ANZ Trustees Foundation Announces 2013 Competition Semi-Finalists

After hundreds of applications, The ANZ Trustees Foundation: Rob Guest Endowment is excited to announce the semi-finalists for the 2013 competition, with the semi-final day to determine the 6 finalists being held Monday, 2 September 2013.

The semi-finals day includes a live audition in Sydney at the Capitol Theatre rehearsal room, where the 31 performers will be required to take part in an open dance call and present two contrasting songs for the judges.

Judges Kellie Dickerson, Jason Coleman and Stuart Maunder will then have to decide on six finalists that will perform at the Rob Guest Endowment Gala Concert on November 25 at the Lyric Theatre for the honour of becoming the 2013 recipient. The 31 semi-finalists are all widely talented, young performers with experience in some of Australia's biggest musicals such as Wicked, South Pacific, Grease and Hot Shoe Shuffle.

"I'm proud and excited to see our semi-finalists for 2013 on Monday; each year we reach more and more talented young performers who now look to this Endowment as an important part of the theatrical calendar - an amazing opportunity to be seen by the industry in a gala concert setting, and further their training." said judge Kellie Dickeson

Now in its fifth year, The ANZ Trustees Foundation: Rob Guest Endowment is an established and highly anticipated annual opportunity to showcase some of Australia's finest upcoming young talent which culminates in a night of stellar performances at the Rob Guest Endowment Gala Concert.

The NSW Government, through its tourism major events agency, Destination NSW, is supporting the ANZ Trustees Foundation: Rob Guest Endowment for 2013-2015 to assist in growing the profile of the competition and to continue building a strong reputation around the scholarship where the finalists will be recognised within the industry as being rising stars with bright futures.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris said: "Sydney is Australia's performance capital, with our world-class stage productions delivering enormous economic benefits for the NSW economy each year.

"The Rob Guest Endowment Concert is an important event, which helps to support emerging musical theatre talent, providing budding young stars in the making with the knowledge and training to develop their potential to become Australia's leading musical theatre performers."

The young and dynamic 31 semi-finalists for the 2013 ANZ Trust Foundation Rob Guest Endowment are:

Angelique Cassimatis - From Melbourne and has recently appeared in King Kong
Ben Bennett - Based in Sydney and one of the youngest finalists at only 19.
Ben Brown - Based in Melbourne, currently rehearsing as part of the ensemble for Wicked.
Carina Waye - Based in Melbourne
Carrie McMahon
Chandel Brandimarti - Based in Sydney
Ed Grey - Based in Sydney and is currently rehearsing as 'Boq' in Wicked.
Elisa Colla - Based in Sydney
Elise Brennan - Based in Melbourne and has appeared in Officer and a Gentleman, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Jersey Boys
Eloise Martyn - Based in Melbourne and has appeared in Showfit showcase
Emma Hawthorne - Based in Sydney and is currently rehearsing for Wicked, has also appeared in Annie and Dr. Zhivago.
Erin James - Based in Sydney and has recently appeared in South Pacific and Love Never Dies
Euan Doidge - Was a 2012 Rob Guest Endowment finalist, and can be currently seen in Grease and has also appeared in Legally Blonde and A Chorus Line.
Glenn Ferguson - Based in Melbourne and has appeared in Salome and Don Giovani.
Jakob Ambrose - Based in Sydney, has appeared in The Addams Family and A Chorus Line.
Jessica Modolo - Based in Sydney
Kelly Mahoney - Based in Sydney
Mark Strom
Maryanne Wright
Mia Donatelli - Based in Sydney
Monica Swayne - Based in Melbourne and is currently rehearsing for Wicked.
Nadia Komazec - Based in Melbourne and has appeared in Legally Blonde, A Chorus Line and Mamma Mia.
Rachel Cole - Based in Sydney, and is currently rehearsing for Wicked.
Rob Mallett - Based in Melbourne and is currently appearing in Hot Shoe Shuffle.
Rowan Witt - Currently rehearsing for South Pacific as the Professor
Samantha-Leigh Dodemaide - From Melbourne and has recently appeared in King Kong and A Chorus Line.
Scott Morris - Based in Sydney and currently appearing in Grease.
Sophie Weiss - Based in Melbourne and has recently appeared in Motherhood The Musical
Steve Danielsen - Based in Melbourne and currently rehearsing as Fiyero in Wicked
Steven Kreamer - Based in Sydney
Todd Jacobsson - Based in Melbourne

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. Perhaps best known for his role as the "Phantom of the Opera", he appeared and starred in over 40 productions including "Les Miserables" , "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Grease", "Jolson", "Sound of Music" and "WICKED". Less well known to audiences was his role as mentor and adviser to many young performers he worked with over the years, helping them through rough spots and guiding them in their career development. Following his sudden and unexpected death in 2008 while performing the role of the Wizard of Oz in "WICKED", 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.

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