CAST BIOGRAPHIES PHIL JAMIESON As the voice and face of Grinspoon, Phil Jamieson fronted one of the most popular Australian bands of the last two decades. An accomplished singer, songwriter and guitarist, Jamieson’s generation-defining lyrics and vocal melodies first became etched into rock fans’ DNA in 1995, when the Lismore-born quartet rode a new wave of alternative music to become the first act Unearthed by national youth radio station triple j with its debut single - Sickfest. So began a love affair that maintained its heat and passion for over one thousand live shows, six consecutive Top 10 debuts and multi-platinum album sales. That initial romance with triple j’s listeners blossomed into full-bloom infatuation: an incredible 17 Grinspoon songs have polled in Hottest 100 countdowns over the years, led by the much-loved Chemical Heart (#2 in 2002; #63 in 2013’s Hottest 100 of All Time). With the release of seventh album Black Rabbits came the news in late 2013 that Grinspoon were entering hibernation indefinitely, yet Phil Jamieson remained as focused and passionate about music as ever pursuing a solo career in the meantime. Earlier this year Grinspoon announced the celebration of 20 years since their first album Guide to Better Living, this saw them back on the road playing to adoring sold-out crowds across the country over 4 months. Outside of studios and music venues, Jamieson co-founded the Rock N Ride tour for headspace, the National Youth and Mental Health Foundation, in 2013. The initiative is aimed at engaging local communities to raise awareness about mental health issues faced by young people. This passion project has allowed Jamieson to draw on an extensive network of musicians, friends and media personalities who have ridden over 5000km together while visiting dozens of headspace centres along the way. INSTAGRAM: @philjamieson FAcEBOOK: www.facebook.com/philjamiesonmusic/ ADALITA Modern Australian rock icon Adalita is best known as front woman for the multi-ARIA Award nominated Aussie rock band Magic Dirt, who have cemented their status as one of Australia's best loved and highly respected bands. Since 1989, Adalita, principal songwriter and one of the founding members of Magic Dirt, has been writing and producing records, touring the world and is an integral part of the Australian music scene, garnering a passionate and loyal following and countless accolades. Magic Dirt received nine ARIA Award nominations and secured 4 x Top 40 releases on the ARIA Albums chart. Since 2011 Adalita has forged a successful solo recording career and her second album All Day Venus blitzed the music scene, landing her a 2014 ARIA Award nomination for Best Female Artist and the Age/Music Victoria award for Best Female. Adalita is currently working on her highly-anticipated third studio album. FAcEBOOK: www.facebook.com/adalitaofficial/ INSTAGRAM: @adalitax TWITTER: www.twitter.com./adalitamusic SARAH MCLEOD As the lead singer/guitarist and primary songwriter for 3x ARIA Award winning rock band The Superjesus, Sarah McLeod’s successful career began in the late 90s. The Superjesus achieved Platinum album sales and multiple Top 40 singles including “Gravity”, “Down Again” and “Secret Agent Man” which are still rock radio staples nationally. When The Superjesus hiatus began in the early 2000s, Sarah’s solo career soared. She released a number of EP’s and collaborations with The Living End’s Chris Cheney, The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin, and the Baby Animals’ Mick Skelton, and a side project band called ‘Screaming Bikini’ that solidified her musical ability across a range of genre’s including hard rock, singer/songwriter, 50s & 60s barber shop and electronica. Sarah’s collaborations with DJ’s from all over the globe resulted in her single “He Doesn’t Love You” topping the dance charts at #1 in Eastern Europe for 16 weeks. Living in London and New York before returning to Australia to reform The Superjesus to an overwhelming response, Sarah continues to uphold her reputation as a musical force, nominated for “Frontman/woman Of The Year” in Triple M’s 2015 Rockies Awards amidst heavyweights Dave Grohl and Jimmy Barnes. Following a series of sold out “She Who Rocks” tour dates, a new EP ‘Love and Violence’ from The Superjesus imminent and a new solo record in the works, Sarah McLeod has proven to be one of Australia’s most talented and versatile artists. Sarah released Rocky's Diner in 2017 which debuted in the ARIA Top 20 albums chart. INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/sarahmcleod1/ TWITTER: @SarahMcLeod1 FAcEBOOK: www.facebook.com/sarahmcleodofficial/ CONNOR CRAWFORD Connor is a graduate from the Victorian college of the Arts in 2011 – studying Musical Theatre. Since graduating, recent theatre credits include playing John Hinckley in Assassins for Hayes Theatre, touring Australia in The Sound of Music (Gordon Frost Organisation) and Jersey Boys (New Theatrical), Connor was also seen in City of Angles directed by Kate cherry. Connor’s Film & TV credits include The Divorce (Princess Pictures / Opera Australia), Glitch, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Molly and Winners and Losers. LINDEN FURNELL Linden sold his stuff and left a corporate job in 2009 to pursue a musical theatre degree in Singapore, graduating with first class honours from Lasalle college of the Arts in 2012. He’s performed as an actor, singer and dancer in Australia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and NYc. After 6 years based in South East Asia, Linden returned to Australia in 2015 to get a foot in the (stage) door and managed to win the 2016 Rob Guest Endowment. Linden’s Australian credits include the roles of Harry and charlie cover in the Australian tour of Kinky Boots, Roger in both sell-out Hayes Theatre co seasons of Rent, for which he was awarded a Glug Award for Best Performance by a Newcomer, Fiyero in Wicked (Packemin Productions) , The Australian premiere of Violet, Songs for a New World. Theatre credits in Singapore include La Cage Aux Follies, The Cat in the Hat, Edges, Howie the Rookie, Next To Normal, A French Kiss, The Last Five Years, La Vie en Rose, 2 Houses, Great World Cabaret, and The Effect. He has composed original music for productions and has also released an original EP which can be found on all music platforms under the name Linden Charles. Linden is currently working on an upcoming album. WEBSITE: www.lindenfurnell.com INSTAGRAM: @lindenfurnell FAcEBOOK FANPAGE: www.facebook.com/lindfurn YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/lindenfurnell ALEX JEANS Alex Jeans is back on the couch playing Will in the national tour of Green Day’s American Idiot (shake & stir theatre co and QPAc), following the successful season in Brisbane. Alex’s musical career began with aspirations of being a rock star but somewhere along the way he found himself in music theatre. After performing in a string of shows in high school and with his local community theatre company (Blue Mountains Musical Society), Alex went on to study Music Theatre at the Australian Institute of Music where he played the role of J. Pierrepont Finch in their production of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. After his time at AIM, Alex performed as part of the four- man Motown act Soul Mates onboard Princess cruises as well as starring as Jason Mcconnell in Supply Evolution’s Bare The Musical. Most recently, Alex played the role of Bruce Springsteen in Highway Run’s production of High Fidelity at the Hayes Theatre. KAYLAH ATTARD Kaylah began dance training at the age of two at the May Downs School of Dance. She also trained in ballroom and Latin at Danceworx. At the age of six she started her musical theatre career in The Magic Faraway Tree (GGA) which then led to The Wizard of Ox (SEL/GFO), Oliver (IMG), and Turandot (OA). At the age of 18, Kaylah landed a lead vocalist/performer role for Royal caribbean Cruise Lines where she completed four contracts travelling all over the world. Kaylah was then cast in the world premiere of Baz Lurhmann’s “Strictly Ballroom” where she was a featured singer/dancer and covered two main roles. Kaylah has spent the first ten months of this year touring Australia/New Zealand as a Vocalist/Dancer with the show “Velvet” alongside the Marcia Hines. She is now on tour as a Backing Vocalist with Dannii Minogue as they are the support act for the Australian tour of “Take That”. Kaylah is thrilled to be cast as “Extraordinary Girl” in Green Day’s American Idiot. INSTAGRAM: @kaylahattard FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ KAttard25 PHOEBE PANARETOS Phoebe reprises her Helpmann Award nominated performance as Whatsername in Green Day’s American Idiot, following unanimous praise for the show’s Australian premiere Brisbane run. Phoebe made her professional debut in cameron Mackintosh’s production of Oliver! when she was just 11, and went on to graduate from the Newtown School of Performing Arts, topping the State in Drama, and later the Victorian College of the Arts. Upon graduation Phoebe toured Asia with the Smile Live Entertainment production of Thomas and The Hidden Treasure & quickly moved on to The Production Company’s season of Singin’ in the Rain. Phoebe made international headlines being handpicked by Baz Lurhman to play the lead role of Fran in the world premiere musical adaptation Strictly Ballroom The Musical for which she was nominated for a Helpmann Award and a Green Room Award for Best Female In A Musical. Phoebe then starred as connie Francis in the world premier of Dream Lover directed by Simon Philips for the Gordon Frost Organisation. INSTAGRAM: phoebepanaretos ASHLEIGH TAYLOR Ashleigh Taylor is thrilled to be returning to the cast of Green Day’s American Idiot as Heather.