Official newsletter of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University (Issue 44) June 2016 Harry Richardson Suzie Mathers scores stars in Doctor Thorne West End Wicked Josh Wakely’s Beat Bugs brings Beatles songs to kids Inside WAAPA Issue 44 Page 1 A HONEY BEATLES OF A ROLE FOR LUCY 2006 Music Theatre graduate Lucy FOR KIDS Maunder will join the Australian cast of Matilda The Musical as Miss Honey Josh Wakely describes himself as a Josh, who graduated from WAAPA’s when the show tours to Brisbane and ‘multi-hypenate’ and that seems a fair Acting course in 2005, is a principal Perth from November this year. assessment, given that he is a director, partner at Grace, a film and television screenwriter, producer and published production company with offices in Lucy is taking over from Elise McCann author. Australia and the U.S. who originated the role of Miss Honey in the Australian production. She will be The WAAPA graduate’s latest project In addition to Beat Bugs, Josh has performing alongside fellow graduate is an animated children’s series called secured a rights deal for Bob Dylan’s James Millar, who plays Miss Trunchbull. Beat Bugs, which he created, wrote, catalogue and is currently developing produced and directed. Due to air in an hour-long television drama series, This will be the second time the two August this year on 7Two, Plus7 and Time Out of Mind, based on the Music Theatre alumni have worked Presto, the 26-part Netflix series characters and themes in Dylan’s together, after appearing in the Nancye features the music of The Beatles as a tunes. Hayes-directed Noël and Gertie in backdrop to the adventures of five 2013, with James playing Noël Coward Josh is also adapting Darin Strauss’ opposite Lucy as Gertrude Laurence. best friends. best-selling memoir, Half a Life, into a For the series, Josh acquired the film that he will direct in 2017. Lucy is currently starring as Heather Chandler in Heathers The Musical at worldwide rights to the Lennon/ The book, which was awarded the McCartney ‘Northern Songs’ music the Sydney Opera House following a 2011 National Book Critics Circle successful season in Melbourne. catalogue. Eddie Vedder, Pink, James Award, tells the haunting story of Bay, Sia, The Shins, Of Monsters and one man’s 20-year struggle with the Before Heathers, Lucy appeared in the Men, Chris Cornell, Regina Spektor, accidental death of his high-school QTC/MTC co-production of Ladies in James Corden, Daniel Johns and Birdy classmate. Black in both Brisbane and Melbourne, are all recording their renditions of starred as Rizzo in the Australian national tour of Grease, and created iconic Beatles songs. Production shots courtesy of Netflix the role of Lara in Lucy Simon’s Doctor Zhivago, opposite Anthony Warlow. She has appeared in roles in various Sondheim works including Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, Side by Side by Sondheim and Sondheim on Sondheim. In international tours, Lucy has performed as Emma Crew in Jekyll and Hyde and Janet in The Rocky Horror Show. Based on the beloved novel by best- selling author Roald Dahl, Matilda The Musical features the award-winning music and lyrics of WAAPA graduate Tim Minchin. Page 2 Inside WAAPA Issue 44 WEST END WICKED FOR MATHERS AN AUSSIE GLINDA IS SET TO STAR IN THE LONDON PRODUCTION OF WICKED usical theatre star Suzie Mathers roles on these amazing stages is a real will take over the lead role credit to how wonderful it is over there.” Mof Glinda in the West End Wicked’s UK Executive Producer production of Wicked in September Michael McCabe said: “We very much this year. look forward to welcoming Suzie The WAAPA graduate will perform Mathers to the London company of alongside West End and Broadway star Wicked in September alongside the Rachel Tucker as Elphaba as the show incredible Rachel Tucker, who returns to celebrates its 10th anniversary on the West End production following her 27 September at London’s Apollo triumphant engagement as Elphaba on Victoria Theatre. Broadway. Suzie was a member of the The Scottish-born performer, who was original Australian cast of Wicked and raised in Perth, WA and graduated from went on to play Glinda to great acclaim WAAPA in 2007, started her Wicked in Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, journey as an offstage vocal swing for the Philippines and on the most recent the 2008 Melbourne production. Australian tour. We are all delighted that these two superbly talented actors will After taking a year out to play the lead join us in London to lead an amazing role in the Australian tour of Mamma new cast through the 10th birthday Mia!, Suzie returned