Meet the performer playing Princess Anna in Disney's Frozen The Musical.
Meet the performer playing Princess Anna in Disney's Frozen The Musical.
When Disney’s Frozen was thrust into our lives in 2013, (yep, a whole nine years ago) the world simply couldn’t ‘let it go.’ Everyone from kids to grandparents fell in love with the story and the soundtrack; and still to this day are obsessed with the journey of two Princesses discovering themselves. So when Frozen The Musical commenced its national tour and made its debut in Brisbane’s QPAC for its 12-week stint last month, we couldn’t resist sliding into our friend’s DM’s saying “YOO HOO, we have to go!” And what made us even more excited is seeing Gold Coast talent, Courtney Monsma, take on Princess Anna’s role in the production. So while she’s in midst of the season of 8 shows a week, we got the chance to ask her a few questions about the production and her local faves.
How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I moved to the Gold Coast at 4 years old. I was lucky enough to do all my schooling and study in Queensland.
Tell us a bit about you.
From a really young age, I had a passion for performing and pursued it ever since. After completing my studies at the Queensland Conservatorium, I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked professionally since! Like Anna, I have strong family values and definitely lead with my heart.
What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
Everything! It’s always home to me but if I had to pick it would be the landscapes. The beaches are so beautiful in QLD as well as the national parks and natural spaces.
What does a typical day in the life of you look like currently?
On a single show day of Frozen The Musical, it will start with a sleep-in from the show the night before. A nice slow morning with breakfast and a coffee. Quality time with my partner, family or friends. Maybe a swim in the ocean! Then I prepare for a show. I love to get into the theatre early to get physically and mentally ready. Post-show I eat a lot of food and calm down by watching TV. It’s the ultimate balance of work and life when I’m in QLD and I love it!
How did you react with you found out you were going to play Princess Anna in Frozen The Musical?
I remember feeling gobsmacked and I went super quiet and still. It wasn’t until a few hours later that I burst into tears of happiness as the reality started to set in. I knew from the second I scored the role what an honour it was!
How long did it take you to prepare for playing the role of Princess Anna?
On finding out I booked Anna I got straight to work on preparing for the role. During lockdown, I worked through the vocal score to make sure I could build the stamina to perform this massive role and do it 8 times a week. I am very grateful for that time preparing as preparation has definitely been key to managing such a big, demanding and exciting role! Physically, a lot of the preparation happened whilst rehearsing. There’s nothing like being in the rehearsal room to get you feeling ready.
What drew you towards theatre? Have you always wanted to be on stage?
I always loved performing, putting on many lounge room concerts for my family, but it wasn’t until I watched my older sister Emily perform in a musical that I instantly fell in love with theatre. I remember this moment so clearly and it really sparked something in me, and I’ve pursued it ever since! I think what drew me and continues to draw me into theatre is the aspect of storytelling. Getting a chance to tell a story and share something with a live audience inspires me.
What is your biggest dream?
Princess Anna is honestly a dream come true so to answer that question now knowing I’ve reached a goal is so crazy to me! In terms of reaching more goals I would say my ultimate dream is to get to continue to tell stories for as long as I can. I would love to be able to do this internationally, that is also on the bucket list. Broadway has always been a pipedream for sure!
Tell us the best piece of advice someone has ever given you and why you consider it the best?
In my final year of university, I had the opportunity to be workshopped by an idol of mine, Sierra Boggess, who went on to say “You are enough. You are so enough. It’s unbelievable how enough you are”. When I am feeling nervous, unsure, unconfident I remember her saying those words. I think we all deserve to hear and embrace that no matter what, you matter. My co-star Jemma Rix, who plays Elsa, always has the most profound, inspiring things to say that help me through this journey so I’m very lucky to have her beside me in Frozen also.
What are you most looking forward to in the next 12 months?
I am excited to continue to tour with Frozen The Musical and soak it all in! I was born in Adelaide so I’m very excited to tour there and enjoy every moment of being a part of the Disney family. I am also intrigued to see what the future brings for me in my career and am excited and a little nervous to see what unfolds!
What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café: Plantation Cafe
Coffee spot: Custard Canteen
Restaurant: Balboa Italian Palm Beach
Bar or pub for a drink: Nineteen at The Star Gold Coast
How do you choose to spend your days off?
My days off are always spent on the Gold Coast. I will often go to Talle Beach with my partner or take my dog for a walk at the Currumbin dog beach. I often get a Thai massage to help prepare for the week of shows ahead and rest and rejuvenate with the beautiful backdrop in Tallebudgera.
