About Us

for the people. by the people. Theatre People.

Who are the people behind Theatre People?

Not surprisingly, Theatre People is designed by theatre people, written by theatre people, marketed by theatre people, for theatre people. The staff of Theatre People don't just know their audience, they are the audience, contributing every day to the community through creative as well as business pursuits.

Theatre People began eleven years ago, when a group of disgruntled thespians got together because they were tired of the low quality publications and websites the theatre community had available to them. The founders of Theatre People wanted to create a community, not just a website, and thanks to the involvement of a dedicated core team of staff and literally hundreds of casual contributors, we've grown year on year and are now widely recognized as the premier resource of our kind.

Management

Chris Hughes - Business Manager

Chris is a founding partner of Theatre People. Over the the past thirteen years, he has made his mark on the theatre community as an actor, singer and dancer, appearing in over thirty large scale productions. Chris made his professional theatre debut in as a principal performer in Follies In Concert at the Crown Showroom. The many faces of Hughesy have been spotlit in lead and principal roles in Anything Goes, Sweet Charity, Oklahoma, Bye Bye Birdie, The Wiz, Chess, Hot Mikado, Grease , Pirates of Penzance and Jesus Christ Superstar, The Hot Mikado, Whitehorse's West Side Story and most recently is Johnny O'Keefe in CLOC's Shout! Chris has earned multiple nominations by the Music Theatre Guild for his performances in various roles over the years including a best director nomination for the critically acclaimed productions of  Assassins.

Sally Hughes - Administration Manager

Sally completed her Bachelor of Music Degree with Distinction under several scholarships at the Melba Conservatorium of Music and continued her studies at the Australian National Academy of Music. Sally performs regularly as a soloist and recitalist at many venues around Australia, favouring musical theatre, oratorio and operatic repertoire. She also performs with the successful corporate act 'Yummy Opera', managed by the Glynn Nicholas Group. Theatre roles include 'Rosa Bud' Iin The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 'Margot' in The Desert Song, 'Laurey' in Oklahoma!, receiving a Victorian Theatre Guild nomination for Best Actress, 'Young Sally' in Follies In Concert, 'Hope' in Anything Goes, 'Mrs Segstrom' in A little Night Music, 'Maria' in West Side Story and 'Maria' (a different one) in 'The Sound of Music'. In 2005 Sally won the Victorian Theatre Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance of Emma Carew in CLOC's Jekyll and Hyde. Sally holds also holds a management position in the financial services sector and is an Authorised Marriage Celebrant. www.wordsandmusic.net.au

Richard Thomas - Financial Controller

Theatre People's Financial Controller Richard Thomas is a Chartered Accountant and Financial Adviser and maintains an executive position at a notable Melbourne Accounting firm. Richard is a highly regarded performer in the Melbourne theatre community, having played prominent roles in large-scale productions of Sweet Charity and The Secret Garden, as well as professional appearances in Mame and Follies. A singer of first-rate acclaim, Richard has sung with many of the cream of Australia's vocal talent, and has released several solo CD's of theatrical works. Richard has appeared several times as a special guest on Good Morning Australia, and is widely considered to be one of Melbourne's greatest theatre talents.

Jon (Jonno) Sebastian - Webmaster

Jon is the Billing Solutions Manager at Vodafone Hutchison Australia which so kindly supports his love for the theatre. He has performed in over 30 musical productions such as 'Patroclus' in the World Premiere Production of Jon English's PARIS for Laycock Street Theatre in Gosford NSW, 'Don Lockwood' in CLOCs Singin In the Rain, 'Gregory Gardner' in CLOCs A Chorus Line, 'Enjolras' in Gosford Musical Society's Les Miserables. Others include: Little Shop Of Horrors, Tapestry - A Musical Revue, Crazy For You, Jesus Christ Superstar, CLOCs Jekyll & Hyde, CLOCs The Scarlet Pimpernel and as Lumiere in Whitehorse's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast for which he recieved a nomination from the Victorian Music Theatre Guild for Best Supporting Actor. In 2007 Jon played the role of Captain Tempest in Return to the Forbidden Planet (Lyrebird Nomination) and the role of Jon in tick, tick... BOOM (Victorian Music Theatre Guild Nomination), both with Fab Nobs Theatre Inc. In 2008 Jon went on to play his 'dream' role of Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz with CLOC Musical Theatre followed by Zoser in Whitehorse Musical Theatre's acclaimed production of Elton John & Tim Rice's AIDA. 2012 will mark his return to Melbourne and hopefully to the stage after a 3 year hiatus.

