Held for the first time in Brisbane, the audience was captivated, thrilled and entertained by the quality and diversity of the solo performances.  It was a memorable evening at the Brisbane Powerhouse Arts Complex, perfect for its youthful and contemporary arts perspective and buzzing, due a number of events and performances and from people simply enjoying the atmosphere by the Brisbane River.

A wonderful production by Producer James Gauci, Musical Director Nick Hollamby and the organizing committees of Rotary District 9600 lead by Jan Lawton, the National Committee on behalf of the Executive Producer the Rotary Club of Cannington and Rotary teams around Australia.

The highly qualified judges, Paul Sabey, Simone De Haas and John Peek announced the awards on behalf Rotary in Queensland and WA.

The Storm the Stage 2011 National Grand Final major sponsors were IGA Brisbane and The Perth Mint. The supporting sponsors were TAZ Entertainment, Ignatians Musical Society, Lightsounds, QUT and Brisbane Powerhouse Arts. We warmly thank all of our sponsors for their support.

The awards are and go to:

Best Performance – Drama Category: Camilla Best (Tasmania), Rose from The Seed by Kate Mulvany
Runner-up: May Grehan (QLD), Rae from Rae’s Story by Don Zolidis

Best Performance – Musical Theatre Category: Tayla Jarrett (NSW) – Audrey – Somewhere That’s Green, Little Shop of Horrors, Music by Alan Menken, Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Runner Up:  Lachlan Graham (Vic) – I really, Really Love You (Sorta) Love Songs, Music by Paul Loesel, Book and Lyrics by Scott Burkell

Briggs and Gibbs Award: Mitchell Page (QLD) (Drama) – The Writer – Oh! You’re a Writer, They Say! (compilation of excerpts), by Neil Simon, William Shakespeare and Anonymous

Eighteen talented young Australian performers and two guest New Zealand performers to Storm the Powerhouse.

Eighteen young performers from around Australia aged between 16 and 19 have successfully achieved selection for the eighth annual Storm the Stage National Grand Final, where they will perform exceptional solo pieces in their chosen category of drama or musical theatre at the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre on Sunday November 27. A total of $11,000 will be awarded to the best performances as judged by some of Australia’s leading performing arts professionals.

Storm the Stage is a non-profit nationwide opportunity for Australia’s most talented up and coming performing artists. After auditions and regional finals held around Australia by Rotary and volunteer industry professionals, this year’s National Grand Final is being held for the first time in Brisbane with the theme ‘For Youth, By Youth’.

While Storm the Stage is a national Rotary project, since its inception the National Grand Final has always proudly been held in Western Australia. Due to the tragic circumstances in Japan earlier this year, Storm’s major sponsor since 2004 IFAC (International Foundation for Arts and Culture) and Dr Handa could not support the national competition this year.

Chairperson, Carolyn Fennelle said “It is important Rotary came together to maintain IFAC’s support for Australian youth in the performing arts”.

This year Storm the Stage welcomes two young guest performers from New Zealand’s NASDA (National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art) who will shine on ‘Storms’ stage thanks to an anonymous benefactor.

Fennelle said “It is an honour to welcome Ashleigh Stove and Layna Hunt as our International guests from across the Tasman to perform by invitation solo acts in drama and musical theatre. In light of the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch and floods in South-East Queensland and Victoria, youth in the arts can make a valuable contribution towards rebuilding the spirit for recovery. We value this opportunity and to bring youth together in this way to build fellowship and good will.”

Past ‘Stormer’ and this year’s National Producer, James Gauci is excited by the event and the camaraderie it will build between these effected regions.

“Theatre provides us with unlimited possibilities to express perspectives on the human experience. Storm gives young people the valuable opportunity to explore and portray these experiences in a supportive, educational, and above all engaging environment”, he said.  

Prepare yourself for a kaleidoscope of solo performances as they portray characters that will take your emotions on a journey of joy, sadness, anger, despair, laughter, courage, bewilderment, inspiration, confrontation and much more. It is what makes Storm the Stage a special event.

Storm the Stage is a national Rotary project, supported by IGA Brisbane and an opportunity for young people to gain valuable experience through monologue and musical performances, as well as connect and network with peers. Storm the Stage supporter is Hugh Jackman and patron Jill Perryman, both Western Australian internationally-acclaimed performing artists.

