iOTA - Frank N Furter
iOTA, one of Australia’s most enigmatic, talented and original singer/songwriters, always wanted to be a rock star. Then the moment he became one, he freaked out. In hindsight he admits that it was a pivotal moment in a career that embraces six ARIA Award nominations, four albums, seven singles. Then another opportunity loomed when musical theatre presented itself and iOTA was cast as the lead in Hedwig & the Angry Inch. He needn’t have worried as he took to the stage with gusto making a stunning theatrical debut which in the past 13 months has earned him a Helpmann Award for Best Male in a Musical as well a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Musical and a Green Room Award for Best Performance in a Musical.
And then the fun really began….
August 2007 and we proudly announce iOTA’s involvement in two very different musical pieces. First up in the later half of 2007 iOTA performs alongside Graeme Murphy in Sydney Dance Company’s Berlin. Then in 2008 iOTA embraces the role of Dr. Frank ‘n Furter in Richard O’Briens worlds favorite rock n roll musical The Rocky Horror Show.
His 1999 debut album, The Hip Bone Connection, earned iOTA the first of his six ARIA Award nominations. His current album Beauty Queen Of The Sea embraces the warmth and melody from his third album La Caravana, but really is the sum of all its predecessors. And that leaves iOTA in an interesting place.
“Anything is possible” he says. “This music theatre thing is really getting me yet at the same time if I can keep making music and releasing it I’ll be happy”
PAUL CAPSIS - Riff Raff
Paul Capsis is one of Australia’s most versatile performers. His extensive career has included theatre, film, live concerts and cabaret. Paul has worked with many leading Australian theatre companies (STC, MTC, Malthouse Theatre and Company B Belvoir) as well as in Vienna, Hong Kong and London. He is presently making his theatrical debut in Absinthe in New York.
Paul’s theatre credits include Barrie Kosky’s The Lost Echo (2006, STC) which earned him the 2007 Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play. Boulevard Delirium in Vienna and Australia (2001, 2002 and 2005 Schauspielhaus, Vienna and 2005 Australia) with his Australian performance earning him the 2006 Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Concert Performer and the 2006 Green Room award for Best Cabaret Artiste. Other awards include the 2004 Green Room Award Best Cabaret Artiste and 2002 Helpmann Award for Best Live Musical Presentation for ‘Capsis vs Capsis’ at the Sydney Opera House.
His music background is varied having sung with Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Russell Crowe, the Soweto Gospel Choir of South Africa, Judi Connelli, Todd McKenney, Mark Trevorrow and Marcia Hines amongst others.
Paul’s film credits include Ana Kokkinos’ 1998 film Head On which won him the 1998 Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for an AFI Award in the same category.
His CD 'Paul Capsis Live' is available at all good music stores and the forthcoming ‘Everybody Wants To Touch Me’
soon will be!
TAMSIN CARROLL - Magenta
Tamsin’s theatre credits include Grease - The Arena Spectacular , Measure For Measure and The Listmaker for The Bell Shakespeare Company, Into The Woods for the Melbourne Theatre Company, A Little Night Music for IMG and MTC, as Tracy Lord in High Society for The Production Company, The Republic of Myopia and Harbour for the Sydney Theatre Company and Shout – The Musical for Kevin Jacobsen in the role of Marianne Ranate. For her role in Shout, Tamsin was nominated for a Greenroom Award (Female Artist in a leading role) and for two Mo Awards.
She starred in Sam Mendes’ production of Oliver as Nancy in Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore which earned her a Green Room Award, Helpmann Award and a Mo Award – for Best Actress in a leading role in a Musical. Most recently Tamsin performed the title role in ‘Dusty, The Original Pop Diva’ which earned her a Helpmann Award nomination. She has just finished performing in Company for Kookaburra in the role of Marta.
Her television appearances include Heartbreak High, A Difficult Woman, The Three Stooges and All Saints. Tamsin also played the role of Jodie in the feature film Holy Smoke directed by Jane Campion and starring Kate Winslett.
MICHAEL CORMICK - Eddie / Dr. Scott
Michael Cormick has an international reputation as an accomplished singer and actor. Since winning New Faces in 1978 he has had a diverse career throughout Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe.
In his home country of Australia, he has played lead roles in musicals including Cats, Into The Woods, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Grease, Eureka, Sunset Boulevard and End Of The Rainbow. Michael is perhaps best remembered for the role of the Beast in Disney's Beauty And The Beast (for which he received a MO Award).
On the West End Michael has played Sir Percival Glyde in The Woman In White, Raoul in The Phantom Of The Opera and Wild Bill Hickok in Calamity Jane. He has also performed the roles of the Arbiter in Chess and Che Guevarra in Evita in Beirut and featured as a guest performer in the Royal Command performances in London of The Phantom Of The Opera and Les Miserables, and at the opening of the Christmas Festival at Royal Albert Hall, London.
More recently Michael has appeared in concert throughout Italy.
