Key Beginners OnStage Staff Members | Childrens Performing Company of Australia

Emily Devlin, Head of Beginners OnStage
Emily grew up in Tasmania where she trained in classical voice and ballet. She completed her Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) from the University of Ballarat in 2003 and has since been lucky enough to perform with leading Melbourne companies such as Oz Opera, Melbourne Opera, Devanesen Productions and the Entertainment Store. Upon moving to Melbourne in 2004, Emily joined the CPCA as a music and dance director. Emily holds a Graduate Diploma in Education (Music and Drama) from Melbourne University, and teaches singing across several Melbourne high schools. Emily has been head of Beginners OnStage since 2009.

Matthew Frank, Head of Music
Mathew Frank is a graduate of Music Theatre (WAAPA). With writing partner Dean Bryant he composed the musicals ‘Prodigal’ (off-Broadway season, York Theatre Company, Green Room Award – Best Score), ‘Virgins’ (Malthouse, New York, Victorian tour), ‘The People in Your Pocket’ (Centenary of Federation tour, Sydney tour), ‘All Roads Lead to Home’ (Melbourne International Arts Festival) and ‘Once We Lived Here’ (Playbox workshop). They wrote ‘The Silver Donkey’, based on the award-winning book, which toured America in 2006. For the Melbourne Theatre Company, Mathew was Associate Music Director of ‘Urinetown’, ‘The Sapphires’ and ‘25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ (2006 production and the Sydney Theatre Company season). JAY records released the American cast recording of ‘Prodigal’ and ‘Virgins’, both available on Amazon.com.

Jacqui Green, Head of Dance

Jacqui Green is one of Australia’s leading choreographers, adjudicators, dancers and dance teachers. As a choreographer and dancer, Jacqui’s credits include The Don Lane Show, The Ronnie Corbett Show, The Midday Show, The AFI Awards and The Logie Awards. Jacqui played the leading role of Cassie in the 1990s national tour of ‘A Chorus Line’ (Mo Award Nomination), and has also appeared in productions of ‘Funny Girl’, ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘Hello Dolly’ and ‘Cabaret’. Directorial credits include a tour of Asia and New Zealand as the resident director of ‘Joseph’s Dreamcoat’ for the Really Useful Group. As choreographer for ‘Back to Bacchus’, Jacqui toured with the CPCA World Tour 2002.

Beth Thompson, Head of Drama
Beth has a long association with the CPCA. She trained with the YABC for six years, appearing in many productions including the 1999 USA Tour. She has worked for the organisation for the past seven years including the 2002 and 2008 World Tour, in the former she toured as Dance Captain and in 2010 was Tour Director for ‘The BFG’ (Adelaide Fringe Festival). She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education from Monash University where she majored in drama and psychology; a postgraduate certificate in applied business; and a Certificate IV in workplace training and assessment. She has taught drama and dance to primary aged children for several years and has been the Head of Performing Arts at Westbreen Primary School. For two and a half years Beth was Communications Manager for Networking World and she has written two books on how to bring drama into the classroom.

Click here to view the full list of staff at the Children's Performing Company of Australia.