March Broadway Chorus News feature:
We are often asked what our students do after they leave the CPCA. Some students further their education with performing arts faculties including the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), and Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Others embark on a range of non performing arts careers.
The Broadway Chorus class hierarchy, which aims to nurture and inspire students by providing specific criteria for promotion, has produced many professional performers over the years. Our top performing group Triple Threat has had a number of success stories - in particular, the class of 2004.
We talk to three former students from this class, Josie Lane, Luigi Lucente and Michelle Smitheram, about some of their professional highlights to date and what advice they can give to students who aspire to perform professionally.
Josie Lane was a member of the Broadway Chorus for eight years and in Triple Threat for three years. Since leaving the CPCA she has performed in the Sydney Theatre Company production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (June 2007) and the international production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - The Musical (August 2007 – December 2008).
Josie recalls how different both productions were. “My first show, Spelling Bee, was much smaller. I learnt a lot about myself and what I was capable of as a performer.”
In particular Josie reflects on the close knit environment and working alongside stars Marina Prior, Magda Szubanski, and Lisa McCune. “It was so full on the first day. Marina Prior was one of my idols and here I was suddenly working with her. You can see how talented they all are and it is clear why they are successful,” she says. “At the end of the day however, you have to remind yourself they are just people and you are all doing the same job.”
In August 2007 Josie started touring with Priscilla in Melbourne, and then travelled to New Zealand, London, and then back to Sydney during a year long performance season.
“Priscilla on the other hand was a really big show. I learnt about the business side of things – the publicity and promotional commitments, the role of Actors Equity, and what touring involved,” says Josie.
“My advice to students is to keep working at it. I was lucky enough to get into a show straight after leaving the CPCA. But you need to be prepared to keep working, to keep going to classes and always expect everything – because anything can happen. One moment you can be at the height of a performance, and the next, you may be closing a show early.”
Luigi Lucente was a CPCA member for four years and in Triple Threat for most of that time. He has appeared on Neighbours, and in the TV series Whatever Happened to that Guy which will be airing on the Comedy Channel on Foxtel this year.
Two highlights for Luigi have been a supporting role in the mini-series Pacific and his current role in the musical Guys and Dolls. The mini-series Pacific, which stars Tom Hanks (he is also co-producer with Steven Spielberg), was filmed last year in and around Melbourne at the Docklands Film and TV Studios and at a site near Geelong which was transformed into a war zone. The production also took Luigi to Los Angeles in December. Luigi says that working with Tom Hanks was terrific. “He is a really nice guy, very down to earth, and he loves Aussies.”
Luigi is currently in rehearsals for Guys and Dolls which has an all-star cast including Lisa McCune, Marina Prior, Garry McDonald, Magda Szubanski, and Shane Jacobson.
His advice to students is to train as much as possible and make the most of any performance, whether it is professional or not. “Keep working towards your goal and develop all your skills so you are a well rounded performer. Casting agents look for people who can do it all – sing, dance and act!”
Guys and Dolls will open in Sydney in March. Pacific is currently in post-production and will air on the Channel 7 network in 2010.
Michelle Smitheram has been in rehearsal with the full cast of the 2009 Australian tour of the hit musical Chicago for three weeks. She is playing the part of Liz in the ensemble and is enthralled with what she is learning from the production.
At the moment it is the Fosse dance style and how it impacts on the show which has grabbed her attention. The important role of the ensemble and chorus and the way it propells the story forward has also been fascinating.
Michelle is also learning a lot from having big names in the rehearsal space including Caroline O’Connor, Sharon Millerchip, Craig McLachlan and Gina Riley. “They are really friendly and mingle with us all,” she says. “It is different to anything I have done before - everyone is very committed.”
It is not however such a big leap from her days with the Broadway Chorus Michelle says. “The CPCA very much prepared me to be in music theatre.”
Michelle has two pieces of advice for students. “Don’t be afraid to stand out in the crowd and to work hard if you want to – even if those around you aren’t as serious as you,” she says. “And go with your instinct - your first thought is usually the right one.”
Chicago begins in Brisbane on 19 March. Following the Brisbane season it will open in Sydney from 14 May with other cities to follow.
To read the full version of the March Broadway Chorus News, please click click here.
