Seann Miley Moore graduated from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2013. They quickly established themself in the world of musical theatre in productions of Rent, Sweet Charity and the King & I.

"Seann Miley Moore stole the show," Cameron Mackintosh said of their pioneering performance as The EnginQueer in Opera Australia’s Miss Saigon. Awarded Best Actor at both the Sydney Theatre Awards and Naarm’s Green Room Awards - “They are a complete revelation."

A true embodiment of queer Asian excellence, Seann now brings unmatched charisma and fearless queer spirit to the role of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, playing stages across Australia.

Loved worldwide, Seann first captured our hearts on X Factor UK in 2015 and The Voice AU in 2021, where their powerful performances of Freddie Mercury’s "The Show Must Go On" and Andrea Bocelli's "The Prayer" led Simon Cowell to declare, "This kid's a star!" Since then, Seann has headlined major Pride events globally—from the UK to Amsterdam, New York, and most recently at Sydney World Pride 2023.

Their bold & unique style has caught the eye of brands like Lululemon, Camilla With Love, Fenty Beauty, and Jean Paul Gaultier, with Vogue Australia featuring them in the Get Used To It pride campaign supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

An advocate for love and equality, Seann’s disco-pop anthem My Lovers, a collaboration with St Croix, soared to #5 on the ARIA Charts. Support this Slayzian showgirl and stream it now on Spotify!

In October they return to the role of The Engineer in Miss Saigon for the UK tour.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch plays Carriageworks in Sydney from July 17th.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

Wendy Harmer is one of Australia’s most versatile entertainers – broadcaster, author, journalist and stage performer.

As a stand-up comedian she performed her one-woman shows at the Melbourne, Edinburgh, Montreal and Glasgow Mayfest Comedy Festivals, in London’s West End and the Sydney Theatre Company.  Wendy enjoyed huge popularity leading Sydney radio station 2Day FM’s top-rating Breakfast Show for 11 years. She was the co-host of ABC’s 702 Sydney morning show from 2016 -2021.  She has hosted, written and appeared in a variety of TV shows including ABC’s The Big Gig.

A former political journalist, Wendy is the author of eight books for adults including her bestselling novel Farewell My Ovaries, Love and Punishment and Nagging For Beginners, a how-to guide for women.  She has also written two teen novels, I Lost My Mobile at the Mall and I Made lattes For a Love God. 

Wendy’s children’s book series about Pearlie the park fairy have sold more than 700,000 copies in Australia and internationally since the first title Pearlie in the Park was published in 2003.  A stage show of the books adapted by Wendy played at the Seymour Centre in Sydney and toured regional NSW in 2005 and then nationally in 2007. The animated television series based on Wendy’s Pearlie books, co-produced by Sticky Pictures and Canadian broadcaster Nelvana, premiered on Network Ten in October 2009 and aired on Nickelodean Australia and in 11 other countries around the world.  Wendy developed the series as Creative Producer and wrote multiple episodes.

Stuff, a four-part television documentary series which Wendy produced, wrote and presented, premiered on ABC TV in March 2008. In late 2008 Wendy and Angela Catterns recorded a 16 part podcasting series for ABC Radio Local called Is It Just Me? which returned for a second season in 2009. 

Wendy teamed up again with Angela Catterns on ABC News Radio with a new show called It’s News to Me!, which recapped the week’s events.  

Wendy has been a columnist on many publications including the Good Weekend and The Sunday Telegraph.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

James Smillie has captivated audiences over several decades. Commencing his career at the age of 10, as an in-demand boy soprano singing with symphony orchestras and on radio, he continues to charm with his velvet voice on countless commercials, documentary narrations, and audiobooks.

Smillie was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents emigrated to Australia in the early 1950s when Smillie was still a child. He has worked in both Britain and Australia in film, extensively on stage, on television, and with voice work.

Growing up in Perth, he quickly established himself as an actor of note performing with the university graduate company in productions of Hamlet and Mourning Becomes Electra before journeying to the East coast and diversifying work at Channel O as newsreader, booth announcer and host.

While his family remained in Perth, Smillie returned to the United Kingdom to appear in stage roles in London's West End and would divide his time between the UK and Australia for several decades.

