Suzie Mathers

Suzie Mathers
Born (1984-06-29) 29 June 1984
Scotland
Genres Musical Theatre
Occupation(s) Singer, actor
Years active 2008–present
Website www.suziemathers.com

Suzie Mathers is an Australian actress and theatre performer best known for her role as Glinda the Good Witch in the Australian, Asian and London productions of Wicked [1] as well Sophie in the 10th Anniversary Australian tour of Mamma Mia! the Musical.[2]

Biography

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Suzie received a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2007. In the few short years since graduating, Suzie has fast made her mark in the Australian and International music theatre industry.[3]

Career

Her career in musical theater started with a spot in an amateur production of "Jesus Christ Superstar." In 2007, she graduated with a degree in music theater from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. While in college, she performed in various productions such as "The Good Fight" and "Annie Get Your Gun." [4]

Originally an offstage vocal swing for the 2008 Melbourne production, Mathers was cast in Wicked straight out of drama school, and remained with the company until the beginning of the Sydney season in 2009.[5] Suzie left to play the leading role of Sophie in the 10th Anniversary Australian tour of Mamma Mia!, which toured nationally in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth & Brisbane.[6]

After the national tour of Mamma Mia! Suzie returned to the cast of Wicked for the first Australian tour performing in Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth, in the role of the Midwife, and was also the understudy for Glinda.

Suzie officially took over the role of lead Glinda from Lucy Durack in 2012, performing in Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand and Manila to much critical acclaim.[7][8] A highlight was performing to the shows composer Stephen Schwartz, twice.[9] She has co-starred alongside various Australian theatre performers including Jemma Rix, Maggie Kirkpatrick, David Harris, Anne Wood and Gretel Scarlett as well as New Zealand actor Jay Laga'aia.

Suzie stepped down from the role of Glinda when it returned to Australia at the end of Wicked's Manila run on 9 March 2014. Though Suzie did briefly reprise the role in Melbourne while Lucy Durack took leave due to injury in May 2014.

Mathers then again reprised the role of Glinda for the Brisbane and Perth seasons of Wicked, taking over once again from Lucy Durack, who left at the end of the Sydney season due to her pregnancy.[10] During the Brisbane season Suzie reached her 500th performance as Glinda, and is expected have performed the role over 580 times when the show closes in Perth mid 2015.[11]

Mathers is currently making her West End debut reprising the role of Glinda this time in the London production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. She will perform the role at the 10th anniversary performance on 27 September 2016.[12]

Stage credits

Professional Musical Theatre
Start year Production Location Role
2008 Wicked Melbourne Ensemble member
2009 Mamma Mia! Australian Tour (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth & Brisbane) Sophie
2011 Wicked Australian Tour (Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth) Midwife & Glinda Understudy
2012 Wicked Singapore & South Korea (Seoul) Glinda
2013 Wicked New Zealand (Auckland) Glinda
2014 Wicked Philippines (Manila) Glinda
2014 Wicked Australian Return Tour (Sydney) Glinda (Selected shows only)[13]
2015 Wicked Australian Return Tour (Brisbane & Perth) Glinda
2016 Wicked London (West End) Glinda
Other Stage Credits
Year Production Location Role
2012 An Afternoon with Stephen Sondheim Melbourne NA
2012 Carols by Candlelight Melbourne NA
2014 "Hello Jerry!" The Music of Jerry Herman Dublin NA
2015 Cinderella Cambridge (Cambridge Arts Theatre) Cinderella

Other performances

Suzie's other appearances include An Afternoon with Stephen Sondheim[14] at Her Majesty's Theatre,Melbourne in 2012, both the 2011 and 2012 Rob Guest Endowment Concerts, headlining artist at the 2012 Apex Carols By Candlelight,[15] the 2009 Helpmann Awards, the role of Edith Faulkner in the 2007 New York Music Theatre Festival production of David King and Nick Enright's The Good Fight. Suzie also guest starred in David Harris' sold out show Time is a Traveller at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney.

She recently appeared in a one night concert, "Hello Jerry! The Music of Jerry Herman"[16] at The National Concert Hall, Dublin featuring music from the spectacular Broadway musicals of twice Tony Award winner Jerry Herman. The concert was conducted by John Wilson (conductor) with music by The RTÉ Orchestra. The performance also featured West End's Annalene Beechey, and American musical entertainer and actress Kim Criswell.

In June 2015 Suzie returned to where her career began to help celebrate 30 years of Musical Theatre at the West Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), performing at the WAAPA Grads Say Thanks gala concert at the Geoff Gibbs Theatre at Edith Cowan University.[17] Suzie performed in the title role of Cinderella, for the 2015 family pantomime at Cambridge Arts Theatre.[18]

References

  1. ↑ http://wickedthemusical.com.au/index.php/people/suzie-mathers/
  2. ↑ http://aussietheatre.com.au/news/mathers-is-sophie-2
  3. ↑ "Suzie Mathers". Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  4. ↑ Cruz, Marinel (2013-11-10). "Blonde ‘mathlete’ is ‘Wicked’ witch". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Manila: Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  5. ↑ Erin James (2011-09-19). "Suzie Mathers steps into Glinda’s shoes". aussietheatre.com.au/. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  6. ↑ http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/mamma-mia-returns-to-australia/2009/04/23/1240079775077.html
  7. ↑ Erin James (2013-03-15). "Rix and Mathers sign on again for Wicked Australasia". aussietheatre.com.au/. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  8. ↑ Kim Choe (2013-09-19). "Wicked flies to Auckland". 3news.co.nz/. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  9. ↑ http://aussietheatre.com.au/blogs/life-upon-the-wicked-stage/suzie-mathers
  10. ↑ Wicked Australia (2015-01-05). "Wicked has a new Glinda". wickedthemusical.com.au/. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
  11. ↑ http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/things-you-need-to-know-about-wicked-the-musical-in-perth/story-fnhocr83-1227344025442
  12. ↑ http://www.theatrepeople.com.au/australias-suzie-mathers-to-join-london-cast-of-wicked/
  13. ↑ http://wickedthemusical.com.au/index.php/thrillifying-glinda-schedule/
  14. ↑ Skip Ink (2013-03-20). "Wicked Flies into New Zealand". Scoop Media/. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  15. ↑ Mandi Ford (2012-12-03). "CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT – AN AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITION". Essential Solutions/. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  16. ↑ O'Kelly, Pat (27 August 2014). "Review - Musical: Hello, Jerry! National Concert Hall". Irish Independent. Dublin: Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  17. ↑ http://www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/news/latest-news/waapa/2015/06/30-years-of-song-and-dance
  18. ↑ http://www.cambsedition.co.uk/index.php/family/117-family2/1083-cast-announced-for-arts-theatre-panto
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