Behind The Curtain
By Behind The Curtain
Behind The CurtainMay 10, 2021
WONDERLAND: Abigail Kittler (Cheshire Cat)
Orange Theatre Company Presents ALICE IN WONDERLAND! 6-15 May 2022 at the Orange Civic Theatre. Book NOW at TICKETEK or (02)63938111.
WONDERLAND: Natalia Wisse (Alice) & Scarlett Gee (The Mock Turtle)
Orange Theatre Company Presents ALICE IN WONDERLAND! 6-15 May 2022 at the Orange Civic Theatre. Book NOW at TICKETEK or (02)63938111.
WONDERLAND: Balian Williamson (Knave of Hearts)
Orange Theatre Company Presents ALICE IN WONDERLAND! 6-15 May 2022 at the Orange Civic Theatre. Book NOW at TICKETEK or (02)63938111.
WONDERLAND: James Haberecht (Mad Hatter)
Orange Theatre Company Presents ALICE IN WONDERLAND! 6-15 May 2022 at the Orange Civic Theatre. Book NOW at TICKETEK or (02)63938111.
Zoe Gertz
Zoe is a graduate of WAAPA, graduating with a B.A. (Music Theatre). During her high school years, Zoe was honoured to be a dancer in both the opening and closing ceremonies for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Immediately after graduating from WAAPA in 2004, she was co-writer and performer in the cabaret show Emotional Baggage at the El Rocco Room in Sydney, which enjoyed a return season.
Zoe joined the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the Musical as a Swing Diva and understudied the role of Marianne for the Sydney and Melbourne seasons.
In 2008, Zoe was made an original Australian cast member of Wicked, a show that she would perform in for the next 4 years. She is the only woman in the world to have understudied and performed both the roles of Madam Morrible, and Elphaba, and achieved this feat in both Australia and Singapore.
Upon her return to Australia after the Asian tour of Wicked in 2012, Zoe was cast as the loud-mouthed Enid Hoopes, as well as understudying and performing the role of Vivienne in Legally Blonde the Musical.
Zoe was an original Australian cast member of Cameron Mackintosh’s 25thAnniversary production of Les Miserables, appearing as the Factory Girl, as well as understudying and performing the role of Fantine. In 2016, she appeared in the Australian tour of Georgy Girl and in 2017 performed as Liz in High Fidelity (Highway Run/Neil Gooding Productions).
Last year Zoe starred as the Widow Douglas in Big River (Neglected Musicals/Hayes Theatre Co) and also featured as Ilona Ritter in the critically acclaimed season of She Loves Me (Hayes Theatre Co, In the Pipeline, Erin James) at the Hayes!
Zoe can currently be seen in the critically acclaimed Come From Away as Beverly and others.
Max Kendrick
Dan Assetta
Todd Jacobsson
Todd previously performed in the Helpmann Award winning Australian premier production of The Book Of Mormon, understudying the role of ‘Elder Price’.
He most recently performed to rave reviews playing the iconic role of ‘Tony’ in Opera Australia/GWB's Australian and International tour of the acclaimed musical West Side Story.
Todd made his professional musical theatre debut with The Production Company’s The Pirates Of Penzance at Hamer Hall, followed by Guys And Dolls at The Arts Centre Melbourne. Further theatrical credits include the Australian and International tours of Scooby Doo Live! Musical Mysteries and Scooby Doo Live! Level Up as Fred, which took him to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and as a performer/percussionist on Rhonda Burchmore’s Vinyl Viagra tour. Television appearances include the Nine Network's Mornings and Seven Network's The Morning Show.
He also performed as a top six finalist for the prestigious Rob Guest Endowment Award.
Todd is currently understudying the role of 'Hans' in Disney's highly anticipated Frozen The Musical.
Now playing at Melbournes Her Majesty's Theatre.
ABOUT
Our FAVE Theatre Couple!
Amelia Bennetts and James Eade! Orange’s Theatre Power Couple! James and Amelia have been involved in many Orange Theatre Company productions as well as in Mudgee and with many dance Schools. They have most recently appeared in Orange Theatre Company’s Beauty and the Beast and we can’t wait to see them in OTC’s Mamma Mia! In October!
BTC's Best Bits
5 months. 33 episodes. We love this podcast and the amazing moments that present themselves. Please enjoy SOME of the fun Jack & George get up to in this very special edition of Behind The Curtain!
