Wicked is flying into the Gold Coast, revealing a stellar principal cast, including leading ladies Emily Monsma and Samantha Dodemaide. The team of seasoned performers will take to Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts (HOTA) stage this June, telling the beloved tale of the extraordinary adventures in Oz and the profound friendship between Glinda, The Good Witch played by Monsma and Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West played by Dodemaide.
Cast as Fiyero is YouTube personality and actor Trent Owers, whose love of theatre has seen him work with the likes of Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg in London, followed by his casting as Angel in The Queensland Performing Art Centre’s (QPAC) sold out season of Rent last year. Local Gold Coaster, James Shaw, returns home to star as ‘The Wizard of Oz’ after a successful career overseas playing ‘Harry’ in Mamma Mia the musical, ‘Amos’ in Chicago and various other musical theatre and opera performances.
Stepping into the enchanted ruby slippers is Antonia Marr as ‘Nessarose’, who is no stranger to the spotlight or the WICKED cast. Antonia has performed her way around the world and looks forward to heading back to the Land of Oz after featuring in QPAC’s Rent .
Tim Carroll is the versatile performer and graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music cast as Boq, who returns home to the Gold Coast following an Australian tour in the stage adaption of The 78-Storey Treehouse. Previously, Tim has performed as Roger in Grease: The Arena Experience, Hanschen in Spring Awakening among other performances. Announced as Dr Dillamond is Shannon Foley whose very successful opera career has seen him debut with Opera Australia as Marchese in La Traviata and Papageno in The Magic Flute to name a few.
More than 20 additional performers have been cast in various ensemble and dance roles for the iconic production, following an extensive nationwide audition process. Producer Matt Ward said talent of the principal leads will make for an exciting rendition of the iconic production. “After a lengthy audition process to secure the right calibre of talent, we’ve been delivered an incredible medley of musical theatre talent and star power and I’m thrilled for the lead cast to provide a season of showcase performances like the Gold Coast has never seen before,” he said. “This telling production of Wicked will inspire wonder and delight on any fan or soon-to-be lover of this beloved story.”
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