Luke Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Luke Kennedy is an Australian performer best known for touring internationally with The Ten Tenors
and performing the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar
in various productions around the country.
, Marius in Les Misérables
and Mary Sunshine in Chicago
. He moved to Brisbane in 2002 to again play the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar
for independent theatre company Harvest Rain Theatre Company
. He continued with the company in their productions of The Wiz
as the Lion, Alice, Beauty and the Beast
as the Beast and Cain/Japheth in Children of Eden
. In 2007, Luke played the role of Jamie in Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years
co-starring Brisbane-based actress Naomi Price
and directed by Tim O'Connor for (Oscar Theatre Company
/Judith Wright Centre).
in early 2008 and in nearly two years on the road, he performed shows on nearly every continent in the world. Highlights of his time with TTT include the 2009 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon which was broadcast to 32 million people across North America, the 2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup and the DVD recording of Amigos Para Siempre: Live in Madrid in August 2009 with the RTVE Orchestra.
and Harvest Rain 25 for Harvest Rain Theatre Company
. In August, he played the title role in the critically acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar
at the QPAC Playhouse, which will have a return season in February 2011. He released his debut album Overexposed in July 2010 and reprised the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar
, this time for the Gilbert and Sullivan Soc. of South Australia in Adelaide
, South Australia
. Luke will appear for the fifth time as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar
in June 2011 for Harvest Rain Theatre Company
.
The Ten Tenors
The TEN Tenors are an Australian musical ensemble who have toured world-wide. In a typical set, the group performs Queen standards, including "Bohemian Rhapsody", and "The Show Must Go On"; tracks from Meat Loaf medley; AC/DC and much more...
and performing the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
in various productions around the country.
History
Luke Kennedy began his performance career in Townsville, North Queensland where he performed in numerous local productions from the age of 16 onwards, including Jesus in Jesus Christ SuperstarJesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
, Marius in Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
and Mary Sunshine in Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
. He moved to Brisbane in 2002 to again play the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
for independent theatre company Harvest Rain Theatre Company
Harvest Rain Theatre Company
The Harvest Rain Theatre Company is a theatre companies which operates a training and rehearsal facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Since the beginning of 2009, they have been a resident theatre company at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre....
. He continued with the company in their productions of The Wiz
The Wiz
The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the context of African American culture. It opened on October 21, 1974 at the Morris A...
as the Lion, Alice, Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (musical)
Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton, based on the 1991 Disney film of the same name. Seven new songs were written for the stage musical...
as the Beast and Cain/Japheth in Children of Eden
Children of Eden
Children of Eden is a two-act musical play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John Caird. The musical is based on the Book of Genesis. Act I tells the story of Adam and Eve, Cain, and Abel, and Act II deals with Noah and the Flood...
. In 2007, Luke played the role of Jamie in Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years
The Last Five Years
The Last Five Years is a one-act musical written by Jason Robert Brown. It premiered in Chicago in 2001 and was then produced off-Broadway in March 2002. Since then it has had numerous productions both in the United States and internationally....
co-starring Brisbane-based actress Naomi Price
Naomi Price
Naomi Price is an Australian stage actress, best known for her work in musical theatre.- History :Price moved from England to Australia to study at Queensland University of Technology in 2003...
and directed by Tim O'Connor for (Oscar Theatre Company
Oscar Theatre Company
The Oscar Theatre Company is one of Australia's theatre companies operating in Brisbane.- History :Oscar Theatre Company was founded by local performer Emily Gilhome in 2004 with a view to support and produce new works and productions for young Queensland theatre artists...
/Judith Wright Centre).
The Ten Tenors
Luke joined international touring group The Ten TenorsThe Ten Tenors
The TEN Tenors are an Australian musical ensemble who have toured world-wide. In a typical set, the group performs Queen standards, including "Bohemian Rhapsody", and "The Show Must Go On"; tracks from Meat Loaf medley; AC/DC and much more...
in early 2008 and in nearly two years on the road, he performed shows on nearly every continent in the world. Highlights of his time with TTT include the 2009 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon which was broadcast to 32 million people across North America, the 2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup and the DVD recording of Amigos Para Siempre: Live in Madrid in August 2009 with the RTVE Orchestra.
Recent news
Luke returned to Brisbane in early 2010 to perform in Songs for a New WorldSongs for a New World
Songs for a New World is a work of musical theater written and composed by Jason Robert Brown. Its original off-Broadway production ran for 28 performances at the WPA Theater in New York City in 1995. The show sits on the boundary between musical and song cycle, but it is neither; it is an abstract...
and Harvest Rain 25 for Harvest Rain Theatre Company
Harvest Rain Theatre Company
The Harvest Rain Theatre Company is a theatre companies which operates a training and rehearsal facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Since the beginning of 2009, they have been a resident theatre company at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre....
