Samantha has been a member of the Opera Australia, Victorian Opera and Melbourne Opera companies for over 20 years and most recently performed at The Sydney Opera House in "La Boheme" with Opera Australia.
Samantha has a passion for Musical Theatre and has enjoyed playing a variety of leading roles with a variety of companies including Carlotta in "The Phantom of the Opera" with CLOC, (for which she was nominated for "Best actress in a Supporting Role for the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria) , Miss Baltimore Crabs in "Hairspray" and Cosette in "Les Miserables "with Altona City Theatre to name a few.
Samantha sings at many corporate events as an undercover entertainer with Singers for Hire Australia performing at private functions and corporate events. She is also well known for her work as a featured artist at Carols by Candlelights and community events around Melbourne and has become a popular and regular performer at some of Melbourne's most loved restaurants at themed opera and theatre nights. She is also part of the comical duo "Double Treble".
During the Covid 19 Lockdown, Samantha recored an album called "To The Moon...And Back" featuring her children's favourite songs that she sings to them at bedtime. This is a beautiful compilation of beautiful songs to help calm and relax anyone of any age.
Samantha - The Performer
Samantha is a soprano from Melbourne who has been performing nationally and internationally since she was 12 years old. Her recent performances include Mayor Matilda in "All Shook Up", with Babirra Theatre company and previously in their production of "The Sound of Music"as The Mother Abbess for which she received a Lyrebird nomination for the best actress in a supporting role.
As a passionate singer, she has performed on stage across Australia, in London , Belgium and New York. She has an extensive list of awards and prizes and was accepted as a Young Artist in the Elardo Opera Program with the Intermezzo Foundation of New York, which was held in Brugge, Belgium were she portrayed the lead role of Guido’s mother in the musical “Nine”. Samantha performed in the New York Music Theatre Festival playing the leading role of Satin Woman in the new Musical “Nightingale and the Satin Woman”.
Music Theatre Roles:
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"Carlotta" - in the highly successful World Non Professional Premier of “The Phantom of the Opera” with CLOC Theatre Company, (for which she received a nomination for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria)
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"Mother Abbess" - The Sound of Music - Babirra Theatre Co - (nominated for best supporting Actress for a Lyrebirds Award)
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"Mayor Matilda Hyde" -All Shook Up - Babirra Theatre Company
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"Grisette" - “The Merry Widow” - Opera Australia
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"Guido’s Mother" - "NINE” , Intermezzo Foundation of New York (in Belgium)
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"Satin Woman” - “Nightingale and the Satin Woman” , 2009 New York Music Theatre Festival
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"The Queen" - “Nostradamus” , Side by Side Productions
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"Velma von Tussle" - “Hairspray” , SLAMS Theatre
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"Rose" - "The Secret Garden", PLOS
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"Josephine" - “Pinafore” , Babirra, Theatre Company
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"Emily" (lead role that was written for her) - “The Lane” , WHATS Theatre Co
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"Cosette" - “Les Miserables” , Altona City Theatre
Samantha has been a member of the Opera Australia chorus since 2004 and also appears with the Victorian Opera, Melbourne City Opera and Melbourne Opera companies.
Opera Performances Include:
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“Werther” - Opera Australia
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“Tosca” - Opera Australia
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“HMS Pinafore” and “Trial by Jury” - Opera Australia
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“The Mikado” - Opera Australia
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"Yvette "in “La Rondine”- Melbourne City Opera
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"Madame Butterfly” - Melbourne Opera
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“Cosi fan tutte” - Melbourne Opera
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“Die Zauberflote”- Melbourne Opera
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"Grisette" - in "The Merry Widow" with Opera Australia
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Sam was also the understudy for the role of Zerlina in Melbourne Opera's
production of “Don Giovanni” and she also understudied the role of Donna Anna
in “Don Giovanni - A Fashion Opera” with Goodenough College in London in 2008.
Samantha sings at many corporate events as a singing waiter, and portrays the comic character of “Vilia Parmagiana”. She is also well known for her work as a featured artist at Carols by Candlelights and community events all around Melbourne.
To find out more visit www.samanthadurennes.com