Cast & Creative

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is one of the most beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all time. His electrifying live performances and groundbreaking use of video and fashion continue to inspire today’s performers. To date, Michael has sold more than 1 billion records worldwide and is one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His album Thriller is the biggest-selling album of all time, and his Thriller short film is the only music video to be listed on National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized him as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time. New generations of fans continue to discover his artistry making him the #1 streaming catalog artist in the global marketplace. As a compassionate and prolific humanitarian, Michael set a new standard of generosity for other entertainers.

Lynn Nottage

Lynn is the first woman in history to win two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world. Recent work includes the libretto for the opera Intimate Apparel (Lincoln Center Theater), the book for the musical MJ (Broadway), Clyde’s (Broadway, 2ST), and The Secret Life of Bees (Almeida). Other credits include co-curating the performance installation The Watering Hole (Signature Theater); Mlima’s Tale; Sweat (Pulitzer Prize, Obie Award, Evening Standard Award, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize); By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (Lilly Award); Ruined (Pulitzer Prize, Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award, NY Drama Critics’ Circle Award, AUDELCO Award, Drama Desk and OCC awards) and Intimate Apparel (American Theatre Critics Award and NY Drama Critics’ Circle Award). TV: Writer/Producer of She’s Gotta Have It (Netflix) and Consulting Producer on Dickinson (Apple TV+). Awards: PEN/Laura Pels Master Dramatist Award, Doris Duke Artist Award, American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship. Lynn is a Professor at Columbia University School of the Arts and a member of the Theater Hall of Fame and the Dramatists Guild.

Christopher Wheeldon

Christopher trained at The Royal Ballet School, joined the New York City Ballet in 1993 and was named first Resident Choreographer. Christopher has created productions for The Royal Ballet and major ballet companies worldwide. He has choreographed for opera, film and television and is an Olivier Award winner for his ballets Aeternum and Polyphonia. In 2014, Mr. Wheeldon directed and choreographed the musical version of An American in Paris, which had productions in Paris, New York, and London and has toured extensively through America, China, Japan and Australia. An American in Paris received four Tony Awards, including one for Christopher for Best Choreography in a Musical. Most recently he directed and choreographed MJ (Broadway, London, US Tour and Hamburg). MJ received four Tony Awards, including Christopher being awarded his second Tony for Best Choreography in a Musical. Christopher thanks his husband, Ross Rayburn, for his love, support, and quiet guidance during the making of MJ. 

David Holcenberg

David has a Tony Award and Grammy Award nomination and is a Drama Desk Award winner for his work on MJ. On Broadway: Groundhog Day; Matilda The Musical; Rocky; Mamma Mia!; Ghost; Bye Bye Birdie; The Story of My Life; Good Vibrations; Seussical The Musical; Titanic and Showboat. Other credits include the world premiere of Newsies; the US premiere of Ragtime; Dessa Rose and The Glorious Ones at Lincoln Center Theater; The Radio City Summer Spectacular starring the Rockettes; Mamma Mia! at the Hollywood Bowl. Movie credits include Bohemian Rhapsody and the new independent film Burst the Silence. David has conducted and/or produced nine original cast albums including the Grammy nominated MJ, Matilda The Musical and Seussical The Musical.

Jason Michael Webb

Special Tony Award recipient and Drama Desk Award winner. Music Director: Choir Boy (Manhattan Theatre Club; arranger); The Color Purple (Broadway revival). Arranger: Disney’s Aida (revival; music supervisor) and The Battle Hymn of the Republic (2013 Inauguration of President Barack Obama). Executive music producer: Respect (MGM; starring Jennifer Hudson). Director: The Last Five Years (2021 film). Composer: The Ms. Pat Show (BET+); Beebo Saves Christmas (CW); Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare in the Park); Light It Up! (Cleveland Playhouse) and WiLDFLOWER (National Black Theater/Apollo Theater).

Derek McLane

Derek’s nearly 350 designs include – West End: Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Olivier nomination); Anything Goes; Beautiful – The Carole King Musical; I Am My Own Wife; Buried Child and The Spoils. Broadway credits include: Purlie Victorious; MJ (Tony Award nomination); Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Tony Award); A Soldier’s Play (Tony Award nomination); The Price; Beautiful – The Carole King Musical; Noises Off; Gigi; 33 Variations (Tony Award); China Doll; How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying; Follies; Anything Goes; Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo; Ragtime; The Pajama Game and I Am My Own Wife. Off-Broadway: Buried Child; Love, Love, Love; Into the Woods and Ruined. Television includes 6 years of Academy Awards (Emmy Award); NBC Musicals: The Sound of Music; The Wiz and Hairspray (Emmy Award). Chairman of the Board of The New Group Theatre. Awards include multiple Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, Obie Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Lucille Lortel Awards, and Art Directors Guild Awards.

