DEBORA KRIZAK Mrs Wilkinson Debora holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Performing Arts from Adelaide University and made her professional debut in GFO’s The Producers in 2004. Further credits included Titanic - A New Musical, Respect The Musical, Calendar Girls for GFO, Stalker Theatre’s Shanghai Lady Killer and Squabbalogic’s Sondheim On Sondheim. Debora’s most notable credits include the role of ‘Sheila’ in A Chorus Line, where she was nominated for numerous awards, including a Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Critics’s Award. She starred in Hayes Theatre Co’s inaugural production of Sweet Charity (Nickie/Ursula), which earned her another Helpmann, Glug and Greenroom nomination and went on to win another of the coveted Sydney Theatre Critics’s Awards for her performance as best supporting actress. Further credits include Opera Australia’s Anything Goes (Erma), The Production Company’s Jerry’s Girls, David M Hawkins’s production of Cabaret (Fraulein Kost), the workshop/adaptation of the Australian musical Lola Montez, playing the title role, Razorhurst for Hayes Theatre (Kate Leigh), Mamma Mia! (Tanya) and We Will Rock You (Killer Queen) for Riverside Theatres/Packemin Productions. Most recently, Debora starred as Madame in Opera Australia/Crossroad Live’s production of Cinderella and as Mrs Wilkinson in Matt Ward’s production of Billy Elliot the Musical. Debora has also worked extensively in cabaret, as one half of the comic cabaret duo The Carpenters From Kempsey. She self-penned her one woman show Laugh Be a Lady for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and continues to take her solo shows around the world, as a headline entertainer on world cruise liners. Billy Elliot the Musical will be Debora’s debut for The Very Popular Theatre Company. DANNY FOLPP Dad Danny has been performing on stage for the last 15 years. Having studied at the Australian Institute of Music (Musical Theatre) with industry professionals, he has relished the opportunity to continue his career on stage garnering many credits as a performer. Most recent performances with Metropolitan Players include playing Shrek in Shrek The Musical (2022), Pricilla Queen of the Desert (2021) and Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2019). For The Very Popular Theatre Company, Spamalot, and Chess (2021). For Chookas Entertainment Company, playing Billy Flynn in Chicago (2022). And for Opera Hunter, Young Frankenstein (2021). More recently, Danny has sat in the director’s chair, with productions such as Keeping Up Appearances (Metropolitan Players) and Legally Blonde (Chookas Entertainment). His latest venture is founding What Theatre Company. Danny is currently an active City of Newcastle Drama Association committee member. CHARLIE MURPHY Michael Caffrey Charlie’s love of all things musical was first recognised in pre-school, where he loved to dress up, dance, play musical instruments and sing. Since 2016, he has attended drama and musical theatre classes at Hunter Drama, High Street Productions, and Manchester Musical Youth (MMY), tap dancing with Renae Perry, singing lessons with Maddie Watts (Newcastle) and Dave Holden (MMY). Charlie has recently returned from the UK, having made his West End debut as Michael Banks in Mary Poppins and originated the role of Rudy Steiner in the world premiere of The Book Thief. Theatre Credits: Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre, London); The Book Thief (Octagon Theatre, Bolton, England), Matilda JR., Madagascar A Musical Adventure JR. (Manchester Musical Youth); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory JR., Peter Pan JR. (Hunter Drama); Seussical JR. (High Street Productions). Television: CBBC Lagging (Series 2). Billy Elliot the Musical is Charlie’s debut with The Very Popular Theatre Company. CONWAY OAKHILL-SAARENPAA Michael Caffrey Conway has been singing and dancing his way through life since he was a toddler. He started playing piano at age 4 and joined Young People’s Theatre (YPT) in 2021, to further explore his larger than life personality and take it to the stage. In 2022, Conway stepped onto the stage for the very first time as a flamboyant flamingo in YPT’s Beware the Jabberwok. He followed this debut performance dancing and jazzing around as Scatcat in YPT’s Disney’s Aristocats KIDS, ending the year on a high, as Primary Vocalist of the Year at Hunter School of the Performing Arts. Adding tap to his repertoire, Conway is now an all singing, all dancing tapper, ready to express himself as Michael Caffrey when he makes his debuts both on the Civic Theatre stage and for The Very Popular Theatre Company in Billy Elliot the Musical. 25
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1