe in 2008 performing with Catherine Campbell and Hew Parham to sell out shows. He is also the composer and co-lyricist for the world's first post-covid musical Price Check - The Supermarket Musical which had a 2 week season at the Bakehouse Theatre in 2016. Price Check - The Supermarket Musical was published last year and is currently available for hire for schools and theatre groups through David Spicer Productions. Sean also performs regularly as Noodles The Clown entertaining kids with magic shows and crazy balloon designs.

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.

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.