Paul Watson – Director

Paul is a self-taught actor/musician; Drummer, Guitarist, Pianist and Singer. His music industry credits include projects with Pete Murray inc the #1 Multi Platinum Album FEELER and Australian/Thailand Tours, Dave Thomas, Planet Vox, Simple Folk, Kalibrium and front man for Melbourne’s Crowded House/Split Enz tribute band 'Pineapplehead'.

Professional onstage theatre credits include Norm Waxman, Stosh, Nick Devito and others in the Australian premiere of ‘Jersey Boys’, Society Max and Joey Biltmore in the Ambassador Theatre Group’s recent Australian tour of ‘Guys & Dolls’, Yussel and Perchik (cover) in the Australian and New Zealand tour of 'Topol in Fiddler on the Roof’, Denny Doherty in ‘Flowerchildren’, Jim in ‘Wentworthville’ at the Victorian Arts Centre, Mark Cohen in RENT at the National Theatre, Sebastian/Valentine in ‘12th Night’, Essential Theatre Australian Tour, Willy and Narrator in ‘Flora the Red Menace’ and Luke in ‘Suddenly Single’. Other roles include Alan in the Austalian Premiere ‘I Sing’ at Chapel off Chapel, ‘Nostradamus for Melbourne Theatre Company, The Baker in ‘Into the Woods, ‘The World Goes Round’ and ‘Is There Life After High School’.

He has hosted Melbourne’s Improv at the Prov, Lyrebird Awards and others, and has many film, television, tvc and voiceover credits,  including, Mornings with Kerri-Anne, The Helpmann Awards, It Takes Two, Dancing with the Stars, Always Fresh, Metlink, T.A.C, Herald Sun, Jefferson Ford, 3aw, S.E.N, 1st Choice and The Channel Nine Footy Show Grand Final.

Paul’s direction and design credits are extensive, including ‘Songs for a New World for Theatrespot UK which previewed successfully in London’s West End and he co-Directed the professional production of ‘Is There Life After High School’. He is a very well-respected and highly acclaimed director of non-professional theatre in the Melbourne scene and has received numerous nominations and awards for Design, Direction and Performances from the Lyrebirds, Victorian Theatre Guild and Australia’s prestigious Green Room Award

Andrew Leach – Musical Director

Andrew achieved a B.Mus from Melbourne University, a Grad.Dip.Ed from Monash University and A.Mus.A Trombone. He studied conducting with the late Robert Rosen. He is currently Director of Music and Performing Arts at Westbourne Grammar School. Andrew’s performance credits on either Trombone or Piano include Briefcase Full of Blues, B# Big Band, Big & Horny, Beyond Belief – Matt Hetherington, Funk Fiction, Grand Wazoo, Roving music comedy/corporate entertainment.
As a Musical Director, Andrew’s credits include ‘Chess’, ‘Company’, ‘Pippin’, ‘A Chorus Line’ with CLOC, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, ‘Me and My Girl’ with Whitehorse, ‘RENT’ with Stella Entertainment, ‘Flora the Red Menace’ with Magnormos, VMTG Award Nights 1997, ’98, ’99, ‘I Sing’, ‘Nunsense’, Little Shop of Horrors, ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘Grease’ and ‘Mack & Mabel’. Andrew was awarded Best Musical Direction by the Victorian Music Theatre Guilde for ‘Chess’ and ‘Company’.

Scott Ponsford – Choreographer

Scott is a graduate of the Dance Factory and he began working in the entertainment industry as a performer for numerous corporate functions and was an original member of the Melbourne Storm Cheerleading Troupe and as a Tony Barber impersonator for the TV Week Logie Awards. He worked extensively with the Walt Disney Company as a performer, choreographer, wardrobe manager, event manager and tour manager through the Asia Pacific region. He became Creative Director for X System Entertainment Australia and developed the first Blue’s Clues Live Shows outside of a theme park and continues to write for the Nickelodeon brand with SpongeBob Squarepants, AstroBoy, Garfield, Totally Spies and for the Children’s Television Workshop, Sesame Street. He now works as Creative Consultant for Marilla Productions.
Scott’s onstage appearances in non-professional theatre include Baby John in ‘West Side Story’, George in CLOC’s production of ‘Cats’, Mike in ‘A Chorus Line’ and Barnaby Tucker in ‘Hello Dolly!’. His choreographic credits include ‘South Pacific’, ‘Pirates of Penzance’, ‘Hello Dolly!’ with Altona, ‘Grease’ with Catchment Players. His directing credits include ‘Hair’, ‘Hot Mikado’ and ‘World Goes Round’ with Altona; ‘Tommy’ for GMCC, ‘The Wedding Singer’ and ‘Eurobeat’ for Williamstown. Along the way, Scott earned nominations for direction and choreography (Hair) and choreography (Eurobeat) from the Victorian Music Theatre Guild.