Amy Shark is a born and bred Gold Coaster who has taken the music world by storm over the last few months.
After releasing her debut single Adore in 2016, Amy became a household name going on to claim second place in Triple J’s Hottest 100 and last week, announcing an Australia-wide tour.
We sat down for a chat with Amy to find out how her life has changed and what she loves most about being a Gold Coaster.
It’s been a whirlwind few months for you, how are you feeling about it all?
I’m still Amy, but I get to write and play music full time now so I’m in the clouds!
You grew up on the Gold Coast, how has the culture here shaped your musical career?
The Gold Coast music scene was obviously not as savvy as the major cities but in a way it was kind of nice, there was never any pressure and I loved being able to write a song in my bedroom, then randomly ride to the beach and back. Growing up here was all about warm summers, sleepovers, theme parks, beach hangs and pool parties.
How did you come to be where you are today? Any defining moments?
When I finally took myself seriously, focusing on my sound and perfecting what I wanted people to feel when they listen to my music.
How did it feel to hear your song on the radio for the first time?
I was super proud! I will never forget that night.
What’s it been like trying to break into the music scene?
Well I kind of gave up ‘trying’ to get noticed, and it was the best decision I ever made. I finally channeled all my energy on my music.
If I were an aspiring artist on the Gold Coast, what steps would I take to get where you are?
Be brutally honest with yourself. Do you want to be a musician to be rich and famous or do you want to be a musician because you can’t stop making music? Cause if it’s the first one you’re probs gonna crash.
What do you love most about the Gold Coast lifestyle?
It’s chilled, it’s warm and there’s avocado on every menu.
You’re not a Gold Coast local if you haven’t….
Thrown some tins in your bike basket and rode to Burleigh Hill.
Being a local we have to ask for your favourites…
Beach: Currumbin
Restaurant: Romanos
Pub: D’Arcy Arms
Coffee Shop: Society of Florida
Music venue: NightQuarter
Tour dates and tickets available here.
He’s the longtime Gold Coast lad doing big things in the world of performance arts and he’s about to bring one of the most fun musicals around to The Star Gold Coast. Yes it’s Mamma Mia! Gold Coasters, and you can watch it on stage right here this July.
We sat down for a chat with Matt about his company Matt Ward Entertainment and all the exciting work he’s doing to bring the arts to the people.
How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I was born and bred here on the Gold Coast. I had to move away to pursue my career after high school and have lived overseas for a long period of time, but now I’m back and loving it!
What do you love most about living here?
I love that all my family are here still. There’s something very comforting and grounding knowing you have that amazing support around you and the fact that I can be living on the Gold Coast and able to pursue my passion. I’ve really enjoyed being a part of the growth of the arts sector on the Coast and I’m looking forward to contributing to that continued growth as the Gold Coat becomes known as a destination for top tier arts and culture.
Tell us about your upcoming production of Mamma Mia! at The Star Gold Coast, what can we expect?
I am so excited to be bringing this iconic musical to the Gold Coast. We (Gold Coast) are often overlooked when they tour these shows in Queensland. Mamma Mia! Is the ultimate feel-good musical. Jammed packed with all the iconic ABBA songs, what’s not to love about it? You can expect a great night out and dancing in the aisles!
What does it take to put a show like this together?
Many sleepless nights! A great team working towards the same goal. A cast that are equally passionate as they are talented and a community that comes together to support theatre.
What else does your company, Matt Ward Entertainment do?
We mentor and provide education and performance opportunities for our local emerging artists. This is really important to me and why I created Matt Ward Entertainment. I had to leave the Gold Coast to study and pursue my career as the opportunities weren’t here. In many of our youth development programs students have gone on to be accepted into reputable performing arts degrees and sustain careers as working professionals. Matt Ward Vocal Studios is another big piece of what we do. Students have gone on to successful recording careers, The Voice, Australia’s Got Talent and leads in some of the biggest musicals all around the world! And we have just established a new creative space in Bundall.
Talk us through some career highlights thus far…
One of the highlights was creating The Greenroom Project which is a platform that develops new talent and provides a showcase opportunity. It was such a huge success and we look forward to relaunching that again soon. Another highlight was my first musical production RENT. It’s such a harrowing experience not knowing if people would come to the show and risking a tonne of money on a passion project but having it sell out weeks before we opened was definitely a relief and now a career highlight.
