PAST STAFF

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 SIMON GLEESON is best known for his acclaimed interpretation of Jean Valjean in Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Les Miserables for which he received the 2015 Helpmann award for Best Male Actor in a Musical. His  stage credits include Jolson, Shout, Mamma Mia (Helpmann Award nomination), Eureka, Chess (Greenroom Award nomination) Love Never Dies (Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations) and Hipbone Sticking Out (BighART). Simon’s film and television credits in Australia include City Homicide, Blue Heelers and SeaChange. He most recently worked with Benj Pasek and Justin Paul on the creative development of the motion picture The Greatest Showman. He is a regular guest creative for Starbound Musical Theatre.

 VICKY JACOBS most recently worked as the Associate Musical Director on Come From Away, previously working on the Australian Tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical In 2016 and 2017 she toured Australia and Japan as Deputy Musical Director for Singin' in the Rain. Vicky toured Australasia as Assistant Musical Director for the critically-acclaimed Jersey Boys and has played in the orchestra for Wicked, Xanadu, Les Misérables and Grease. She has been Musical Director of Motherhood The Musical, and Elegies: A Song Cycle, and been nominated for Greenroom Awards for her work on John and Jen and Thrill Me. In 2015, she worked on Strictly Ballroom, Fiddler on the Roof and Hugh Jackman's Broadway to Oz. She is a regular guest creative for Starbound Musical Theatre.

 FREYA LIST has trained and created works in Melbourne, New York and Europe, most recently seen in The Children by MTC/STC, Rent at Chapel off Chapel, the ‘Kabaret Dietrich’ cabaret at the Fringe Festival, Woodes Tour and Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. She has also created her own work Half Full and choreographed for corporate events, television, TVC’s and music videos. Freya has taught all over Australia, Asia, the US and along with CERES global facilities dance trips in India.

 CHRIS NOLAN is a voice teacher, vocal coach, pianist, and casting consultant. His clients include recording artists, music theatre performers, television and film actors. Students and former students are currently featured in many musicals in the West End, including Hamilton, The Phantom of the Opera, and Les Misérables. Chris served in the Music Theatre department at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne 2015-2018. Chris trained as a singer and pianist in his native Australia, as an MT performer in Singapore and gained a Masters degree from the Guildford School of Acting. He is currently researching a PhD in voice pedagogy at the University of Melbourne. 

NADIA TORNESE (she/her) studied full time dance and performance at Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance. As well as a dancer she has a unique passion which has lead her to choreograph and be a part of such events as Vega FM idol party, a featured dancer on Neighbours (Network 10), a dancer for MC Hammer on the 7pm Project (Network 10) and a finalist for Short and Sweet Dance 2010 and 2011. Nadia has choreographed for Melbourne's industry night Immersed and for the event Underground. She has also trained intensely at the Broadway Dance Centre, Debbie Reynolds and Millennium Dance complex. 

 MICHAEL RALPH is an award-winning creative whose most recent credits are director/choreographer of Legally Blonde (James Terry Collective), Herringbone (Squabbalogic), NINE (Stage Art), and Bring it On (David Venn Enterprises). He has created choreography for world premiere productions of Georgy Girl - the Seekers musical (Richard East/Dennis Smith), NED - A New Australian Musical (GDP/Capital Venues & Events), and CrossXroads (RL Productions). As a performer Michael appeared in CATS (RUG), Fame the Musical (GFO), Moonshadow (Yusuf Islam / Cat Stevens), Singin in the Rain and Pirates of Penzance (The Production Company).

 STEPHEN WHEAT has enjoyed a diverse career as an actor, director and teacher. After graduating from WAAPA with a B.A. in Music Theatre he began his professional career in The Music Man for the Production Company. He has toured both Australia and Asia in productions of Shout!, Dusty, The Hobbit, Jekyll and Hyde and Legally Blonde. In 2011 he was awarded the Mike Walsh Fellowship and subsequently relocated to New York City to study at HB Studios. His directorial credits include Nine, Reefer Madness, Hello, Dolly!, Pippin, Avenue Q, Elegies, Doubt: A Parable and Sing on Through Tomorrow. Mostly recently, Stephen appeared in Curtains (Daryl Grady) and Georgy Girl (Eddie Jarret), currently performing Andrew Lloyd Webber’sSchool of Rock. He is a regular guest creative for Starbound Musical Theatre.