SHARON MILLERCHIP - Columbia
Sharon Millerchip is a multi award winning triple-threat performer, whose reputation for versatility is certainly well earned.
Sharon began her musical theatre career in Cats before playing Meg Giry in the original Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera earning her first Mo Award nomination. For Into the Woods (Sydney Theatre Company) she won a Mo Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical and was nominated for a Sydney Critics Award and a Mo Award for Performer of the Year.
Other performances include Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Mo Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical), Falsettos (STC - Green Room Award Nomination), Anita in Westside Story (IMG), Sonia Walsk in They’re Playing Our Song (The Production Company - Green Room Award Nomination), Satango (Griffin Theatre Company - Australian Dance Award nomination) and Velma Kelly in Chicago (Helpmann Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical) touring Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Recently Sharon headlined The Production Company’s 2007 production of Sweet Charity and played Catherine in Kookaburra’s inaugural production, Pippin, at the Sydney Theatre and she has been nominated for the Best Female Actor in a Musical Helpmann Award for this role.
KELLIE RODE - Janet
Kellie is one of Australia’s musical theatre’s rising stars. Since graduating from WAAPA’s BA Musical Theatre in 2000 her career has taken off allowing her to perform across the globe.
Straight after graduation Kellie scored the role of Swing and Understudy in the Australian premiere production of Mamma Mia! in Melbourne. She went on to perform the lead role of Sophie in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Auckland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brisbane (return season), and Melbourne (return season).
Her recent Musical Theatre work includes Sideshow Alley (World premiere 2006), OzMade Musicals 2006, Virgins (New York and Melbourne) for which she received a 2006 Green Room Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress and OzMade Musicals 2005. Her other credits include: Mandy Patinkin Masterclass (Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2006), Tsunami Appeal Brisbane 2005, Adelaide Christmas Carols 2004, S.O.S. Iran Charity Concert 2003.
ANDREW BEVIS - Brad
Andrew Bevis has starred in a diverse range of leading roles both in his native Australia and on London's world famous West End.
A prolific piano player, Andrew began his theatrical career aged 18 as Trainee Musical Director on the Original Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera. He then made his stage debut as Barnaby Tucker in the acclaimed revival of Hello, Dolly! (GFO) before touring Asia and South Africa with the international cast of Les Miserables. Andrew was then invited to join the original London production at The Palace Theatre in London’s West End performing the roles of Montparnasse and Marius.
Further West End Credits include Tremont - "Chick with a Dick" in Jerry Springer the Opera (Royal National Theatre/Cambridge Theatre), Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (Piccadilly Theatre), Tobias in Sweeney Todd (Opera North), Terminus; These People; Diamond and Ray Cooney's Time's Up. Andrew starred as Lt. Joseph Cable in South Pacific for BBC Radio 2 and most recently as the title role in Cameron Mackintosh's Martin Guerre (Watermill Theatre).
Australian stage credits include: Follies (Sydney Opera House), Henrik in A Little Night Music (MTC / IMG), Spring Awakening and Favourite Names for Boys (Railway Street Theatre Company).
Andrew recorded the voice of Prince Lune for The Cat Returns (Disney Animations) opposite Tim Curry, Anne Hathaway and Elliot Gould.
SIMON FARROW - Rocky
Simon graduated from The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPPA) with a Bachelor of Arts (Dance).
Simon has worked with companies including The Ninth Floor and Kompany Kido.
His stunt work has taken him around the world working on stage shows for both Disneyland and Universal Studios. Simon’s screen credits include The Bastard Boys, Valentine’s Day, the US miniseries - The Pacific and most recently The Long Weekend.
JOHN WATERS - The Narrator
John Waters, born in London in 1948, first faced a live audience as a singer and bass player with 60's R&R Band "The Riots" before travelling to Australia and landing the lead role of Claude in Sydney's 1969 production of Hair.
This role led to an acting career on stage, film and television that elevated him to his current status as Australia's most versatile leading man. Having worked on ABC TV's Rush in the 70's, through the Australian film boom on the 70’s/80’s (Summerfield; Breaker Morant; amongst others) and on to the mini-series’ of the 80's (All the Rivers Run; Nancy Wake) John has intrigued audiences with his diversity.
In 1988 John received Australia's highest film accolade, the Australian Film Institute's Best Actor Award for Boulevarde of Broken Dreams.
John’s self-written one man show about John Lennon Looking Through A Glass Onion, has toured nationally and internationally to critical acclaim, and played six months in the West End, London.
His musical theatre credits include My Fair Lady as Professor Higgins, A Little Night Music for the Sydney Theatre Company, Captain Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music, and Fagin in the Sam Mendes production of Oliver. His Pontius Pilate won unanimous acclaim in the concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar.
In 2006 John appeared in the David Williamson play Influence, and the national tour of The Woman In Black plus undertaking another successful tour of Looking Though A Glass Onion. Currently John is starring as Mike Vlasek in All Saints for the Seven Network.
