James Millar speaks out: Why I should have been seen for Sandy

It’s the biggest scandal to sweep through our music theatre industry since award winning actor and playwright James Millar wasn’t cast as Mary Poppins: John Frost sacked Sandy the dog, then cast another canine before Millar could prepare his video audition for the role…

Sandy: A Tale Of Wasted Preparation

The role of Sandy the Dog in the 2012 production of Annie (Lyric Theatre, Sydney) was made suddenly available when John Frost SACKED the canine thespian originally cast during previews.

In an exclusive interview earlier this week, Frost told AussieTheatre.com that auditions were to be held imminently to find another dog to share the leading role of Sandy. AussieTheatre.com understands that performing 8 shows a week is quite a strain for an actor playing a demanding role.

An audition brief was put out and award-winning Australian actor and writer James Millar, who recently appeared in Grey Gardens for The Production Company, began preparations for the role of a lifetime… until he discovered it was cast before his grandma even had the chance to finish his costume.

In this video, James Millar a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts expresses his regret at being unable to audition for the canine role himself.

Millar, who wrote the lyrics and book for the acclaimed musicals The Hatpin and LoveBites has dabbled in video auditions previously, including a fully costumed audition reel for the role of Mary Poppins (which was filled with emotion and was very well received. Unfortunately, Millar was pipped at the post by fellow WAAPA classmate Verity Hunt-Ballard).

John Frost clearly showed no regard for actors like Millar who had invested a good deal of time and energy into their audition preparation for Sandy.

Frost quipped earlier in the week “And I didn’t have to worry about the MEAA coming down on me for sacking a lead!”.

Don’t count your chickens, Mister Frost.