DEONE ZANOTTO (she/her) has been fortunate enough to perform on some of the world’s great stages, including Broadway where she was cast in the revival production of A Chorus Line. Most recently she closed the Melbourne season of Fun Home as Alison Bechdel for MTC. Deone’s Musical Theatre credits include “Magenta” in Rocky Horror Picture Show, “Lottie Ames” in Mack and Mabel and “Anita” in West Side Story. Other works include The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Dreamlover, We Will Rock You, “Dinah” in South Pacific for the BBC, the Lead Vocalist in Dirty Dancing, “Stephanie Mangano” in Saturday Night Fever, “Rusty” in Footloose The Musical, “Velma” in Chicago and “Cassie” in A Chorus Line. Some of Deone’s film and television appearances include Chopper, Bad Mothers, Preacher, Jack Irish, Charlie Pickering Show and Promised. 

 CHELSEA PLUMLEY played the role of Rizzo in the Australian Tour of Grease The Mega Musical where her performance was singled out as ‘stunning’ (The Australian). Other theatre credits include Tim Rice's Concert Spectacular and the Australian premiere of An Unfinished Song. Chelsea is an experienced accompanist having worked with the West Australian Conservatorium, WAAPA and the corporate group, The Three Waiters. She has also performed in the Production Company's Guys and Dolls. 

 DANIEL PUCKEY has undertaken studies at both the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and Box Hill Institute majoring in Classical and Contemporary Piano. Most recently, he was the Music Director for the 2019 Australian tour of Muriel's Wedding: The Musical. Prior this he also worked as the Assistant Musical Director and Associate Conductor of The Book of Mormon in Sydney. Further credits include; Associate Musical Director for the Australian Tour of The Wizard of Oz with Anthony Warlow; Assistant Musical Director and Associate Conductor on The Bodyguard Musical, and Disney’s The Lion King.

 MELISSA LANGTON has appeared in Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables, Crusade, The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, HMS Pinafore, Brigadoon, Marry Me A Little, Call Me Madam, Sideshow Alley, Eurobeat, We Will Rock You (Killer Queen) and The Threepenny Opera. In 2011 she performed the role of Vonny alongside John Wood, Peter Cousens and Colette Mann in the Australian premiere of Strange Bedfellows and also returned to The Victorian Opera in the role of Angel in the Australian premiere of Kathy Lette’s How To Kill Your Husband, for which she received a Green Room Award nomination.

 ADAM FIORENTINO has a diverse array of professional credits including the Australian Tour of Aladdin (Kassim), City of Angels, West Side Story and as Bert in Mary Poppins at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre. He has also appeared in television and film roles, inlucuding 30 Rock, Neighbours and Hollyoaks. 

 SAM HOOPER  is a 2011 graduate of the VCA Bachelor of Music Theatre, where he was awarded the Cassidy Bequest Scholarship in his graduating year. At the age of 13, he appeared in Cameron Macintosh’s Oliver! He was recently part of the original cast of the world premiere production of King Kong Live on Stage. Other credits include performing with Robert Sturrock’s Industry Dance Company in Exogenesis, his own cabaret Sounds of Silence, and his performances as Tumblebrutus, Skimbleshanks and George in Cats: The Musical, both in Australian and abroad.

MADISON LEE (they/them) As a choreographer and director, Madison has been fortunate enough to work Australia wide with many talented artists, creatives and performers including Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, Falsettos, the Australian premiere of Razorhurst, Bridges of Madison County and Half Time at Hayes Theatre Co, the Australian premiere of Ghost Quartet, the Sydney production of Nine the Musical (Little Triangle), Les Miserables, Jekyll & Hyde with Anthony Warlow, Hi5, Dogfight and Love Today - a new Australian musical (in conjunction with the Queensland Conservatorium). Madison was nominated for Best Choreography (The Wild Party) at the 2019 Sydney Theatre Awards. 

