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Theatre's Next Crop
4th June
2008
By Nathan Eva
Remember
back to last years Guilds? In between the alcohol, the festivities
and the after party there were statues handed out. Most of us wont
remember that part as we weren’t part of CATS but in the
junior section one boy did shine above the rest. Of course I’m
talking about that guy who came out and sang ‘If I were a Rich Man’,
but who is he and why hadn’t we heard of him before that night?
Lucky for me he goes to Monash so in-between classes I caught up
with the young 18 year old and got a little insight into his world
and experiences in musical theatre.
 Stephen
Valeri
Age:
18
You would have
seen him in:
Ensemble –
Seussical the Musical – Whitehorse
Tevye – Fiddler on the Roof –
Parade
College
Teen
Angel – Grease –
Parade
College
Anatoly – Chess –
Parade
College
Nicely Nicely Johnston – Guys and Dolls – Parade College
Stephen has
also had a heavy involvement in the Young Australian Broadway Chorus
and was asked to sing the national anthem at the Melbourne Town Hall
on Australia Day in front of people such as Lord Mayor John So and
Steve Bracks.
Stephen
started singing lessons when he was four. He was cast in his first
production when he was 10 playing the roll of a young street urchin
in an original musical called ‘The Lane’, written by Elaine and Adam
Bianco. Stephen found that theatre from this moment became a big
part of his life, and from there he knew that it was what he wanted
to do. “I wanted a way to tie in everything I was doing with singing
and performing. When I was singing I wanted to do more so I went
into acting. It all just culminated from there and I have loved it
ever since”. Stephen then found himself at Parade College. “They did
have a very good arts program. It was really a matter of trying to
find my way into it and into the culture. By year 12 I really think
I established myself there. Everyone knew me as part of that culture
and they were all really supportive of me as a performer. The
teachers really looked out for me and in choosing shows they would
make sure there was a part for me.” E.g. Nicely Nicely Johnston,
Anatoly and Tevye.
Stephen’s
portrayal of Tevye earned him a guild award and the
opportunity to perform at the guild award ceremony. “Just the whole
idea of getting asked was a bit daunting. I was a bit nervous. It
kept going through my head, what happens if I don’t win, everyone
will be asking ‘why did they get him to perform’. Once I won, I
really wanted to show everyone why I won and what I can do, I know I
wasn’t expected to but I really wanted to. I was surprised at the
audience’s reaction; it was a lot bigger than I thought it would be.
It was late in the night and it was getting towards the end, and the
junior categories aren’t as acknowledged as much as the senior. It
was fantastic, I was speaking to some of the judges afterwards and
they had been watching me progress over my years at Parade and in my
final year it culminated into Fiddler and finally a reward for my
years performing at Parade.”
 Stephen
like many performers auditioned for Australian Idol. The first time
he auditioned, he was told he was too young and too inexperienced.
Although he wasn’t disheartened because they noted his giant voice,
he sang the right songs and they did like him. He just needed to
gain experience and maturity. That’s about the time where he really
discovered music theatre and convinced himself that music theatre
was what he wanted to sing, and that’s what the judges would want to
hear. As soon as he opened his mouth to say he was singing ‘This is
the Moment’ they told him to sing something else. However Stephen
stayed strong with his choice and got through to the next panel.
After singing for the next panel and being told again not to sing
music theatre songs because it’s “not what the public wants to
hear”, he managed to get into a bit of a heated discussion with the
producers of the show. “How do you know that music theatre isn’t
what the public want to hear! Has there ever been a Music Theatre
singer on the show?” At that point Stephen realized that if he
wanted to be his own performer then Australian Idol wasn’t the thing
for him.
Stephen’s
first show after leaving high school was Whitehorse’s “Seussical”.
It was his first proper audition in quite a while. Stephen was
excited at getting the chance to audition for a production directed
by Chris and Lynette White. “It was a really short audition. Chris
and Lynette recognized me from seeing YABC shows. They were
impressed, I went for my dance call and it was kind of fun cause I
haven’t done one in a long time. You really get to see the level
that everyone is at.” Stephen felt that Seussical was the perfect
show for him to be a part of in his first year out of high school,
“The show’s ensemble is featured quite heavily, and Chris and
Lynette were looking for a youthful essence from the cast. Something
very playful and fun” Although it seems like Stephen has no time to
do anything else, while he isn’t rehearsing he thinks about doing
some uni work for his Bachelor of Performing Arts at Monash
University and hangs out with friends and family. “Although I do get
disowned cause I’m always at rehearsals!”
It was then
time to ask Stephen some quick theatre questions
TP: 3 Ultimate
Roles
SV:
Dr
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Jekyll and Hyde
Phantom – Phantom of the Opera
Quasimodo – The Hunchback of Notre Dame (This NEEDS to be Disney’s
next project!)
TP: Do you
still get nervous?
SV:
No, never
I really don’t, it’s more excitement now. Although the one exception
would have to be for auditions!
TP: Any
thoughts of going pro?
SV:
Look it’s
definitely the intention, but it wont be the be all and end all.
I’ve always said I wont let it define my life and I wont lead my
life bitter and annoyed that I didn’t get to do it professionally.
Getting paid for your first love would be amazing. Although I’m
realistic, and I’m aware that it’s a tough industry out there.
 TP:
Going to either WAAPA or NIDA?
SV:
I have
considered it seriously and auditioned last year. I guess it will
always be an option, but I’m still not too sure at this point.
TP: How About
Your Idol?
SV:
I have way
too many! For music theatre, Anthony Warlow.
TP: Your
audition song?
SV:
I have a
portfolio going, I have been taught you’ve got to have a few on the
go but at the moment ‘Heart’ from Damn Yankees seems to be popping
up quite a bit.
TP: Person you
look up to in amateur theatre?
SV:
I would
probably have to say Marty Macaulay. Although I haven’t worked with
him in the amateur scene, through my affiliation with him at Parade,
he’s definitely been a defining influence in my training – and I’m
certain he’d be just as great outside of school!
TP: Your next
project?
SV:
I’ll be
working on a straight play as part of my uni course. However
I’d really love to start my own musical theatre company with my
girlfriend and a couple of friends from Uni. We really want to be
able to put on and perform the stuff that interests us and we hope
will interest the theatre community as well e.g. Spelling Bee, Bare,
etc, possibly some straight plays and some different takes on
mainstream shows.
 TP:
Sondheim or Webber?
SV:
Love some
of the Lloyd Webber classics, but Sondheim for sure. His music is
just amazing.
TP: JRB or
Schwartz?
SV:
I love
singing JRB cause it so hard - it’s the best challenge, although I
find Schwartz is a lot easier to listen to and watch and more
accessible for a general audience. I cant pick, its like asking me
to pick out of Songs or Wicked. I like them both, that is my answer.
TP: Favorite
Line from a Musical?
SV:
I Laugh
backstage every time I hear the line Horton says to Gertrude about
being ‘too slow and fat’ in Seussical – but probably any of Nicely
Nicely’s lines in Guys and Dolls – best character ever!
TP: Finally
Stephen any Advice for Young Performers?
SV:
Definitely
to follow your dream, keep training etc. but that’s a given – I’d
probably say when getting into theatre outside of school, to not be
afraid of performing in the ensemble. It’d be really hard to make a
transition from the lead in high school to the lead in a company
outside. Doing ensemble with a company like Whitehorse has given me
an awesome experience as a performer – as it’s allowed me to gain
skills that I wouldn’t have necessarily been able to work on if I
was leading a cast.
With one of
the powerhouse voices in musical theatre, it will not be long for
this young man to have his hands on a lead role some time soon. |