Natasha Katz

Natasha has designed for theater, opera, dance, film, concerts and permanent lighting installations around the world. Recent West End credits: Mary Poppins (co-design with Hugh Vanstone); An American in Paris; School of Rock; The Glass Menagerie (Olivier Award nomination), Aladdin The Musical; Motown: The Musical; Skylight; Once and Sister Act. Her work at The Royal Ballet includes Like Water for Chocolate; A Winter’s Tale; Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, all choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. Recent Broadway: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street; MJ; Springsteen on Broadway; Frozen; the recent revival of Hello Dolly!; Long Day’s Journey Into Night; An American in Paris; Aladdin, Skylight; The Glass Menagerie and Once. Work with ballet and opera companies include: The Royal Ballet; American Ballet Theatre; New York City Ballet; San Francisco Ballet; Dutch National Ballet; National Ballet of Canada; The Metropolitan Opera and NY City Opera.  She was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

Paul Tazewell

Paul designed the original Broadway productions of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Hamilton. In the UK, Paul designed Memphis; Hamilton; Ain’t Too Proud: The Life & Times of The Temptations and MJ in the West End, as well as Caroline, or Change for the National Theatre. Other Broadway credits include: MJ; Ain’t Too Proud: The Life & Times of The Temptations; Suffs; Summer: The Donna Summer Musical; In the Heights; The Color Purple; Memphis; Caroline, or Change; Elaine Stritch at Liberty and Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk. Broadway revivals include: Side Show; A Streetcar Named Desire; Jesus Christ Superstar; Guys and Dolls; A Raisin in the Sun and On the Town. In 2022 Paul received an Academy Award nomination for his costume design of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. In 2016 Paul received both a Tony Award, for Hamilton, and Emmy Award for The Wiz Live! on NBC. He also designed The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks for HBO Films starring Oprah Winfrey.

Gareth Owen

Broadway highlights: Hell’s Kitchen; The Who’s Tommy; Back To The Future: The Musical; & Juliet (Tony Award nominated); MJ (Tony Award); Bad Cinderella; Diana: The Musical; Summer; Come From Away; A Bronx Tale: The Musical; Spring Awakening; End of the Rainbow (Tony Award nominated); Bat Out of Hell; Secret Garden and A Little Night Music (Tony Award nominated). West End highlights: Just For One Day; Back To The Future: The Musical (Olivier Award nominated); Cinderella; Prince Of Egypt; & Juliet; Come From Away (Olivier Award); Bat Out Of Hell (Olivier Award nominated); 42nd Street; Memphis (Olivier Award); I Can’t Sing! The X Factor Musical; In the Heights; La Cage Aux Folles; Elf The Musical; Top Hat the Musical (Olivier Award nominated) and Merrily We Roll Along (Olivier Award). International highlights: Starlight Express (Bochum, Germany); Disney’s Hunchback Of Notre Dame (Worldwide) and Little Mermaid (Worldwide). Honorary doctorate from Salford University. Husband to an awesome wife, father to three excellent kids.

Peter Nigrini

Peter Nigrini is one of Broadway’s pioneering Projection Designers. His work includes Here Lies Love; MJ; Ain’t Too Proud: The Life & Times of The Temptations; Beetlejuice The Musical; SpongeBob SquarePants;Dear Evan Hansen; A Doll’s House; Part 2 and Fela! The Musical. In other venues, Grounded (Public Theater); Hans Zimmer Live (European tour 2022); Lucia de Lammermoor and Don Giovani (Santa Fe Opera); Hurricane Tour (Grace Jones); Deep Blue Sea (Bill T. Jones/Park Avenue Armory) and Real Enemies (BAM). This spring on Broadway he is opening Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen; The Who’s Tommy; and Lempicka. In New York, he has been nominated for 3 Tony Awards, and won a Lucille Lortel Award, a Drama Desk Award, and an Obie Award.

Rich + Tone Talauega

Legendary choreographers Rich + Tone have worked with pop music’s biggest names including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Kylie Minogue and many others. They are most known for their work with Michael Jackson, first as dancers from the mid-90’s to choreographing many of MJ’s projects through to today.