 LUKE ALLEVA began his musical theatre career in the GFO Production of Man of La Mancha. His Australian professional credits include Get Happy, We Will Rock You, Xanadu, Mamma Mia!, The Rocky Horror Show and Hot Shoe Shuffle. Luke has also performed in London’s West End in We Will Rock You and Saturday Night Fever. He has created and starred in his own One Man show The Dancin Man and is a sought after choreographer. Most recently, Luke performed in Dusty, as well as Funny Girl, 42nd Street, Little Me and Guys & Dolls. Luke is regular choreographer for Starbound Musical Theatre. 

 LOUIS LUCENTE has worked across stage and screen, most recently appearing as Harry Houdini in the Australian premiere of Ragtime for The Production Company. Other credits include the 50th Anniversary Production of Hair at the Sydney Opera House, the national tour of Jersey Boys as Norm Waxman and the original cast of Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical. He has also appeared as Jon in Tick Tick Boom (Pursued By Bear), Snoopy in Gary Abraham's production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Vass Theatre Group) and Tony in West Side Story (Packemin Productions).

MATT HEYWARD (he/him) most recently appeared in the role of ‘The Others’ in the play Ghost Stories Australia. Prior to this he played the role of ‘Hairdresser’ in The Phantom of the Opera (Opera Australia) on Sydney Harbour. Other recent credits include Billy Elliot The Musical (LWAA), Sweeney Todd (TEG/Lifelike), and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (TPC). He also performed in the 60th Anniversary Production of My Fair Lady, directed by Dame Julie Andrews (Opera Australia/GFO) and Les Miserables (Michael Cassel Group). Other original cast appearances include The Producers (GFO), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (TPC), Monty Python’s Spamalot (LWAA), and The Addams Family (New Theatricals). Other credits include Mary Poppins (Disney/Cameron Mackintosh) and The Boy From Oz (TPC). 

 BARNABY REITER is a trained and working professional singer with 20 years of vocal health and anatomy training. Having students in almost every professional musical currently playing in Australia, Barnaby is highly sought after in his spare time between performing in musicals himself. He is currently working on Grease: The Arena Spectacular.

SUE-ELLEN has been teaching, choreographing, and performing for 30 years, and has worked extensively in the freelance world of commercial dance. Her credits include Baz Luhrman’s Moulin Rouge, Promises, Promises, King Kong the Musical Workshop, Boy From Oz, 42nd Street (Lorraine), Pajama Game (Brenda) and Pan (Tiger Lily). Sue has also worked on House Husbands, So You Think You Can Dance, Victoria's State School Spectacular, Jungle Book - A Musical Tale, Midsummer Nights Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Is There Life After High School, Motherhood the Musical and Menopause the Musical. 

SAM is a current member of international singing group The Ten Tenors. A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, Sam made his professional debut in The Production Company’s 2017 production of Jesus Christ Superstar. During 2018 and 2019, he completed a tour of Europe and the Caribbean, performing the role of Frank, and understudying the roles of Tick and Bob in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, aboard the Norwegian Epic. His other credits include Marius in Les Misérables and Billy Lawlor in 42nd Street, (Free-Rain Theatre Company) Whizzer in Falsettos (StageArt) and Del in The Beautiful Game (Manilla Street Productions).

DARREN'S theatre credits include Showboat, Happy Days, Pan, Oliver, Cats, Saturday Night Fever, Miss Saigon, Annie, Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Rocky Horror Show, Fiddler on the Roof, and for The Production Company, he has performed in Anything Goes, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Showboat, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Curtains. Darren has also worked as part of the Choreography team on the 2006 Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Melbourne Commonwealth games, and most recently on the fourth annual Islamic Olympic games, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Darren has also been teaching dance for over 25 years

GEORGINA HOPSON was the 2017 winner of the Rob Guest Endowment Award and a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. Most recently, Georgina performed in Ragtime (Mother), West Side Story on Sydney Harbour (Maria Standby) and the Dame Julie Andrews-directed 60th Anniversary Production of My Fair Lady as Ensemble/Eliza Doolittle cover. Her other theatre credits include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins and Sue Snell in Carrie. In 2015, Georgina received a Matilda Award for Best Emerging Artist, for her work in Queensland Theatre.

