Caroline On Stage And Screen
Caroline's song and dance has delighted audiences around the globe, so browse the production information and photographs and share the memories of some of these special moments.
A Christmas Story the Musical
Assassins
Gypsy
Follies
Sweeney Todd
BBC Proms
Surviving Georgia
The Showgirl Within
The Girl from Oz
Moulin Rouge
De-Lovely
Chicago
Piaf
Bombshells
End of the Rainbow
West Side Story
Mack And Mabel
From Stage to Screen
Man of La Mancha
A Tribute to Judy Garland
Funny Girl
On The Town
Scarlett O'Hara at the Crimson P...
The Hatpin
A Christmas Story the Musical
A Christmas Story the Musical debuted on Broadway on November 19, 2012 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater, with Caroline in the iconic role of school teacher, Miss Shields. This new Pasek and Paul musical adaptation of the 1983 film, A Christmas Story, delighted audiences and received much critical acclaim.
"Caroline O'Connor is comedic gold as the daffy school teacher"
- Huffington Post
"Musical of A Christmas Story is joyous"
- New York Daily News
"Fans of A Christmas Story can breathe easy: The charming musical that opened last night on Broadway...succeeds both as an adaptation and on its own terms"
- NY Post
Assassins
Caroline starred as Sara Jane Moore in Stephen Sondheim's Assassins at Milwaukee Repertory Theater in September 2012. Assassins investigates the personalities behind nine Presidential assassins and reveals uneasy truths about the American Dream.
Gypsy
Directed by Paul Kerryson, this production will run from March 10 to April 15, 2012
Follies
In October 2011 Caroline starred as Phyllis Rogers Stone in the Sondheim classic, Follies, at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in Chicago. Directed by Gary Griffin, Follies received much critical acclaim and Caroline won Broadway World's Chicago Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
To the delight of cast and crew, Stephen Sondheim attended a performance of the show.
The sensational Caroline O'Connor, whose slew of Broadway and European credits hardly prepare you for her breathtaking, impossibly sexy dancing and singing...
- Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
Real regret earns standing ovations in Gary Griffin's Chicago-style Follies. Four stars.
- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune.
Caroline O'Connor, who is delicious throughout as the acid-tongued Phyllis, stopped the show as she strutted her leggy stuff in The Story of Lucy and Jessie
- Nancy Malitz, Chicago On The Aisle.
O'Connor is stunning. This Follies is unmissable.
- From The Ledge
Caroline O'Connor continually zings with dry wit and perfect pipes
- Katy Walsh, Chicago Now
Caroline O'Connor tantalises Scotty Zacher
- Chicago Theatre Beat
Caroline performs The Story of Lucy and Jessie in Follies
View a "behind the scenes" video on choreographing Follies
Sweeney Todd
The Australian singer, dancer, actress replaced the scheduled artist less than a month (before opening). She didn't know the role and yet she made it hers in an amazing way: since Angela Lansbury's performance, we have not heard such incarnation. Stephen Sondheim made no mistake and he didn't hesitate to let others know that she is "the best Mrs Lovett he has ever heard.
- Le Monde, April 25, 2011
Videos:
Scenes from the Paris production of Sweeney Todd, part 1
Scenes from the Paris production of Sweeney Todd, part 2
Caroline sings By The Sea in Sweeney Todd
Caroline sings Wait in Sweeney Todd
Caroline sings God That's Good in Sweeney Todd
Caroline sings A Little Priest in Sweeney Todd
BBC Proms
In July 2010, Caroline performed at the BBC Proms' Sondheim at 80 at the Royal Albert Hall, celebrating Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday.
Caroline was invited back to the BBC Proms in 2011 for it's salute to the movie musical, Hooray For Hollywood with the John Wilson Orchestra.
Videos:
Caroline performs Broadway Baby from Follies, at Sondheim at 80
Caroline performs Strike Up The Band
Caroline performs The Man That Got Away
Caroline performs Gotta Have Me Go With You
Caroline performs Triplets
Caroline performs Put On Your Sunday Clothes
Caroline performs Hooray For Hollywood
Surviving Georgia
In 2011 Caroline stared as the feisty, vivacious, title character, Georgia, in the Australian film Surviving Georgia. Surviving Georgia is a heartwarming romantic comedy about family, getting what you need out of life and discovering that love, resolution and happiness can be found in the most unexpected places. The film premiered at the Dungog Film Festival and was released in Australian cinemas in October 2011. Surviving Georgia is now available on DVD.
An audience pleaser that allows the themes to breathe and terrific performances. - Urban Cinefile
Surviving Georgia is a real charmer. - Film Ink
View trailer on YouTube
Showgirl Within
The show was an autobiographical trip through Caroline's career with songs from Moulin Rouge, Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Edith Piaf and more.
Caroline received a What's On Stage Theatre Award nomination for the show, and much acclaim from London critics and audiences.
