Suzie Mathers is a Scottish-Australian actress and theatre performer best known for her role as Glinda the Good Witch in the Australian, Asian tour, and London productions of Wicked [1] as well Sophie in the 10th Anniversary Australian tour of Mamma Mia! the Musical.[2]
Suzie Mathers | |
|---|---|
 Mathers at Wicked 10th Birthday 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 29 June 1984 Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Genres | Musical Theatre |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Spouse |
Laura Francis (m. 2019) |
| Website | www |
Biography
editBorn in Aberdeen, Scotland and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Suzie received a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2007. In the few short years since graduating, Suzie has fast made her mark in the Australian and International music theatre industry.[3]
Career
editHer career in musical theater started with a spot in an amateur production of Jesus Christ Superstar. In 2007, she graduated with a degree in music theater from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. While in college, she performed in various productions such as "The Good Fight" and "Annie Get Your Gun."[4]
Originally an offstage vocal swing for the 2008 Melbourne production, Mathers was cast in Wicked straight out of drama school, and remained with the company as an ensemble member until the beginning of the Sydney season in 2009.[5] Suzie left to play the leading role of Sophie in the 10th Anniversary Australian tour of Mamma Mia!, which toured nationally in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth & Brisbane.[6]
After the national tour of Mamma Mia! Suzie returned to the cast of Wicked for the first Australian tour performing in Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth, in the role of the Midwife, and was also the understudy for Glinda.
Suzie officially took over the role of lead Glinda from Lucy Durack in 2015,[7] performing in Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand and Manila to much critical acclaim.[8][9] A highlight was performing to the shows composer Stephen Schwartz, twice.[10] She has co-starred alongside various Australian theatre performers including Jemma Rix, Maggie Kirkpatrick, David Harris, Anne Wood and Gretel Scarlett as well as New Zealand actor Jay Laga'aia.
Suzie stepped down from the role of Glinda when it returned to Australia at the end of Wicked's Manila run on 9 March 2014. Though Suzie did briefly reprise the role in Melbourne while Lucy Durack took leave due to injury in May 2014.
Mathers then again reprised the role of Glinda for the Brisbane and Perth seasons of Wicked, taking over once again from Lucy Durack, who left at the end of the Sydney season due to her pregnancy.[11] During the Brisbane season Suzie reached her 500th performance as Glinda, and is expected have performed the role over 580 times when the show closes in Perth mid 2015.[12]
Mathers made her West End debut reprising the role of Glinda this time in the London production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. She performed the role at the 10th anniversary performance on 27 September 2016. Rachel Tucker and Willemijn Verkaik performed as Elphaba alongside her.[13] She left the production on 22 July 2017.[14]
Stage credits
edit| Start year | Production | Location | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Wicked | Melbourne | Ensemble member |
| 2009 | Mamma Mia! | Australian Tour (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth & Brisbane) | Sophie |
| 2011 | Wicked | Australian Tour (Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth) | Midwife & Glinda Understudy |
| 2012 | Singapore & South Korea (Seoul) | Glinda | |
| 2013 | New Zealand (Auckland) | ||
| 2014 | Philippines (Manila) | ||
| 2014 | Australian Return Tour (Sydney) | Glinda (Selected shows only)[15] | |
| 2015 | Australian Return Tour (Brisbane & Perth) | Glinda | |
| 2016 | London (West End) | ||
| 2019 | Barnum | Melbourne | Jenny Lind |
| Year | Production | Location | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | An Afternoon with Stephen Sondheim | Melbourne | NA |
| 2012 | Carols by Candlelight | Melbourne | NA |
| 2014 | "Hello Jerry!" The Music of Jerry Herman | Dublin | NA |
| 2015 | Cinderella | Cambridge (Cambridge Arts Theatre) | Cinderella |
| 2018 | I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical | London | NA |
Other performances
editSuzie's other appearances include An Afternoon with Stephen Sondheim[16] at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne in 2012, both the 2011 and 2012 Rob Guest Endowment Concerts, headlining artist at the 2012 Apex Carols By Candlelight,[17] the 2009 Helpmann Awards, the role of Edith Faulkner in the 2007 New York Music Theatre Festival production of David King and Nick Enright's The Good Fight. Suzie also guest starred in David Harris' sold-out show Time is a Traveller at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney.
She recently appeared in a one night concert, "Hello Jerry! The Music of Jerry Herman"[18] at The National Concert Hall, Dublin featuring music from the spectacular Broadway musicals of twice Tony Award winner Jerry Herman. The concert was conducted by John Wilson (conductor) with music by The RTÉ Orchestra. The performance also featured West End's Annalene Beechey, and American musical entertainer and actress Kim Criswell.
In June 2015 Suzie returned to where her career began to help celebrate 30 years of Musical Theatre at the West Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), performing at the WAAPA Grads Say Thanks gala concert at the Geoff Gibbs Theatre at Edith Cowan University.[19] Suzie performed in the title role of Cinderella, for the 2015 family pantomime at Cambridge Arts Theatre.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Suzie Mathers |".
- ^ "Mathers is Sophie | News". 23 July 2009.
- ^ "Suzie Mathers". Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ^ Cruz, Marinel (10 November 2013). "Blonde 'mathlete' is 'Wicked' witch". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Manila. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ^ Erin James (19 September 2011). "Suzie Mathers steps into Glinda's shoes". aussietheatre.com.au/. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ^ "Mamma Mia! Stage show returns to Australia". 23 April 2009.
- ^ Hana, Jay (5 January 2015). "Perth actor Suzie Mathers to take over from Lucy Durack as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked". The West Australian.
- ^ Erin James (15 March 2013). "Rix and Mathers sign on again for Wicked Australasia". aussietheatre.com.au/. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ^ Kim Choe (19 September 2013). "Wicked flies to Auckland". 3news.co.nz/. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ^ "Grateful for all things Green: Suzie Mathers and Chris Scalzo | Life Upon the WICKED Stage". 27 February 2014.
- ^ Wicked Australia (5 January 2015). "Wicked has a new Glinda". wickedthemusical.com.au/. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/things-you-need-to-know-about-wicked-the-musical-in-perth/story-fnhocr83-1227344025442 [dead link]
- ^ "Australia's Suzie Mathers to join London cast of Wicked -". 20 May 2016.
- ^ Hewis, Ben (25 May 2017). "New cast announced for Wicked". What's On Stage. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ "Thrillifying Glinda Schedule! |".
- ^ Skip Ink (20 March 2013). "Wicked Flies into New Zealand". Scoop Media/. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ^ Mandi Ford (3 December 2012). "CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT – AN AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITION". Essential Solutions/. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ^ O'Kelly, Pat (27 August 2014). "Review - Musical: Hello, Jerry! National Concert Hall". Irish Independent. Dublin. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts : Celebrating 30 years of song and dance". www.waapa.ecu.edu.au. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
- ^ "Cambridge Edition - Cambridgeshire's quality lifestyle magazine. Your comprehensive guide to what's on in Cambridge and beyond, from nightlife and theatre to food and festivals". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.