Elise McCann
She is also featured in the Channel Seven miniseries Peter Allen – Not The Boy Next Door, playing Peter’s sister Lynne Woolnough. Not The Boy Next Door won 7 AACTA’s at the 2015 AACTA Awards including Best Miniseries, was nominated for Best Drama at the 2016 Logie Awards and was nominated for Best Television Drama at the 2016 Monte Carlo Television and Film Festival.
A graduate of NIDA, Elise’s theatrical credits include: Cathy in The Last Five Years (Ensemble Theatre), Ado Annie in Oklahoma and Meg Brockie in Brigadoon (The Production Company), Lucille Ball in the critically acclaimed one woman show Everybody Loves Lucy (Luckiest Productions) for which she was nominated in the 2015 Sydney Theatre Awards. Ali in the 10th Anniversary Australian Tour of MAMMA MIA! (Littlestar); Janet McGregor in the Australian tour of South Pacific (Opera Australia/Gordon Frost Organisation); The World Premier/Australian Tour of Doctor Zhivago (Gordon Frost Organisation); Fruma Sarah in the Australian Tour of Fiddler on the Roof (TML Enterprises); Cordelia in Falsettos (Darlinghurst Theatre Company); Florinda in Into The Woods (Victorian Arts Opera); Little Women (Kookaburra Australian National Theatre Company); My Fair Lady (Opera Australia); Camelot (The Production Company); Side By Side By Sondheim (Enda Markey Presents). Elise is about to appear as Mary Flynn in a strictly limited season of the Stephen Sondheim classic Merrily We Roll Along at the Hayes Theatre.
Euan Doidge
Musical Theatre has been an intrinsic part of Euan’s background starting as a graduate of Patrick Studios Australia under the direction of Andrew Hallsworth. During this year of study, he was cast in his first musical Anything Goes (The Production Company). In 2012 Euan appeared in The Producers (The Production Company), then went on to play Paul San Marco in the Australian cast of A Chorus Line (TML Enterprises) for which he was the youngest ever nominee for the Helpmann Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical.
From 2012 – 2014 Euan appeared as Nikos/Padamadan in the Australian tour of Legally Blonde (ATG/GFO/Farrelly Prods) and Grease (GFO) in which he understudied the roles of Kenickie and Vince Fontaine, as well as understudying and performing the role of Teen Angel. He was then cast in the dream role of Marius in the Australian tour of Les Miserables (Cameron Mackintosh/Michael Cassel) 2014 – 2016.
During that time he also released his debut Album ‘Let It Sing’ and in 2016 Euan had the great pleasure of playing the role of Felicia/Adam in Priscilla Queen of the Desert and was Lead Singer in Burn The Floor (Norwegian Cruise Lines). On returning to Australia he starred in the Australian tour of Kinky Boots (Michael Cassel) as one of the Angels and covered the role of Lola which he performed many times to great acclaim.
In early 2021 Euan wrapped up his role as Lewis in the production of ‘Pippen’ The Musical, the first musical theatre production to bring back our industry after the global pandemic.
We Have a Winner!
We Have a Winner!
Gretel Scarlett
Noah Mullins
Theatre credits include the role of Munkustrap in CATS with Packemin Productions, Gavroche in Les Misérables with A.C.T San Diego and Evan Goldman in 13 the Musical with Birdie Productions.
He has had the opportunity to perform around the world and in Australia, and most recently a lead singer at Luna Park Sydney. Noah has danced at A-live Performing Arts Centre for the past five years where he was invited to perform in an all-male dance show Machismo as a NXTGEN member. West Side Story marked Noah’s professional theatrical debut.
Alex Rathgeber
Jarrod Draper
Born and raised in Orange, country NSW, Jarrod earned a full scholarship to the Regional Conservatorium to study Music Theatre and Classical Voice, which saw him perform both nationally and internationally for several years. During his time at WAAPA, Jarrod played roles such as ‘Sam’ in Lord of the Flies, ‘Black Fox’ in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, ‘Louise’s Soldier (pas de deux dancer)’ in Carousel and most notably, ‘George’ in Sunday In The Park With George, for which he was voted Male Performer of the Year by Perth Theatre Reviews. Jarrod could most recently be seen on stage in The Hayes Theatre Company’s sold out production of Catch Me If You Can. He also was a member of the ensemble in RENT at the Sydney Opera House and most recently has been announced as a member of the ensemble for the Australian Tour of Moulin Rouge!
