Michelle Barr’s career in the entertainment industry commenced at the age of 9. Originally from the South Coast, Michelle relocated to Sydney at age 17 to continue her studies at Brent Street Studios.
FAME The Musical is Michelle’s musical theatre debut, however she is no stranger to the stage. Her performance credits include a long line of corporate & special events for choreographers such as Jacqui Howard and Cameron Mitchell, and most recently the Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Eve Ball at the Sydney Opera House under the direction of Jason Coleman.
Michelle’s television credits include, Always Greener, Sunrise, Morning’s with Kerri Anne, music videos for Taxi Ride & Paulini as well as various commercials. She has been Assistant Choreographer to both Matt Lee and Marko Panzic in all three seasons of Channel Ten’s ‘So You Think You Can Dance’
Michelle has been the Head of Singing Department at Brent Street Studios for the past two years where she has produced various performances and events, and helped to develop some of the country’s finest upcoming young talent.
Charles graduated from Brent Street School of Performing Arts in 2008. He then successfully auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance - Season 2 and later went on to become 2009's Runner-Up and favourite male dancer for the season.
Although a young performer Charles is already a well seasoned professional with credits including the So You Think You Can Dance National Tour 2009, performing with the up-and-coming group The Next Step, NYE '09 Lord Mayors Ball, Nokia 5510 Street Theatre campaign, Eurovision Television Commercial, Chris Brown/ Rihanna V.I.P party, and NRL Rabbitohs Centenary Match Performance.
Charles has had the opportunity to work with Australian artists such as Paulini and David Campbell as well as international acts including David Guetta and Kelly Rowland.
Amy’s versatility as a triple threat performer has given way to her career both nationally and internationally across the performance industry. Her theatre credits include: La Grande Cirque, Il Tritico Opera Australia, Black Rock, The Sport Of My Mad Mother, Sleeping Beauty, Central Performance Project, Noddy’s Christmas Special and Saturday Night Fever – Australasian Tour.
Amy has traveled the world with Royal Caribbean Productions, as Dance Captain and featured soloist/aerialist. She has trained at the Broadway Dance Center New York while performing in Drew Thomas Magic and Illusion and LaRaf. It also gave her the opportunity to continue her aerial skills with Firefly Aerial Dance Company.
Television credits include All Saints, Dangerous, Natalie Wood Comedy Inc and The Magician. She was also an ambassador for Lorna Jane’s Active Living Campaign. Amy has also featured in many TV commercials including Sony, Coca Cola, Video Ezy, Pizza Hut and Halls Mints (USA), Metamucil and Kirin Beer.
Most recently Amy finished third in So You Think You Can Dance Australia Season 2 and she is very honoured and excited to be a part of the FAME cast.
Morgan began her training at the tender age of three years old at Brent Street Studios in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Hip Hop. She studied with some of Australia’s leading choreographers including Kelley Abbey, Matt Lee, Sarah Boulter and Juliette Verne. She began her singing training at age 5 with Linda Nagle.
At 12 years of age Morgan won the Australian Dancer of the Year at Showcase and won a trip to America to compete at one of the major USA Dance competitions in Las Vegas where she won the Contemporary and came second in the Jazz.
In 2009 she was the assistant to Kelley Abbey at the Musical Theatre Workshop. She continued her work with Kelley as featured dancer in Opera Australia’s ‘My Mutations’ demo video and live stage performance.
Morgan has performed on Australia Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and many TV Commercials for Australia and America. In 2009 she performed a duo behind Natalie Bassingthwaighte at the 2009 TV Week Logie Awards.
This will be Morgan’s first major musical.
Danielle has been involved in stage and performance since the age of five. Her studies began at the Queensland Dance School of Excellence graduating with a Diploma in Classical Ballet and continued at Ed5 International Full Time Performing Arts Course in 2006.
Since beginning her professional career, Danielle has had the chance to work with some of Australia’s finest choreographers including Kelley Abbey, William Forsythe, Dein Perry, The Squared Division, Matt Lee, Project Moda and Leah Howard.
Danielle has also worked with such artists as Natalie Bassingthwaite, Tina Arena, Rickie Lee, Marcia Hines, Sam Sparro, Macy Gray and recently with Jessica Mauboy at the 2009 Aria Awards. She has also toured with the internationally acclaimed Le Grande Cirque.