WILL CENTURION began Latin American dance training at an early age. In 2000 he joined the Parisian company Dance Of The World as a featured Argentine tango dancer. He remained in Europe for eight years with theatre credits including Saturday Night Fever, We Will Rock You, Aida and the concert gala A Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber. Upon returning to Australia, Will has performed in the National tours of West Side Story, A Chorus Line and as part of the World Premiere production of King Kong in Melbourne in which he played the role of Taji.

 raduating from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2012, Kerri Anne made her professional debut as Éponine in the 2014 Australian revival of Les Misérables. For this role she received the Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical. She released her debut album, Pictures, in March 2016, supported by a solo concert at Chapel Off Chapel in 2018. Subsequent roles include Violet in Side Show and Cassandra in Paris: A Rock Oddysey. She also originated the character Dom, one of the leads in a new musical, The Things Between Us, staged in New Zealand. Kerri Anne previously worked with Starbound 14 and 15 (2018, 2019).

LOCHLAN ERARD (he/him) trained at Kelly Aykers Full Time Dance and is a graduate of the Musical Theatre course and the Dance Teaching and Management Certificate. Whilst training he performed the roles of Pippin (Pippin) and Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors). Further training includes The Dream Dance Company’s: Show/Business. Lochie was a dancer with Celebrity Cruise Lines for 2 years, and has been involved in a workshop process for the new Australian musical ‘Midnight’. Some of his choreographic credits include: Chicago, Wicked, Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, Mamma Mia, Disney’s High School Musical: On Stage. He is currently the choreographer for Disney’s Camp Rock the Musical. 

DANA JOLLY (she/her) began her career at age 9, playing baby Louise in Gyspy at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne. Before spending 10 years performing in Europe, Asia and Scandinavia, she completed seven years of training at The Victorian College of the Arts, and performed on professional stages with The Australian Contemporary Dance Company, Victorian Stage Opera, and in film, television and commercials. Upon returning to Melbourne, Dana worked on a number of productions as Resident Choreographer, and choreographed 12 musicals for The Production Company. Dana has an extensive list of choreographic credits across stage and screen productions, including The Victorian Opera and So You Think You Can Dance. Dana is the founder and director of Voltage International Productions, The Music Theatre Mentorship Programs, and VIP Studios. She was inducted into the VCA Hall Of Fame in 2015. 

TRACIE MORELY (she/her) is a choreographer, performer and casting consultant with a wealth of experience, based in Australia. With a longstanding career both locally and internationally, Tracie is a highly regarded professional and has established herself as a diversely skilled creative with a portfolio that encompasses all aspects of the entertainment industry. Her career spans feature films, circus, TV commercials, musical theatre productions, television, opera, corporate events, industrials, live stadium performances and everything in between. Tracie’s passion for creating unique performances crosses over into all genres of the entertainment industry. 

CONOR NEYLON (he/him) A graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Conor is a performer/ writer/composer and one half of creative duo ‘Neylon & Peele’ (alongside writing partner Jackson Peele). Conor has performed in Irene and Brigadoon at the Hayes Theatre as part of the Neglected Musicals series (dir. Shaun Rennie) & recently sold out The Beep Test: A Comedy Musical at Melbourne Fringe (which was award ‘Best Ensemble’). Conor is about to jet off to the US to perform as Mozart in Meeting Mozart (CDP Productions). 

JOHN O’HARA (he/him) Hailing from Perth and a graduate of WAAPA, John’s professional credits include his critically acclaimed portrayal of Dr Frank N. Furter inThe Rocky Horror Show, Ned Schneebly in the original Australasian production of School of Rock, Bernadette in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, Roscoe Dexter in Singin’ In The Rain, The Father in Wicked and most recently Henry Etches in Titanic opposite Anthony Warlow. Other credits include Hair, Shout!, Eureka, Leader Of The Pack, High Society, Oklahoma!,The Boy From Oz, Rock of Ages, Company, Grease, Elegies, Songs For A New World, Cinderella and The Who’s Tommy. An established cabaret artist, John’s solo works include #VAL - A Campfire Kiki With Mother, Dedications and That’s Not Your Light, John!. On radio, John is a regular presenter for ABC Hobart and ABC Northern Tasmania. 