How did all of this begin for you?
High School was the catalyst definitely. I was always in the school musicals. From 15, I was in every Arts Centre Gold Coast production and had lessons every day. Then I was accepted into NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts) and I was lucky enough to have a career from there.
What else do you have happening in 2020?
Beside Mamma Mia!, I am looking at producing some new Australian and local artists, as well as workshopping and developing new shows here at home!
Favourites on the Coast:
Cafe for breakfast: Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day! You will find me most weekday mornings at Manola Bro’s and on a weekend, we usually head to a dog friendly cafe in Mermaid!
Coffee spot: I loooove my coffee! Rafiki and Papercup Coffee are a couple of favs.
Restaurant for dinner: I love all the restaurants on the Gold Coast. From cheap eat Thai to steak Glenelg Public House to the incredible chicken at Social Eating House! We are spoilt for choice these days.
How does your weekend usually look: I love the weekends! During the week my partner and I live busy lives so weekends are about catching up with each other, hanging out with friends and spending time with our golden retriever – Gatsby! 🙂
She is a force to be reckoned with and she is the female voice behind Gold Coast’s number one radio Breakfast Show on 1029 Hot Tomato. Add to that, she is the newly appointed ‘Tanya’ in the upcoming Gold Coast production of MAMMA MIA! The Musical (produced by GC Local Matt Ward). Emily Jade O’Keeffe is a woman of many talents, so it was only fitting that we interviewed the Gold Coast sweetheart ahead of her taking to The Star Gold Coast’s stage from Saturday 19th June this year. We chat about her career, her loves of the Gold Coast and what it will be like preparing for her new role!
How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I’ve lived here on and off for 18 years now, the last stint has been for the last 9 years.
Tell us a bit about your career to date.
I’ve been working in the media for the last 25 years. I started in Tasmania in radio and moved all around the country for work; from Tassie to Townsville and everywhere in between. My highlights have been launching 1029 Hot Tomato and having a number one Breakfast Show – Galey, Emily Jade and Christo – here for 7 years now. I also launched Nova in Brisbane and was No 1 for 4 years there. Earlier on, I was working on Mornings with Kerri-Anne and with Channel 9 for 5 years. I also wrote during that time for the Courier Mail for a number of years both in print and being one of their first bloggers (when blogging became a big thing) as ‘Emily Everywhere’ which became their most-read blog.
What career achievement are you most proud of?
I don’t have one I’m most proud of, I’ve been happy with every stage and what they all led to each time. My career has kept me busy and happy and fulfilled at every step. I feel really blessed to have been able to evolve and change and grab each opportunity as it came.
Growing up you performed in a variety of musicals and have been described as a self-confessed ‘drama nerd’, what initially drew you to the stage?
Both my grandfathers were performers. My grandad on my mum’s side was very musical and in bands and my grandad on my dad’s side was an amateur actor. That trickled down to both my Dad and Mum. I watched Dad act in local theatre and Mum play piano daily, so I was always around music and drama and I guess it was both nature and nurture in my family. I then continued the tradition but monetised it in the end by making it my full-time career.
What are you looking forward to most about your upcoming role as ‘Tanya’ in the Gold Coast production of MAMMA MIA! The Musical?
It’s come at a time where I needed some healing and fun after a marriage breakdown and as I get used to a new normal and new family dynamic, I really was searching for some light at the end of the tunnel. This gives me a chance to laugh and have fun with new amazing people and do what I love best, which is perform and make people smile.
What is your all-time favourite ABBA song and why?
That’s like asking who is your favourite child – I can’t answer that one. I love them all! ABBA Gold was the first CD I ever got. I got it for Christmas and if CDs could wear out, that one nearly did.
How much preparation goes into playing your part as ‘Tanya’?
I think Tanya is a lot like me, so some parts will come naturally, she’s cheeky, fun but loving and a fierce friend and that’s me. I just need to nail the dance moves and singing, rehearsals start soon so I’ll let you know.
What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café: Double Barrel Benowa
Coffee spot: Randy Warhol Southport
Restaurant: Kiyomi at The Star
Bar or pub for a drink: Nineteen at The Star
How do you choose to spend your weekends?
I just love keeping it low key with lots of family time with the kids, parents and friends of my kids which involve good cheese and wine in friends backyards or my backyard while the kids play in the pool or run around having adventures, while we chill and chat.
Mamma Mia! The Musical opens on Saturday 19th June 2021 at The Star Gold Coast, grab your tickets here.
