Shaun Kingma - Director

Shaun studied Classical Voice at the Victorian College of the Arts and has appeared as a soloist in numerous Concerts, Operettas and Opera, receiving awards for both his direction and performance credits.

As a Director, Shauns recent credits include: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love at the National Theatre, The Hatpin (Magnormos); Tomorrow Morning; Man of LaMancha ;Tim Rice & Elton John’s  Aida ; Blood Brothers ; Ozmade Musicals (Magnormos); Return to the Forbidden Planet ; Is There Life After High School? ; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ; the Australia Premiere  of Hello Again and David Lindsay Abaire’s  A Devil Inside .
Some performance credits include: Kiss of the Spiderwoman “Valentin”; Falsettos “Marvin” ; Les Miserables “Javert” ; Assassins “John Wilkes Booth” ; Suessical “Horton” ; Beauty and the Beast “Beast” ; Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat “Pharaoh”, Jesus Christ Superstar “Annas”; Mary Bryant “Rufus Morton” (Magnormos); The Scarlet Pimpernel “Chauvelin” ; Jekyll and Hyde “Utterson” ; Baby “Nick”; Oliver! “Bill Sykes”, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat “Pharaoh” ; Godspell “Judas”; Hair “Claude” ; The Mystery Of Edwin Drood “Jasper” .

Kirk Skinner - Musical Director

Dip. Mus., Grad., Dip Mus., A.Mus.A., MIMT, MACE

Kirk has extensive experience as a Musical Director on the professional and non-professional circuits and is currently the Victorian Education Consultant for Musica Viva Australia.  He studied conducting at Covent Garden and at the Victorian College of Arts and holds multiple graduate and post graduate qualifications in music.  He is a woodwind Examiner for both the Australian Music Examination Board and the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Board. Kirk was Musical Director for the Victorian State Schools Performing Arts Unit JOINING the CHORUS from 2003 – 2011.  He was Musical Director for the Pacific Schools Games Opening Ceremony held at Optus Oval in November 2005.  He was also the Musical Director and conductor for the closing Ceremony at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl. 

Kirk was the Musical Director for the 2010 State Schools Spectacular “Shine On” at Hisense Arena, 2009 JtC Musical ‘BARNUM’ Comedy Theatre, 2008 State Schools Spectacular ‘Made in Australia’, 2006 JtC Musical ‘OKLAHOMA’ Her Majesty’s Theatre Melbourne, 2003 State Schools Spectacular' Retrospect' at Rod Laver Arena. Kirk has musically directed many award winning productions including Mack & Mabel, Candide, Oklahoma, La Cage Aux Folles, On The Twentieth Century, Follies, City of Angels, West Side Story, Barnum.  He has also conducted for the touring productions of Catsand Les Miserables, and has musically directed all three of the 'One Night Stand With…'concerts presented by the Victorian A.I.D.S. Council.  In 2007 Kirk was the Musical Director for the Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane’s tribute production of Carouselwith Scott Irwin as Billy and Katrina Retallick as Julie. Kirk has worked with most of Australia’s principal performers in Musical Theatre.

Kirk has received four Music Theatre Guild Awards for Best Musical Director from the Musical Theatre Guild of Victoria.  He has received numerous provincial and community awards for his commitment and passion in the pursuance of excellence in musical education and the development of young musicians in Victoria.  In 2007 Kirk was awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Victorian Branch of the Australian Band and Orchestra’s National Association for his contributions to music performance education.  With over 30 years of experience in education Kirk has taught classroom and instrumental music to primary secondary and tertiary students.  He still finds time in a very busy schedule to run workshops and concerts for schools, community bands and orchestras.  He is regularly found adjudicating many of the festivals and eisteddfods around the country.

Tamara Finch - Choreographer

In a period spanning 40 years, Tamara has extensive experience as a freelance dance teacher, as well as having performed in, Produced, Choreographed and Directed a wide variety of Musical Theatre.
 
Accrediting her musical theatre knowledge to the many companies she has worked with throughout Melbourne, Tamara’s exposure to children’s theatre, theatre restaurant and musical comedy also allowed her to experience the technical elements of stage managing, lighting, aesthetic design, marketing, and production management.

Tamara’s Theatrical credits are both vast and varied including choreographing classics such as Carousel, A Bunch Of Ratbags, Dimboola, Flora The Red Menace, Man Of La Mancha, My Fair Lady, Pirates Of Penzance, Oklahoma!, On The Town, South Pacific, and Sweet Charity; through to the more contemporary shows such as Aida [by Elton John & Tim Rice], Aspects Of Love, Blood Brothers, Cats, Chicago, Follies In Concert, La Cage Aux Folles, Hair, Hello Again, Is There Life After Highschool, Jesus Christ Superstar, Lucky Stiff, Return To The Forbidden Planet, Snoopy; The Hatpin; Zanna Don’t!; and subsequently expanding her role as Director/Choreographer for Anything Goes, Cinderella, Hansel & Gretel,  A Slice of Saturday Night, Guys & Dolls, Pippin and West Side Story.

