Panel announced to advise New Musicals Australia

New Musicals Australia, a new initiative dedicated to the production of original Australian musical theatre, today announced their company patron and members of their inaugural advisory panel.

New Musicals Australia, a new initiative dedicated to the production of original Australian musical theatre, today announced their company patron and members of their inaugural advisory panel.

Musical Theatre legend Stephen Swartz has been announced as Patron. Schwartz is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer whose career spans more than four decades, writing such hit musicals as Godspell, Pippin, Children of Eden and Wicked. He has also contributed music and lyrics for a number of successful films, including Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted. Schwartz has won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and has been nominated for six Tony Awards.

“I first met Stephen a decade ago in NYC, and have incredible respect for the work he has done, both as an author and heading the ASCAP new musicals workshop.  He is incredibly generous with the knowledge that he offers young writers, and we’re privileged to have his support for New Musicals Australia in our first year,” said Director of New Musicals Australia, Kris Stewart.

“He is a great believer in Australian talent – especially that in our writing community – and he will be a fantastic advocate for our artists in New York.”

Advisory panel members announced today include Peter Casey, Kellie Dickerson, Rodney Dobson, Neil Gooding, Roger Hodgman, Karen Johnson Mortimer, Guy Noble, Jennifer Murphy, Darren Yap and Peter Ross.

“New Musicals Australia warmly welcomes  all the members of our talented and knowledgeable advisory panel. Together, we have such a strong combination of experience and talent and New Musicals Australia is excited about sharing this wonderful bank of wisdom with up and coming creatives,” Mr Stewart said.

New Musicals Australia has been founded to provide creators of new musicals with a series of professional workshopping opportunities that will enable their work to be developed and publicly presented. This model mirrors the successful processes witnessed in the US and UK, and allows writers and composers the opportunity to have their scripts and songs workshopped and presented to high level industry peers, creative industry leaders and Sydney audiences.