June Session: Performer’s Choice (Piano Only)

Back in the saddle and ready to phonate Angela is returning for another Broadway Sessions extravaganza! Singing from the tender age of five, Angela has gone on to complete a BMus majoring in Musical Theatre at AIM. She loves a sad slow ballad and is a sucker for any song with a high G5 to boast. She is trilled to be gracing the stage once more and sharing stories with such a supportive bunch!

Cassidy is an accomplished singer/songwriter, having split her time between Australia and the USA for the past 4 years. She released her debut EP in 2017 that shot to Number 1 on the iTunes country chart! Cassidy has also trained professionally at the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney graduating with a Bachelor of Music (Music Theatre). While in Sydney she was fortunate enough to perform in many theatre productions, some of her favourites include Mary Lane/ Reefer Madness, Elle Woods/ Legally Blonde, Gabriella Montez/ High School Musical and Hermia/ A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Most recently Cassidy appeared in her dream role of Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia! with the Met!

Charlee Watt is a young regional creative who is passionate about vocal performance. Charlee is driven to create artistic opportunities for herself and others in order to showcase youth talent. Charlee has been studying music and voice since junior primary school and has achieved First Class Honours in Grade 6 in Modern Singing. In 2021 Charlee was successful in gaining a scholarship through the Open Music Academy allowing her to study with vocal teachers from the Elder Conservatory at The University of Adelaide which has continued this year. In 2021 Charlee was the recipient of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival Class of Cabaret Nathanial O’Brien scholarship and has been invited to perform with legendary Trevor Jones, has been invited to showcase her talents at the Art Gallery of SA Neo Teen event on a number of occasions, created an event for the Umbrella Festival, participated in the Small Halls Festival, and as part of the Catholic School Music Festival she has sung solo on the Entertainment Centre and Festival Theatre stages in both 2021 and 2022. Charlee also has significant Choir and performance experience while being a member of the National Choir School Summer Program, Gondwana in Sydney, for the 5 years 2018-2022 and in 2022 performed at the Sydney Opera House. For the past 3 years Charlee has been participating in Festival Theatre’s programs OnStage focusing on musical theatre, song writing and acting. In 2022 Charlee brought her world premier show Both Sides Now – Joni and Carole – An Interweaving of Blue and Tapestry that in its first season had a total of six shows and all sold out before the opening of the Fringe and winning a Fringe weekly award as an Emerging Artist. In 2023 Charlee created a new show titled Make Your Own Kind Of Music with the music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Mama Cass Elliot. Charlee has every intention to make the stage her workplace with new work in development.

Cais is a musician, Scout Leader, swimming teacher and audio-visual technician who has been involved in the creative arts for many years. In 2023, Cais was the Musical Director for Big Fish by Tatachilla Lutheran College at the start of May 2023, which has been their absolute favourite show to have done to date. Cais was studying a Bachelor of Music, however has recently swapped into a Cert IV in Live Production and Technical Services (Tech/Stage Management) at TAFE SA, and will pursue theatre fulltime. They are the Stage Manager for Trail's End for Adelaide Fringe 2024, and And Then There Were None for Phoenix Music and Variety Group in 2024. In 2023, they were also the Lighting Operator for Finding Nemo Jr for Adelaide Youth Theatre, as well as the Graduation Dance Show for TAFE SA's third year Bachelor of Creative Arts - Dance Students.

Some of Cais' other theatre credits include playing violin for Marie Clark's seasons of The Producers, and violin/clarinet for SALO's The Gondoliers. They also worked backstage/mic tech for Now Productions Oliver Jr (2021) and The Addams Family (2023), played in the pit for Comedy Capers Gang Show, clarinet in My Fair Lady and violin in the Australian Premiere of Betty Blue Eyes. Cais was also the Musical Director for Scouts Shouts Youth Theatre 2021-2022 and worked backstage with Comedy Capers Gang Show in 2023, alongside other festivals and events and shows. Cais' favourite festival to have worked for was the Illuminate Adelaide Festival in 2023.

