James Millar (Australian actor)

James Millar (born 21 January 1980) is a multi-award winning Australian actor, singer and writer. He is the author of the musical drama The Hatpin which premiered in Sydney on 27 February 2008, the song cycle LOVEBiTES and multi-award winning semi autobiographical A Little Touch of Chaos.

James Millar
Born (1980-01-21) 21 January 1980
Sydney, Australia
GenresMusical theatre, cabaret
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, writer, lyricist
Years active2004 –

Notably, he established the enterprise Hope - an unprecedented online development programme for playwrights and composers during the Covid epidemic of 2020 which saw ten new works of theatre developed by a team of 132 creatives.

WAAPA

James Millar studied writing at the University of Technology, Sydney and Performance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA),[1] graduating in 2004. While studying in Perth, he was directed and tutored by a number of notable Australian performers such as David King, Tony Sheldon, Nick Enright, Roma Conway, Rhys McConnochie, Adam Cook, John Milson and Nancye Hayes. Prior to graduating, he starred in the original recording and premiere performance of Up by Eddie Perfect, Susannah, Spurboard, The Pajama Game, Pacific Overtures (The Reciter), Perfectly Frank, The Crucible, Fiddler on the Roof (as Tevye) and The Wild Party (as Sam).

While in Western Australia, he also appeared in Morning Melodies at His Majesty's Theatre in Perth, Assassins and Piangere.

In 2010, Millar and collaborator Peter Rutherford have been commissioned to workshop and produce their third book musical, A Little Touch of Chaos at WAAPA.[2]

Millar was invited to direct WAAPA's production of Assassins, by the third year Music Theatre students which opened in August 2013.[3]

Film & Television

For television, Millar has played roles in Home and Away, Police Rescue, A Country Practice, The Leaving of Liverpool, The Investigators (ABC TV), Water Rats and Neil Armfield's tele-film Naked: Coral Island.

He was featured in the award-winning film The Eternity Man directed by Julien Temple in 2008.

Cabaret

Millar completed a degree in Writing at the University of Technology in Sydney, and has subsequently penned a number of original cabaret shows such as Moments of Breathtaking Stupidity which he performed with Verity Hunt-Ballard in both Sydney and Melbourne in 2004, The Story Goes On for Amanda Harrison, Poison Soprano, Ten Things I Hate About Cabaret, Impossible Blonde, and Amelia Cormack's Love For Sale which enjoyed four return seasons.[1]

He was also the winner of the 2004 Premiere Cabaret Showcase in Sydney which resulted in the performance of his second cabaret show, Other People's Stories, followed by a tour with celebrated Australian actor Amanda Muggleton in the cabaret Naughty.

Millar also performed in a vocal trio with fellow actors Ian Stenlake and Scott Irwin called "Bravo".

In cabaret circles, he is known for his appearance in ShowQueen Sessions- which toured Sydney and Melbourne.[4]

In March 2010, Millar featured in Another Opening Another Show at Chapel off Chapel in Melbourne and ShowStoppers produced by Lisa and David Campbell's company Luckiest Productions.

Millar joined Doctor Zhivago star Lucy Maunder in a production of Noel and Gertie. This production is based on the diaries and letters of Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence.[5] It was featured at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in May 2013.

In 2013 Millar wrote the cabaret Up Close and Reasonably Personal for Wicked, We Will Rock You star Amanda Harrison.[6] which continues to tour.

Musical Theatre

He has previously appeared in Oklahoma! for The Production Company at the State Theatre in Melbourne, The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie for Company B Belvoir directed by Neil Armfield, starred in both seasons of the comedy BoyBand in Sydney, played the principal role of Frederic Vern in the world premiere production of Eureka at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre for the Melbourne International Arts Festival, recorded and toured with ShowQueen: Live in both Sydney and Melbourne, starred in the critically acclaimed song cycle LoveBites, and played the role of Peter in Sondheim's Company at Sydney's Theatre Royal.

Millar was cast in the defunct production of Floyd Collins for the Kookaburra Theatre Company, however he, like the rest of the cast made himself available for a one-off concert performance on 3 May 2010.[7] This production also starred Peter Cousens, Michael Falzon, Trisha Crowe and Queenie van de Zandt.

In 2009, Millar performed in the Australian premiere of the off-Broadway musical Gutenberg! The Musical!, starred as Chucky in Jerry Springer: The Opera at the Sydney Opera House, and appeared at Sydney's Ensemble Theatre in the lead role of Mitchell Green in the premiere of The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane.[1]

He also featured in the Australian Premiere of Grey Gardens for The Production Company, The Ring Cycle at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and toured the UK in Chess as Molokov in 2013.

In April 2014, Millar was announced for the ensemble cast of the US arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, starring Ben Forster and John Lydon.[8] However, the tour was subsequently cancelled.[9]

In April 2015, it was announced that Millar would play Miss Trunchbull in the Australian premiere season of Matilda the Musical opening in Sydney in July.

He followed this successful run with a star turn as Alan Bennett opposite Miriam Margolyes in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s “The Lady in the Van”.

