Musical Theatre Panel

Will Conyers - Panel Chair

WILL CONYERS has worked extensively in all branches of the entertainment industry since the age of 6 - from piano bars to opera, cabaret to opera and rock opera and from the theatre to film and T.V soap opera. A graduate of the National Theatre Drama School (1980), he returned there to be the founding Director of the Musical Theatre Course (1996-1998). He also studied with esteemed NY Acting and Music Theatre teacher, Carol-Fox Prescott.

Jamie Henson - Deputy Chair

JAMIE HENSON is a lecturer in Live Production and Technical Services, Specialist Make-up and Circus Arts at Melbourne Polytechnic. Jamie's expansive career has included roles such as Lighting Designer, Production Manager, Tour Manager, Properties Master and Technical Services Manager for productions Australia wide. His career highlights include lighting design for The Right (Performing Lines), Bijous Secret (16th Street Studios), Wonderland Spiegel Tent (Melbourne Comedy Festival), SEEKERS 50th Reunion Tour Australia (for two National Tours), COSI and Driving Miss Daisy (HIT Productions), The Impresario, Prima La Musica, Poi Le Parole (Lyric Opera) and SING SING in Townsville (Queensland Music Festival). Jamie has also spent many decades working in Production Management for companies such as The Entertainment Store, HIT Productions, Dance North, David Atkins Enterprises, International Concert Attractions and Sydney Theatre Company.

James Millar - Deputy Chair

Kim Bishop

KIM BISHOP was nominated for a 2016 Green Room Award (along side Kinky Boots and Matilda) for his costume design on The Light In The Piazza. (Life Like Company). He was also Costume Designer for Jesus Christ Superstar (The Production Company) City Of Angels (Life Like Company), Doubt, A Parable (RL Productions), CrossXRoads (Chapel Off Chapel), The 39 Steps and They’re Playing Our Song (HIT Productions), Barassi – The Stage Show (Athenaeum Theatre), Singin’ In The Rain, The Producers, Kismet, The Boy From Oz, The King & I, The Boyfriend, Crazy For You, Mame, Damn Yankees, 42nd Street and Sweet Charity (The Production Company). He has also toured as Head of Wardrobe on many large scale shows including Dusty, The King & I, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, South Pacific, The Rocky Horror Show, Aida – The Spectacular, The Boy From Oz, Singin’ In The Rain, Shout and Moonshadow. Kim also toured the world for some years as Wardrobe Manager with ice dancers Torvill and Dean, playing everywhere from his home town Melbourne to Las Vegas, Madison Square Garden and Wembley. Visit his website at kimbishop.com.au

Prashanti Middling

PRASHANTI MIDDLING graduated from the Australian Institute of Music with a B.Mus. in Music Theatre in 2018. She is also a recent graduate of the Music Theatre program at Associated Studios Australia (2019). She is thrilled to be the “recent graduate” representative of the GRA Music Theatre Panel and is excited to bring her youthful energy, diversity and a fresh perspective to the role.

Thern Reynolds

THERN REYNOLDS has had an extensive and varied career in Musical Theatre. He was cast in his first professional show in 1989 while still in high school – it was the original Australian production of 42nd Street. Thern has barely stopped since. His career has taken him all over Australia, Europe, Asia & the Middle East and has seen him take on many challenges, as an ensemble member, an understudy, a Dance Captain, a swing, minor roles, major roles, Resident Director and Resident Choreographer.
Thern’s most recent performance credits include General Lord Glossop in Jekyll & Hyde 25th Anniversary Concert; understudy Che and Magaldi in Evita for Opera Australia; Funny Girl for Sydney Symphony Orchestra; Dream Lover for Gordon Frost Organisation; Brit in We Will Rock You for GFO and The Production Company's Jesus Christ Superstar.

Clary Riven

CLARY RIVEN is a director born in Caracas, Venezuela. Some of Clary’s recent credits include directing ‘Rebel: A New Musical’ (2019- Greenroom Award nomination for Best Ensemble), Autonomous Inventions’s ‘Protein’ (2021), Drew Downing’s 'Ultimate 90’s Playlist’ (2019), ‘God Only Knows: Songs of Brian Wilson’ (2018-2019), ‘Tinder Tales: A New Musical’ (2018), ‘Beautiful Things: A new musical Workshop’ (2018), ‘Sonder: A Charity Concert’ (2017) and has assistant directed on various productions such as Stageart’s ‘Memphis’ (2017), ‘Bare’ (2018) and Watch This’ ‘Into The Woods’ (2022).

Kellie Rode (On Leave)

KELLIE RODE graduated from WAAPA in 2000. In 2001 she performed in the original Australian cast of Mamma Mia! She took over the leading role of Sophie at the Sydney premiere, throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia from 2002-2005. In 2006 Kellie performed in the critically acclaimed musical Virgins (Dean Bryant & Matthew Frank) at the Malthouse earning her a Green Rom Award nomination, also touring to New York City for the NY Musical Theatre Festival. In 2006 she was invited to perform in Mandy Patinkin's Masterclass at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. In 2012 Kellie performed the leading role in Matthew Robinson's workshop of Atlantis in New York City which she also performed in Melbourne in 2014. She was twice invited to perform excerpts of Atlantis at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC. Since 2010 Kellie has produced and performed in her own corporate act, The Divine Sisters, based on the 1940's trio The Andrew Sisters. She appeared on screen as Catriona in House Husbands before studying with Craig Carnelia in New York City throughout 2013. Kellie is thrilled to be performing the role of Lora Lee in Nick Enright and Max Lambert's Miracle City in 2017 & 2018.