MEL O'BRIEN 

Mel O'Brien (she/her) is a Green Room award-winning, classically-trained and incredibly versatile musical theatre performer, comedian and writer/composer based in Melbourne, with a particular affinity for comedy, collaboration and supporting new, home-grown work. Fresh off the heels of starring in 'FANGIRLS' (Sydney Opera House/Belvoir), she is also one half of the nationally-renown musical comedy duo 'Mel & Sam'. Together, the girls have pumped out three (going on four) full length comedy cabaret shows with all-original music that have toured the country to sell-out audiences and critical acclaim.

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'No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret', 'Shit-Wrecked!' and 'High Pony' have had them coined "the future of Australian comedy" (HERALD SUN), "a chart-topping parody pop duo in the making" (THE AGE) and "powerhouse, kick-ass cabaret performers who own the stage – and probably any neighbouring ones too" (CHORTLE, UK) with writing and performance chops that "have to be seen to be believed" (TIME OUT). This year, Mel & Sam were also scouted to create a Spotify Original podcast 'Mel & Sam', that enjoys continued international success after hitting the #2 spot on the Comedy Charts.

 

As a graduate of both NIDA (Musical Theatre) and The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (Bachelor of Music - Voice, Master Of Music - Voice), Mel has extensive experience across musical theatre, cabaret, opera, stage and screen. Some other recent credits include Philia in 'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum' (Watch This), Angel in the Green Room award-winning production 'The Gospel According To Jesus, Queen Of Heaven' (Fortyfive Downstairs/Midsumma), Muffin in 'Voldemort And The Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody' (Salty Theatre), Swing on 'Orlando' (Antipodes Theatre Company), Flick in 'Flat Earthers' (Griffin Theatre Company/Malthouse Workshop), Bonnie-Mae in 'Miracle City' (NIDA Festival Of Emerging Artists) and Did in 'Starstruck: The Stage Musical' (RGM Productions).

 

Whilst at university, Mel was also cast in three operas directed by Jane Davidson ('Passion, Lament, Glory', Monteverdi’s 'Orfeo' and Poulenc’s 'Dialogues Of The Carmelites'). Her “outlandish ideas, comic intuition and THAT voice” - as well as her lived experience as a proud, queer, plus-sized artist - have been and continue to be "treasured contributions to the grassroots musical theatre and comedy worlds."

 

WINNER Best Original Songs 2023 Green Room Awards

WINNER Best Cabaret Weekly Award 2022 Adelaide Fringe

NOMINEE Golden Gibbo 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival

NOMINEE Best Ensemble 2023 Green Room Awards

NOMINEE Best Cabaret 2022 Melbourne Fringe Festival

NOMINEE Best Writing 2022 Green Room Awards

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Representation

Acting/Musical Theatre: Hansen Management (admin@hansenmanagement.com.au)

Socials: Day Management (ella@daymgmt.com.au)