Rob Guest Endowment 2013 Finalists Announced
Latest News: Samantha Leigh Dodemaide is the winner of the 2013 Rob Guest Endowment, announced on November 25.
After spending four years studying at Patrick Studios Australia,Samantha-Leigh Dodemaide was ready to make her dreams a reality. Since then Sam has appeared in Wicked (USJ), Anything Goes (TPC), The Producers (TPC), and A Chorus Line (TML) in which she understudied and performed the role of Cassie, as well as understudying the roles of Shelia, Diana, Maggie and Judy. Sam has most recently appeared in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (GFO). Most recently, Sam has been involved In the world premiere of King Kong The Musical.
Earlier Coverage
Currently in its fifth year running,The ANZ Trustees Foundation: Rob Guest Endowment has announced the finalists for 2013 are Euan Doidge, Rob Mallett, Edward Grey, Angelique Cassimatis, Elisa Colla and Samantha- Leigh Dodemaide.
After a gruelling audition process, these six finalists will perform at the Rob Guest Endowment Gala Concert on November 25 at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney.
“Through our audition process and in the good faith of the endowment itself we auditioned the best of the best! We covered Australian performers working here and abroad. We tested their triple threat ability, singing, dancing, and their ability to tell a story. Over two rounds we managed wean it down to six incredible, young performers! Who knows, one of the six performers, with the assistance of the endowment itself, will hopefully reach the heights of success that Rob Guest did himself. Possibly even beyond. It is an honour and a privilege to be involved," said Judge Jason Coleman.
The Rob Guest Endowment has established itself over the past five years as a wonderful scholarship for young artists to develop as performers through experience, travel and tuition. A competitive selection process culminates in a highly anticipated annual showcase, the Rob Guest Endowment Gala Concert which showcases both Australia's finest upcoming talent and performances from established stars of musical theatre.
“If the talent on offer for this year’s Rob Guest Endowment Gala Concert is anything to go by, Music Theatre in Australia has a very exciting future. And the six finalists ooze talent from every pore. It'll be a very exciting Finals concert,” said judge, Stuart Maunder.
Pictured above: Rob Guest in Wicked.
The finalists for the 2013 Rob Guest Endowment are:
Rob Mallett
Rob is a 2012 graduate from West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and a true ‘triple threat’ with a long history of performing, staring at age six as an Irish dancer. Whilst at WAAPA, Rob played major roles in a number of their productions including: Violet’s Father in Violet; Danny in Xanadu; Mr Biggley in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; and Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods. He was also chosen to play the role of Ray in Jim Cartwrights The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. Rob was also involved with several Film & TV projects during his final year at WAAPA including a docu-drama for the BBC, Desert Rats and a telemovie for the ABC, The Accidental Soldier. In 2013 Rob appeared in a guest role on House Husbands before joining the national tour of Hot Shoe Shuffle, directed by David Atkins in the role of ‘Buck’. Rob is currently rehearsing ‘A Cole Porter Celebration’ for Sydney Philharmonia Choirs as a lead vocalist.
Edward Grey
Also a fellow graduate from WAAPA, Edward Grey, is renowned as a very experienced performer in the industry. Previous theatre credits include Legally Blonde The Musical, Lisa (on and E) and John and Jen. Edward has been cast as Georg in Spring Awakening (Sydney Theatre Company) along with playing Luke in the Australian MusicalProdigal by Mathew Frank and Dean Bryant. Most recently, Edward has been cast as Boq in WICKED Australia.
Euan Doidge
Originally from South Australia, Euan Doidge landed his first major role, Paul San Marco, in the Australian Production of A Chorus Line, for which he was nominated as Best Supporting Actor in a Musical at the 2012 Helpmann Awards. His recent professional stage credits include The Production Company’s Anything Goes and The Producers, the Australian Production of Legally Blonde, and is now currently performing in GREASE The Musical.
Elisa Colla
Graduating from the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) in 2009, Elisa Colla made her professional debut as Nessarose in the Sydney season of Wicked in 2010. Following the successful Australian Tour with Wicked in 2011, Elisa went on to perform her role of Nessarose to international audiences in Singapore and Seoul in 2012. Most recently she can be seen as ‘Coffee Girl’ in the winning eHarmony commercial campaign, ‘What is Compatibility?’ and will soon appear in the up-coming short film ‘PENELOPE’ in the title role.
Angelique Cassimatis
Graduating from the Australian Dance Performance Institute in 2005,Angelique Cassimatis made her musical theatre debut as “Pepper” in the hit musical Annie. She has since gone on to perform in shows throughout Asia, the Philippines, and as a Singer/ Dancer on board The Pacific Princess. Angelique has also starred in High School Musical (understudy to Kelsi), Mary Poppins touring Australia & New Zealand and is currently performing (and understudy to Ann) in the world premiere of King Kong The Musical.
Samantha-Leigh Dodemaide
After spending four years studying at Patrick Studios Australia,Samantha-Leigh Dodemaide was ready to make her dreams a reality. Since then Sam has appeared in Wicked (USJ), Anything Goes (TPC), The Producers (TPC), and A Chorus Line (TML) in which she understudied and performed the role of Cassie, as well as understudying the roles of Shelia, Diana, Maggie and Judy. Sam has most recently finished performing alongside some of the world’s finest actors in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (GFO). Most recently, Sam was involved In the world premiere of King Kong The Musical.
This year, The Rob Guest Endowment has announced a new award sponsored by Showbiz International.
The Showbiz International Future Prospect Award of $1500 is bestowed upon a semifinalist who didn’t make the finals but is of sufficient interest to the judges
The winner of the Showbiz International Future Prospect award for 2013 has been presented to:
Ben Bennett
Ben has studied at NIDA’s Young Actors Studio throughout 2011 and Screen Acting in 2013, since he has appeared in 13 The Musical, Godspell, Hotel Sorrento, A Vampire Story and Romeo & Juliet. As a diverse performer Ben has also appeared on Pyramid TV show, became a top five Finalist in the Neighbours remix search, a TVC and a lead role in the short film Regret by Marine Productions and in 2012 Ben made it into Delta Goodrem’s top 6 on The Voice. Ben will be playing the lead role in The Star-Child Musical at the Genesian Theatre, Sydney in November and December.
The late Rob Guest, had a career that spanned over 40 years, making him a much loved Musical Theatre star and a household name to audiences throughout Australia New Zealand and overseas. Perhaps best known for his role as the Phantom of the Opera, he appeared and starred in over 40 productions including Les Miserables , Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Jolson, Sound of Music and WICKED. Less well known to audiences was his role as mentor and adviser to many young performers he worked with over the years, helping them through rough spots and guiding them in their career development. Following his sudden and unexpected death in 2008 while performing the role of the Wizard of Oz in WICKED, the ANZ Trustees Foundation: Rob Guest Endowment fund was set up as a tribute to this outstanding performer to continue his work in nurturing and progressing young developing talent in the Musical Theatre industry.
Book tickets for the Rob Guest Endowment Gala Concert Presented by ANZ Private
at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on November 25 by visiting
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