Overall, Cais loves working and studying as an audio-visual technician, with Lighting being their favourite department. Cais is also a volunteer crew member for the South Australian State Emergency Service (The ones in orange!).

Claire is proud to have been a part of Adelaide's musical theatre and cabaret scene for almost 20 years. She's had the chance to play some fantastic roles in shows such as Kiss Me, Kate, The Sound of Music, [title of show], The Wedding Singer, and Homemade Fusion. Over the years Claire has been a part of a number of Adelaide Fringe and Cabaret Fringe festival shows, and has also tapped into the local theatre scene in London and Rotterdam during her time living overseas.

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.

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.

A former Theatre Bugs kid, Eloise is thrilled to return to Broadway Sessions. Eloise's recent foray in Adelaide theatre includes shows with Northern Light Theatre Company in Catch Me if You Can (2023), Les Misérables (2022), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2018) and Annie (2017). Eloise has vocal experience within the Va Utopia Liturgical Ensemble, Musical Moments (Promise Adelaide) and of course, on long drives to work. Offstage, Eloise works in politics.

Eloise Harrington is a twelve year-old singer, dancer and actress and has been performing since the age of five. Eloise's love of music theatre started when she was cast as Jojo in Shane Davidson’s 2020 production of Seussical Jr. Since then, Eloise has been in many productions including Lion King Jr (Zazu), St Peter’s Girls School’s Singing in the Rain Jr (Don Lockwood) and The Wizard of Oz Jr (Dorothy).

In 2022 Eloise won the U12 age aggregate champion performer at the South Australia Stage and Dance Society. Eloise has been twice successful in being selected to present in the junior bursary elite 10 performers at the Sunshine Coast Eisteddfod, (2021 & 2023) Eloise's first show was Les Misérables, playing Little Cosette with Northern Lights Theatre Company. In January 2023 Eloise was also a member of the Behind the Curtain Pro-Am cabaret performances  in Brisbane.

Eloise has been receiving formal dance tuition in all genres at the Barbara Jayne Dance Centre (BJDC) since she was 5 years of age. She receives singing tuition at the The Star and Studio Factory, under Amelie Peters and specialist training with Jessica Mills, together the vocal, acting and dance training has her set to be a triple threat. Eloise is looking forward to performing at Broadway Sessions and would like to thank you all for coming out and supporting the performing arts community.

Isla is 15 years of age and a passionate dancer and performer of Musical Theatre.

At her dance studio, GWB, she dances all genres and studies SACE Dance and Cert 3 in Dance with her focus on the Musical Theatre stream.

This year Isla joined the ACPA Academy to focus on this passion for dance and Musical Theatre and attends 3 days/week to build on her experience and also attends Thebarton Senior College for her Academic studies 2 days/week.

Isla’s experience in Musicals began in year four when she played Alice in Alice in Wonderland and has grown whilst working with Pelican Productions, AYT & Shane International since then in many more.

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.

Jessica is a local vocal teacher and has been a performing vocalist in various genres for over 15 years. She was the lead singer of Emergence, performing across Adelaide. She looks forward to now stepping into the musical theatre scene.

Jess has been involved in Adelaide's theatre scene since 2015, from Guys and Dolls to The Addams Family, to (most recently) A New Brain with Davine Productions. Working as a Stage Manager and general backstage all-rounder, for companies such as Adelaide Festival Centre, State Opera, and Slingsby; they still love to perform – though it's mostly in the car on the way to and from work!

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.

Liam, 17, has been on the stage since he was 12. His passion for musical theatre struck after being in Pulteney Grammar School’s Wicked. Throughout his schooling, he has gone on to perform in Mary Poppins as Michael Banks, Matilda as Bruce Bogtrotter, and most recently Jesus Christ Superstar as Caiaphas. Liam looks forward to significantly improving all three aspects of his performance in his final year of schooling as he goes on to perform his final school show as Warner in Legally Blonde.

