|
| 
|
NATALIE
ALEXOPOULOS
Originally from Taree in NSW, Natalie is a graduate of
both WAAPA and Brent Street Studios. Her WAAPA credits
include Into the Woods as the Baker’s Wife, The
Pajama Game, The Good Fight, Berlin to Broadway, Bye Bye
Birdie and The Comedy of Errors.
Natalie’s musical theatre credits include the role
of Jenny in Kookaburra’s hit production Company,
the Japan tour of We Will Rock You, and the most recent
revival production of The Rocky Horror Show. She appeared
in both Sydney and Melbourne productions of Leader of
The Pack – The Ellie Greenwich Musical, in The Pajama
Game for the Production Company and in the role of Ali
for the hugely successful MAMMA MIA! Other credits include
Grounds for Marriage for Take Away Theatre, It’s
a Mother for Sidetrack Productions, Virgins – A
Musical Threesome by Dean Bryant and the role of Kate
in On Our Selection for Black Swan Theatre Company. Natalie
has performed at various corporate and live events including
The Helpmann Awards, The Launch of Fox Studios and the
Opening of Stadium Australia. On Television she has appeared
on Home & Away and has been the face of various advertising
campaigns. |
| 
|
MICHALA
BANAS
Michala has been working professionally since she was
twelve years old, starting out with her first job on television
in ABC TV's G.P. After a series of guest appearances she
played the lead in Mirror, Mirror, a hugely successful
television series in New Zealand, leading to her nomination
for "Best Young Actress" in the NZ Television
Awards. After moving back to Australia, Michala continued
to work on various productions including Good Guys, Bad
Guys, Murder Call, Blue Heelers and Something In The Air.
In 2001 she was cast as series lead of 'Marissa Taylor'
in Network Seven's Always Greener, which ran for two series
and for which Michala was nominated for "Most Popular
New Female Talent" at the 2002 Logies. At the series'
conclusion, Michala was quickly sought out by the producers
of McLeod's Daughters, where she took on the character
of 'Kate Manfredi'. This character was to prove hugely
popular with McLeod's fans both in Australia and internationally.
After five incredibly successful series, Michala left
the show earlier this year and has since explored radio,
film and theatre opportunities. Michala has also had roles
in feature films Ned and Scooby Doo and has enjoyed the
early starts required for guest-hosting FOX FM Breakfast
several times this year. |
| 
|
MITCHELL
BUTEL
Mitchell is currently starring in the Queensland Theatre
Company production of Stones in his Pockets. His previous
appearance for QTC was in The Venetian Twins for which
he was awarded a Helpmann Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Other music theatre credits include Little Me, Oklahoma,
Hair (The Production Company), Dusty (Dusty Productions),
Man of La Mancha (Gordon Frost/SEL), Grease, Little Shop
of Horrors (David Atkins Enterprises), Follies and Bernadette
Peters in Concert (Sydney Opera House). Other theatre
credits include Summer Rain, Harbour, The Republic of
Myopia, Mourning Becomes Electra, Tartuffe, Two Weeks
with the Queen, Dead White Males, The Café Latte
Kid, Summer of the Aliens, Six Degrees of Separation (Sydney
Theatre Company), The Madwoman of Chaillot, Tomfoolery,
Urinetown, Piaf (Melbourne Theatre Company), Othello (Bell
Shakespeare), Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, The Laramie Project,
A View from the Bridge, Dead Heart (Company B Belvoir),
Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love
(State Theatre Company SA), Laughter on the 23rd Floor
(Ensemble Theatre), Mad, Bad and Spooky (Theatre of Image),
Blue Remembered Hills (O’Punsksky’s), The
Fantasticks (Newtown Actors Group) and Boeing Boeing (Dainty/New
Theatricals). Mitchell has appeared in two solo cabaret
shows, Mitchell Butel’s Excellent Adventure and
And Now for the Weather and is the voice of the Playschool
theme song. Feature film credits include Gettin’
Square, The Bank, Strange Fits of Passion, Dark City,
Virtual Nightmare, Two Hands. TV credits include Nightmares
and Dreamscapes, MDA, Grass Roots, Wildside, Murder Call,
All Saints, Twisted Tales, Close Ups, Bordertown and GP.
Mitchell received Helpmann nominations for Summer Rain
and The Republic of Myopia, Green Room Awards for Hair
and Piaf, Green Room nominations for Little Me and Oklahoma
and AFI nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Feature
Film for Gettin’ Square and Strange Fits of Passion.