Tim McDonald – Web Design/Development/Support

Tim's community theatre debut was in Babirra’s Calamity Jane in 2008. Since then, Tim has performed in shows such as Kismet, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat(Naphtali), Hot Mikado (Koko) and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (Charlie Brown) and has been nominated for Lyrebird and Guild awards for these roles. Since becoming involved in theatre, he has also spent time travelling abroad in the United States, studying dance and performing arts, and performing in international community theatre. By day, Tim works as a web developer at leading Digital Agency, Visual Jazz.

Ian Nisbet - Editor-in-chief

Ian holds bachelor's degrees in drama and music with first class honours in musical theatre, and an AMusA in flute performance. His honours thesis was entitled "Transposition in Jonathan Larson's RENT," and he is currently writing his master's at Australian Catholic University, where he is examining the compositional techniques of Jason Robert Brown. Ian has been a performer, musician, chorus master, and musical director for a number of productions including Jesus Christ Superstar (Flute); Chicago (Mary Sunshine); Oklahoma! (Chorus Master); Finian's Rainbow (Flute/Piccolo); The Sound of Music (Flute/Piccolo); Barnum (Ringmaster, for which he received a Music Theatre Guild of Victoria commendation); Hook: The Pantomime (Flute); RENT (Musical Director); and Into the Woods (Musical Director). Ian can be contacted at editor.ian@theatrepeople.com.au.

Alison Coffa - Communications Manager

Alison was introduced to the world of amateur theatre at age nine when she saw her first production. Now, ten years later, that passion still continues to grow. Alison has worked both on and off stage for the last decade, involving herself in any aspect of theatre she can get her hands on. She has performed in several shows including playing the title role in Annie Jr, as well as productions of Aladdin Jr (Genie), Peter Pan, Bugsy Malone (Captain Smolsky), The Sound of Music and most recently, Jason Robert Brown’s 13. Musical training has included voice, piano, guitar and clarinet. Behind the scenes, Alison has held the role of Microphone Coordinator and backstage assistant with an amateur children’s theatre company for a number of years. Outside theatre, Alison is studying a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) at Deakin University, majoring in Public Relations and Journalism..

State Coordinators

Sarah Motherwell - WA

Sarah can be contacted at sarah@theatrepeople.com.au.

Brent Downes - QLD

Within the last decade, Brent has performed at, featured, or hosted poetry events in Brisbane and in poetry adventures down the east coast of Australia, Northern New South Wales, and The United States of America. He has two published books Coat of Arms (2008) and In the Other Room (2011) which has seen him given the award of Trimaxx International Publishers 2011 Feature Author of Poetry. He is constantly seeking to redefine and challenge contemporary artistry and publishing and is passionate about the emerging generation of writers. He holds an honours degree in theatre from Australian Catholic University where he explored notions of community in contemporat Queensland mainstage theatre and is currently completing a doctorate at ACU that explores the links between artistry and community in contemporary Queensland playwrights. Brent can be contacted at brent@theatrepeople.com.au.

Adam Letherbarrow - NSW

Adam can be contacted at adam@theatrepeople.com.au.