Additional choreography includes: ‘1997 A One Night Stand With…’ (Victorian AIDS Council, Athenaeum Theatre); Eurovison The Musical (Chapel Off Chapel), Eurobeat, the Eurovision musical (2004 Melbourne Comedy Festival), Possum Magic (specialty item, Gary Ginivan Productions); OzMade Musicals 2007 (Magnormos, Athenaeum Theatre); Full Frontal (CH.10); Sensis City Search Invitation WEB Commercial (Exit Films); 24 Hour Musical (TV pilot, ARC Films); Hot Mikado & ‘13’ (St.Michael’s Grammar School), Anyone Can Whistle, Sondheim Triptych (Magnormos, Melbourne Recitial Centre),  Myer Christmas Parade 2010. Director/Choreographer Annie Get Your Gun (2008 Victorian Regional tour); Guys & Dolls (2010 Victorian Regional Tour).

As a Producer and Production Manager Tamara has been responsible for A Slice of Saturday Night (Trihard Productions – St.Martins), Lucky Stiff (T.L.Pocket Productions – Chapel off Chapel), Follies In Concert (Crown Showroom); and OzMade Musicals 2007 (Magnormos - Athenaeum Theatre), Zanna Don’t! (Chapel Off Chapel),

Having received numerous Victorian Theatre Guild nominations, Tamara has won choreographic awards for the productions of Chicago, Pippin and Hair, and a Director’s award for Pippin.

A qualified teacher of dance in Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, National and Tapping, Tamara holds a Theatrical Diploma of Teaching (CSTD).

James Rooney - Choreographer

Since first stepping into musical theatre nearly 20 years ago, James has been involved in a variety of shows, having performed in Chicago, 42nd St, La Cage aux Folles, A Chorus Line, and Cats to name a few. Other performance credits include ‘1997 A One Night Stand With…’ (Victorian AIDS Council, Athenaeum Theatre), and numerous appearances at the Victorian Tourism Awards.

James’ involvement in theatre has spanned all aspects including performance, stage management, lighting design, production management and after joining the production team as dance director for the amateur debut of Crazy For You, then went on to choreograph productions of Company, Anything Goes, West Side Story, Gigi, 42nd Street, Hello Dolly and The Producer’s. Directing credits include Crazy for You and Thoroughly Modern Millie. James has received a Victorian Theatre Guild award for performance and multiple nominations for Choreography.

Cameron Thomas - Assistant Musical Director

Originally from Sydney, Cameron holds a BA (Music Theatre Performance) from the University of Ballarat Arts Academy and an A.Mus.A in Piano (AMEB).

Cameron’s growing reputation as a musical director, repetiteur and accompanist has seen him work with professional musical theatre stars as well as up and coming cabaret artists in Melbourne.  His credits as musical director comprise of Forbidden Broadway- Greatest Hits Vol 1 (SHooSH Productions), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (PLOS), La Creole (OzMade 2010 – Magnormos), It’s Only Life (Stella/DTM) working alongside John Bucchino, and Milk and Honey (Jerry Herman Triptych – Magnormos).  Other engagements include the Australian National Youth Choir, Children’s Performing Company of Australia, Joining the Chorus/Performing Arts Unit, The Production Company and various corporate events.

Cameron recently performed as cast member at Birdland in New York, in John Bucchino’s revue It’s Only Life. Other appearances include Filthy Secrets (MICF), Sugar (The Production Company), Vittorio Vidal in Sweet Charity, Darryl Van Horne in Witches of Eastwick (Arts Academy), Gold in The Wild Party, Dr Parker in Bat Boy and Mendel in Falsettos. In 2007 Cameron completed a singing contract on the Royal Caribbean ship The Brilliance of the Seas.

David Wisken - Makeup & Wig Stylist

As well as performing in Drag for a number of years, David has designed and maintained hair and make up for for theatre, film, television, photoshoots and club shows.  He worked extensively for the Market Hotel as a performance artist, stylist and music editor with Zowie Knox and is currently Course Administrator and Resident Music Director at Patrick Studios Australia - the largest performing arts college in Victoria.

David has had the privaledge of learning from some of the theatre greats in hair and make up including Corrine Day, Michelle Skeete and Drew Elizabeth Johnstone.

Theatrical credits include: THe Rocky Horror Picture Show, Dusty - The Original Pop Diva, Ooh La La, Man Of La Mancha, FIddler on the Roof, Chicago, Jersey Boys and Rock Of Ages.  For television he has styled Tottie Goldsmith and Baby Lemonade Lamar.  He has also worked heavily in the music industry styling Rikki Lee Coulter, Natalie Gauci, Alison Limerick, Black Box, Katherine Ellis and Kathy Brown.