Mitchell has been a proud member of Actors’ Equity
since 1988. |
| 
|
FRANK
HANSEN
Frank has an extensive career in theatre since graduating
from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
(WAAPA) in 2002 after attaining a one-year certificate
course for Actor Singer Dancer at NIDA 1999. Frank’s
most recent theatre production is the hugely successful
‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ dir. by Gale Edwards,
playing a phantom, as well as covering both Frank N Furter
and Rocky. Other theatre credits include the role of Charles
in the Seabiscuit Production of ‘Titanic’
dir. by John Diedrich, various roles in the Darlinghurst
Theatre Production of ‘Terrorism’ dir. by
Anthony Skuse. Frank had various roles as well as a cover
of the Lead Tenor in ‘The Producers’ for SEL/Gordon
Frost, which toured Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. He
played in the Tribe and was the understudy for both Claude
and Walter in the Sydney and Melbourne production of ‘Hair’
for The Production Co & Macks Entertainment dir. David
Atkins, Frank also played various roles in the Lyric Theatre
Company’s production of ‘Pacific Overtures,’
dir. Maarten Simms. Frank has also regularly performed
as a guest vocalist on GMA. |
| 
|
LEAH
HOWARD
Leah Howard is one of the best known faces of dance in
Australia. She has studied in every style from a very
early age at Brent Street Studios. Leah’s performance
credits include Hair, Fame, and Dein Perry’s Steel
City which toured throughout Australia and Radio City
Music Hall NYC. Major events include Opening and Closing
ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics, People’s Choice
Awards, Aria Awards, and the World Vision Variety Heart
Awards. Leah toured to the UK with Tap Dogs Rebooted and
was one of the members of Tap Dogs USA 2004 Tour. She
was also a soloist at the closing of the Gay Games. Leah
has worked with many music artists including Olivia Newton
John, Cyndi Lauper, Kylie, Vanessa Amorosi, Deborah Cox,
Sheena Easton, Jamelia, Meatloaf, and Mika among others.
Her choreography and dance skills have been seen in videos
for The Vines, Rogue Traders, TV Rock, Kate Dearaugo and
Paulini. Leah worked closely with Young Divas on several
music videos and special events and was artistic director
for David Campbell’s Swing Sessions 2 tour which
recently won a Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Concert/Performance.
Leah is a well known choreographer for television advertising,
most particularly the Bonds TVC's which have generated
much publicity and record hits on Youtube.com. Other TVC
credits include, Bonds 'Kaleidescope', ‘Mash’
& ‘Paddy Cake’, McDonalds, Sony VAIO,
Just Jeans, Ultra Slim, L and M Cigarettes and MTV Happymart.
Leah’s more recent television credits include Blue
Water High and the Host of Disney Channel's My High School
Musical. Leah has choreographed for Channel 10 hit television
show So You Think You Can Dance and is the choreographer
for the highly successful Nine Network children’s
show Hi 5. |
| 
|
DAVID
JAMES
David James has worked extensively over all areas of the
industry, since he graduated from NIDA in 1990. David
will be recognisable for the role of the Departmental
Secretary , Phil in The Hollowmen for the ABC. He has
worked over many years with Bell Shakespeare in The Taming
Of The Shrew, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Pericles,Much Ado
About Nothing, Coriolanus and more recently in The Servant
Of Two Masters; for Marian St Theatre David has played
in Broadway Bound and Labour Day and has been seen this
past year in the Sydney Theatre Company production of
Ying Tong. David’s varied television work includes
Very Small Business, All Saints, Postcard Bandit, Backberner
and his long association as a presenter on Playschool.
In film David has appeared in Rage In Placid Lake, Operation
Sex Drive, The Birthday Present and Gino. |
| 
|
LUKE
JOSLIN
Luke is a graduate of the University Of Western Sydney
and The Actors College Of Theatre and Television. His
credits include Assassins for Neil Gooding Productions,
Dirty Dancing- The Classic Story On Stage for Kevin Jacobsen,
Titanic The Musical for Seabiscuit Productions, Sunday
in the Park with George for Q Theatre, Karaoke The Musical
for Guy Noble and Guys and Dolls for Ambassador Theatre
Group and Denis Smith where he performed the role of Big
Jule 50 times. Luke has also worked with the famous corporate
act Ooh James for SMA Productions. Directorial credits
include Christmas Eve and Other Stories, Beaconsfield
the Musical and Back To The 80’s- The Totally Awesome
Musical. |
| 
|
JOSIE
LANE
Josie made her professional theatre debut in 2007 with
the Sydney Theatre Company playing the role of Marcy Park
in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Melbourne
Theatre Company remount). Following that she appeared
in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – the Musical
(Back Row) as a Diva and understudying the role of Cynthia
in the Melbourne, Auckland and return Sydney seasons.
