Sparkles is a tiny but mighty Chihuahua, who is thrilled to be making her stage debut, as Bruiser, in Academy’s production of Legally Blonde Jr the musical. Charming the cast with her natural charisma and undeniable talent, she has been rehearsing tirelessly, practicing her struts and perfecting her performance.

In her downtime she loves nothing more than cuddling up with her owner, and her favorite pastime is indulging in her favorite treats. Sparkles is set to steal the show – and your hearts. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled for this pint-sized powerhouse and her dazzling performance!

More on Sparkles @sparkles.my.chi

Araba Garang Yr 8 SCC
Kyle

Legally Blonde Jr marks Araba’s first ever theatre production, and his first role – the loveable Kyle. He enjoys playing basketball during his free time, having won various finals playing for the Collingwood All-Stars. He has had a blast making new friends and hanging out with mates at rehearsals. If you cheer loudly enough for him, he might take up Irish dancing full-time…

Alice Moffat Yr 8
Ensemble

Alice enjoys netball and hanging out with friends. She loves the Arts and at Academy she is in the school choir. She loves being a part of the cast and always has a positive mindset at rehearsals.

Alyssa Nardo Yr 10
Vivienne Kensington

Alyssa has participated in many other Academy musicals and is also an essential member of the Academy Chamber Choir Ensemble and the Academy Pop Band. In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys song writing, painting and playing guitar and piano.

Angela Lukaitis Yr 10
Margot Delta Nu

Angela is currently studying Arts and Biology in Year 10. Angela started her involvement in Academy musicals by playing ensemble roles, while also contributing to her primary school performances. Angela is a committed member of Academy’s Concert Band in percussion and the Academy choirs.

Amelie Nasher Yr 9
Ensemble

Amelie studies the Art of Acting, and Multimedia and Design. Being part of the ensemble gives her the opportunity to implement the skills and conventions learned in Drama class. Amelie has had experience performing with dance, singing and guitar, but this will be her first school musical.

Ashley Parfitt  Yr 10  
Ensemble 

Ashley studies Visual Communication, Design, Drama, Vet, Multimedia and Fashion Illustration. Being part of the musical has been a fun experience because it’s helped her to feel more confident in many areas of her school and personal life. This is her first Academy production. In the future, she wants to become a drama therapist.

Brayden Chatterton Yr 9 SCC
Aaron Schultz

Brayden is an enthusiastic member of his local Scouts group and loves the visual arts. Previously, Brayden has performed in productions of Madagascar: The Musical and SCC’s production of Treasure Island. Brayden is very appreciative of all the support and experience that the production team at Academy has been able to provide for him and the cast in Legally Blonde Jr.

Brooklyn Ulutui Yr 8 SCC
Kyle

Brooklyn is a proud Tongan/Samoan boy, who loves to play sport – especially rugby and basketball. Although he has never been in a theatre show before, he has found the whole experience really fun! A highlight for Brooklyn has been the incredible musical score for the show. He’s loved every minute of rehearsing and cannot wait for you to see the show.

Charlotte Berryman Yr 9
Ensemble

Charlotte studies Japanese, Drama, and Multimedia and Design. She enjoys singing, acting and performing. She hasn’t done acting outside of school although she has performed in many primary and secondary performances. The best part of being in the musical is the enjoyment of being together showcasing something the community can enjoy.

Clio Dinnen Yr 8
Ensemble

Clio is studying the core subjects and French this semester. She enjoys acting, so being in the ensemble in the musical helps improve her musical theatre skills. She has experience in dance and participating in her primary school musical. This will be her first high school musical.

Elise Dabbs Yr 10
Warner Huntington III / Ensemble

Elise studies English, Maths, Science and Biology. She is a member of Academy’s Concert Band. Being her first year in the school musical, she is excited to be able to perform Warner in the matinee performance and play a member of the ensemble for other performances. The musical has allowed Elise to make new friends from other year levels and schools, as well as improve her singing, acting and dancing abilities.

Ella Clifford Yr 10
Emmet Forrest / Enid Hoopes

Ella truly embraces her creative side by studying multiple Arts subjects, which alongside being in the musical, has made coming to school something to look forward to. Ella has been in four productions before, but with a fun role, a wonderful cast and a beautiful storyline and music, this year is the most exciting yet. While Ella enjoys theatre, she would love a career in illustration or design. She wouldn’t be able to pick one favourite part of being in the musical if she tried.

Ethan Dingle Yr 8 SCC
Ensemble

Ethan is proudly a Class Captain and Junior Arts Captain at Simonds Catholic College. He has also represented Simonds in ACC Basketball and Volleyball. Aside from Legally Blonde Jr, Ethan featured as the puppeteer of the parrot Captain Flint in SCC’s Treasure Island, as well playing the role of Job Anderson. Outside of the arts, Ethan loves to construct bird houses, and build with Lego. He has loved finding his individual moments to shine in Legally Blonde and can’t wait for you all to see his Bend and Snap!