The Girl From Oz
Birdland, New YorkCaroline kicked off 2010 with a sell-out cabaret performance at New York’s famous Birdland jazz club on January 17. With such demand for tickets a second Birdland show was added on January 25.
Caroline’s Birdland show The Girl From Oz featured musical theatre classics by Kander and Ebb, Jerry Herman, Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, and paid homage to some of Caroline’s inspirational ladies of song - Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, Ethel Merman and more.
Legendary Birdland host Jim Caruso had this to say about Caroline’s Birdland debut:
Caroline’s band included Musical Director and Arranger Daniel Edmonds, Tom Hubbard on Bass, Barrie Shaw on Sax and Woodwind, and Ray Marchica on Drums.Her New York debut concert was such a success, and so sold-out, that we just HAD to find another date for her! She did us proud, that Aussie Diva, and showed the show-folk just how showbiz should look! What a concert! Caroline and her dazzling band all won our hearts and we can't wait for their return!
View these exclusive images from Caroline’s Birdland concerts and rehearsal.
Moulin Rouge
In 2001 Caroline appeared in her first feature film project. She played the featured role of Nini-Legs-in-the-Air in the internationally successful film Moulin Rouge. She also sang on the film’s soundtrack.
The Academy Award winning musical film directed by Baz Luhrmann, tells the story of a young British poet, Christian (Ewan McGregor), who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, Satine (Nicole Kidman). It uses the colourful musical setting of the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, France, focusing on the famous cabaret venue of the Moulin Rouge.
The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It won two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and the Academy Award for Best Art Direction. It also collected the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score – Motion Picture. The film was shot entirely at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia.
Caroline performed at the Moulin Rouge premiere in both Sydney and Cannes, France, where the film had its world premiere, officially opening the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.
See a video clip from Moulin Rouge
De-Lovely
Following her successful film debut in Moulin Rouge, Caroline performed a cameo appearance in her second movie in 2004. Hot on the heals of her Broadway success in Chicago, she took to the big screen in the movie De-Lovely, based on the life of renowned composer Cole Porter.
Caroline portrayed legendary entertainer Ethel Merman in this film and her scenes recreate the 1934 opening night of Porter's hit musical Anything Goes, with Caroline performing the title song. Caroline’s filming took place at the Old Vic Theatre, one of the oldest and most prestigious theatres in London. She was also included on the film's soundtrack singing Anything Goes.
The film was directed by Academy Award winner Irwin Winkler, from a script by Jay Cocks, and starred Oscar winner Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd and Jonathan Pryce. Some of today’s music stars also appeared in cameos along side Caroline, including Robbie Williams, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Natalie Cole, Diana Krall and Alanis Morissette.
De-Lovely made its world premiere at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, where it crowned the festival with a special presentation after the Awards Ceremony on May 22, 2004. With the presentation of De-Lovely the Cannes Festival celebrated the 80th anniversary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, a fitting tribute for the studio that popularised the movie musical many years ago.
De-Lovely was also selected for the 51st Annual Sydney Film Festival in Australia where it received two screenings at the State Theatre in June 2004. It was released in cinemas around the world in July 2004.
See a video clip from De-Lovely
Chicago
Ladies and Gentleman, you are about to see a story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery. All those things we hold near and dear to our hearts…
So begins the musical Chicago – a show very dear to Caroline. She is one of the rare performers that has starred as both Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart in professional stage productions around the world.
Caroline first performed the role of Velma Kelly in 1998 in Melbourne and then in Sydney in 1999, for which she was awarded the Green Room Award (Best Female Artist in a Leading Role) and MO Award (Best Female Musical Theatre Performer) respectively.
In November 2002 Caroline proudly made her Broadway debut in the role of Velma Kelly at the Shubert Theatre. Her acclaimed Broadway season was extended until March 2003, and she moved with the production to the Ambassador Theatre.
In 2003 Caroline performed the role of Roxie Hart with the London cast at The Baalbeck International Festival in Lebanon. She had also played Roxie in a UK production earlier in her career.
“O'Connor's Velma is magnetic, eccentric, lovably tough, and very stellar. She's a sharp comedienne. It's a treat to have O'Connor on Broadway, and you may want to make plans to catch this stunner before she goes away.” – www.broadway.com
”O'Connor is a major discovery for New York theatregoers” – www.pagesix.com
“Australian star Caroline O'Connor making her Broadway debut, is quite the funniest Velma I have seen.” – New York Post
“O'Connor's singing is vibrant and effective. Caroline O'Connor, is making a snazzy Broadway debut as Velma. She succeeds in putting her own stamp on the role” - Variety
See a video clip from Chicago
Piaf
Caroline thrilled Melbourne and Sydney audiences in 2001 with her award winning portrayal of French chanteuse Edith Piaf, in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of Pam Gem’s revealing biographical play, "Piaf".
