ONCE: Cast Announced

Over a morning Guinness at Melbourne’s downtown Irish Times pub, the cast was announced today (11 July) for the multi-award-winning musical ONCE, opening 4 October, 2014 at the Princess Theatre. They are Anton Berezin, Andrew Broadbent, Ben Brown, Gerard Carroll, Colin Dean, Brent Hill, Stefanie Jones, Keegan Joyce, Amy Lehpamer, Lachlan Neate, Jane Patterson, Greg Stone, Susan-ann Walker and Paul Watson. Heading up the ensemble in the key roles of Guy and Girl are Tom Parsons and Madeleine Jones.

British performer Tom Parsons was in the 2012 UK Arena Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, played Nicky and Trekkie in Avenue Q on the West End and recently sang the lead role in the concert for Bobby Cronin’s concept album Concrete Jungle at St James Theatre in London.

Madeleine Jones graduated from Sydney’s Actors Centre in 2009. Her theatre roles include Cissy Franks in Punk Rock and Sister Martha in Cyrano de Bergerac, both shows winning the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Independent Production. This year she has appeared in The Incredible Book Eating Boy at the Sydney Opera House and M.Rock for the STC.

Producer John Frost said, “The creative team has put together a fantastic ensemble of performers who are the ultimate quadruple threats. Not only do they sing, dance and act their hearts out but they are also fabulous musicians. Talk about impressive.”

Tony Award®-winning director John Tiffany said, “I was blown away by the talents of the actors we met for the Australian production of ONCE and Tom and Madeleine as Guy and Girl are going to be magical together. I cannot wait to start rehearsals and experience this amazing company learning and playing these beautiful songs together and then sharing them and this story with a new audience.”

Tiffany, together with Musical Supervisor Martin Lowe, will begin rehearsals in Melbourne on 18 August ahead of the opening night on 4 October.

A sell-out since making its world premiere on Broadway in January 2012, ONCE won eight Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Direction. It was also named Best Musical by the Drama Desk Awards and the New York Drama Critics Circle and won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. It opened in London’s West End last year where it won two Olivier awards including Outstanding Achievement in Music.

Based on the Irish film which became a surprise international hit in 2006, and won an Oscar for Best Song (“Falling Slowly”), ONCE follows the tender romance of a struggling Irish busker and a piano-playing Czech immigrant. This authentic, emotionally honest musical features the brilliant collection of songs about longing and heartbreak from the original film by Glen Hansard (The Frames) and Markéta Irglová. It has been adapted for the stage by the celebrated Irish playwright and screenwriter, Enda Walsh (Disco Pigs and Hunger) and the award- winning UK theatre director John Tiffany.

An achingly beautiful, joyously uplifting show that strikes a chord in audiences and speaks to the power of music to connect us all. A show that only comes around ONCE.

The creative team includes: Playwright Enda Walsh; Music and Lyrics Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová; Writer and Director of the film ONCE John Carney; Director John Tiffany; Movement Steven Hoggett; Musical Supervisor, Orchestrations & Additional Material Martin Lowe; Set & Costume Designer Bob Crowley; Lighting Designer Natasha Katz; and Sound Designer Clive Goodwin.

Presented by Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr, Patrick Mulling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf and John Frost in association with New York Theatre Workshop and Melbourne Theatre Company.

Images: Original London cast by Frank Ockenfels 

Tom Parsons GUY

Since graduating from London’s Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Tom’s stage roles have included Peter
in Jesus Christ Superstar (Arena World Tour, including the UK and Australia), as well as being an original cast member in the first Arena Tour in 2012, Mark in Monkee Business at the Manchester Opera House, Nicky and Trekkie in Avenue Q for the Noel Coward Theatre, the Gielgud Theatre and the Wyndhams and understudying Eddie and Sky in Mamma Mia at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Tom also recently sang the lead role of Guy in the concert for the concept album Concrete Jungle by Bobby Cronin at St James Theatre, London.

Madeleine Jones GIRL

Madeleine graduated from the Actors Centre in 2009. Her theatre credits since then have included Sally Bowles in Cabaret and Jill Mason in Equus, both for the New Theatre, Mole in the Australian Shakespeare Company’s Wind In The Willows, Cissy Franks in Punk Rock for pantsguys and ATYP (which won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Independent Production), Katie in Girl In Tan Boots for Griffin Independent, Sister Martha in Cyrano de Bergerac (which won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Independent Production) and Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, both for Sport for Jove productions. In 2014 Madeline appeared in The Incredible Book Eating Boy at the Sydney Opera House and M.Rock for the Sydney Theatre Company. Her screen credits include Devil’s Dust for the ABC, a number of short films and the web series Fragments Of Friday.

Anton Berezin BANK MANAGER

Anton studied at the Actors Centre and shortly after toured as Anthony Warlow’s understudy in The Secret Garden during 1995-1996. He has since had roles in Wicked, The Producers, Side Show Alley, Cabaret the Musical, Follies, Fiddler on the Roof, How To Succeed in Business, Cats, Mack and Mabel, Anything Goes, Rain the Musical, Doctor Zhivago as the alternate lead, and as Eichelberger in Promises, Promises. Anton’s television credits include guest roles in Jack Irish, Neighbours, The Secret Life of Us and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.