Charles LaPointe

Numerous Broadway, touring, regional, West End, International productions including Hamilton (Make-up Artists/Hair Stylist Guild Award); Ain’t Too Proud: The Life & Times of The Temptations; Beetlejuice The Musical; The Cher Show (Drama Desk Award) and SpongeBob SquarePants (Drama Desk Award). Television credits include The Wiz Live! and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.

Joe Dulude II

Broadway/West End: Wicked; Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Broadway: KPOP; MJ; Beetlejuice The Musical; Torch Song Trilogy; SpongeBob SquarePants; Summer: The Donna Summer Musical; Sunday in the Park With George; Anastasia; Allegiance; If/Then and Follies. Off-Broadway: Fly; Sweet Charity; Into the Woods; The Wild Party and Show Boat. Television: Annie Live!; Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (Emmy Award nomination); The Gilded Age; Julia; Castle Rock Season 2. Film: The Holdovers; Hocus Pocus 2; Don’t Look Up; About Fate; Godmothered; The Discovery and Ghostbusters.

www.joedulude2.com IG: @dulude2

Strange Cranium

Billy Jay Stein is CEO and founder, Hiro Iida is head designer. Broadway Credits: Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Grammy Award as Music Producer/Mixer); The Notebook The Musical; Days of Wine and Roses; Shucked; Parade; MJ; Kimberly Akimbo; 1776; Paradise Square; Caroline, or Change; Diana: The Musical; Tootsie; Mean Girls; The Band’s Visit; Fun Home; Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; Hairspray; Amélie The Musical; Tuck Everlasting; The Rocky Horror Show and Jekyll & Hyde. Other credits: Death Note (Japan and London); Jon Batiste’s American Symphony (Carnegie Hall and Netflix) and The Rockettes NY Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall).

www.strangecranium.com, www.strikeaudio.com

Dontee Kiehn

Thrilled to be returning to the West End in partnership with Playful Productions and MJ. Select previous credits include: An American in Paris – Associate Director/Choreographer (Broadway, National Tour, London and Japan); The Addams Family – Associate Director/Choreographer (Broadway, National Tour, Australia, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico City); Diana: The Musical – Associate Director (Broadway); Next to Normal – Associate Choreographer (Broadway, National Tour, Kennedy Center, Japan and Korea); Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 – Director (Pittsburgh CLO); Brigadoon – Director (Pittsburgh CLO); Oklahoma – Director (Pittsburgh CLO); Seven Brides for Seven Brothers – Directing Consultant (The Muny); The Winter’s Tale – Choreographer (NY Public Theater); A Doll’s House and Ten Cents a Dance – Choreographer (Williamstown Theater Festival) and  42nd Street – Choreographer (Casa Manana). Broadway performance credits: original revival cast of Gypsy (starring Bernadette Peters); 42nd Street and The Addams Family. Many thanks for our continued journey to friend and collaborator, Chris Wheeldon.

Michael Balderrama

Choreographer, director, producer, artist, philanthropist, Drama Desk Award and ACCA Award winner. Part of almost a dozen Broadway shows, both on stage and on the creative teams. Favourite Broadway credits: Global Supervising Choreographer for Hamilton; In the Heights; Movin’ Out; Willie Lopez in Ghost. Choreographed, performed, and/or worked with Michael Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Andy Blankenbuehler, Christopher Wheeldon, Thomas Kail, Twyla Tharp, Julie Taymor, Lin-Manuel Miranda and more.

Lia Vollack

Lia Vollack produced the Olivier Award-winning and seven-time Tony Award-nominated musical Groundhog Day at the Old Vic and then on Broadway when she created Sony’s theatrical producing arm, Columbia Live Stage. Prior to that, she spent more than two decades as President of Worldwide Music at Sony Pictures, and created numerous multi-platinum soundtracks and scores with artists including Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar and Pearl Jam. She currently produces and develops original theatrical productions with her company Lia Vollack Productions, established in 2019. And has since produced MJ and Almost Famous on Broadway. She began her career as a recording engineer in the music industry and worked as a theatre sound designer before transitioning to the film industry.

Vollack currently sits on the Broadway League’s Board of Governors, Broadway League’s International Committee, American Theater Wing’s Advisory Council, and the Recording Academy’s Musical Theater Task Force.

