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Griffith University’s musical theatre program attracts record applications

Griffith University’s Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre (QAEMT) has attracted applications from more than 400 aspiring performers - its highest ever number of applications for the prestigious Bachelor of Musical Theatre program.

The 400 aspiring performers are competing for just 20 coveted places in the 2025 intake, marking an exciting moment for both Queensland’s cultural scene and Griffith University.

Griffith’s musical theatre program has built an exceptional reputation in little more than a decade, which has routinely seen graduates securing professional roles in major productions and achieving success as performers, directors, choreographers and producers.

Wicked, currently showing in Brisbane, stars alumni Courtney and Emily Monsma, and Jordan Malone playing Glinda; Liam Head as Fiyero, and Dominic Woodhead as the Associate Music Director.

Vidya Makan has been playing Eliza in Hamilton at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre, and Shubshri Kandiah and Jackson Head have been lighting up the stage as Belle and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. 

Director of QAEMT, Professor Paul Sabey, said the success of these graduates and many more was likely a driving force behind the increased interest in Griffith’s musical theatre program.  

Professor Sabey shared “the fact that so many of our graduates are now working on some of the world’s biggest productions is a testament to the quality of education we offer here at Griffith.

“We go well beyond technical training to focus on the whole performer — their mental health, their individuality, and their sense of community. 

“We want to build artists who are ready for the challenges of the industry.”

The audition process, which has just taken place at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), offered applicants a unique opportunity to showcase their talent. 

Hopefuls were taken through a warm-up in which their improvisation skills were explored, followed by demonstrations of their acting, singing, dancing, and spoken voice skills.

According to Professor Sabey, these experiences prepare students for the intensity and diversity of professional musical theatre. 

“We offer an education unlike any other because our students are embedded in QPAC — the only Musical Theatre program of this kind worldwide where students train within a major performing arts venue,” he said.

“This real-world experience really sets the program apart with students not only gaining unparalleled access to industry professionals through QPAC, but also participating in fully staged productions.

“They swipe in at stage door every day, giving them unrivalled access to a magical world of professional performance.”

The QAEMT’s reputation for fostering talent through rigorous ‘quadruple threat’ training in acting, singing, dancing and being a good ‘company member’, combined with strong industry ties, is a major draw for aspiring performers from around the world.

The judging panel looks forward to welcoming a new cohort of students who will be not only technically proficient, adaptable and resilient, but also prepared to make an impact and transform the future of musical theatre.  

Image top. Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre; Image below: Shubshri Kandiah and Brendan Xavier in Disneys Beauty and the Beast theMusical. Credit: Griffith University

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