Jeremy Bailey-Smith – Set Design/Costume Design

While gaining his Bachelor in Dramatic Art, majoring in Design at the Victorian College of the Arts Jeremy designed a number of productions for the Dance, Drama and Opera schools, including a number of Australian premieres. In 2003 he traveled to Prague to exhibit at PQ03, The International Exhibition of Scenography and Theatre Design. He still works with Music Theatre department of the VCA as a Production Manager and Designer for ‘Is There Life After High School’, ‘Baby’, ‘TRIBE’, ‘SuperFreaks’ and ‘Into the Woods’. He was Tour Manager for the regional Victorian tour of Anthony Crowley’s ‘SuperFreaks’ and recently worked on the Melbourne season of ‘Jersey Boys’.
Other Design credits include ‘Serious – The Pet Shop Boys Reinterpreted’ for the Midsumma Festival, ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’, ‘The King and I’, ‘Oliver!’ with MLOC, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with Catchment, ‘Calamity Jane, ‘The Sentimental Bloke’ and ‘Sweet Charity’ with Babirra, ‘Oklahoma!’ with MDMS and ‘Anything Goes’ with Whitehorse. He has received a number of nominations from the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria for his set and costume designs and earlier this year won a Lyrebird Award for Best Costume Design.

Sallyanne Skeggs – Assistant Director

Having trained in the Australian College of Entertainers, Sallyanne returns to Whitehorse with an extensive background in the performing arts. Previous Assistant Directing credits include Aida with Whitehorse Musical Theatre, The Club & Cosi with Fab Nobs Theatre. Sallyanne’s onstage credits include Whitehorse productions of  Seussical (Mrs Mayor), Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Cabaret, Joseph, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, The Music Man, Nine and Sweet Charity and most recently Evangeline Harcourt in Anything Goes. She has also performed in Chicago, Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Blood Brothers with CLOC; Les Miserables, Oliver (Mrs Sowerberry) with Catchment; The Odd Couple Female Version (Olive) with Fab Nobs Theatre, Oklahoma! (Aunt Eller) with MDMS. Sallyanne’s television credits include Neighbours, The Flying Doctors, Prisoner, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Ground Zero, Nurses, Prime Time and Who’s Baby.

Evan Englezos – Assistant Musical DIrector

Evan returns to the Rental market after a quiet couple of years from the band pits. 2009 saw Evan as Music Associate in the Los Angeles Center Theater Group's production of ‘Parade’ and previously has played in Octave Theatre's ‘Songs For A New World’, Assistant Musical Director for Stella Entertainment's ‘RENT’ and Monash University's ‘Parade’. In another life, Evan performed in the ensemble for Whitehorse's ‘Les Miserable’, CLK's ‘Sweeney Todd’ and One Community Church's production of ‘Children of Eden’. In his spare time,
Evan likes to play virtual and non-virtual instruments in his band The Patties and spend time with his besties, Jo and Jem - love love.

Jo Buckingham – Production Manager

Jo began her theatrical career as a performer.  She has performed in many musicals over the years and has won two Lyrebird Awards for her roles in ‘The Gondoliers’ and ‘Guys and Dolls,’ both productions with Babirra Music Theatre.   Jo is currently the President of Mountain District Musical Society (MDMS) and has been the Production Manager for their last four productions.  These productions included ‘Hot Mikado’, ‘Oliver’, Oklahoma!’ and just this year – ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. 
This is Jo’s first time working with Whitehorse Musical Theatre and she would like to thank the Committee for the opportunity.  She would also like to thank the extremely talented Production Team and Cast for making the experience so enjoyable.

Brad Alcock – Co-Lighting Designer

Brad has been working in professional theatre for over 16 years and is currently the Technical Manager of the Besen Centre. And is one of the Lighting Designers for BAAC Light.
He also designed the lighting and projection for Whitehorse’s productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, Seussical and Aida.

After studying at the VCA Brad went on to specialize in the television and corporate sectors. Current productions that he is involved in include Rove live , Rock Wizz, ‘Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?’ and Comedy Slapdown. Brad is a highly sought after lighting designer by production companies such as Active Lighting, Forum meeting and events, next vision and Global Television and corporate clients including some of Australia’s top tear corporations.
Brad's Designs are not simply the product of one person and without the technical support and equipment of BAAC Light and in particular Andrei Chlebnikowski his work would simply not appear the way it does to you.  Also very important to Brad's work is the support of people like Matt Silk  Vanessa Burke and Jason Lord and others who make what is a complex process possible. Brad's philosophy is that a lighting Design is not simply the product of one mind but the joining of technical and creative minds of many to produce a single goal.

In keeping with Brad’s skills RENT will see some technologies not used in many shows before.

Vanessa Burke – Co-Lighting Designer

Vanessa began her passion for amateur theatre when she was first involved in Whitehorse’s magical production of “Beauty & the Beast”. From there she has had various lighting and crew roles with the Company including  “A Chorus Line”, “The Producers”, “Seussical”, “Aida”, “Disney’s High School Musical” and “Anything Goes”. She has also worked with Fab Nobs on “The First Five Years”, “Disco Inferno”, “The Wedding Singer”, “Rent” and “Grease”.

As a Guild Nominated Lighting Designer, her credits comprise of “Zombie Prom”(Fab Nobs), “Footloose”(WMT), “Merrily We Roll Along” (Old Paradians), “Pippin”(SPX Waterdale) and “Reefer Madness”(Fab Nobs).

Vanessa would like to thank the ever hard working Committee, the creative Production Team and talented Cast for their contributions to making “Rent” a show to be proud of. She would also like to thank BAAC Light and, especially Brad for being so supportive and an inspirational co-designer. So long and thanks for all the bun.