BBC Radio Voice of Musical Theatre

In 2006 he was invited to Cardiff for BBC Radio 2's "Voice of Musical Theatre", one of only a select few international artists featured to perform each year.[1]

The Hatpin

In 2006 and 2007, Millar wrote and developed the musical The Hatpin alongside composer Peter Rutherford, based on a series of infanticides committed in Sydney by John and Sarah Makin (renamed Agatha and Charles for the show) in 1892, as well as the attempts by single mother Amber Murray to find justice for her son Horace.[10]

The Hatpin opened at the Seymour Centre in Sydney on 27 February 2008 to mild acclaim. The production starred Peter Cousens, Caroline O'Connor, Michelle Doake, Gemma-Ashley Kaplan, Barry Crocker, and Melle Stewart.[11] A cast album was released in 2008 by Neil Gooding Productions[12]

In 2008, The Hatpin was accepted into the New York Musical Theatre Festival where it played in reduced-format with a US cast at The American Theatre of Actors.[13]

LOVEBiTES

Following the success of The Hatpin, Millar teamed up again with Rutherford for an inventive and critically acclaimed song cycle "LoveBites" which received a stream of rave reviews in 2008. Millar appeared as a performer in the production along with Octavia Barron Martin, Tyler Burness and Sarah Croser.[14] The production received a revival in 2009.

Lovebites returned in 2009 where it scored a further 2 Glug nominations and a season at Perth's Playhouse in June/July 2010. The Perth cast again included Millar, with Amelia Cormack, David Harris and Sophia Ragavelas.[15]

Cast album

An official cast recording was done of the 2009 cast and released in February 2010[16]

Performers on the album include:

  • Caroline O'Connor
  • Melle Stewart
  • Peter Cousens
  • Barry Crocker
  • Gemma-Ashley Kaplan

Track list

Audio Books

In London, Millar is a prolific narrator of audiobooks. His works include 1912: The History of Antarctica, Stranger Than Fiction for Lonely Planet and The Rosie Project as well as multiple audiobook works for the RNIB.


YouTube

In late 2009, Millar – along with his Creative Director – generated a comedic video audition for the role of Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins The Musical, and posted it on YouTube. Following a viral online reception and a second video, filmed in New York, Millar was invited to perform as Mary live onstage at Hats Off 2010 at the Seymour Centre.

Millar then went on to create a second video discussing his attempt to be cast as Sandy (the dog) in an upcoming production of Annie[17]

Awards

In 2005, Millar won the inaugural Cabaret Showcase in Sydney.[18]

In 2006, Millar won the Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2006 for his performance of Jud Fry in Oklahoma! in Melbourne.[19]

In 2008, Millar won best actor in the Sydney "Short and Sweet" Festival for his performance in the short play Blenderman.[20]

In 2009, LoveBites was nominated for best cabaret at the Sydney Theatre Awards and The Hatpin was nominated for best new Australian work.[21]

In 2010, Millar was nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award, a GLUG and a Green Room Award[22] for his performance of "Doug Simon" in Gutenberg! The Musical!.

In 2014, A Little Touch of Chaos won the Arts Victoria Grant for best New Australian Work.

In 2016, Millar won the Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Musical for his performance as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical.[23]

References
  1. "Authors". Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  2. Troy Dodds (28 September 2010). "Third Millar/Rutherford musical to premiere". Aussie Theatre. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  3. "Assassins". WAAPA. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  4. Vito Mattarelli (19 January 2009). "Showqueen | Trevor Ashley". Australian Stage. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  5. "James Millar & Lucy Maunder to Lead NOEL & GERTIE at Adelaide Festival Centre's Space Theatre". Broadway World. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  6. David Allen (21 September 2013). "Amanda Harrison: Wife, Mother, Diva – Up Close and Reasonably Personal". Aussie Theatre. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  7. Diana Simmonds (5 May 2010). "Floyd Collins". Stage Noise. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  8. Carlos Garcia (5 April 2014). ""Jesus Christ Superstar" Lyrics & Tour Dates, Cast & Ticket Information: 70's Rock Opera Musical Coming Back". Latin Post. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  9. http://www.playbill.com/article/jesus-christ-superstar-us-arena-tour-abruptly-canceled-com-218966
  10. Kate Herbert (20 May 2011). "Review: The Hatpin, Magnormos". Herald Sun. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  11. Brett Casben (1 March 2008). "The Hatpin". Australian Stage. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  12. "The Hatpin (Original Cast Recording)". Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  13. "The Hatpin Review". 17 September 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  14. Diana Simmons (21 June 2008). "LOVEBITES". Stage Noise. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  15. Erin James (26 June 2010). "LoveBites opens in Perth". Aussie Theatre. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  16. "Love bites / music [by] Peter Rutherford ; book & lyrics [by] James Millar". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  17. Erin James (12 January 2012). "James Millar speaks out: Why I should have been seen for Sandy". Aussie Theatre. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  18. Bryce Hallett (28 November 2009). "An encore performance: Cabaret Showcase returns". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  19. "2006 Green Room Recipients". Australian Stage. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  20. "Sydney 2008". Short + Sweet Song. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  21. Diana Simmons (21 December 2008). "Sydney Theatre Awards". Stage Noise. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  22. "Green Room Awards 2009". Green Room Awards. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  23. "Helpmann Awards 2016: Matilda the Musical wins record 13 awards, Stephen Page honoured". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 25 July 2016.
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