John Branca

As head of the music department at Ziffren Brittenham LLC, John has been advancing the careers of recording artists for more than four decades. His clients have included more than thirty members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Michael Jackson, Branca’s client since 1980, hailed him as the “greatest lawyer of our times” for his innovative representation of artists’ interests. Branca is co-executor and co-manager of the Estate of Michael Jackson.

John McClain

As a music producer, musician and respected recording executive, John has for decades played a key role in the music industry by transforming young talent, hip hop artists, gospel choirs, record labels, producers, R&B and pop singers into international stars. He is co-executor and co-manager of the Estate of Michael Jackson.

Michael Cassel

Michael is the producer in Australia of Titanique and the forthcoming premiere of Beetlejuice. On Broadway, Michael is the producer of Sydney Theatre Company’s The Picture of Dorian Gray starring Sarah Snook, having produced the triumphant West End season last year. Recent productions include Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, & Juliet, Mary Poppins and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Previous productions include the international tour of Disney’s The Lion King, Les Misérables, Beautiful, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Kinky Boots and Singin’ in the Rain. Michael commenced his career working for legendary producer Harry M. Miller before spending ten years with Disney Theatrical Group in Australia and New York. Michael was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to theatre production and is the recipient of a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) from the University of Wollongong and a Doctor of the University (honoris causa) from Griffith University. Michael lives in Sydney with his wife Camille and their children Eveleigh and Vaughn.

Bespoke Theatricals

Partners Devin Keudell and Amy Jacobs manage Broadway musicals, plays and tours. Current/recent productions include: Stranger Things, Dead Outlaw, Back to the Future, Tommy, MJ, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Broadway, US Tour), Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Beetlejuice, The Audience, The Ferryman, Network, School of Rock, Angels in America, and Cats. Bespoke General Managers include Kate Egan, David Roth and Danielle Saks.

Effie Nkrumah

Effie Nkrumah is a multi-hyphenate creative of Ghanian descent, a seasoned host, Effie is the voice of Astra in Riot Games’ Valorant. A contributor in the Growing up African in Australia anthology, and proud Western Sydney artists, she holds an MA in Arts Politics from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. After a decade choreographing in Ghana, the concept of challenging the single story of Africa became the driving force of her practice, with a focus on stories of people of African descent in disapora. Her tableau vivant series See What I See has shown in Sydney, New York, and Accra. Acting credits include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, seven methods of k*lling kylie jenner and La Belle Époque. Directing credits include Akaraka, Malthouse’s Who Kno No Go Kno, Oshun and Ilarun – all new Australian plays by writers of African descent. Identifying and filling gaps, her mission is to ensure people living at the pinpoint of complex intersection, can find a sense of grounding, joy and renewed curiosity.

Brendan Yeates

Credits include: Assistant Director/Choreographer for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour West Side Story (Opera Australia), Associate Choreographer for Love Never Dies (HoriPro Japan, Stage Entertainment Germany), Associate Director/Choreographer for West Side Story (Opera Australia/GWB Entertainment), International Associate Dance Supervisor for Hamilton International Tour (Michael Cassel Group), Resident Dance Supervisor for Hamilton Australia and New Zealand (Michael Cassel Group), Resident Choreographer for Kinky Boots (Michael Cassel Group), Resident Director/Choreographer for West Side Story International Tour, Australia and New Zealand (Opera Australia/GWB Entertainment) and Resident Choreographer for Matilda (Louise Withers and Associates). Brendan’s shapes have also been seen in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (Darlinghurst Theatre Company) earning a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Choreography, Disco Wonderland: Dancing ‘Til Dawn (Release Creative), Katy Perry ICC-T20 Women’s World Cup Opening (KOJO, Squared Division), So You Think You Can Dance (Southern Star Endemol), What Not to Wear (TLC) and Hamilton x Rhianna choreography adaptation (Michael Cassel Group) which received the Clio Grand Award for Best Viral Video.

Elysha Manik

Originally from the NSW Central Coast, Elysha completed her training at ED5 International in 2008 and has since gone on to carve out a dynamic career in the arts. Elysha’s theatre credits include: A Chorus Line (Darlinghurst Theatre Company), Assistant to the Choreographer/Swing in Carmen (Opera Australia), Assistant to the Choreographer/Dance Captain in West Side Story (Opera Australia/GWB Entertainment), Consuela/Anita cover in Saturday Night Fever (Gordon Frost Organisation), Assistant Dance Captain/Stephanie Cover in Dirty Dancing (Gordon Frost Organisation) as Swing/Baby cover in Leap (Neil Gooding Productions), Assistant Choreographer and ensemble for both Oklahoma! (The Production Company) and The Bodyguard (Gordon Frost Organisation). Other performing credits include: aerialist for various corporate events with Debonair Entertainment and performing for music artists like Leona Lewis, Adam Lambert, Samantha Jade. Various television commercials and print campaigns for companies including Opera Australia, Kmart, Rebel, New Idea, Decathalon, MineLab and Cab Charge.

