Bringing Excellence To The Stage

In an industry where talent is just the beginning, the Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre, Griffith University continues to prove itself as a powerhouse of professional preparation, creative nurturing, and real-world success.  Christine Bowley reports.

The revered program takes just 20 students a year, identifying and extracting potential of those with dreams of singing, dancing and acting on stage; and providing them with career-defining training experience to unlock their full potential.

Recent graduate Charlotte Page has just returned from China, where she performed as on-stage swing in Sunset Boulevard, and is now preparing for another swing role in Back to the Future: The Musical, opening at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre in September, where she’ll be covering multiple parts and stepping in at a moment’s notice.

Being a swing performer can be mentally demanding, but Charlotte credits her education with giving her both technical skills and the resilience to handle high-pressure situations.

“We had double casting in our third-year show, which was my first swing experience,” she said. “It really exercised a different part of my brain and helped me appreciate the bigger picture of a production.”

Initially nervous about Sunset Boulevard, Charlotte found her rhythm—and a passion for swing roles.

“This isn’t for everyone, but I really enjoy it,” she said. “Going from two roles to seven is a whole new challenge. You need to be highly organised and have a ‘yes’ mentality because things can change quickly.”

She credits Griffith mentors, including Alistair Smith and Dan Venz, for helping her embrace the unpredictability.

“They taught us it’s not about being perfect every time, that mistakes are bound to happen when there is so much in your brain, but it’s about keeping the show running and putting in the work and being able to say, ‘it’s all good, we move on’.”

Hairspray.

On the other hand, fellow Bachelor or Musical Theatre alumnus Sean Johnston is currently playing the lead role of Elder Price in The Book of Mormon in Sydney. 

After debuting professionally in Hairspray, Sean took time to regroup, audition, and hone his craft before landing the gig with one of the most iconic musicals of the last decade. “It’s daunting but very exciting taking on such a big role,” Sean said. 

“Coming out of uni, I felt really well-prepared. The work ethic instilled at Griffith absolutely set me up for the rehearsal room. I thought I’d be behind, but I found I was actually ahead in some ways, which was a great feeling.”

Sean’s path into the arts wasn’t typical, with his love for sport and football taking a back seat with a last-minute gear change to undertake dance and vocal training in grade 12 so he could audition for the Bachelor of Musical Theatre. 

“I remember receiving the email and being nervous to open it, but when it said ‘congratulations, we’d love to offer you a place’ I was so excited, calling my mum and practically everyone to tell them.”

The Book of Mormon. Photographer: Daniel Boud.

Like Charlotte, Sean credits the mentorship he received, especially from faculty members like Director of the Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre, Professor Paul Sabey, as being transformational. 

Both Sean and Charlotte also highlighted resilience as another vital element of their training, with the industry known to be competitive, unpredictable, and fast-paced, and the ability to adapt, maintain professionalism, and keep your passion alive being not just important, but essential.

“You don’t always book a job straight away,” Sean said. “After Hairspray, it took a while before The Book of Mormon came along, but the course prepares you for that.

“You learn that your career is a marathon, not a sprint.”

The Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre strives to deliver outstanding musical theatre education that transforms and inspires-empowering students to take the lead role in their story with the knowledge and skills to adapt and perform at the peak of their artistry.

To find out more about musical theatre at Griffith University, visit the website: www.griffith.edu.au/musical-theatre-academy