Samantha-Leigh Dodemaid Named Rob Guest Endowment 2013 Winner

The winner of the Rob Guest Endowment 2013 Is Samantha - Leigh Dodemaide. Last night and for the first time in Sydney, the winner of the annual Rob Guest Endowment was announced at the Gala Concert hosted by Bert Newtown at the Sydney Lyric.

SAMANTHA LEIGH DODEMAIDE knew she wanted to perform from a very young age, and when it was time to make her dreams a reality, she spent 4 years studying at Patrick Studios Australia, singing show tunes, speaking Shakespeare and tapping toes. Since then Sam has appeared in Wicked, Anything Goes, The Producers, and A Chorus Line in which she understudied and performed the role of Cassie, as well as understudying the roles of Shelia, Diana, Maggie and Judy, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum and currentlyKING KONG.

The Rob Guest Endowment Concert, presented by ANZ Wealth was brought to Sydney thanks to the NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. It was a wonderful night supported by many of Australia's finest theatre organisations, individuals and fans. It is hoped that this annual event will continue to grow to be an anticipated part of the theatre calendar in Sydney.

The Gala showcased the talents of the six finalists vying for a scholarship for young artists to develop as performers through experience, travel and tuition. Following hundreds of applications and auditions, the six finalistsperformed various musical theatre numbers.

Euan Doidge performed What is it about hereand You and Me, Rob Mallett performedStreets of Dublin and Till I Hear You Sing,Edward Grey performed Along the Way andTell My Father, Angelique Cassimatisperformed Don't Rain on My Parade and I Can't Do it Alone, Elisa Colla performed Home andOn The Steps of the Palace, and WINNERSamantha- Leigh Dodemaide performedGimme Gimme and Get Out and Stay Out.

The finalists for the 2013 ANZ Trustees Foundation, Rob Guest Endowment were selected by judges Kellie Dickerson, Jason Coleman, Stephen Oremus and Stuart Maunder.

"Each year our job as Judges gets more and more difficult," said judge Stuart Maunder. "Holding the Gala in Sydney really made me feel like the endowment has come home".

Also performing at this year's concert were Special guest artists featured at the event include Adam Garcia, EDDIE PERFECT, Tony Sheldon AND Rhonda Burchmore and performances from cast members of the hit musicals GREASE and KING KONG, as well as a preview performance by cast members of the 2014 musicals THE KING & I and LES MISERABLES.

Now in its fifth year, The ANZ Trustees Foundation: Rob Guest Endowment, with the support of Destination NSW, is intended to help a current artist in the musical theatre genre gain the performance experience, media training, guidance and a public image to help them become leading artists in the Australian Musical Theatre Industry.

The late Rob Guest, had a career that spanned over 40 years, making him a much loved Musical Theatre star and a household name to audiences throughout Australia New Zealand and overseas. The ANZ Trustees Foundation: Rob Guest Endowment fund was set up as a tribute to this outstanding performer to continue his work in nurturing and progressing young developing talent in the Musical Theatre industry.

Photo by Blueprint Studios