Eleni Cassimatis
2019 saw Eleni on tour around Aus, NZ, Hong Kong and the UAE with four shows in rep for Poetry in Action.
Previous theatre credits include Irina Arkadina in ‘The Seagull’ (dir. Sarah Carradine), Snout the Tinker/Fairy/Wall in “A Midsummer Night's Dream” (dir. Adam Cook), Revolving Days’ production of ‘Everyone I’ve Ever Loved…’, a new work by Australian playwright M. Saint Clair and others.
Phillip Lowe
Jack Dodds
SHAUN THE SHEEP'S CIRCUS SHOW
Circa Contemporary Circus, one of the world’s leading performance companies, has joined forces with multi- award-winning and globally renowned animation studio Aardman to create a new circus-theatre production for audiences of all ages, Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show.
Commencing at the Regent Theatre on Wednesday 14 April during the school holiday period, and direct from its world premiere season in Brisbane, it promises an inventive and clever live show that the whole family can enjoy on different levels.
Aardman’s signature Shaun the Sheep animation is combined with live performance from Circa, simultaneously blurring the lines between movement, dance, theatre and circus. A visual spectacle, Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show is also packed full of smart wit and outright hilarity.
Director Yaron Lifschitz and the Circa Ensemble capture all the sophisticated and challenging elements of Circa’s extreme physicality while embracing the fun, humour and playfulness found in the world of Shaun the Sheep. Scenic Designer Dan Potra and Costume Designer Libby McDonnell have created a new world for Shaun and his flock to inhabit, seamlessly blending the dimensions of animation, stage, film and live acrobatics.
Lucy Maunder
Since graduating from WAAPA in 2006, Lucy has cemented her reputation as one of Australia’s musical theatre leading ladies. When the Covid-19 Pandemic hit, she was about to preview at Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre QPAC in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (GFO) as Charlie’s mum Mrs Bucket, which had just finished two very successful seasons in Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre and Sydney’s iconic Capitol Theatre. She was nominated for a 2019 Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the show.
Lucy was also about to start rehearsals for MTC’s Australian Premiere of the Tony Award winning Best Musical Fun Home in the role of Alison.
Throughout 2018 Lucy starred in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Michael Cassel Group) as sassy Cynthia Weil on its critically acclaimed Australian tour earning a Green Room Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Prior to this, with her newborn baby in tow Lucy played Miss Honey in the Australian/New Zealand tour of Tim Minchin’s Matilda: The Musical (Louise Withers and Associates, RSC), and was nominated for a 2017 Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress. Lucy originated the role of Heather Chandler in the smash Australian Première of Heathers: The Musical, she created the role of Patty in Tim Finn’s new musical Ladies in Black (QTC, MTC) and starred in Grease as Rizzo (GFO) earning Helpmann, Glug and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for the show’s Australian and Asian tour. Lucy also created the role of Lara in the world première of Doctor Zhivago: A New Musical (GFO) opposite Anthony Warlow earning Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical.
Other career highlights include Cinderella in Into the Woods (Victorian Opera, Helpmann and Green Room Nominations); Georgia Hendricks in Curtains (The Production Company); Gertrude Lawrence in Noël and Gertie (CDP Theatre Producers, Glug Award for Best Actress in a Musical); Polly in The Threepenny Opera (STC, Malthouse, Victorian Opera); Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (TML Enterprises); Emma in Jekyll & Hyde (TML Enterprises) and Anne in A Little Night Music (Opera Australia).
Lucy’s one-woman show Irving Berlin: Songs in the Key of Black toured Australia to rave reviews at venues such as the prestigious Spiegeltent, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, The Noosa Longweekend Festival, His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth and La Salon at Claire’s Kitchen. Her album featuring arrangements and musical direction by Daniel Edmonds is available on iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music.