. In August, he played the title role in the critically acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
at the QPAC Playhouse, which will have a return season in February 2011. He released his debut album Overexposed in July 2010 and reprised the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
, this time for the Gilbert and Sullivan Soc. of South Australia in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Luke will appear for the fifth time as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
in June 2011 for Harvest Rain Theatre Company
Harvest Rain Theatre Company
The Harvest Rain Theatre Company is a theatre companies which operates a training and rehearsal facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Since the beginning of 2009, they have been a resident theatre company at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre....
.
Live performance
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971... |
Jesus Jesus Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity... |
Directed by David Lampard (G&S Society of South Australia) |
| 2010 | Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971... |
Jesus Jesus Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity... |
Directed by Tim O'Connor (Harvest Rain Theatre Company Harvest Rain Theatre Company The Harvest Rain Theatre Company is a theatre companies which operates a training and rehearsal facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Since the beginning of 2009, they have been a resident theatre company at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.... / QPAC) |
| 2010 | Songs for a New World Songs for a New World Songs for a New World is a work of musical theater written and composed by Jason Robert Brown. Its original off-Broadway production ran for 28 performances at the WPA Theater in New York City in 1995. The show sits on the boundary between musical and song cycle, but it is neither; it is an abstract... |
Man Man The term man is used for an adult human male . However, man is sometimes used to refer to humanity as a whole... |
Directed by Tim O'Connor (Harvest Rain Theatre Company Harvest Rain Theatre Company The Harvest Rain Theatre Company is a theatre companies which operates a training and rehearsal facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Since the beginning of 2009, they have been a resident theatre company at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.... / Judith Wright Centre) |
| 2010 | Harvest Rain 25 | Soloist | Directed by Tim O'Connor (Harvest Rain Theatre Company Harvest Rain Theatre Company The Harvest Rain Theatre Company is a theatre companies which operates a training and rehearsal facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Since the beginning of 2009, they have been a resident theatre company at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.... / QPAC) |
| 2007 | Carols in the City Carols in the City Carols in the City , is an annual free Christmas concert event held at the Brisbane River Stage, in Brisbane, Australia. It is broadcast across Australia through the Nine Network with media partners being The Sunday Mail, 4BC and 4BH... |
Quartet Quartet In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:... |
Produced by Leisa Barry-Smith (Channel Ten) |
| 2007 | Best of Broadway and Beyond | Soloist | Directed by Tim O'Connor (Harvest Rain Theatre Company Harvest Rain Theatre Company The Harvest Rain Theatre Company is a theatre companies which operates a training and rehearsal facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Since the beginning of 2009, they have been a resident theatre company at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.... ) |
| 2007 | Alice Alice Alice may refer to:* Alice , including a list of notable people called Alice-Books and comics:* Alice , the heroine of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass... |
Various | Directed by Tim O'Connor (Harvest Rain Theatre Company Harvest Rain Theatre Company The Harvest Rain Theatre Company is a theatre companies which operates a training and rehearsal facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Since the beginning of 2009, they have been a resident theatre company at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.... ) |
| 2007 | The Last Five Years The Last Five Years The Last Five Years is a one-act musical written by Jason Robert Brown. It premiered in Chicago in 2001 and was then produced off-Broadway in March 2002. Since then it has had numerous productions both in the United States and internationally.... |
Jamie Jamie Jamie, Jaime, Jaimee, Jamee, Ja'mie, Jamey, Jaymie or Jaymee is a name derived as a pet form of James. However, it has been used as an independent given name in English speaking countries for several generations... |
Directed by Tim O'Connor (Oscar Theatre Company Oscar Theatre Company The Oscar Theatre Company is one of Australia's theatre companies operating in Brisbane.- History :Oscar Theatre Company was founded by local performer Emily Gilhome in 2004 with a view to support and produce new works and productions for young Queensland theatre artists... /The Judith Wright Centre) |
| 2007 | Children of Eden Children of Eden Children of Eden is a two-act musical play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John Caird. The musical is based on the Book of Genesis. Act I tells the story of Adam and Eve, Cain, and Abel, and Act II deals with Noah and the Flood... |
Cain/Japheth Japheth Japheth is one of the sons of Noah in the Abrahamic tradition... |
Directed by Tim O'Connor (Harvest Rain Theatre Company Harvest Rain Theatre Company The Harvest Rain Theatre Company is a theatre companies which operates a training and rehearsal facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Since the beginning of 2009, they have been a resident theatre company at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.... ) |
| 2006 | Carols in the City Carols in the City Carols in the City , is an annual free Christmas concert event held at the Brisbane River Stage, in Brisbane, Australia. It is broadcast across Australia through the Nine Network with media partners being The Sunday Mail, 4BC and 4BH... |
Quartet Quartet In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:... |
Produced by Leisa Barry-Smith (Channel Ten) |
| 2006 | Disney's Beauty and the Beast | Beast | Directed by Tim O'Connor (Harvest Rain Theatre Company Harvest Rain Theatre Company The Harvest Rain Theatre Company is a theatre companies which operates a training and rehearsal facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Since the beginning of 2009, they have been a resident theatre company at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre.... ) |