Following the success of the production and winning every major Australian theatre award for her performance in this challenging role, Caroline also recorded her acclaimed tribute CD "Piaf", which includes many of Edith Piaf’s most renowned songs including La Vie En Rose, Padam, Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien and Hymne A L’amour.
“It takes a singer-actress of Caroline O'Connor’s calibre to pull off a ‘Piaf performance’” – Stage Noise.
This album is available for purchase here
Bombshells
Caroline’s one woman play, Bombshells received its world premiere at the Fairfax Theatre in Melbourne, Australia in December 2001. Written by acclaimed Melbourne playwright Joanna Murray-Smith, Bombshells is a series of outrageous portraits of six women barely coping with the stresses of modern life, and Caroline O'Connor plays all six of them:
Meryl Davenport - A mother who delivers her non-stop day in a rapid-fire internal monologue
Tiggy Entwhistle - A cactus lover bravely attempting to rise above her relationship crisis
Mary O'Donnell - A feisty teenage schoolgirl competing in a talent quest
Theresa McTerry - An increasingly disillusioned bride on her wedding day
Winsome Webster - A widow with an appetite for the unexpected
Zoe Struthers - An American cabaret singer who's had her fair share of personal problems.
A sell-out smash hit in 2001, the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Bombshells premiered in Sydney in 2004 at the Seymour Centre, followed by seasons in Melbourne and then Adelaide, before heading overseas to sell out shows at the Edinburgh Festival and a successful season in London’s West End and in Canada. Bombshells was also filmed for Australian television.
See a video clip from Bombshells
End of the Rainbow
Caroline portrayed show-biz legend Judy Garland in the Ensemble Theatre Production’s world premiere season of Peter Quilter’s play End of the Rainbow from July 28, 2005 at the Sydney
Set in 1968 in London’s Ritz Hotel, this play with music charts the tumultuous final months of Garland’s life and her complicated relationships with fifth husband Mickey Deans (Myles Pollard – premiere seasons); her devoted piano accompanist Anthony Chapman (Paul Goddard – premiere seasons), and the fans who adored her.
The play weaves the humour and heart-breaking emotion of Garland’s life off-stage with a selection of her most memorable songs including You Made Me Love You, I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart, Rock-a-bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody, Just in Time, The Man that Got Away, When You're Smiling, Come Rain or Come Shine, But Not for Me, By Myself, Swanee, and of course Over the Rainbow. Following the auspicious world premiere seasons Caroline produced her fourth solo CD A Tribute to Garland.
Caroline’s powerful and deeply moving interpretation of Judy Garland truly captivated audiences and garnered much critical acclaim.
“An unmissable theatrical event” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
“O’Connor is so perfect in this role.….a great star..” THE AUSTRALIAN
"Dazzling" - The Age, Melbourne
West Side Story
Caroline’s career has held a long association with the musical genius of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s celebrated "West Side Story", first performing with the Australian production in 1983. A decade later Caroline starred as Anita in the 1993 London revival cast at Leicester Haymarket Theatre with the National Symphony Orchestra and sang on the first complete "West Side Story" cast album recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios.
In 1994 Caroline was invited back to Australia to play the role of Anita in the Victoria State Opera/International Management Group production of "West Side Story" in Melbourne, for which she won both the Mo and Green Room Awards for Musical Theatre. With a popular return season at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in 1996, Caroline won her second Mo Award for the role of Anita.
See a video clip of America, concert version
Mack & Mabel
Caroline’s first production of "Mack & Mabel" was in December 1995 at London’s Piccadilly Theatre. Opposite Howard Gillin in this West End production, Caroline’s portrayal of Mabel Normand earned her a prestigious Laurence Olivier Award nomination and the musical won the London Evening Standard Award for Best Musical.
Jerry Herman’s "Mack and Mabel" tells a dramatic story of love, show business and ambition: the true-life story of silent movie director Mack Sennett, and his relationship with Mabel Normand, a waitress from Brooklyn. Considered one of the richest and most melodic scores in musical theatre, it dazzles with song and dance sequences including: Tap Your Troubles Away, Time Heals Everything, I Won't Send Roses and Look What Happened to Mabel.
Caroline appears on the 1995 London revival cast recording of this show.
Cast recording review - Mack and Mabel (1995 London revival cast recording):“In this 1995 production Caroline O'Connor played Mabel - and it was a performance of a lifetime. Caroline was born for this role - there's just no beating it” – Mark Barlow, Musical Stages.
See a video clip from Mack & Mabel, part I
See a video clip from Mack & Mabel, part II
From Stage to Screen
Celebrating a diverse theatrical career and love of stage and screen music, Caroline debuted her "From Stage to Screen" concert series in May 2001 at the gala opening of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival Season. Performing with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra under the musical direction of Julian Kelly, Caroline’s "From Stage to Screen" show was filmed for ABC Television and aired in Australia in September 2001.