She has also featured in numerous television commercials including Franklins, McDonalds, Artline, Flip HD Camera, So You Think You Can Dance 2010 and Bonds.
Danielle is thrilled to be performing in her first musical, FAME, and would like to thank her family, teachers and friends for their love and constant support.
Thomas came dancing out of the womb into his mother’s school in Melbourne. Quenching his teenage thirst for performance in such musicals as The Boy From Oz (1995), Singing in the Rain(2000) and Oliver (2003), he later honing his talents at the Victorian College Of the Arts Secondry School and training with Robert Sturrock. At 18 he moved to Sydney working with Sydney based acts and choreographers such as Project Moda, The Next Step, Tap Dogs and the L.A influenced Hip Hop crew J town. He can be seen on TV commercials for So You Think You Can Dance, Foxtel and the Discovery Channel. As a improv tapper he is know for jamming with bands and musicians across Sydney, and choreographing tap for Short Sweet and Dance and SMA Productions. Thomas enjoys long walks on the beach and fine pub food.
Sally Hare attended Newtown High School of Performing Arts before completing her full-time training with Robert Sturrock in Melbourne.
Sally has been in high demand as a dancer in all styles. Her versatility is proven with credits such as Soul Nation in Jakarta for Israel, supporting Flo Rida’s Sydney performances. The Australian/New Zealand World Magic Tour for Tony Laffan and many TVC’s and videos clips such as Cassie Davis ‘I like it Loud’, Taxiride’s ‘What can I do’, Bonds, SYTYCD Season 2 and Mornings with Kerri- Anne.
Highlights include: featured dancer in ‘What is Jazz’ for WSDA at the Riverside Theatres and performing at the Opera House in the Sony Spring Festival for Choreographer Kelley Abbey’s ‘My Mutation’. Sally is thrilled to be working with Kelley again in her musical theatre debut FAME and would like to thank her wonderful family for all their support.
Camilla first discovered her passion for dance and began her extensive training in Queensland, at the age of three. She then relocated to Sydney and landed her first professional job, at age 16, in Baz Luhrmann’s feature film Moulin Rouge.
From here, Camilla jet set on her first overseas trip and performed in ‘Encore’ at the Broadway Theatre, Tokyo Disney Sea. On her return home to Australia, Camilla made her musical theatre debut with Saturday Night Fever, understudying the role of Maria and went on to perform in Hugh Jackman - The Boy From Oz and We Will Rock You (Japan).
As an aspiring performer / choreographer, Camilla has worked extensively at both corporate and high profile events, working with some of Australia’s leading choreographers. Recent events include the NYE Lord Mayor’s Ball 2009 and 2010, MTV Awards 2009 and Australian Idol Grand Final 2007 and 2008.
The most recent of her successes saw her make the top 12 on Series 1 of So You Think You Can Dance.
In 2009, Keiynan Lonsdale toured Australia performing with pop group Panjo 5 and US artists Omarion and Fatman Scoop. Having worked with many Australian and International record producers, featured in several television commercials and appeared on shows such as All Saints, Kerri-Anne and The Morning Show, this 18 year old believes he has only touched the surface of his dream.
Keiynan intends to pursue life as a recording artist, song-writer, and actor. Inspired by industry legends such as Michael Jackson & Usher he wants to make his own mark on the entertainment world. After the years of training at Brent Street’s ‘Talent Development College’, Keiynan has stepped straight out of High School and in to the world of Musical Theatre, making his debut as cover for the lead role 'Tyrone' in the world-renowned musical, FAME.
Keiynan would like to thank all of his idols, performing arts teachers, and his family - a special thanks to his mother for being his strongest support in life.
Matt graduated from WAAPA in 2007. His stage credits include Priscilla - Queen of the Desert the Musical in Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand; The Production Company’s Damn Yankees in Melbourne playing the role of Linville and Liverlips Louie/Havana Boy in the Sydney season of Guys and Dolls. At WAAPA his credits include 'Edward Rochester' in Jane Eyre, 'Bernardo' in West Side Story, 'Sam Byck' in Assassins, and 'Strapper' in the New York premiere of David King and Nick Enright's The Good Fight. He has also appeared in featured roles on Blue Heelers and Neighbours and in television commercials and training videos. Matt is a proud member of Equity and is a child sponsor through World Vision.