In Australia his television work includes roles in Adventure Island, The Magic Circle Club, Homicide, Division 4, Prisoner and as suave Dr Dan Marshall in the 1980s drama series Return to Eden. And in the UK, Red Dwarf, Z-Cars and Highlander.

With J.C. Williamson’s he played the role of Edward Rutledge in 1776, alongside a stellar cast that included Lewis Fiander, Bruce Kerr, Rod McLennan, Bruce Barry and Geraldene Morrow.

On the London stage, his break-out role was as Tony in West Side Story. His presence in the role ensured that Arthur Laurents permitted the show to open in the West End. 

The following years saw him playing leading men in a string of West End productions that included, Henry II in Thomas and The King with a score written by John Williams; Dr. Thomas Barnardo in Ernest Maxim’s Barnardo; Nicos in Kander & Ebb’s Zorba; Georges in Jerry Herman’s La Cage aux Folles at the London Palladium; and also as Fred Graham in Cole Porter’s  Kiss Me Kate with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In 1996 he achieved a dream role as Mack Sennet in the London production of Mack & Mabel, opposite Caroline O’Connor as Mabel Normand. The following decade saw Smillie touring in the UK tour of 42nd Street, playing Julian Marsh, Pastor Manders in Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts for the Perth International Arts Festival, Charles in Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together at the Library Theatre in Manchester, Daddy Warbucks in a touring production of Annie with Su Pollard and as Caesar, in a Sadlers Wells Lost Musicals production of Fanny. He also has a Royal Variety Performance to his credit.

Now settled back in Glasgow, recent years have seen James appear in stage productions at the Traverse Theatre, Oran Mor, and the Pitlochry Festival Theatre; and extensive voice work and associated accolades.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

It’s TONY time once again and an opportunity to look at the ceremony and shows up for awards in our annual Tony episode.

STAGES is joined by publicist Ian Phipps and reviewer Simon Parris, to dissect the nominations and offer some predictions for the awards which will be presented on June 8th in New York City at radio City Musica Hall, hosted by Cynthia Erivo.

The three of us have all recently been in New York and enjoyed the delights of the Broadway stage, taking in quite a few of the nominated shows and performances, giving us a familiar insight to where the awards might land.

Australians are an ever growing presence on the Broadway stage and this year were are cheering for the Sydney Theatre Company and Michael Cassel’s production of The Picture of Dorian Gray; a play that has taken the world by storm and garnered a host of nominations for the Australian creatives and performer Sarah Snook.

Ainsley Melham is co-leading the company in the musical Boop! which has also earned nominations and Sarah Bowden is in the ensemble of SMASH, also up for some awards. John Frost is also one of the producers who has brought the Bobby Darrin story, Just in Time, to the Broadway stage - another show in a fierce competition.

It has been a sensational season on Broadway, and I’m thrilled to join by 2 fellow travellers who are able to offer some insight to what has been playing - in this 2025 TONY edition of the STAGES podcast.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

Ainsley Melham began his Music Theatre Career in 2016, skating into the Hayes Theatre as Sonny Malone in Mathew Managements' Xanadu. 

Soon after he traded skates for a magic carpet and opened Disney's Hit Broadway Musical ALADDIN, in the title role. He toured Australia with the production playing Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

In February 2019 he made his Broadway Debut at the New Amsterdam Theatre reprising his role as Aladdin in the broadway company, before travelling to London to film the production at The Prince Edward Theatre.

Upon his return to Australia he played Molina in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of Kiss of the Spider Woman, as well as the title role of Pippin in the Tony Award winning production at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, Charley Kringas in Merrily We Roll Along at the Hayes Theatre, and Prince Topher in Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Ainsley has also guest starred as Fiyero in the Australian National Tour of Wicked The Musical. 

Preceding his MainStage theatre debut he trained at WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts) and was a cast member of the International Children's Pop Group Hi-5, having appeared in its Australasian tours, and its televised Hi-5 House Series . 

Ainsley originated the role of Dwayne, alongside the cast of Boop! The Musical, which enjoyed a pre-Broadway run at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago. The musical is directed by 3 time Tony winner Jerry Mitchell, with a book by Tony winner Bob Martin, music by 16 time Grammy winner David Foster, and lyrics by Tony nominee Susan Birkenhead.