The eighteen 2011 finalists are:

Musical Theatre:  Bonnie Page, Matty Johnston, Romy Vuksan, Natasha Walker – QLD; Lachlan Graham – VIC; Tayla Jarrett – NSW; Rebecca Riley – TAS; Adam Lebransky, Madeline Crofts – WA.

Drama:  Hayden Maher, May Grehan, Xanthe Eppelstun, Mitchell Page – QLD; Jasmine Jehn – VIC; Camilla Best, Terri Ryan – TAS; Jacob Dibb, Simon Thuijs - WA

Venue:  Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre, 119 Lamington Street, Brisbane
Time: 6.30pm, doors open 15 minutes prior

Tickets: $37 Full, $29 Concession, Student $26, Group 10+ $29

Bookings: Brisbane Powerhouse ph (07) 3358 8600  www.brisbanepowerhouse.org  

Further information www.stormthestage.com.au

Media Enquiries contact TAZ Entertainment ph: (08) 9255 3336  taz@tazentertainment.com.au

Presented by Rhoda Lopez and Stage Managed by previous Storm the Stage musical theatre winner Callan Kneale

The evening opened by a welcome by Allan Smith, a past Stormer who provided jazz vocals as the audience entered the theatre. The evening proved that Storm the Stage is way more than a competition but a production. 

Congratulations to the following WA National Finalists who now go on to perform at the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre on Sunday November 27.

Drama: Jacob Dibb, Simon Thuijs
Musical Theatre: Adam Lebransky, Madeline Crofts

The young performers, 19 years of age are Ashleigh Stove, Drama and Layna Hunt, Musical Theatre.

It is an honour to welcome Ashleigh and Layna as our International guests from across the Tasman to perform by invitation solo acts in drama and musical theatre.

Storm the Stage is an opportunity for young people to learn about self through monologue acts, connect with others and network with peers.

As a result of devastating earthquakes in Christchurch, youth in the arts can make a valuable contribution towards rebuilding the spirit for recovery. We value this opportunity and to bring youth together in this way to build fellowship and good will.

On behalf of Storm the Stage 2011, we thank Richard Marrett, Programme Leader, NASDA and Rotary in Christchurch for their support.

Carolyn Fennelle
Storm the Stage 2011 Committee

The 2011 Storm The Stage National Final will take place at the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre, 119 Lamington St, Brisbane, Queensland on Sunday November 27, 2011. More details and booking information to follow soon.

Musical Theatre:
Bonnie Page, Matty Johnstone, Romy Vuksan, Natasha Walker

Drama:
Hayden Maher, May Grehan, Xanthe Eppelstun

The 2011 Storm The Stage National Final will take place at the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre, 119 Lamington St, Brisbane, Queensland on Sunday November 27, 2011. More details and booking information to follow soon.

Congratulations to the following West Australian 'Stormers' who have made it through to the WA State Final which will take place at Penrhos Performing Arts Rixon Theatre, 6 Morrison Street, Como, WA on Saturday October 15th, 2011.

Drama:
Chloe Ng; Adam Lebransky; Mahalia Bowles; Jacob Dibb; Jessica Russell; Simon Thuijs; Adelaide Buchanan; Angela Donlan; Jacob Watters; Eva Mitchell; Phoebe Grainer.

Musical Theatre:
Hannah Moran; Madeline Crofts; Mahalia Bowles; Kristen Plati; Adam Lebransky; Hayley Sperring; Annie Aitken; Jacob Dibb; Shannen Sarstedt.

Join us for the Act-Belong-Commit Storm the Stage 2011 WA State Final to applaud the talent, courage and commitment of our 20 Finalists as they take to the stage at the Rixon Theatre for a place in the National Final to be held at the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre Arts Complex on 27 November 2011.

Enjoy the experience of solo performances by youth 16 to 19 years in drama and musical theatre as they act and express their ideas, images and feelings in dramatic context.

Engage, as they reflect upon the human experience through diversity of individual performance gaining awareness of self, others and artistic sensitivity.

You can purchase tickets for the WA State Final now by booking through BOCS 9484 1133 or book online here