Lucy Newman has been dancing and performing for the last 15 years. She trained for many years at the Jay School of Dance in as many genres as possible. Her love for musical theatre blossomed in year one when she played a snow flake in The Wizard of Oz with Tatachilla Lutheran College. She continued to perform in multiple school musicals starring in roles such as Jessie in Annie Get Your Gun and Sebastian in The Little Mermaid. After completing school in 2020 Lucy performed in Les Miserables with Adelaide Youth Theatre and since then has performed in many of their shows including Into The Woods as The Witch and West Side Story as Consuela. In 2021 Lucy received a Certificate 4 in Dance Teaching and Management through the Australian Company of Performing Arts (ACPA) and in 2022 Lucy began full time dance study at the Adelaide College of the Arts where she received a Certificate 4 in Dance and is now in second year working towards an Advanced Diploma in Elite Performance and a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Dance. Lucy works as a dance teacher through Luminous Dance Studio and Cool Beans Theatre. She is also the Movement Director of Toast Dance Co. where she creates and choreographs original contemporary dance works twice a year. Lucy choreographed her first musical Little Shop of Horrors in April 2023 with Adelaide Youth Theatre. She is now looking forward to future opportunities to continue developing her experience on a production team and growing as a choreographer.

Mark is an award winning South Australian performer whose credits include the Adelaide and Brisbane Festivals, State Opera South Australia, SINGular Productions, Co Opera, Various People, Aerial Artists Australia, and MOatesArt Productions.

In 2022 Mark was nominated for an Adelaide Critic's Circle Award for his body of work. He premiered the dual roles of Ian Duncan and Don Dunstan in Neil Armfield's Ruby Award-winning Watershed: The Death Of Dr Duncan for the Adelaide Festival – while for State Opera South Australia he performed Lt Tom in Voss and Gastone in La Traviata, as well as embarking on a national tour of Love Burns, completing the first orchestration workshop of When The Rain Stops Falling and appearing in Bright Lights, Big Dreams.

Previous Adelaide Festival appearances are Mozart Requiem (2020), Bernstein Mass – featured Street Singer (2012) and Le Grande Macabre - Ruffiak (2010).

In State Opera of South Australia's 2023 season Mark will be appearing as the Defendant in Trial by Jury and in Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore, as well as hosting the Tra La La Bar for the Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, with further exciting projects to be announced. In 2021, Mark appeared as Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd and Jack in Love Burns, and opened the year in Carousel. Further highlights with the company include Njegus in The Merry Widow, Arjuna in Satyagraha, John Styx in Orpheus in the Underworld, The Cantor in Maria de Buenos Aires (co production with Leigh Warren Dancers – Adelaide Festival Centre Playhouse and Brisbane Festival). Mark is a proud and long-standing State Opera South Australia artist, both as a chorister and a principal performer.

Well known and regarded on the concert stage, Mark also mentors Class of Cabaret for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, works extensively with Primary Schools Music Festival and regularly tours with Aerial Artists Australia in Le Aerial, including Perth Fringeworld, Adelaide Fringe, Auckland Fringe, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Arts Centre and Port Douglas. Mark is Associate Producer and regular host of Broadway Sessions, Adelaide's long running monthly music theatre focussed, curated open mic night.

An urban planner by trade, music has always been the happy accompaniment to Nadia's life. Nadia is an accomplished choral singer having sung in choirs for most of her life, including the Australian Youth Choir, Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus and Graduate Singers. Under the guidance of Amelie Peters, Nadia has been working to broaden her musical vocal range and build the confidence to perform on her own.

Sophie has been taking singing lessons since she was seven and performed in her first community theatre productions since the age of 8. She was bitten by the bug, and countless musicals and plays followed in quick succession. Some highlights include playing Nancy in Oliver!, Annie Golden in The Leader of the Pack, as well as Saskia in Stalled, a play devised by her and some school friends. Now she is embarking on a new chapter in musical theatre, having moved to Sydney to study music theatre at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. As well as an obvious obsession with performing in Musical Theatre, Sophie enjoys playing piano, classical singing, as well as composing.

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.