Andrew Broadbent OLDER MALE/MALE SWING

A graduate of Music Education from Melbourne University and Music Theatre from WAAPA, Andrew’s theatre credits include South Pacific (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies (Really Useful), The Addams Family and Jersey Boys (Newtheatricals), Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical (Backrow) and Dirty Dancing (JEL). The Production Company credits include the upcoming Guys and Dolls and Showboat, The Pirates of Penzance, Sugar, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Damn Yankees, Camelot and South Pacific. Andrew has also appeared in The Hayloft Project’s Delectable Shelter and performed for Black Swan Theatre Company in The Merry-Go-Round In The Sea and rendez-vous: an opera noir. Television credits include The Dr Blake Mysteries and It’s A Date.

Ben Brown MC

Ben studied at the VCA and Dance World 301, where he obtained a Diploma in Performing Arts. His music theatre credits include Monty Python’s Spamalot, Wicked and numerous shows for The Production Company including Follies, Damn Yankees, Mame, Crazy for You, The Boyfriend, Sugar, The Boy From Oz and Singin’ In The Rain. In 2013 Ben performed at the Broadway Backs Boston benefit concert in New York and was a guest artist at Voices For Change. Also in 2013 Ben joined The Tap Pack, playing the role of Junior in a season at Chapel off Chapel that was nominated for two Green Room Awards.

Gerard Carroll EAMON

A NIDA graduate, Gerard theatre credits include the world premiere of Dead Man Brake by Alana Valentine at Merrigong Theatre Co, Buddy, Deborah Conway’s Patsy the Musical, the Australian Shakespeare Company’s Wind In The Willows, and Red Star and Bad Poetry for the NIDA Company. His television credits include Camp with Rachel Griffiths, Underbelly Badness, Rake, The Kangaroo Gang, Home and Away, Backberner and Australians at War. For ABC Radio National, Gerard created various voices for The Woman Who Knitted Herself A Child, Dark Paradise, The Jetty and the audio-novel Cooking With Fernet Branca.

Colin Dean BILLY

Colin has been performing for over thirty years in musical theatre, cabaret, live bands and old-time music hall productions. As a proud Tasmanian, Colin has performed at Hobart’s Theatre Royal in productions such as Me
& My Girl, Guys and Dolls, The Secret Garden, The Sound Of Music, Sweet Charity, Annie and Big River. He has also appeared in Les Miserables, Billy Elliott, Love Never Dies and the Asian tour of Jekyll & Hyde. Colin’s television credits include the ABC late night show Something Hot Before Bed. He often tours nationally as half of the comedy duo Red Hot Cols with his good friend Andrew Colrain.

Brent Hill SVEC

Since graduating from WAAPA in 2008, Brent’s theatre credits have included The Distance from Here for Griffin Theatre, Twelfth Night for Bell Shakespeare Company and Working Dog’s Speechmaker for MTC. His music theatre roles include Lonny in the Australian premiere production of Rock of Ages, for which he won a Greenroom Award. Brent has also appeared in The Producers for The Production Company, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for GFO and Dean Bryant’s Gaybies for Middsumma Festival Inc. Television credits include Laid and It’s a Date; and he was recently awarded an ABC Fresh Blood grant to create Donnatelegrams with Amy Lehpamer. Brent won the National Theatresports Team Champion Prize in 2009 and is also the recipient of the 2005 Actors Equity Guild Award for Best Newcomer.

Stefanie Jones FEMALE SWING

Stefanie graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts, having completed a Bachelor of Music Theatre in
2011. Stefanie's Music Theatre career began at the age of seven when she appeared as Young Eponine in Cameron Mackintosh's 10th Anniversary Tour of Les Misérables. The following year she was cast in SEL &
GFO's Production of The Sound of Music performing the role of Brigitta. Stefanie has performed in numerous productions for Brisbane's Harvest Rain Theatre Company. Stefanie is an accomplished dancer and trained
with the Queensland Ballet's Junior Extension Program for four years. She is also an accomplished Violinist, earning her Associate Diploma in Classical Violin in 2008. Upon her arrival at VCA, Stefanie received the Cassidy Bequest Fund Award on behalf of the University of Melbourne Trust. Whilst studying at VCA Stefanie appeared in Dreamsong, City of Angels, and West Side Story. Since graduating, Stefanie has reprised her role in Dreamsong for Carnegie 18, appeared in Christo's and Costanzo's review High As A Kite for StageArtXposed and was an ensemble member in the Sydney workshop for King Kong The Musical. Stephanie has most recently appearedon screen in Neighbours, on stage in Thomas and the Hidden Treasure and in the national tour of South Pacific for Opera Australia/GFO. Stefanie is a proud member of Actors Equity, and would like to thank her family and her agent for their continued love and support.