Kirsty Ashley - TAS

Kirsty has always had an affinity and passion for all things musical. Finding a calling in piano playing from age 4 (while adopting the exterior of a jock) she kept her passion hidden for years until moving to Burnie, Tasmania from her home town of Auckland in 2005. Kirsty is a qualified Musculoskeletal and Paediatric Physiotherapist and ex-elite triathlete and swimmer. In 2006 Kirsty made her stage debut in the dance troupe for The King and I with Burnie Musical Society and has never looked back, going on to Pirates of Penzance, Oliver!, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Grace Farrell in Annie (all with Burnie Musical Society) and more recently Urinetown with Devonport Choral Society. She has experienced theatre throughout Tasmania as well as frequently attending major shows in Melbourne. Kirsty sings back up vocals with a local band, dances jazz and hip hop, and enjoys the irreplaceable friendship and support that only a small community can bring. Her shining moment was finally meeting her idol, Jason Robert Brown in person this year and she hopes you enjoy the taste of Tassie and what theatre in Tasmania brings! Kirsty can be contacted at kirsty@theatrepeople.com.au.

Jess Kaplonyi - SA

Jess can be contacted at jess@theatrepeople.com.au.

Dance

Robbie Carmellotti

Robbie comes from a strong dance and production background, currently he runs StageArt with business partner Katherine Armstrong. Together they are committed to growing the standard and quality of theatre in Australia and abroad. StageArt produced the world premiere of Grease 2: Live in Concert, which is now in re-runs from its sell out opening season. StageArt is also responsible for the creative creation and production development of Mátalor- A Hard Rock Dance Opera which premiers in October of 2011. As a dancer he has travelled the world as a Latin American specialist but trained in Ballroom, Jazz and Broadway also. His long resume is highlighted with 'Australian Open Latin Champion' 'Thailand International Latin Champion', 'Taipei World Latin Champion', 'South Pacific Latin Champion', 'Australian Representative to the World Latin'. As an award winning Director and Choreographer, Robbie has worked on Altar Boyz, Rent, Bare, The Wedding Singer, Reefer Madness, West Side Story, Grease 2: Live in Concert, and Mátalor. Robbie works locally as a lecturer at both VCA and PSA, he has studied production creations at NYU and worked alongside both Jason Gilkison (Burn The Floor) and Helen Ritchie (Dancing With The Stars). Robbie can be contacted at robbie@theatrepeople.com.au.

Angus Cameron - Play Reviews Co-ordinator

Angus is currently finishing an Arts degree at the University of Melbourne, majoring in cultural studies and international politics.  He is, relatively, new to the Melbourne theatre scene but so far has been involved in productions such as The Birthday Party and Grease. Last year he produced 12 Angry Men (nominated for Melbourne University production of the year) and played the role of Juror 8 as well as co-producing the musical Kiss Me, Kate where he played the role of Man 1.  This year he is a committee member for UMMTA, The University of Melbourne Music Theatre Association.  He has been reviewing for Theatre People since mid-2010 and has enjoyed the talent Melbourne has on show.  He is also an avid tweeter and a cryptic crossword enthusiast. In his own words, Angus is "pretty keen to get amongst it." Angus can be contacted at play.reviews@theatrepeople.com.au.

Anne Dewar Musical Reviews Co-Ordinator                                                                                                                            

Anne Dewar is well known in Musical Theatre circles and has over 35 years experience in both professional and non – professional Theatre, Pantomime and Television appearing in Commercials, Mini Series and in Comedy Sketches and on Rove Live. Anne is a trained singer, actress, dancer and has played many roles in Musical Theatre. She has performed in around 100 Musical shows and still counting. Her favourites include Dolly Levi in ‘Hello Dolly’ and Miss Adelaide in ‘Guys and Doll’ receiving a Music Theatre Guild nomination for best actress and also received a Lyrebird Nomination for her role of Vicki Nichols in ‘The Full Monty’. She also won a Lyrebird award for her role of Bloody Mary in South Pacific  and recently played the role of Matron Mama Morton in Nova's production of Chicago! Anne has worked with many theatre companies both onstage and behind the scenes, including Nova, Whitehorse, CLOC, Dandenong, Phoenix and Fab Nobs. Also known for her set designs and artistic talents in theatre circles, she has designed sets for many shows. Anne has also directed and choreographed productions. Her most recent directing credits are  the Australasian Premiere of the comedy play ‘M*A*S*H’ for Phoenix, 'Spamalot' for SLAMS, 'Grease' for FAB NOBS Theatre Co and is currently directing 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' for Catchment. Anne can be contacted at reviews@theatrepeople.com.au