In 2008 she was thrilled to receive a Green Room award
for ‘Best Ensemble/Featured Ensemble performance
in a musical’. Josie also featured on the original
cast recording of The Silver Donkey by Australian writing
team Mathew Frank and Dean Bryant and she is featured
on Trevor Ashley’s Showqueen Sessions One: Cabaret
CD. Josie trained in Acting, Dance and Voice with the
Young Australian Broadway Chorus for 8 years under the
direction of Colette Mann, Jacqui Green and Mathew Frank.
She is incredibly excited to find her purpose in Avenue
Q and would like to thank Chris for his love and support.
Josie is a proud member of Equity since 2007. |
| 
|
GUS
MURRAY
Gus first cultivated his interest in a performance career
through the Sydney University Dramatic Society while studying
to obtain his bachelor degrees in Arts and Law. His many
theatre credits since those days include roles in Rio
Saki & Other Falling Debris (Carlton Courthouse);
Journey’s End (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Oedipus:
The Infernal Machine (Downstairs Belvoir); Fire (Darlinghurst
Theatre); An Italian Straw Hat (Performance Space); Birthdays,
Christmas & Other Family Disasters (Riverside Theatre).
For television Gus has most recently played Father Dan
throughout the eighth and final series of McLeod’s
Daughters which is currently screening on Channel Nine.
In January 2009, before beginning rehearsals for Avenue
Q, Gus will appear in the world premiere of Nick Coyle’s
new play Hammerhead (is dead) at the SBW Stables Theatre.
Gus is very pleased and excited to be involved with the
Australian tour of such a funny and well-loved musical
as Avenue Q. |
| 
|
CHRISTINA
O'NEILL
Christina was most recently in Tell Me On a Sunday (Kookaburra),
touring Sydney, Melbourne, Glen Street and Wollongong
as the alternate Our Girl. Previous to this she was the
alternate Lady of the Lake in Spamalot (Her Majestys)
and a Diva in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - the Musical.
She was also in the Melbourne Theatre Company workshop
of The Silver Donkey. Her cabaret appearances include
Doorknockers, Up Close and Musical and Showqueen Sundays.
She is featured on the recordings of Showqueen Sessions
1 and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - the Musical Soundtrack.
Her film and TV work includes The Great Raid (Miramax),
Best of British Comedy (Comedy Channel), Jeopardy (BBC)
and Mornings with Kerri-Anne (Channel 9). Christina was
born in the Philippines and raised in Guam and Taiwan
before moving to Australia. She is a graduate of the Western
Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Christina has been
a proud Equity member since 2006. |
| 
|
CHERINE
PECK
Cherine has been working professionally in musical theatre
since she was 16. Before she left high school she had
already recorded the New Zealand Cast Album of Jesus Christ
Superstar for Harry.M.Miller Company, toured with Sydney
Dance Encore Company, and had 6 amateur theatre productions
under her belt: Leader of the Pack, Bebop alula, The Wiz,
A Slice of Saturday Night, Festive Follies, and Blood
Brothers. "JCS" led Cherine to Australia for
an 8 month tour which was closely followed by Miss Saigon
(Cameron Mackintosh) and Little Shop of Horrors (David
Atkins) playing the role of "Chiffon" where
she met Christine Anu and joined her band for a year after.
Cherine would go on to play the role of "Linelle"(one
of Peter Allen's trio) for nearly 3 years in the critically
acclaimed Australian musical "The Boy from Oz".
Buddy the Musical sent her around the country before she
joined Mo award winning cabaret trio "The Funky Diva's".
After having a break enjoying life as a first time mum,
David Atkins bought the hip, happening 60's musical "Hair"
back to life where Cherine won a Green Room Award for
Best Supporting Actor in a Female Role. A return season
in Sydney followed a year later before Cherine took on
the gruelling puppet bound role of "Shenzi"
in Disney's "The Lion King". Performing nearly
1000 shows, Cherine was nominated for a Helpmann award
for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Just recently
Cherine joined forces with the exceptional team of talented
Directors as Director of Vocal Training at Jason Coleman's
Ministry of Dance. Now Cherine is thrilled to be playing
the hilarious role of Gary Coleman in Avenue Q! |
|