Keegan Joyce ANDRE

Keegan’s career began at age 12 when he performed the title role in Cameron Mackintosh’s nationwide tour of the musical Oliver. He has since played major roles in Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music and Titanic: A Musical. More recently, he has become one of Australia’s best up-and-coming young actors for his breakout role of Fuzz in the hit series Rake and as a supporting lead in Josh Thomas’ AACTA award-winning comedy series Please Like Me. Keegan also appeared in the US feature Superman Returns directed by Bryan Singer. In 2014 he completed his degree in Musicology at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Amy Lehpamer REZA

Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts and an Associate Diploma in Music for violin. Her first music theatre role was Sherrie in Rock of Ages, for which she won the theatrepeople.com.au Best Female Actor in a Musical Award 2011. In 2012 she created the title role in Margaret Fulton: Queen of the Dessert (Theatreworks). Other credits include The Threepenny Opera (Malthouse and Victorian Opera), Young Phyllis in Follies (The Production Company), Christine Colgate in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Sydney’s Theatre Royal, a performance which earnt her the BroadwayWorld Sydney Best Actress in a Musical award in 2013, and Shane Warne – The Musical. Television credits include The Time of Our Lives, Winners and Losers, House Husbands and The Pacific. Amy created the web series Donnatelegrams with Brent Hill for ABC’s Fresh Blood initiative.

Lachlan Neate YOUNG MALE/MALE SWING

Currently studying music theatre at the Queensland Conservatorium, Lachlan is a multi-instrumentalist (piano, saxaphone, drums, percussion, guitar, mandolin and cello) who has worked as a freeland musician, a session artist and played in the pit for numerous productions at QPAC including Jesus Christ Superstar and The Wizard of Oz. In 2011 he obtained a diploma in Music Theatre (voice) from London’s Trinity College and has since performed in productions including The Wishing Well and Hair at Brisbane Powerhouse, Carousel at the Princess Theatre and Miss Saigon at Conservatorium Theatre.

Jane Patterson EX-GIRLFRIEND

Jane began playing violin at age four, and took her studies through to university, graduating from Monash with a Bachelor of Music/Arts in 2009. For the past 10 years she has been performing as a violinist and backing vocalist for bands around the country. With John Flanagan and the Begin Agains she toured the Australian festival circuit and travelled to Nashville to perform at the Americana Music Conference. Her versatile vocals have also taken her to Germany as the musical director and singer in cabaret/a cappella girl group Ginger and Tonic. In 2014,the group’s cabaret 50 Shades of Gay was a standout of the Midsumma and Adelaide Fringe festivals; their new show Desperate and Dateless was a headline act at the recent Melbourne Cabaret Festival.

Greg Stone DA

Greg is a graduate of NIDA and one of Australia’s most accomplished actors. His recent theatre credits include Glengarry Glen Ross (MTC), The Government Inspector (Malthouse/Belvoir), Hamlet (Belvoir), The Crucible (MTC), Pompeii LA, A Golem Story (Malthouse) and Babyteeth (Belvoir). Over his long career he has worked extensively with the MTC, STC, State Theatre Company of SA, as well as for Bell Shakespeare Company, Black Swan State Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre Company and the former Playbox Theatre Company. Greg’s credits for film include Oranges and Sunshine and The Bank; and for television Offspring, Devil’s Dust, Winners & Losers, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Underbelly, City Homicide and The Librarians. Greg has been nominated for a number of Helpmann and Green Room Awards winning both for Best Male Performer in Stuff Happens. He is also the lead singer of the glam rock band The Melody Lords.

Susan-ann Walker BARUSKA

Susan-ann’s musical theatre career commenced in 1989 with the role of Jenny-Any-Dots in Cats, which she performed over 1200 times in five different countries. Her appearances since then include Les Miserables (Australasian tour), Godspell (Sydney Opera House), Gale Edwards’s production of Aspects Of Love, The Secret Garden, Grease The Arena Spectacular, Mame, Funny Girl, The Sound Of Music, Menopause The Musical and
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Susan-ann is also an accomplished cabaret artist with her show Jacques Brel winning a Green Room Award in 2000 and Yummy and The Yummy Burlesque Hour, which she wrote and performed in with Sally Bourne, nominated for Best Cabaret Writing in the 2013 Green Room Awards.

Paul Watson YOUNG MALE/MALE SWING

A versatile performer, Paul’s music theatre credits include Rent at Chapel off Chapel, Jesus Christ Superstar at QPAC, the original Australian production of Jersey Boys, the Ambassador Theatre Group’s Guys and Dolls and an Australian/NZ tour of Fiddler on the Roof. For television he has had regular guest roles on Winners and Losers and Neighbours. His work in the music industry includes the Crowded House/Split Enz tribute band, Pineapplehead! Paul is also an established voice-over artist and a director of numerous semi-professional musical productions in Melbourne.

Special Price Previews: September 26-28

Previews: From September 30

Opening Night: October 4

Bookings: oncemusical.com.au