Boop! The Musical is presently playing at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway with Ainsley Melham starring. He joins STAGES to reflect on his stellar career thus far and the exciting venture that is BOOP! 

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

Charles Kirsch is the producer and host of the Broadway focused podcast, Broadway Babble. The show has seen Charles conduct in-depth interviews with some of Broadway’s best, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carol Burnett, Harvey Fierstein, Chita Rivera, and Kelli O’Hara. Broadway Babble is now entering its sixth year, and most impressive is that the show’s 18 year old host commenced the venture when he was 12. 

An accomplished and avid reader by the age of 3,  Charles’ parents and grandparents provided access to music and theatre, with early productions of Annie and On the Town leaving a major impression and beginning a passion for musical theatre.

Charles has extended his celebration of the Broadway theatre with a series of concerts at the iconic New York cabaret venue, 54 Below. Gathering an ensemble of Broadway luminaries and established performers in the presentation of lost musicals and celebrations of legendary theatre-makers. Last month featured a visit to the musical Coco; the Katherine Hepburn lead musical about Coco Chanel, and next month he hosts a tribute to composer Charles Strouse.

He is a regular contributor to Cast Album Reviews, and has also written articles for Encore Magazine and a chapter on the musical Annie for the book 50 Key Stage Musicals (Routledge Press, 2022). He is also a contributor to BroadwayWorld's Teen Critics series.

Charles has produced a series of virtual game night benefits for the non-profit organization Dancers Over 40, and his Zoom reunions of Follies, Applause, On the Twentieth Century, and Titanic have gained thousands of viewers.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

With a career spanning four decades, Leigh’s credits are as diverse as they are extensive. An accomplished singer, dancer and actress, her stage roles include Marty in Grease – The Arena Spectacular, Demeter in Cats (Australia and Asia) and Consuelo in West Side Story. She also appeared in the Australian tour of The Wizard of Oz as an ensemble member and understudy for Glinda/Aunt Em, played Mrs Zebulan in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Australian tour), and earned critical acclaim as Dana and Marilyn Monroe in Get Happy at Sydney’s Star City.

Leigh was part of the world premiere of Moonshadow, the Cat Stevens musical, performing in the ensemble and understudying the roles of Zena and Layla. In Baz Luhrmann’s World Premiere production of Strictly Ballroom The Musical, she showcased her versatility by understudying four principal roles, ranging from a young girl to a Spanish grandmother. In 2022, she played the role of Professional Woman in the Australian regional tour of Menopause The Musical. Most recently, Leigh captivated a sold-out audience with her one-woman show, Not Just A Showgirl, at Claire’s Kitchen.

Beyond the stage, Leigh has been the face and voice of numerous commercials and has appeared on television programs such as The Midday Show, GMA, Three Men & A Baby Grand, Hits and Memories and Carols in the Domain. She was also featured in the TV movie remake of The Three Stooges.

Renowned for her natural humour and engaging presence, Leigh has been a staple in the cabaret scene, performing extensively at corporate functions, in clubs and on cruise ships with her one-woman show. Now, after a 30-year “catnap,” Leigh is absolutely thrilled to be returning to the Jellicle Ball and stepping back into the world of Cats!

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

Stephen Anderson is an actor who has navigated a thrilling career in musical theatre. Presently he can be seen in Titanique as Ruth Dewitt-Bukater, a role which earned him a Sydney Theatre Award. 

His extensive theatre work encompasses the Park Keeper/Northbrook in Mary Poppins, Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Father Alex in Mamma Mia!, Sergei in Matilda the Musical, Mendel in Falsettos, The Housekeeper in Man of La Mancha, Giuseppe in The Light in the Piazza, Frog in A Year with Frog and Toad, Florindo in The Venetian Twins, Orin Scrivello in Little Shop of Horrors and Mark in DNA. 

Stephen has worked extensively with Tall Stories and CDP Theatre Producers, including the original Australian productions of The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child and Room on the Broom.

Stephen wrote and directed My Vagabond Boat (Adelaide Cabaret Festival) and Don’t Hate Us Because We're Good (Melbourne Fringe Festival).