Growing up in Gladstone Queensland, Shannon spent her time training in dance and competing internationally in gymnastics. She attended Queensland’s Dance School of Excellence and to further her training Shannon completed a fulltime performing arts course at ED5 International.
Shannon’s professional credit list includes: The Royal Princess working with choreographer William A Forsythe, The Australian Idol grand finale choreographed by Kelley Abbey and most recently performing at The Venitian Hotel Macau, choreography by Keith Hawley.
Shannon is thrilled to be making her musical theatre debut in FAME The Musical and would like to thank everyone that has supported her along the way.
Marko Panzic is a dancer and choreographer. In 2008 Marko hit our TV screens in the 1st series of “So You Think You Can Dance” where he was a top 20 finalist. Marko returned for the 2nd & 3rd series as a featured choreographer. As a performer his credits include The Aria Awards, The Logies, Urban Music Awards, Australian Idol Grand Final, Channel V and The NRL Footy Show. Marko has worked with many of Australia’s finest recording Artists including Jessica Mauboy, Jade MacRae, Che’nelle, Samantha Jade, The McClymonts, Cosima DeVito, Vanessa Amorosi and Chris Sorbello. He has provided choreography for ABC3 Launch, Dance Academy (ABC TV), The Jamfest 2010 Australian Tour, Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics, Buzz Dance Theatre, QL2, Australian Idol TVC and numerous corporate engagements. Marko is making his Musical Theatre debut in Fame and dedicates his performance to all his family and friends. www.markopanzic.com.
From a young age Michael studied dance, singing and acting at the Dance Education Centre and performing in local college, ballet, and amateur musical shows in his home town of Tauranga, New Zealand.
Moving to Australia in 2007 to study full time performing arts at Dance World Studios Melbourne, Michael graduated with Cert IV in Dance Performance. Recently he furthered his acting studies at Victorian College of The Arts Drama and currently studies singing with Sally Bourne and Anthony Costanzo.
Making his professional musical theatre debut with the international touring company of CATS, for the China and Korea seasons in 2007/2008, Michael played the role of Pouncival and understudied Mungojerry, Skimbleshanks and Mr Mistofillees. Other professional credits include: Alphabet Soup children’s entertainment group (Zenith Productions New Zealand) and The Singing Office (Fox8 TV network Australia).
In 2009 Michael joined the faculty of Dance World Studios for Tap, Theatre, Jazz, and Music Theatre classes as teacher and choreographer.
Michael feels very excited and fortunate to be a part of this brand new production of FAME the Musical.
BJ is a 2006 graduate of the Talent Development High School at Brent Street Studios, and has launched himself into every facet of the entertainment industry. In 2009 he was TOP 6 finalist in So You Think You Can Dance.
Highly experienced as a dancer and choreographer, BJ has performed with the likes of Fergie (Black Eyed Peas), Paulini, Young Divas, Maxine Nightingale (tour), Nikki Webster (tour), and Popset Productions. As well as being a member of “The Next Step” Productions, he has co-created the “A-Live Entertainment” production company.
Highlights include The Helpmann Awards, Dancing with The Stars, Sunrise Dare to Dance special, MTV Awards and Opera Australia. BJ was a featured dancer in Mao’s Last Dancer directed by Bruce Beresford and choreographed by Graham Murphy.
BJ played the role of “Tumblebrutus” in the CATS Asia Tour and is excited to join the cast of FAME and to work with one of his idols, Kelley Abbey. He would like to thank his family & management for their continued support and dedicates his performances to everyone who has taught him along the way.
Stephen is Sydney based and has been extensively trained in all styles of dance as well as singing and acting. Stephen was part of an 18 month Asian tour of CATS the musical playing the role of 'Tumblebrutus' and understudy to 'Mungojerry'. He was selected to be a part of the Top 20 in the 2009 season of the hit TV show 'So You Think You Can Dance' where he gained notoriety for his unique dance style. His credits also include dancing for artists such as 'The Presets' and 'Sam Sparro' as well as numerous appearances in the commercial world of dance. Stephen is Co-director of 'A-Live Entertainment', a new, exciting and innovative dance production company specializing in education and live performance. He is looking forward to an exciting season of FAME and having the privilege of working with Kelley Abbey.