Resident Reviewers

Adam Rafferty
Andrew Dodds
Ange Ellis
Bryce Baumgarten
Catherine Brain
Christian Cavallo
Emma Kathryn
Hetty Downer
Jennie Kellaway
Jennifer Piper                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Sutherland
Julia Roper

Kathryn White
Katrina Vinck
Kym Davies
Robbie Carmellotti
Tyler Hess

Tyson Legg

Wayne Robinson                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Professional Musical Theatre

Simon Parris - Resident Reviewer

Simon has appeared in about 40 productions over the past thirty years. Recent roles include Uncle Henry/Guard of the Gate in The Wizard of Oz (Catchment) and Eugene Fodor in Crazy for You (Whitehorse). Other favourite roles include Mr Fox in Mack and Mabel, Max in The Sound of Music, Freddy in My Fair Lady, Julio in Paint Your Wagon, Marcellus in The Music Man and Grantaire in Les Miserables.  Simon has directed several school productions. Recently he choreographed Urinetown and Little Shop of Horrors for St Michael’s Grammar School. He directed Hot Mikado and the Australian premiere of 13 for St Michael’s. Simon served on the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Committee for five years as Treasurer and is currently on the Board of The Opera Studio Melbourne. He is also a keen audience member, having seen 28 shows in three weeks on a recent trip to New York. Simon can be contacted at editor.simon@theatrepeople.com.au.

Youth Theatre

Renée Maloney – Editor, Youth Theatre

Renée has been involved in over 60 shows in the past 23 years - directing, choreographing, producing, performing and stage managing. She has played such roles as ‘Anybody’s’ in West Side Story, ‘Lucy’ in Cosi, ‘Agnes’ in Gypsy and appeared in Annie, Guys and Dolls, Anything Goes and many more. She has been on the directing team for:  Annie, Guys and Dolls (twice), Les Mis, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Annie Get Your Gun, Back to Broadway, The Full Monty and Nunsense amongst many others. She has also appeared in Neighbours, Round the Twist, On the Beach, Short Cuts and a series of ANZ commercials. Renée has been a qualified dance teacher for the past 10 years teaching at many schools around Victoria preparing students for professional auditions, competitions, exams and VCE Dance assessment tasks.  Renée was nominated for ‘Best Director in a Variety’ two years in a row with the Lyrebird Awards. In her professional life she is a Secondary School teacher. In 2010 Renée has directed "Stepping Out" for the 1812 Theatre Company and is choreographing Godspell for Phoenix Theatre Company Inc. Reneé can be contacted at editor.renee@theatrepeople.com.au.

Professional Plays

Kris Weber - Editor, Plays

Kris has had a love affair with the stage, and those actors and directors that honour it, for many years.  She has acted in over 30 productions with some of the highlights being: Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire; Alice in I Never Sang For My Father; Pearl in Summer of the Seventeenth Doll; Helga Ten Dorp in Deathtrap; Lady Cynthia Muldoon in The Real Inspector Hound and Hilary in Hotel Sorrento. Kris has directed 20 plus productions with some of the most memorable being: Agnes of God; Steel Magnolias; Cosi; Last of the Red Hot Lovers; The Odd Couple (Female Version); The Castle; Nuts, The Laramie Project and Speaking in Tongues. Kris has also been a reviewer for both print and electronic periodicals and written other theatre related articles for same.  She has been an in-house adjudicator for various Melbourne theatre companies and runs successful theatre workshops for small groups of actors.  She has also been a critical observer and advisor to VCE Theatre Studies students preparatory to their performance exams. Kris can be contacted at editor.kris@theatrepeople.com.au.

Kris is assisted by Jordy Atkinson who can be contacted at editor.jordy@theatrepeople.com.au.