Isaac Lummis - Costume Designer

Isaac finds himself in a space oscillating somewhere between costume designer, dressmaker, textile artist and ironing lady.
Isaac has been involved in creating costumes for shows and events for the last 12 years, having studied Clothing Construction & Production at T.A.F.E. and graduating from Curtin University with a Bachelors degree in Fashion and Textile design in 2005.
He relocated from Perth to join the creative team and run the wardrobe department at the Performing Arts Unit (Formerly JOINING the CHORUS) in early 2008.
Whilst at Performing Arts Unit Isaac designed the costumes for “Made in Australia”, “Shine On” & "Showtime!" the 2008, 2010 & 2011 State Schools Spectaculars. He also created the costumes for “BARNUM” at the Melbourne Comedy Theater in 2009.
Most recently Isaac is credited as costume designer for Finucane & Smith's popular "Melbourne Loves the Burlesque Hour" at fortyfivedownstairs, costuming the likes of Rhonda Burchmore, Deborah Conway, Meow Meow & Pamela Rabe.
In early 2011, Isaac designed the costumes for the new Australian musical “Waltzing the Willara”, a Yirra Yaakin production staring Ernie Dingo & Ursula Yovich for the Perth International Arts Festival which was nominated for 3 Helpmann Awards.
He has worked as Costume Designer on various other projects including “The Greeks- Electra & Orestes” for NIDA Open Program, “Down Pour” for A4 Circus, “Oliver!” for WTG, “As You Like It” for the 2008 Perth season of Shakespeare in the Park, “Memmie LeBlanc” for Deckchair Theater and “Dash”, “Powder Monkey” and “KissXX” for STEPS Youth Dance Company. Isaac is responsible for creating the wandering characters used in the 2007, 2008, 2010 and now the 2011 Perth Wildflower Festivals. He is also credited with curating the highly successful “Vivien St James - Costume Retrospective” for the 2010 Midsumma Festival at fortyfivedownstairs.

Isaac has also worked on costumes for other projects such as “Irene in Concert” starring Debbie Reynolds for Peach Productions, “Strange Bedfellows – A New Musical”, “The King & I” and “The Boy from Oz” for The Production Company, “The Drovers Wife” for Steamworks Productions, and “Velveteen Rabbit” at Spare Parts Puppet Theater.
Isaac also assisted designer Zoe Atkinson on “The Odyssey” – a joint project between the Malthouse Theater and Black Swan Theater for the 2006 Perth International Arts Festival – which won the 2006 Helpmann Award for Costume.

Brad Alcock   - Lighting Designer – BAAC Light

Brad has been working in professional theatre for over 18 years and is currently the Technical Manager of the Besen Centre. Brad is one of the owners of BAAC Light.
After studying at the VCA Brad went on to specialize in the television, theatre and corporate sectors. Current productions that he is involved in include Hairspray, Oliver, Mars corp, Rock Wizz, ‘Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?’ and Comedy Festival plus many others. Brad is a highly sought after lighting designer by production companies such as Active Lighting, Forum meeting and events, next vision and Global Television and corporate clients including some of Australia’s top tear corporations.
Brad's Designs are not simply the product of one person and without the technical support and equipment of BAAC Light and in particular Andrei Chlebnikowski his work would simply not appear the way it does to you. Brad's philosophy is that a lighting Design is not simply the product of one mind but the joining of technical and creative minds of many to produce a single goal.
He very much hopes you will enjoy this performance of La Cage Aux Folles and looks forward to the next time he lights a show for you.

Marcello Lo Ricco - Sound Design

Marcello has worked extensively in theatre sound design and sound production on a variety of concerts, musicals, events and tours.
Marcello’s recent theatre sound designs include Cats (Footlight), Chicago (WMTC), Flowerchildren (Magnormos), Pageant – The Musical (SHooSH!), The King & I (PLOS), Jesus Christ Superstar (Encore – Tasmania), Eurobeat – Almost Eurovision (GSODA), Floyd Collins (Octave), The Hatpin (Magnormos), It’s Only Life (Stella & DTM) and productions of Dusty, Parade, Sweet Charity, Kiss Of The Spider Woman, The Sound Of Music, Annie, Beauty & The Beast, Cabaret, Little Shop Of Horrors, Grease, West Side Story, The Witches of Eastwick, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Spring Awakening, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Wizard of Oz and Urinetown.
Annually Marcello is also involved with events such as the Melbourne Cabaret Festival, The Music Theatre Guild Awards, OZ Made Musicals and performing arts schools and corporate business events.

Marcello studied Performing Arts in Music and Drama at Monash University before completing Audio Engineering studies at SAE Institute. In recent years Marcello has received awards for sound for productions of Miss Saigon, Cats, Into The Woods and Sweeney Todd.
Away from the theatre Marcello has engineered numerous studio and live recording projects with a variety of music artists including show cast recordings as well as film and DVD releases.