Sophie Matthews
Cameron Boxall
Michael Jackson "The Legacy Tour" Australia and NZ : Featured Dancer
2017
Legendary Pictures: Pacific Rim Two "Upraising" : "Ilya" StandIn
Universal Studios Singapore : Singer/Dancer - The Cruisers, A Date With Marilyn, Elmos TV Time, Trollstopia Hug Time Trio, Trick or Treat with Sesame St, Under the Mistletoe with Marilyn Monroe
Wenona Private School Mary Poppins : Choreographer
2016
Packemin Productions: "Wicked" : Dance Captain/Performer
Packemin Productions Miss Saigon : Assistant Choreographer/Performer
Showcase Foxtel - "A Place To Call Home" : Featured Extra
AHA Business Awards "Opening Number" : Featured Dancer
2015
Princess Cruises: Coral Princess : Dancer
Nine Network: "House of Bond" : Featured Dancer/Extra
2014
Princess Cruises: Pacific Princess : Dancer
2013
Ed5 International : Diploma of Performing Arts
Ariana Mazzeo
Leah Griffiths
Joel Granger
Joel Granger has recently been seen as Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon (for which he received a Helpmann Award Nomination in 2019 - Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical). Prior to this, he appeared in the Hayes Theatre Company Productions of She Loves Me as Arpad, and Cry-Baby as Baldwin Blandish. His other theatre credits include the roles of Daniel Brady in the 60th Anniversary Gala Concert of Lola Montez for The Follies Company, Harry Beaton in The Production Company’s Brigadoon, Big Fish the Musical as Zacky Price, Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd for New Zealand Opera, Warren in Ordinary Days for Pursued by Bear (for which he was nominated for a Green Room Award for Best Lead Male in a Musical), Tom in The Gathering for Vic Theatre Company, Harold Bride in Titanic: The Musical for StageArt, and Bernstein in Dogfight for Doorstep Arts. Joel’s television credits include the role of Jack in Channel Nine’s True Story with Hamish and Andy and the role of Mark in Please Like Me for ABC/Pivot. He is a 2015 graduate of the WAAPA Music Theatre course, where he was featured as Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde: The Musical, Japheth in Children of Eden, Glad Hand in West Side Story, and Theo in Matthew Lee Robinson’s Atlantis. Joel has most recently played Understudy Pippin, Charles and Lewis in the Australian Tour of Pippin.
Sarah Morrison
Sarah’s other theatre credits include, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown and David Williamson’s, Third World Blues. In addition to her stage work, Sarah has appeared in television shows such as The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Making Dust for ABC Artscape.
Sarah is currently appearing in the Australian premier company of Come From Away in the role of Janice and Others at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne.
For more information head to Comefromaway.com.au
Blake Bowden
Josh Piterman
Established Australian musical theatre performer and classical crossover artist who has worked prolifically since he graduated from Federation University with a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) in 2006. Josh kicked off his career performing with the International pop opera group The Ten Tenors and he then made his mark as Tony in the 2010 Australian production of West Side Story. His other musical theatre credits include Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger in the 2016 season of Cats, a role that won him the Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor in A Musical; Edward in Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers; Corny Collins in the UK tour of Hairspray; The Caliph in Kismet; Giuseppe in The Light in the Piazza; Jamie in The Last Five Years and most recently Gerry Goffin in the Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. In 2018 his debut self titled album went to number 1 on both the Aria and ITunes Charts (Classical Crossover) in Australia.
Tony Sheldon
Of his many Musical Theatre appearances across the world, Sheldon has played Roger De Bris in The Producers in which he won a Helpmann Award as well as the Sydney Critics Award, the Mo Award, and the Glugs award. Tony wrote and directed the Time of My Life at the Ensemble Theatre in 2006 as well as the Adelaide Cabaret Festival for his wonderful mother, Toni Lamond. Tony has starred in over 1900 performances as Bernadette in Priscilla Queen of the Desert in Australia, Toronto and Broadway! Throughout this experience, he was nominated for a Tony award as Best Actor in a Musical which is just the peak of anyone’s Musical Theatre Journey. Tony recently also played Grandpa Joe in the recent Australian Professional Production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We can’t wait to chat with Tony and the interview is available on all podcast providers from 6am Tuesday morning!
"Travel Song!"
Jack & George have a sing. Enjoy this hit from Shrek the musical!
