Class of 2025: Musical Theatre Showcase

There are 17 multi-talented performers graduating from the QAEMT this year and you can see their showcase performance at the intimate Tony Gould Gallery at QPAC – a great chance to see tomorrow’s stars up close and personal. It’s difficult showing off their triple-threat dance moves in such a small space, but it is perfect for imparting their strengths in acting and singing. I thoroughly enjoyed all the performances, so I am not going to single out any one performer. Having seen this group’s A Chorus Line twice last month, I feel that that show’s strength in building an ensemble shone through in the showcase. There was also a solid work ethic on display that surely must be important to future employers and all the agents who were scribbling notes from the front row on opening night.

There were some satisfying choices in group presentations. Some of my favourites were: ‘Schadenfreude’ from Avenue Q performed by Croft Phillips and Ellie Carragher; ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ from Company, performed by Olivia Horne, Christina Keen and Brydie Hall; ‘You Will Not Forget Me’ from Girls Like That, performed by Niamh Cadoo-Dagley, Connor Chadwick, Kate Hudson-James, Charlie Preston, Mateja Sardelis and Cooper Swan; and an oldie but a goodie (to this Tommy Steele fan anyway), perhaps a brave choice – ‘Flash, Bang, Wallop’ from Half a Sixpence, performed by Orlando Vella and the company. These group pieces show how these performers have learnt to work together and let everyone have their moment in the spotlight.

There was a good mix of the dramatic and comedic, with short non-musical vignettes too, which showed off a skill for (mainly American) quirky humour, such as Ella Harding and Olivia Horne performing ‘Assorted Cremes’ from Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart. It would be nice to see more Australian content, but it was also nice to see the range of material, from Betty Comden and Adolph Green through to Stephen Sondheim, Marc Shairman and Scott Wittman, with a little bit of Disney thrown in for good measure.

I also liked how the show was bookended by Ellie Carragher’s sweet voice for Eric Carmen’s ‘All By Myself’ and then ‘What I Did for Love’ from A Chorus Line, an apt closing number as the song reinforces that, if you want to be a successful artist, there are sacrifices to be made that must not be lamented. Let’s hope this talented troupe have few regrets when they hit professional stages next year and beyond. Keep an eye out for all these performers!

Beth Keehn

Photographs courtesy of QAEMT

Find out more: www.qpac.com.au/whats-on/2025/qcgu-class-of-2025-musical-theatre-showcase