Following an intensive period of auditions, The Arts Centre Gold Coast’s 2015 musical Miss Saigon has been cast!
The hugely talented cast are thrilled to be working with industry heavyweights on this epic musical love story.
Since its sensational record-breaking run at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane 25 years ago, Miss Saigon has played in 300 cities in 15 different languages, winning awards around the world.
Director Brad Rush says ‘The rehearsals are underway and we are already blown away by the talent of the principal cast and the 22 ensemble’.
The cast includes –
KIM – Vivien Emsworth
Vivien Emsworth is among the first cohort to graduate from the Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the Griffith Conservatorium of Music, convened by Mr Paul Sabey. Straight from her degree, Vivien’s debut professional musical was The King and I, covering the role as Tuptim; performing the role during the Melbourne season. During her degree Vivien’s credits include; Kim in Miss Saigon, Chava in Fiddler on the Roof and Dulcie in Summer of the Aliens. Vivien is a multi-instrumentalist as well as stage performer and featured as a violinist and vocalist in Con2Cabaret at the Judith Wright Centre. Other notable shows include Our Turn tour and Qantas Tourism Awards, both of which Vivien performed as a vocalist. In 2014 Vivien was a semi-finalist in the Rob Guest Endowment Award. Vivien’s most recent work was landing the role of Ally in the new musical Connect Four, performing in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Chris – Chris White
Chris is a passionate multi-disciplinary performer who has graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Musical Theatre) at The Queensland Conservatorium of Music and a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Theatre) at USQ. Most recently, he was seen onstage amongst the stars as a Pirate in Simon Gallaher’s production of The Pirates of Penzance (Harvest Rain/Essgee Entertainment). Chris also originated the role of Jeremy in the debut season of the new Australian play Sentinel Chickens (JUTE Theatre Company), toured overseas as Ken in Barbie: Anything is Possible (Pen2Stage) and completed a national tour with Brainstorm Productions.
Outside the realms of theatre, Chris has sung and played in independent rock bands for over 10 years, recording original album material and touring nationally. Chris is delighted to be making his debut with The Arts Centre Gold Coast in Miss Saigon, playing his dream role who shares his first name.
ELLEN – Tanele Storm Graham
Tanele has been involved in stage and performance for over sixteen years. Her studies began at institutions around Australia such as Brent Street Studios and Paradise Performers Academy. Most recently Tanele studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in the bachelor of musical theatre course where she worked with some of Australia’s finest directors, choreographers and lecturers including Crispin Taylor, Matthew Lee Robinson, Michael McCall, David King and Julia Moody. Tanele attributes her voice and vocal training to tutors Donald Woodburn and Aaron Hales.
At age fourteen Tanele performed her first leading role as Gabriella in The Arts Centre Gold Coast’s production of High School Musical, under the direction of the late Robert Young. She went on to perform in numerous productions around Queensland. She played Liza Minnelli in The Boy From Oz, Natalie in All Shook Up and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, to name a few. Then performing in productions of West Side Story, Beach and the Laramie Project in Western Australia. Tanele is excited to once again perform on the stage at The Arts Centre Gold Coast in the challenging role of Ellen.
JOHN– Matt Ward
Matt Ward is a singer, actor and internationally trained vocal coach. A graduate of NIDA, Matt has performed and studied in New York, LA, London and Sydney. Lead roles include Joseph & His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Les Miserables, Godspell, understudy to Rob Guest in the Australian premiere of Jekyll and Hyde and Tony in West Side Story. He starred in the world premiere of John Michael Howson’s Pyjamas in Paradise, directed by famed choreographer Tony Bartuccio. Guest starred in Forbidden Broadway, From Asia With Love : The James Bond Musical and performed alongside some of Australia’s finest identities in the critically acclaimed musical Chess (The Melbourne Production Co.), staged by International award-winning director Gale Edwards at the Melbourne State Theatre. Matt Ward was nominated for The 2014 Gold Coast City Australia Day Awards, in the category of Cultural Development, for his creation of The Greenroom Project.
GIGI – Alison McKenzie
Alison hails from Tweed Heads, NSW. The Arts Centre Gold Coast was the training ground for Alison’s musical career starring in West Side Story (as Anita), HAIR (as Dionne), Sweeney Todd (Ensemble) as well as other local productions, The Drowsy Chaperone, Cats and more. Avid thespian by night and Financial Analyst by day. Alison studied and worked on the Gold Coast as a Solicitor before moving into finance in Brisbane. Filipino of heritage, meeting Lea Salonga on tour in Shanghai was a dream. Now two years on playing Gigi is almost serendipity. She is thrilled to be part of this fantastic cast and crew.
THUY – Adam Sealey
Adam first performed in May 2014, in Spotlight Theatres’ Young Frankenstein. Shortly after this, he joined the male ensemble of Jesus Christ Superstar at The Gold Coast Arts Centre. In October 2014, Adam was seen in his first lead role as Anthony Hope in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, performed at Spotlight Theatre – for which he received a GCATA nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Community Musical. This will be Adam’s second production with The Arts Centre Gold Coast and he is excited to be playing the challenging role of Thuy. Adam would like to thank the production team of Miss Saigon for this wonderful opportunity.
THE ENGINEER– Adrian Li Donni
Adrian Li Donni is a graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York. Whilst there, he performed in The Seagull, Measure For Measure and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Adrian has played the ill-fated lover Lun Tha in The King And I for numerous companies across the globe. These include the newly restored The King And I for Lyric Stage in Texas; for The Production Company in Melbourne; an UK/Ireland tour for Curve Theatre and most recently in John Frost and Opera Australia’s national tour (Sydney Opera House debut).
Favourite productions include: a concert tour of Broadway to Australia- An evening with Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens; Festival Of Broadway- An evening with Stephen Schwartz; Jesus Christ Superstar in Slovenia; Disney’s Beauty And The Beast (Le Fou) at Melbourne Zoo and Pacific Overtures (Kayama) for which he received a Greenroom Award nomination for best supporting actor.
TAM – Ethan Yin Lan
Ethan is 6 years old and he will be making his stage debut with Miss Saigon.
The lead roles will be supported by a highly-talented dance ensemble and chorus.
Underpinning this production is the classic score which will be magnificently directed by David Piper, one of the very best musical directors in the country. A superb local band of some of the best musicians on the Coast will provide the perfect complement to one of the most breathtaking musicals of all time.
MISS SAIGON
DATE Fri 12 Jun, 7.30pm, Sat 13 Jun, 7.30pm, Sun 14 Jun, 2..00pm, Thu 18 Jun, 6.00pm, Fri 19, Jun, 7.30pm, Sat 20 Jun, 2.00pm and 7.30pm
VENUE Arts Theatre, The Arts Centre Gold Coast
135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise
COST Adult $52.00, Concession $49.00, Student / Child (U15yrs) $32.00
BOOKINGS (07) 5588 4000 or http://www.theartscentregc.com.au/whats-on/whats-on-items/miss-saigon