Later that same year Caroline performed "From Stage to Screen" at the Concert Hall at Sydney’s Opera House backed by a twenty-piece orchestra and a troupe of some of her favourite dancers and singers from Australian musical theatre.
In February 2002, Caroline was invited to perform three performances of "From Stage to Screen" to launch Taronga Zoo’s Twilight Summer Concert Series in Sydney. The show also returned to the Sydney Opera House in early October 2002 with special guest Todd McKenney joining Caroline for this second season.
Caroline recorded her solo CD "From Stage to Screen" in 2001, performing many of her favourite tunes from musical theatre and Australian films, such as People (Funny Girl), Mein Herr (Cabaret), Aquarius (Hair), and Dancing Queen (Muriel’s Wedding).
This album is available for purchase here
See a video clip from the concert
Man of La Mancha
In 2002 Caroline took to the Australian stage to play the female lead role of Aldonza in Man of La Mancha opposite Anthony Warlow. The musical opened its season at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in April, and followed with a successful Sydney run at the Capitol Theatre. The supporting cast incl
The story is set in a prison in Seville in the late 16th Century. Miguel de Cervantes, a failed playwright, poet and tax collector, has been imprisoned by the Inquisition. He is hauled before a mock court of his fellow prisoners who propose to confiscate his few possessions, including the manuscript of Don Quixote. Cervantes proposes to defend himself in the form of an entertainment in which he and the prisoners will play the characters in the novel. The musical includes the unforgettable song The Impossible Dream.
“It is here that the show - and O'Connor - starts to zing. Belting out her rage she stops being the dancerly trooper to become a passionate rebellious woman. She steals the show”– The Australian
See a video clip of The Impossible Dream, concert version
A Tribute to Judy Garland
This album is available for purchase here
See a video clip from the concert
Funny Girl
For The Production Company in Melbourne, Caroline starred as Fanny Brice in three concert performances of "Funny Girl" in 1999 at The Arts Centre.
Told in flashback, the musical introduces performer and comedienne Fanny Brice, before she is discovered by showman Florenz Ziegfeld, follows her through her first triumph in the Zeigfeld Follies, her marriage to gangster Nick Arnstein, and the break-up of that marriage after Nick finds himself in trouble with the law.
Following in the footsteps of Barbara Streisand’s 1968 film adaptation of the same name, Caroline performed the musical’s hit score including the ballad People and the show-stopper Don’t Rain on My Parade, both songs Caroline recorded on her solo CDs and has performed live in her "From Stage to Screen" concerts across Australia.
See a video clip of Don't Rain on My Parade, concert version
On The Town
Caroline graced the stage of London’s Coliseum, the largest theatre in London, in the English National Opera (ENO) 2005 production of "On The Town". She performed the role of Hildy Esterhazy for the performances of this glorious musical about three sailors on leave in New York City in search of women and fun. It featured a cast of 57 and a 48-piece orchestra and starring in the production with Caroline was Australian stage and screen star Adam Garcia. Caroline reprised the role of Hildy for the ENO's return season in 2007.
“The brilliant all-singing, all-shimmying Caroline O'Connor, who plays the sex-mad taxi driver Hildy, steals the show with every wiggle and wink”– The Evening Standard
“Caroline O’Connor gives a star performance – her daffy man-hungry cab driver Hildy is a hoot”– Daily Mail
“Caroline O’Connor gives the musical comedy performance of the year”- Steve Allen, LBC
“Caroline O'Connor gives a star performance as the feisty lady taxi driver Hildy Esterhazy, like Lucille Ball and Ethel Merman rolled into one. Any more panache and she might have driven off with the whole show”– Financial Times
“Caroline O’Connor is a spot-on little spitfire both vocally and in her dancing as the hilariously sex-hungry cabbie”– The Independent
Scarlett O'Hara at the Crimson Parrot
Scarlett O'Hara at the Crimson Parrot was a play written for Caroline by famed Australian playwright, David Williamson. The play opened at the Melbourne Theatre Company in June 2008 with Caroline in the lead role of Scarlett O'Hara - a waitress who escapes her mundane existence by dreaming of being in old Hollywood movies.
The Hatpin
The Hatpin was a new Australian musical that debuted at the Seymour Centre in Sydney in February 2008. The Hatpin was inspired by the true story of a single mother, Amber Murray, who gave up her child in 1892 and ended up embroiled in one of the most remarkable criminal trials in Australia's history.
Caroline starred as the free-spirited fruit shop owner Harriet Piper. She reprised the role later that year when The Hatpin played at the New York Musical Theater Festival. Caroline also sang on the The Hatpin's cast album.
Caroline sings The Hand of Courage from The Hatpin