Titanique is about to set sail with a final boarding call for the Céline Dion parody. The record-breaking run at Sydney’s Grand Electric will conclude on June 22nd.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Vaughan Edwards trained in theatre, film and television design at London's prestigious Wimbledon College of Art.

After graduating, he worked in theatre design in London's West End before moving to New York.  Here, he was an associate to celebrated Oscar and Tony Award winner Tony Walton, working with him on such films as All That Jazz, Deathtrap, Prince of the City and Equus before moving on to solo production design.

As production designer, he has worked in all parts of the United States, in Europe, Canada and Mexico on feature films, long form and episodic television, music videos and commercials.

Edwards' continued interest in fine art, history and architecture has been sustained by regular visits to world capitals to experience diverse cultures at first hand. The wealth of knowledge gained has enabled him to design settings of detailed accuracy covering periods from the Shakespeare of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead to post civil war American west in Last Stand at Saber River, and America during the depression in Arthur Miller's The American Clock, 1950s and 1960s WASP society in Stealing Home, to the technology of an imagined future of Seaquest DSV, and the contemporary urban grittiness of CSI: NEW YORK.

Now based in Los Angeles, Vaughan is a long-standing member of both the Art Directors' Guild, Local 800, and United Scenic Artists, local 829 in New York. 

He joins STAGES to offer a unique perspective on designing for the screen, and to reflect on a dynamic areer working in the theatre design departments of the West End and Broadway.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au

Following her performance as Cassie in ‘A Chorus Line’ at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Sarah Bowden moved her life to New York City. 

For 12 years Sarah had been a vital contributor to the theatre of Berlin, Germany. She played major solo roles in the Wintergarten Variety Theatre, including Emily in the ‘Seifenoper’ (The Soap Opera), Sally in ‘Sally und Fred’ and Somalso in ‘Der Helle Wahnsinn’ (Absolute Madness). She shared the stage with icons of the theatre scene such as Helmut Baumann whom she met as a young performer at the Komische Oper in Berlin. 

She appeared in several productions in repertoire at the Komische, playing Marylou in the concert version of Paul Abrahams 'Märchen im Grand Hotel', she covered the role of Anita in ‘West Side Story’ and Daisy Darlington in ‘Ball im Savoy’. She also proved herself as a dancer in the production of ‘Orpheus’. Alongside her role in ‘Kiss me Kate’ she covered Bianca and was Dance Captain responsible for ‘Clivia’. Sarah is particularly grateful for the collaborations with theatre director Barrie Kosky. 

In other venues Sarah has performed many roles in major productions. She enjoyed a highly successful run as Esmeralda in Disney's production of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', playing sold out houses in both in Berlin and Munich. 

She was celebrated by the critics for the performance in her favourite role as Cassie in ‘A Chorus Line’ in Klagenfurt, and as Anita in ‘West Side Story’ in Wuppertal. She played ‘Cabaret’ as Sally Bowles not only in Plauen-Zwickau but also in the Zeltpalast in Merzig. She also dazzled in en suite productions for Stage Entertainment such as ‘Tanz der Vampire’, as cover Ozzy in ‘We Will Rock You’ and as Cindy in ‘Catch Me if You Can’ in the Vienna Kammerspiele. Before Sarah’s first productions in Germany, ‘Der Schuh des Manitu’ in Berlin and ‘Soap’ in the Chameleon Theatre, Berlin, she toured Europe with the show ‘Miami Nights’ where she played cover Sarah and Jessica and also had the responsibility of being assistant Dance Captain. 

Beyond the borders of Germany and Austria Sarah has also made a name for herself on the international stage. She was a member of the cast on a world tour of ‘Dirty Dancing’ where she also covered the roles of Baby and Lisa Houseman. On this tour she was trusted with the responsibility of Associate Choreographer and Dance Captain. 

In Asia Sarah also spent time in Tokyo, playing Rumpleteaser in ‘Cats’ at the Disney Resort. Directly after completing her studies in Australia, Sarah played Sillabub in ‘Cats’ and performed in ‘The Wizard of Oz’. 

Following a stint as Nina in the Broadway production of ‘Moulin Rouge - the Musical’, Sarah joined the original Broadway Company of the musical ‘Smash’, now thrilling audiences at the Imperial Theatre on W 45th Street.

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).

www.stagespodcast.com.au