to Wicked as part of celebrations at the Apollo Victoria the onstage ensemble and understudy Theatre later this year.” to fellow WAAPA graduate Lucy Durack, who originated the role of Glinda in Suzie Mathers will assume the role of Glinda in the London Asked how she feels about performing Melbourne. production of Wicked from 5 September 2016 Wicked in London, Suzie said, “When you come down in that bubble in the In 2011 Suzie played Glinda for the “WAAPA is such an amazing school,” opening of Wicked, you’re always 2011 Asian tour and three years later Suzie said in a recent interview. “I nervous and not sure what’s going to reprised the part for the Brisbane and think the fact that there are all these happen, but I’m sure it’s going to be an Perth seasons of the 10th Anniversary wonderful graduates throughout the absolute thrill.” Australian tour. world and in Australia performing lead Photo by Andrew Ritchie IF THE JACKET FITS… In early June, Dane Alderson made illustrious names have appeared under a welcome return to his hometown the label. of Perth as a member of the Their most recent album renowned American jazz-fusion band Cohearence features founding Yellowjackets, one of the headlining member Russell Ferrante on acts at this year’s Perth International keyboards, Bob Mintzer on saxophone, Jazz Festival from 3-5 June. Will Kennedy on drums and Dane on Having moved to the US four years electric bass. ago, the electric bass player has been The 2002 playing with the multiple Grammy WAAPA graduate, award-winning band for the past year. who spent a decade Dane got the gig in a very building a solid modern way. career in Australia before relocating to the US, is among a number of Perth musicians to win the prestigious James Morrison scholarship. At one point, Dane joined fellow scholarship winners and Yellowjackets WAAPA graduates Andrew Fissenden, drummer Will Troy Roberts and Mat Jodrell to form Kennedy had seen a a band with Morrison himself called YouTube clip of Dane’s bass On the Edge. The band toured Europe playing and based on that, the and released an album. band decided to sign him up. Dane, who is now based in Founded in 1979 by guitarist Charlottesville, Virginia, has dual Robben Ford, Yellowjackets boasts an citizenship, making it easy to move extensive discography of acclaimed between the jazz scenes in Australia jazz-fusion albums recorded in its and the US. three decades and a number of Inside WAAPA Issue 44 Page 3 CRIMES OF THE HART ONE-MAN SHOW SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON STOLEN GENERATIONS Actor/writer Ian Michael - What has been the most has received critical acclaim memorable audience reaction? throughout Australia for his On opening night in Adelaide, one-man play Hart, in which the the whole front row was WAAPA graduate uses verbatim entirely women from the Stolen stories to reveal the impact of Generations and they talked to the Stolen Generations on four me throughout the whole show, Noongar men. agreeing with parts of the stories Sam Dinah, Paul Parfitt and about being in missions and telling ‘Hart’ (a nickname to protect his me about life in the 70s and 80s. It privacy) have stories stretching was a special moment that we got back to the 1930s; Ian himself, a to share with each other and it’s proud Noongar man, brings the always humbling when survivors story up to the present day. of the Stolen Generations thank Following sell-out seasons at me after the show because they the Melbourne, Adelaide and New thought nobody would ever hear Zealand Fringe festivals – where their stories. Ian won Best Emerging Artist - Why is it special for you to be at the Adelaide Fringe and Best able to bring Hart to WA? Emerging Indigenous Artist at the It’s special for a lot of reasons Melbourne Fringe – Hart played but mainly because all of the at Perth’s Blue Room Theatre stories in Hart are from Noongar from 24 May to 11 June. men and to be telling them on The play was co-written Noongar boodja feels very right with writer/dramaturg Seanna – I can feel my ancestors in the van Helten and directed by theatre every night. Another Penny Harpham, co-founders reason is because Hart is the first of Melbourne-based She Said Photo by Gabi Briggs show I’ve ever done in WA and Theatre. controlled performance, moving from my family and people I grew up with are Ian spent a year reading testimonials, gentle remembrances to white-hot coming to the show and that means a lot reports and articles from the past anger with perfect control.” to me. 50 years, a process he describes as After graduating from WAAPA’s - What did you enjoy the most about heartbreaking and shocking.