Amateur Musical Theatre & Fringe Theatre

Emily Mercurio - Co-Editor, Amateur Musical Theatre

Emily Mercurio is no stranger to the performing arts, being raised by a family of performers in dance studios and theatres since she could walk. She was bitten by the performing bug from a young age and has since thrown herself into any play or musical that has come her way. Along with performing in school productions such as The King and I and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Emily has enjoyed being a part of the Triple Threat group at the Young Australian Broadway Chorus where she has box-stepped to many a show tune. She has performed as Liesl, in The Sound of Music with PLOS, toured Melbourne’s shopping centres with A Very Gleeful Tribute Show, and is now studying Musical Theatre at Showfit, the full-time course at Centrestage Dance School. With a passion for writing as well, Emily is currently writing a musical and hopes to be a part of the performing industry in any way she can. Emily can be contacted at editor.emily@theatrepeople.com.au.

Frances Chapman - Co-Editor, Amateur Musical Theatre

A childhood spent pinballed between continents had its upsides for Ness: she got to see theatre in several countries and languages (most memorably: Blasted in German. And you think Sarah Kane is depressing in English...!)  She completed a Bachelor of Arts and then a Masters in History at the University of Sydney, focussing on the role of film in shaping perceptions of the Holocaust. She was a passionate member of the university drama society, performing in The Jungle Book, The Caucasian Chalk Circle and a series of Fringe shows. Lured by the promise of tapas and burlesque, she moved to Melbourne shortly after graduating in 2009. She decided that writing about musical theatre sure beats writing about dead historical figures, and joined the Theatre People team in 2011. Now she is on a mission to sample champagne in every theatre foyer in Melbourne.. Frances can be contacted at editor.frances@theatrepeople.com.au.

Adele Scott -  Editor, Fringe, Cabaret, and Burlesque

Adele completed the Victorian College of the Arts two year Musical Theatre Foundation Program in 2008 where she intensively studied dance, music, solo performance, group chorals, and acting. In between dance and drama classes in 2007 Adele also took on a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University, majoring in journalism with a double minor in philosophy and drawing. Apart from her great love of musical theatre, Adele is also closley associated with Melbourne's own The Butterfly Club, and knows her way around a good cabaret. Adele also teaches burlesque at Bottoms Up! Burlesque and Pole School and performs on the burlesque circuit as Ruby Sunday. Adele previously reviewed for Stage Whispers before joining Theatre People in 2011. Adele can be contacted at editor.adele@theatrepeople.com.au.

News

Will Hanley - Head of News 

Will has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts from the University of Melbourne, where he majored in Theatre Studies and Creative Writing. He has worked with CLOC (Miss Saigon, High Society), Whitehorse (Seussical, Aida), Octave (Side Show) and Wonthaggi (Singin' in the Rain, Little Shop of Horrors). He is currently in rehearsal for SHooSH's 2011 production of Kiss of the Spiderwoman as part of Midsumma, and also Wonthaggi Theatrical Group's 2011 production of Cabaret. Will is taking control of our Newsflash page and will be responsible for bringing you the most up to date information on theatre news both here and abroad.

Will is assisted by Steve Rostron who can be contacted at steve@theatrepeople.com.au and Michelle Crupi who can be contacted at michelle@theatrepeople.com.au.

Design

Imogen Thomas - Advertising Designer

Imogen completed her Bachelor of Communications in 2009 at RMIT, majoring in Business and Communications with qualifications in Film and Graphic Design. She has an established folio of film and design production credits and currently works as a Marketing Coordinator. Imogen has 12 years of multi-disciplinary dance performance experience and a background in music theatre style singing and acting. Her stage time includes roles in Anything Goes, Sweet Charity, Westside Story, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, The Lion King, and Chorus Line. From 2002 – 2005 Imogen was involved with Melbourne Youth Music as a member of Vox Synergy singing group (Kate Sadler) and Music Theatre summer programs (Curtis Bayliss). In 2005 Imogen participated in various training and workshop activities with the Globe Theatre in London, UK. Her study abroad was continued in Singapore, where she was billeted as part of an international young actors initiative program.