Ewan Howe Yr 10 SCC
Emmett Forrest

Ewan was a proud cast member for SCC’s inaugural production of Treasure Island as the bumbling Squire Trelawney. He is also a current member of the Simonds Vocal Ensemble and was a member of his primary school choir for seven years. Ewan has been an avid tennis player for his whole life and enjoys playing for his local club. He lists one of his proudest achievements as winning the NEJTA boys’ doubles championship. In his spare time, he enjoys catching up with friends as well as taking a keen interest in social justice issues. In 2022, Ewan was the junior Social Justice captain at Simonds Catholic College and has represented the school in tennis, badminton, and drama.

Gaby Talbot Yr 10
Ensemble

Legally Blonde Jr is Gaby’s third Academy musical. She has previously performed ensemble roles. Her favourite part of participating in the school production is how the cast becomes its own community.

Genna Zaba Yr 9
Ensemble

Genna is studying Digital Art and Photography, Economics and Business. Being a part of the Academy production has helped Genna to continue her passion of musical theatre. She has experience performing with singing, dancing, acting and piano playing. She has performed in school musicals before in primary school. This will be her first high school production.

Georgia Kneebone  Yr 9
Serena  Delta Nu

Georgia studies Economics, Business and a creative art subject. She has always loved Performing Arts. The Legally Blonde Jr. production has been an amazing experience. She loves being a part of the cast because they are so inclusive, talented and inspire her to be a better performer.

Hannah Cullen Yr 11
Paulette Buonufonte

Hannah is a dedicated and driven performer who has performed in three previous Academy productions. Aside from performing, she expresses a passion for social justice and takes it upon herself to make the environment around her safer. She has a flair for exhibiting her artistic skills through drawing and performance.

Harper Smith Yr 11
Brooke Wyndham

Harper is studying Specialist Maths, Japanese, Drama and Visual Communications. She has a passion for Performing Arts and has been in many previous Academy productions. Her role in the musical is intense and fun, and Harper loves the challenge it poses.

Hugo Hearn Yr 8 SCC
Ensemble

Hugo loves Minecraft and hanging out with his friends and family. He speaks both Spanish and English and was able to show off his bilingual skills in Treasure Island by playing the Spanish pirate, Israel Hands. He has enjoyed making new friends and pushing himself outside of his comfort zone to sing and dance as well as act.

Indiana Clark-Smith Yr 9 SCC
Professor Callahan

Indy was one of the original members of the Simonds Drama Club and performed in the 2022 Simonds production of Treasure Island as the bloodthirsty pirate, Killigrew the Kind. Aside from acting, Indy loves to play basketball with his mates, listen to his personalised Spotify playlists, and play games on his PlayStation. He has enjoyed expanding both his acting and singing skills through the weekly rehearsals. He lives his life by the quote – “If you can’t fly, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl. You must keep moving, because the past doesn’t get any better”. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Isobel Juricskay Yr 11
Brooke Wyndham

Isabel is so excited to be a part of this musical and show the audience all the amazing things they have been working on. She has performed in many Academy and community productions.

Jack Witt Yr 9 SCC
Dewey

Jack is an enthusiastic video-gamer and volleyballer, representing his school in ACC Volleyball competitions. Jack played the iconic comic role of Lucky Mickey in SCC’s Treasure Island and is the current Drama Captain at Simonds Catholic College. He has loved learning how to sing his solo part and is more than pleased to add both the roles of Dewey and Grandmaster Chad to his resume.

Jamie Lam Yr 9 SCC
Sundeep Agrawal Padamadan

Jamie has performed in many school musicals in primary school and is so excited to be a part of his first high school production. Outside of singing and dancing, Jamie notes being part of the ACC champion chess team for Simonds Catholic College as one of his proudest achievements. Jamie has backstage experience, working as a stagehand for SCC’s Treasure Island. Jamie is thankful for the experience to develop his voice and has loved becoming a part of the Academy musical community.

Lucy Diggerson  Yr 11
Elle

Lucy has years of performance experience, including making her professional debut in the Children’s Chorus with Opera Australia last year. She was accepted into the 2023 Victorian Opera Youth Choir Ensemble and is a Victorian Opera youth ambassador. Lucy is three-time overall champion at the Royal South Street vocal eisteddfod and has performed live on ABC ME TV. She is working with a professional music producer to craft her first demo album.

Krysthina Klapp  Yr 9
Pilar Delta Nu

Krysthina studies Drama and Music. She especially enjoys acting, dancing and singing and believes her role in this year’s production is exciting and outgoing. She enjoys being a part of the production because the entire cast and crew are amazing and everyone is getting along and working together so well.

Mia Mizzi  Yr 10
Lowell / Ensemble

Mia is studying French, Her Story, Video Art and loves performing and hanging out with friends. Mia is a dedicated and hardworking performer who has performed in many Academy productions. She has been a member of the Australian Girls Choir for seven years.

Mira Russo Yr 9
Kate / Vivienne

This semester, Mira is studying Drama, Italian and textiles. She loves to perform in choirs and other activities at Academy. In Legally Blonde Jr., Mira portrays Kate and Vivienne. Outside of school, she does performing arts, dance and singing. Mira’s most recent gig was a lead role in a TV series Turn Up The Volume on ABC ME.