LUCY O’BRIEN (she/they) is a music director, arranger, composer, and graduate of New York University's Musical Theatre Writing Program at Tisch. Recent credits include an Off-Broadway arranging debut, (Skin, Strano & Shibata, 2022), AMD on new musical The Deb (ATYP, 2022), debuting as MD for Six Australia (thankyou Queendom!), and providing support and direction to new musicals Spitfire Girls (Rosie Meader, Brent Street) and Voyagers (Strano & Mackenzie- Spencer, La Mama, 2021). Lucy worked on staff at NYU as their accompanist, playing for William Finn, Michael R Jackson, classes, cabarets, and workshops. Coming up next for Lucy is City of Angels (with ex-Starbounders Josh Robson & Sam Hooper) at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney. 

JACKSON PEELE (he/him) is a passionate actor, writer, musician and director. Since 2017, he has written four musicals with writing partner Conor Neylon (Neylon & Peele). At the beginning of 2021, they presented a sold out season of their musical The House on Fire at The Edge of the World at Theatre Works. Most recently, their musical ‘The Beep Test,’ won the award for ‘Best Performance Ensemble,’ as well as a nomination for ‘Best Theatre’ at their 2022 sell-out Melbourne Fringe Season. Jackson graduated from WAAPA (Music Theatre) in 2019 and has since performed in The Winter’s Tale as Florizel (Melbourne Shakespeare) and as SAC Bruner in FBI 2.0 (Underground Cinema). 

THALIA SMITH (she/her) is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, Musical Theatre BFA. In her graduating year Thalia played the lead role of Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street. Thalia made her professional debut in 2016 in We Will Rock You (GFO) as ensemble/cover Scaramouche. She then took on the role of Cha Cha in Harvest Rain’s Grease, and following that performed in Hello Dolly (The Production Company). Thalia most recently performed with the Australian tours of Mamma Mia (Louise Withers and Associates) followed by Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (GFO) as a swing and Mrs Bucket understudy. Currently she is performing in Disney’s Frozen the Musical as swing and dance captain. 

CLAIRE STUBS (she/her) is a dancer, singer and actor from Melbourne. After graduating from Kelly Aykers Full Time Dance, Claire has performed around Australia and internationally. Recent credits include “Mickey’s Christmas Big Band” (Disneyland Paris), “Peta and the Wolf”, “Relate” (Melbourne Fringe Festival) and the 2022 New Years Eve Gala at Hamer Hall hosted by John Foreman. Claire also appeared in the feature film “The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee”. Claire currently teaches tap to the students at Kelly Aykers Full Time Dance and is very excited to be choreographing for the talented performers in Starbound 19. 

SUSAN-ANN WALKER (she/her) has worked in Professional Musical Theatre, Cabaret, Theatre and TV for over 30 years and has recently completed an Australasian Tour of The Wedding Singer in her critically acclaimed role as “Rosie”. Other professional credits include Sweeney Todd (Mrs Lovett cover), Once (Green Room Award/ Helpmann Nomination), A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, and Menopause: The Musical (Helpmann nomination), The Sound of Music, Grease: The Arena Spectacular, The Secret Garden, Godspell, Les Miserables and Cats. Cabaret credits include Jacques Brel (Green Room Award/Cast Recording), Not Quite Right and Bin Goddess. Her TV credits include Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries, The Dr Blake Mysteries, Winners and Losers and Blue Heelers. 

SOPHIE WEISS (she/her) has just completed a national tour of Frozen understudying the role of Elsa and performing in the ensemble. Previous credits include a tour of Australia, China and New Zealand with School Of Rock (GWB/RUG) in the ensemble and covering the role of Rosalie Mullins. The Wizard Of Oz (GFO/RUG)- Aunt Em/Ensemble and covering the WickedWitchandGlinda. MerrilyWeRollAlong-Beth(WatchThis),TheSoundOfMusic-Ensembleandunderstudying Baroness Schraeder and Sister Margaretta (GFO/RUG), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Ensemble and understudying Christine Colgate (James Anthony Productions), The Full Monty - Georgie (StageArt), and Motherhood the Musical playing the role of Amy (HIT Productions).