Audition Workshop

Kristy Griffin

Kristy is from Queanbeyan, N.S.W, and at the age of eighteen began travelling Australia and internationally to pursue all things theatre. She is a former full-timer of Brent Street Studios (Sydney), and holds a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre from LASALLE College of the Arts (Singapore). Kristy’s thesis writing has focussed on choreography and arts education. She is the director of Griffin Dance Studio, based in Kew, Melbourne. 

Whilst living in Singapore, Kristy was an artist in resident choreographer at LASALLE College of the Arts and worked as a Swing at Universal Studios Singapore. She has also worked as a choreographer on many musicals in Singapore and Australia, and for major corporate events for companies including Estee Lauder, Microsoft, Formula 1 Grand Prix and The Singapore Repertory Theatre. In 2013, she played the leading role in the world premiere of Goldilocks and workshopped the role for West End writers Anthony Drewe and George Stiles. She followed this by choreographing and performing in the Asian premiere of Edges: A Song Cycle as well as two Australian tours playing Sally in Dr. Suess’ The Cat in the Hat (AKA/GGA), appearing on The TODAY Show.  

Kristy’s other musical theatre credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Sweet Charity, The Acid Test and Nine (Singapore), The Boy From Oz, Mary Poppins, Singin' in the Rain, The Sound of Music(Babirra), A Chorus Line, (CLOC) Snoopy (Beaumaris), The Producers and The Pajama Game (OSMaD). She has won numerous awards in Singapore and in Melbourne for her commitment to the arts, for performance and for her choreography.

Kristy is also a qualified secondary teacher, having taught Drama and Dance in some of Melbourne's most prestigious high schools, including Ivanhoe Grammar, Melbourne Grammar and Firbank Grammar. She is currently studying a Masters in Arts and Cultural Management at Deakin University, is a Board member of Antipodes Theatre Company and volunteer of the Babirra Music Theatre committee.

Tim Verdon

Tim is a Musical Director and musician who has been playing the piano since he was too short to reach the pedals. In that time, he has worked on many musical theatre productions as Musical Director, keyboard/piano player, and occasionally a performer. He also has much experience accompanying for concerts, cabarets, eisteddfods, and exams, and is a familiar face behind the piano on the audition circuit, having been an audition accompanist for shows with almost all of Melbourne's major musical theatre companies over the past 7 years.

Tim has toured China twice, this year for Australian International Productions' concert tour with Broadway performers Brad Little, Kimilee Bryant, Chuck Wagner, and Diana Huey; and in 2017 with Silvie Paladino. Recently he was the Musical Director for Beaumaris Theatre Inc's Snoopy, Assistant Musical Director for OSMAD's Pajama Game, and Assistant Musical Director for CLOC's Wicked. Tim is proud to be the Musical Director for OSMAD's upcoming production of Miss Saigon, and hopes to see you at the auditions!

Cherine Peck

Cherine has been working in the entertainment industry since she was 17 years old. Her debut to he industry was in 1993, recording the New Zealand Cast Album of the music theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar for Harry. M.Miller over 25 years ago. She had only just left high school when she was destined to make music her career. From a highly successful nationwide tour, she was asked to continue with the show embarking on an Australian tour, bringing her overseas for the very first time. Once there, friends suggested she audition for the dramatic and heartbreaking musical Miss Saigon (a Cameron Macintosh Production) in the hopes of being a part of what was to be an Australian Premiere. Lucky enough to be cast after months of grueling auditions, Cherine stayed with the show for over a year performing in one of the most well known theatres in Sydney, the Capitol Theatre. A fateful friendship formed with a fellow cast member, who suggested her for another show to Music Supervisor Max Lambert. This time produced by none other than the Artistic Director of the Sydney Olympic Games, David Atkins. The show was called Little Shop of Horrors, where she played her first ever role, Chiffon. Cherine had the opportunity to work with Australia’s vocal diva Christine Anu touring to many countries around the world, which gave Cherine confidence to lead her own bands in Sydney shortly after. Cherine rejoined Little Shop of Horrors for a return season before she was cast in the critically acclaimed musical The Boy from Oz, the Peter Allen musical seen by millions of Australians around the country. Playing the role of Linelle, one of Peter Allen’s featured backing vocalists in the show, Cherine performed nearly 900 shows. Produced by Jon Nicholls, Buddy the Musical followed shortly after. Playing the role of Diane in David Atkins production of Hair, Cherine won a Greenroom award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her performance. All the while, she was auditioning for over a year for the smash hit musical The Lion King gladly winning the role of the streetwise hyena Shenzi (played by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie). The show was an instant success, in true Disney fashion, the privilege being she got to work with the legendary film and theatre director, Julie Taymor. Not only did Cherine nearly complete 1000 shows, but she was nominated for a prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical and achieved the accolade of being the only “Shenzi” in Lion King music theatre history to be nominated for an award. After deciding to take some time out of performing, Cherine turned to her other passion, teaching. She took on the role of Director of Vocal Training at Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, coaching over 300 students of all ages, conducting workshops, castings and coordinating mammoth corporate events. In the following year, she was invited to audition for the Tony award winning musical Avenue Q and toured nationally playing the hilarious role of Gary Coleman, the child star and the streets superintendent! The show received rave reviews, picking up 5 Helpmann awards in 2010! Cherine performed in the Melbourne season of Xanadu, the Tony award winning musical playing the role of Melpomene, Kira’s evil sister. Working with Tony Award winning Broadway Director Christopher Ashley (Memphis and Xanadu) has certainly been a highlight in Cherine’s career. She recently performed in Violet for Blue Saint Productions for a sellout 2 week season at Chapel off Chapel. and is committed to helping other performers expand their careers as a mentor to many. Her experience as a singer, dancer and actor, enhances her expertise as a teacher because of her in depth knowledge, history and experience of many facets of the industry. Cherine has gained the respect of many Director’s, Producer’s, Music Supervisors, Actors and Casting Directors all over Australia due to her contribution to the arts, establishing a steadfast reputation as an actor, singer and dancer.

Her talents have stemmed into her passion as Vocal Director of her self entitled singing school, Cherine Peck Studios. The school has been operating since 2011 and her students have already achieved great success. She has vocally coached Aydan Calafiore (youngest Young Talent Time Team member), Olivia Swinton and Jackson Rudge (Les Miserables) Shanice Lim and Keely Corcoran (Matilda) she prepared and mentored 8 students for Melbourne’s production of Annie the Musical, South Pacific, The King and I, Strictly Ballroom, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Kinky Boots, Evita, King Roger, Universal Singapore, Universal Japan, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Peter Pan, Australia’s Got Talent, The Voice and many more projects since the school opened. She also runs her highly successful talent agency – Cherine Peck Management and has represented clients over the last 8 years working in and film, t.v., theatre and musical theatre.