Niamh Cullen Yr 10
Chutney Wyndham

Niamh is a hardworking, diligent performer who has performed in two previous Academy productions. She is currently studying Drama and intends to continue it as a VCE subject and pursue it as a future career. Aside from her love for acting, Niamh likes dancing and hanging out with her friends.

Nicola Callanan Yr 10
Enid Hoopes / Ensemble

Nicola is an enthusiastic performer who has performed in many other Academy and community musicals. Nicola has trained in several styles of dance and was a member of the Australian Girls Choir for many years. Her favourite subjects at school are English and Drama because she feels these subjects are the best way to express herself. Nicola also loves being a part of a team and staying active with her friends.

Olivia Portelli Yr 10
Warner Huntington III / Jack Witt

Olivia is currently studying Italian, Visual Communications, and has a passion for Performing Arts. She is a member of Academy’s Isabella Strings, playing the violin. She has participated in two previous College musicals. She has found a love for performing through these musicals and hopes to continue with them through to year 12.

Riccardo Mesiti  Yr 9 SCC
Ensemble

Riccardo is a Yr 9 student from Simonds Catholic College, and is keenly interested in technology, coding, and engineering. He lists his courage in taking to the stage in SCC’s Treasure Island as one of his proudest achievements – having to perform in front of so many people and memorise so many lines. Outside of Drama, Riccardo enjoys running, and was part of the SCC Leadership team running the St Joseph’s Athletics Carnival. He has loved being a part of the chorus for Legally Blonde, meeting new people and learning to sing the bass part!

Rory Saliba Yr 10
Pforzheimer

Having done Fame Jr with the Academy last year, Rory is thrilled to be playing the role of Pforzheimer in the Academy’s production of Legally Blonde Jr. Rory is a hardworking creative having experience in, and passion for, musical theatre as well as different dance styles such as ballet, jazz and contemporary. She is also a member of the school choir. Rory is studying Yr 10 Fashion and VCE Health and Human Development. Besides performing, she enjoys playing sports and hanging out with friends.

Sam Walkley Yr 8 SCC
Ensemble

Although this is Sam’s very first musical, he is no stranger to the stage, having played the lead role of Jim Hawkins in SCC’s production of Treasure Island in 2022. He also represented Simonds Catholic College in the Junior AFL team in Year 7. His favourite thing about Legally Blonde has been watching everyone’s growth in learning the choreography and the vocals. Sam’s ideal way to relax is to unwind on the couch playing video games with his friends, alongside his Jack Russell Terrier, Maya.

Scarlett McMahon Yr 11
Elle

Scarlett has taken classes with NIDA, Film & Television Studio International and The Conservatorium of Music whilst working on the Uta Hagen technique with Peter Rasmussen, and taking private classes with Iris Klein and dramaturge Danielle Carter. Scarlett has appeared in television commercials and TV dramas, such as Doctor Blake Murder Mysteries. She enjoys re-writing and analysing movies whilst writing some of her own work. Scarlett is studying both Music and Drama, and is excited to be debuting as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde Jr.

Sienna Black Yr 12
Prison Guard

Sienna is currently studying Drama and Music in her last year of high school. She has a passion for the performance arts and aspires to do acting and music therapy as a profession in the future.

Sienna Komarnycki Yr 10
Whitney/Sabrina/Stylist/Dance Captain

Sienna has performed in many previous Academy musical, specialising in dance. She has been dancing for nine years. Some of the subjects she studies include Drama, Visual Communications and Painting. She auditioned for the musical as over the past two years she has met some of her closest friends and has found a love for performing.

Stella Tassone Yr 11
Paulette Buonufonte

Like the character of Paulette Buonufonte, which she plays in Legally Blonde Jr., Stella is of Italian and Irish background. A dedicated musical theatre performer, Stella trains at Soundworks Music Studio. She has played many main roles, including Tinkerbell, Oliver, Lambchops understudy, and was an ensemble member in Camp Rock the Musical. Stella currently studies English, Drama, Visual Communications, Art, Food Studies and Health.  She cannot wait to perform for everyone.

Sunday Lomas–Mee Yr 8
Ensemble

Sunday is studying a range of subjects, mostly enjoying Drama, English and Humanities. She auditioned for the musical because she enjoys acting and telling a story to an audience. She loves to be a part of the musical because it is a positive environment to be in and a great experience for the future.

Tim Ivlenkov Yr 8 SCC
Professor Winthrop / Judge

When Tim was in Yr 7,  he played one of the lead roles of Dr Livesey in SCC’s Treasure Island. He also partook in various productions during his primary school years. At home, Tim is a dedicated video-gamer on his computer. Tim is excited to be playing dual roles of Professor Winthrop and the Judge – either of these professions would work for him in the future!

Zoe Dafnias Yr 9
Kiki the stylist / Saleswoman / Ensemble

Zoe is currently studying Drama, Italian and Textiles. She enjoys participating in ensembles and choirs at the Academy. She has performed in external school productions, as well as attending Centrestage Performing Arts School for eleven years. Zoe is excited to perform and meet other students with similar passions and interests. She loves the cheeky personality of the Saleswomen, the sassy and confident character of Kiki, and enjoys performing with friends in the ensemble.