Michael Azzopardi

Michael is a graduate of Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, and the A.N.U. School of Music completing a Bachelor of Music degree majoring in Jazz Piano. Musical theatre credits include: Musical Director – MJ (Australian Premiere production), Hamilton (Sydney return season), & Juliet (Australasian Tour – Green Room Award nominee), Billy Elliot (10th Anniversary Australian Tour), Mamma Mia! (2018 Australian Tour), Jersey Boys (original Australian Tour, Green Room Award Nominee), Avenue Q (original Australian Tour). Principal Conductor/Associate Musical Director – Hamilton (Original Sydney and Melbourne seasons), Matilda (Sydney), The Lion King (2013 Australian Tour), Jersey Boys, Avenue Q, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (original Australian production), Keyboardist – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Sydney), We Will Rock You (2016 Australian Tour), Saturday Night Fever (original Australasian Tour). As a jazz/session pianist, Michael has worked with local and international artists including Bob Mintzer, Bennie Maupin, Joan Rivers, Megan Hilty, Marica Hines, Doug Parkinson, The Sydney Jazz Orchestra and many more. Michael was a 2020 nominee of the prestigious Freedman Jazz Fellowship for his work as a jazz pianist. Michael is a proud Maltese Australian.

Lauren Wiley

Lauren’s credits include: Gaslight (Newtheatricals/Queensland Theatre), Hamilton, International Tour – Australian Casting (Michael Cassel Group), Come From Away (Junkyard Dog/Newtheatricals), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Michael Cassel Group), Kinky Boots (Michael Cassel Group). As Consulting Casting Director: Tina – The Tina Turner Musical (TEG Dainty/Stage Entertainment). As Casting Administrator: Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Misérables (Michael Cassel Group). Lauren’s theatrical casting career began at Sydney Theatre Company in 2009 as the Casting Coordinator for Co-Artistic Directors Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton, later returning to Sydney Theatre Company as the in-house Casting Director for Artistic Director Kip Williams until 2019.

The Telsey Office, Lindsay Levine, CSA

With offices in both New York and Los Angeles, The Telsey Office casts for theatre, fil, television and commercials. The Telsey Office is dedicated to creating safe, equitable and anti-racist spaces through collaboration, artistry, heart, accountability and advocacy.

Michael Cassel Group

Michael Cassel Group produces the world’s greatest theatrical productions and live entertainment on stages internationally. Current productions include the Australian premiere of Titanique. Upcoming Australian productions include MJ and Beetlejuice. In March, Michael Cassel Group will produce the Broadway premiere of The Picture of Dorian Gray with Sarah Snook reprising her Oliver Award-winning performance. Also on Broadway, Michael Cassel Group is a co-producer on the new musical Redwood and is a co-producer of the smash hit musical MJ.

Prior Australian productions include Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, & Juliet, Mary Poppins, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Les Misérables, Kinky Boots, Singin’ In The Rain and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Previous international productions include the first ever international tours of Hamilton and The Lion King as well as the recent Asian tour of Les Misérables.

On Broadway and the West End Michael Cassel Group was the co-lead producer of Almost Famous and co-producer of Into The Woods as well as Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, The Prince of Egypt, Pretty Woman and The Cher Show. Concert tours and major events include The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Celeste Barber, Not Now, Not Ever: Live on Stage with Julia Gillard, Patti LuPone: A Life In Notes, Tina Arena, Darren Criss and Lea Salonga.

For television, Michael Cassel Group created and produced A (Very) Musical Christmas, as well as the accompanying cast recording; the opening celebration of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at ANZ Stadium.

In addition to the group’s expanding theatrical interests, the company represents, The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, Liz Hayes, Lord Sebastian Coe CH, KBE, Strictly You by Sonia Kruger, Sarah di Lorenzo and Sami Lukis. TixTrack Australasia, a partnership between TixTrack Inc and Michael Cassel Group, provides ticketing solutions for live entertainment and cultural organisations in Australia and New Zealand. Michael Cassel Group is headquartered in Sydney, with offices in New York, Singapore, London and Melbourne.

Yossi Torbiner