Emily Hayes
Emily Hayes is a central west makeup artist and theatre creative. She has been involved in theatre and performing for most of her life and even performed at the Sydney Opera House during her primary school days. Emily’s love of theatre continued to high school where she studied subjects including Drama and Entertainment Industry. In 2018 Emily graduated from CSU with a Bachelor of communication (Theatre/Media). Emily’s final year major work involved directing a great cast of fire twirlers, dancers, percussionists and large scale puppeteers in an outdoor space for SPRUNG festival of creativity. During her time at university, Emily got the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong and Taipei “World Stage Design Festival” where she became fascinated with special effects makeup and the use of practical effects in theatre. Emily is now an active member of the Bathurst Theatre Company; performing in travelling murder mysteries, dinner theatre, short films and local advertisements. Emily continues to hone her craft in creative and special effects makeup and has used these skills in many projects and events from weddings to music videos and local theatre productions. Insta : @its_emily_xoxox TikTok: @its.em.xoxo FB Artist page: @ehartistpage
Eli Cooper
Zoe Ioannou
She made her professional debut in the role of Pepper in Annie (Gordon Frost Organisation). Her TV debut was on Disney Playhouse and she also played the ongoing guest role of Paige in the ABC TV series Dance Academy and recently performed in The Australian production of West Side Story.
Ashleigh Rubenach
Stefanie Jones
Nic Collins
Barry Conrad
With a multifaceted career spanning music, screen and stage, Barry Conrad possesses an undeniable talent.
He’s opened for the likes of Brian McKnight, Craig David and Eric Benet, toured both locally and internationally, and vocally produced and penned songs for an array of artists.
No stranger to screen, Conrad landed a role on FOX’s Power Rangers: Ninja Stormand featured in numerous TV commercials, before taking his first leap to feature films in the #1 box office hit, The Sapphires. Barry made his musical theatre debut in the Australian premiere production of Broadway smash, VIOLET, enjoying award-winning, critically acclaimed seasons in Sydney and Melbourne.
Hot on the heels of VIOLET, an unbroken streak of touring stage roles soon followed, including Hairspray Arena Spectacular as Seaweed, Grease: The Arena Experience as Kenickie, five-time Helpmann winning BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical as part of The Drifters and MADIBA the Musical as William Xulu. In 2019 Barry reached a new career milestone, landing a recurring role as Kane Jones on Australia’s longest-running TV drama series, Neighbours.
He recently signed on as an ambassador for Mitsubishi Australia, representing the brand at ARIA Awards 2020. Away from entertainment, he’s a proud ambassador for suicide-prevention charity R U OK?.
Conrad’s rise to public recognition was cemented after being named one of the Final 12 on Channel 7’s The X-Factor, winning over a legion of new fans and solidifying himself as one of Australia’s most exciting talents.
Holly Hare #BeyondBathurst 🙌🏽
Holly grew up in Sydney and joined the Australian Girls’ Choir at the age of 10 graduating to their Performing Choir. During her time with the choir, she performed on Channels 7 and 9, Sydney’s Carols in the Domain, media launches for QANTAS and other corporate events as well as the AGC annual concerts at the Sydney Opera House. A recent Year 12 graduate of Scots All Saints College and College Co-Curricular Prefect for 2019/20 Holly studied 3 Unit Music for her HSC and was a member of the Amadeus Academy. Holly made her music theatre debut in 2018 performing the role of Shenshen in the Carillon Theatrical Society’s production of Wicked. Later that year, she performed the role of Lamar in the All Saints College production of Godspell. During 2019, Holly performed the role of Belle in the Scots All Saints College production of Beauty and the Beast. During December 2020, Holly accepted the role of Maria in the Carillon Theatrical Society’s 2021 production of the Sound of Music, however due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the production was sadly cancelled. This year, Holly will be studying a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium, University of Sydney. She cannot wait to see what the future holds for her in either the Music Theatre realm or the world of Classical Voice.
Links mentioned:
https://www.ctsbathurst.com.au/about-us.html
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXIld-GjsuRenw6njdKcNOA
George the perfect! 👌🏽
Meet our producer! 🎧
Our wonderful producer, Samantha Pluymers, is no stranger to the stage. She has made her amateur theatre debut starring in the ensemble of James Sheahan Catholic High School’s OKLAHOMA! She has also appeared on stage through a variety of dance concerts with Dance HQ in Orange. On behalf of our hosts Jack and George, we would love to thank Sammy Pluymers or Ploopers? for assisting us in growing our show and we can’t wait to grow Behind The Curtain with her support!
Introducing Jack Daintith ⭐️
First show shenanigans 🎭